Debbi has been with TGH since 1980, with a 1 ½ year break to raise her kids in mid-1985 and returned to work in 1987 as a staff in PACU. She joined the Ambulatory Clinic in June 2017 as a Telephone triage nurse. A different kind of Nursing skills, the voice and patient advocate of every patient at the end of the other line. The challenge was overwhelming for her and was for a good time to learn the new role. She has received a tremendous appreciation from patients who were prevented from going to the ER or urgent care. Most patients will ask for her when they have a doctor's appointment to thank her for her critical thinking and reasoning on each patient's call.
In June 2019 the telephone triage nurse was phased out, Debbi transitioned to the role of team nurse. The new trend in nursing is again new to Debbi. More time to learn CCM-Chronic Care Management and A WV - Annual Wellness Visit for Medicare patients, Transitional care for patients discharged from the hospital in a timely manner. These new roles are to prevent patients from going to the ER, to ensure continuity of healthcare. Debbi surpassed her colleagues in doing Annual Wellness Visits, in less than 5 months, Debbi did 72 A WV versus other RN who started 10 months ago.
Recently, a patient was seen at TGH ER 2 times in 3 weeks, status post excision of condyloma with severe pain. The patient was desperately wanting to be seen by his primary care provider as the pain medication prescribed was not giving relief and affected his ADL, the patient was given an appointment in 3 months by Central Scheduling. Debbi was ending her shift but instead stayed to gather more information as to the patient's concern and issues about a sooner appointment. Debbi reviewed the chart made an appointment for the next day and left a message for the patient to be aware of the appointment. The very first thing Debbi did the next day was to follow up if the patient got the message. She kept monitoring of the appointment time and the team until the patient was seen. The patient expressed great satisfaction. The patient's post-op pain was addressed by the primary care doctor, one patient was prevented to go to ER or urgent care.
Debbi is not only an office nurse but an exceptional nurse, with passion in dealing with her patients who will be under her care in one way or the other, if they are patient at Kennedy. Her daily huddles with the team and doctors are her way of starting her day and ending her day. She ensures that the messages that she encountered are addressed on time and properly. She goes above and beyond according to patients' needs and concerns. Debbi promotes optimal wellness and assists patients to manage the effects of chronic disease, applying appropriate nursing interventions. With her transitional care, she never fails to facilitate continuity of care.