Employee Pride Program Submission

What is it that drew me to health care?

I honestly cannot say that I chose health care:

As usual it was a busy morning and I was going from room to room to assess patients. I was on the 6th floor in the east wing. This patient was needing to be seen due to her not having health insurance. In the room was her daughter and granddaughter. She was so positive about the Community Care program assisting her with her stay. She also was thankful for the Marshfield program that enabled her to get her medications. She just continued to speak so highly of Sacred Heart and its staff. Her granddaughter even volunteered here one summer. The positive energy just flowed in the room. I told them how proud I was to be employed here and why Sacred Heart’s mission is important to me. I told her that I look at the cross on the hospital building outside that welcomes me every morning and realize how blessed that I am. It was starting out to be a better day than I thought.

As I left her room, a woman with white hair looked so familiar to me and stood smiling waiting patiently in the hall. Those smiles aren’t always as warm as they appear. It wasn’t long before I realized that she was waiting for me. Once I approached her I remembered her to be the sister of a patient who recently died here. What made her brother’s death different than most was the fact that her brother was over 400 pounds. As his disease process increased daily he was unable to assist in transfers. He could not be admitted to a skilled nursing facility because he was a liability to himself and the staff. If there was a fire he would not be able to be transported outside to a safe place immediately. An ambulance would be needed for physician visits as well as dialysis. No physician would see him at the nursing facility for the liability reasons. He did not want to burden his family by moving to the southern end of the state where a facility was considering him knowing that he was soon to expire. Over 30 nursing homes were sent referrals only to decline. He knew that dialysis was a temporary fix to his demise.

Sacred Heart lived up to her mission and allowed this man to remain here until his death. His sister asked me if I was aware of the fact that he was allowed to stay here at minimal charge. I said that yes, I was aware and was thankful for the decision made by the many involved. She was beaming with gratitude. My “cross” story again.........

Do I feel proud of where I work, darn right! I love my sisters and brothers at Sacred Heart. I did not choose health care, it was chosen for me and I am reminded of it every morning.

Maria Lloyd, BSW Case Management Department