Patti
Jarvis
October 2013
Patti
Jarvis
,
RN, BSA
Care Management
Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern
Zion
,
IL
United States

 

 

 

Patti Jarvis, RN, BSA has been a part of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Midwestern Regional Medical Center nursing team since 1982. Patti is one of the 65 Care Managers responsible for the care coordination of all 7,269 active CTCA at Midwestern patients. Patti's role as Care Manager at CTCA at Midwestern is to help patients coordinate the many different aspects of the patients care and she specializes in Social Security Disability and Family Medical Leave Act applications. At CTCA at Midwestern, we provide comprehensive cancer care - all under one roof. Patient Empowered Care is the latest evolution in our commitment to provide cancer patients and their families with fully integrated cancer treatment. Every patient is surrounded by a Patient Empowered Care (PEC) team that brings together a medical oncologist, clinic nurse, registered dietitian, naturopathic oncology provider and nurse care manager to the patient, not the other way around. With this approach, our patients enjoy greater comfort, convenience and privacy, meeting with their cancer care team in one room. Patti is a member of one of these PEC teams and provides care management to every patient regardless of whether they are in or out of the hospital. Patti exemplifies the meaning of a high performing health care professional. Patti will even begin her day between 2 and 4 am taking on added tasks. Patti manually, efficiently, and accurately enters at least 100 patient lab results into the electronic record on a weekly basis for the oncologists to trend those values post chemotherapy. Her work ethic, attention to detail and genuine enjoyment from the work she does and care she provides patients shines through daily.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) our entire focus is on the patient. Patti is continually looking to find ways to improve any internal process that directly or indirectly improves the patient experience. Patti took on the challenging and ever increasing load of completing FMLA & social security disability forms for patients. Together with another team member, they complete an average of 300-400 forms monthly. The hospital policy for FMLA and disability forms is 10 business days from the time a patient turns in the forms. Patti averages a 24-48 hour turn around, helping to reduce the inherent anxiety a patient may feel regarding financial and employment related issues. This does not include the phone calls and faxes for follow up or changes that are needed. Unselfish dedication to her patients and fellow team members is an accurate way to describe Patti. What may be thought of as work for others, going above and beyond in service to others has become routine for Patti. Caring for patients is a full time job. Sometimes, depending on patient's needs, members of the team have a call back list of patients they need to call and assist. Patti frequently assists her co-workers in returning patient calls and assisting patients with their concerns, questions and needs. Patti is a kind and loving person with a heart of gold. She is loved by the patients she tirelessly helps and respected by her fellow care managers.

One of the most important and amazing acts that truly sets PJ apart is her compassion. She spends much of her personal time making cozy blankets, hats and other crafts and donates them to the hospital for all patients and staff to enjoy. She continually volunteers her time unselfishly. I and all of her fellow team members admire her for everything she does for others. You know that if Patti is involved on project, however, large or small, it is going to be completed and completed with the utmost attention to detail and professionalism. She is a member of the Care Management Unit Base Council, which identifies and champions department specific ideas to improve patient care. As part of nature to be involved and focus on accuracy, she was appointed council secretary. "She is incredible," says Kimberly Bertini, BSN, RNC, Magnet Program Coordinator. "I know I can always count on Patti. I never have to ask for anything twice. The meeting notes are in my hand 24 hours after the meeting concludes." Also outside the scope of her job responsibilities, Patti helps her fellow care managers complete their follow up calls to check patient's status after they receive chemotherapy. This is an important aspect of a care manager's promise to patients to care for their needs. This is not her job responsibility she just does it to help her team PJ has received multiple Moments of Truth awards and Stakeholder to Stakeholder for consistently putting patients first or going above and beyond her regular job description with FMLA and disability forms. Part of development team that implemented a process to ensure sympathy cards were delivered to patient's families in timely manner after their loved ones death. Patti has her Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy and Biotherapy certification.

No matter what it is, she is always going above and beyond the call and is a blessing to everyone she meets. Patti is affectionately referred to by her fellow care managers as a "nursing angel" with a giving heart. Her love for others shines every day.