Merilee J Stelling
December 2024
Merilee J
Stelling
,
BSN, RN, CEN
Emergency Department
Robert J Dole VA Medical Center
Wichita
,
KS
United States
Upon learning this, Nurse Stelling, again of her own volition, contacted the Salina municipal government to explain the situation, who agreed to take the cats into their care at their animal shelter until further accommodations could be arranged.
Merilee Sterling is the Travelling Veteran Coordinator (TVC) for the Robert J Dole VA. In July of 2024 she received a TVC consult for an elderly Veteran who had called and spoken with clinical staff at one of the CBOCs regarding his medical concerns on the previous day. Based on those concerns the CBOC staff had recommended that the Veteran be seen in an emergency department, which he agreed to do.
After reviewing the case, it was quickly apparent to Nurse Stelling that it was not an eligible TVC referral. At this point it would have been entirely appropriate for her to close the referral, notify the referring staff, and move on to other important tasks. However, on her own initiative nurse Stelling elected instead to call the Veteran to ensure that he had arrived at an emergency department safely.
The Veteran answered her call and indicated that he had not yet arrived at an emergency department. He stated that he was traveling alone in his RV and had stopped at a rest area somewhere outside of Salina, KS. The Veteran was not aware that the Wichita VA was closer to his location and indicated that he was attempting to drive to either the Topeka or Kansas City VA, but had stopped to rest after becoming weaker while driving.
Nurse Stelling advised the Veteran that the Wichita VA was closer and that the Salina Regional Hospital was closer still. The Veteran indicated that he felt rested enough to drive to the nearest emergency department and declined to call EMS. Nurse Stelling advised him that she would call him back in one hour to check in with him. After doing so, an hour later, the Veteran indicated that he still felt too weak to drive but was unsure at which rest area he was parked. He also voiced concerns about his cats, who were traveling with him. He was worried they would not be cared for in the likely event that he would require admission from an emergency department.
Nurse Stelling contacted the Kansas Highway Patrol, who agreed to send an officer to look at the possible rest areas for the Veteran. The Veteran was successfully located by the patrolman, who called Nurse Stelling back and advised her that the Veteran was reluctant to be taken to an emergency department due to the uncertain status of his cats' care in his absence. Upon learning this, Nurse Stelling, again of her own volition, contacted the Salina municipal government to explain the situation, who agreed to take the cats into their care at their animal shelter until further accommodations could be arranged.
The Veteran, now assured that his cats would be cared for, then agreed to be transported to the Salina emergency department where he was stabilized and was subsequently transferred to the Robert J. Dole VA. Thanks to Nurse Stelling going far above and beyond her normal duties, the Veteran received the care he desperately needed and avoided a potentially catastrophic outcome.
After reviewing the case, it was quickly apparent to Nurse Stelling that it was not an eligible TVC referral. At this point it would have been entirely appropriate for her to close the referral, notify the referring staff, and move on to other important tasks. However, on her own initiative nurse Stelling elected instead to call the Veteran to ensure that he had arrived at an emergency department safely.
The Veteran answered her call and indicated that he had not yet arrived at an emergency department. He stated that he was traveling alone in his RV and had stopped at a rest area somewhere outside of Salina, KS. The Veteran was not aware that the Wichita VA was closer to his location and indicated that he was attempting to drive to either the Topeka or Kansas City VA, but had stopped to rest after becoming weaker while driving.
Nurse Stelling advised the Veteran that the Wichita VA was closer and that the Salina Regional Hospital was closer still. The Veteran indicated that he felt rested enough to drive to the nearest emergency department and declined to call EMS. Nurse Stelling advised him that she would call him back in one hour to check in with him. After doing so, an hour later, the Veteran indicated that he still felt too weak to drive but was unsure at which rest area he was parked. He also voiced concerns about his cats, who were traveling with him. He was worried they would not be cared for in the likely event that he would require admission from an emergency department.
Nurse Stelling contacted the Kansas Highway Patrol, who agreed to send an officer to look at the possible rest areas for the Veteran. The Veteran was successfully located by the patrolman, who called Nurse Stelling back and advised her that the Veteran was reluctant to be taken to an emergency department due to the uncertain status of his cats' care in his absence. Upon learning this, Nurse Stelling, again of her own volition, contacted the Salina municipal government to explain the situation, who agreed to take the cats into their care at their animal shelter until further accommodations could be arranged.
The Veteran, now assured that his cats would be cared for, then agreed to be transported to the Salina emergency department where he was stabilized and was subsequently transferred to the Robert J. Dole VA. Thanks to Nurse Stelling going far above and beyond her normal duties, the Veteran received the care he desperately needed and avoided a potentially catastrophic outcome.