Amanda Ashby, RN

I would like to recognize Amanda Broadwater for her exceptional patient advocacy and commitment to ensuring safe, appropriate care. Amanda recognized that a discharge situation did not seem right and refused to ignore her concerns.

The patient is an MRDD patient who lives with a 24/7 1:1 caregiver due to poor impulse control and poor decision-making skills. The patient had asked the caregiver if he would drive him to a restaurant to meet a friend, but when the caregiver refused, he left the residence and walked. While walking, he got lost and couldn't find his way back to his house. He called 911 for assistance, EMS showed up - he asked them to take him home, but they insisted he go to an ER.

Upon arrival at the ER, nursing staff as well as the provider all attempted to contact the caregivers repeatedly. The situation is concerning as this is a vulnerable patient who does not know his personal information, has no information regarding finances, and the company managing his care does not seem to be reputable. The patient is supposed to be 24/7 1:1 care yet was out alone for over 5 hours, and nobody was notified of his absence; police were not aware of the situation, and from the conversation with a caregiver, he didn't seem to be aware the patient was missing either. There is concern for the safety of this patient's health and wellbeing.

Despite significant challenges obtaining information, she remained persistent in investigating the patient's living situation, support system, and ability to safely return home. She spent hours contacting caregivers, coordinating with providers, and even arranged a police welfare check to verify the patient's residence and ensure a safe discharge plan.

Her critical thinking and willingness to question inconsistencies demonstrated outstanding clinical judgment. Amanda went above and beyond her responsibilities to advocate for a vulnerable patient, ensuring that concerns were addressed rather than overlooked. Her diligence, compassion, and dedication to patient safety exemplify the values of our organization and serve as an excellent example of patient-centered care.

We reached out to Fayette Co board of DDD. They called back and stated the patient is not a ward of Fayette Co., as she stated he is his own person. However, a complaint was filed against the caregivers for this patient, and they are taking proper steps to ensure he is safe and appropriately cared for, and are conducting an open investigation with this company and the caregivers. He is safe and sound.