Kimberly Elder, LPN, IVTC

Kim demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment, persistence, and patient advocacy during a recent patient phone interaction that required quick thinking and decisive action. A patient called the office, and the conversation raised immediate concern because the patient responded with unusual, nonsensical statements. Recognizing something was not right, I escalated the call to Kim, LPN, for further clinical assessment.

While speaking with the patient, Kim noted continued confusion and disorganized speech. Kim calmly assessed the situation. She determined the patient was having chest pain accompanied by numbness/tingling in his extremities, significant swelling in his lower extremities, and difficulty following conversation, all of which were not present at his clinical appointment the day before. She encouraged the patient to seek immediate care and attempted to identify additional support. When she learned the patient's wife was not home, she ensured the patient remained on the phone with staff while she worked urgently behind the scenes to secure help.

Despite multiple obstacles, including the wife's cell phone going straight to voicemail and being redirected through several dispatch jurisdictions, Kim remained persistent until she located the correct emergency dispatch center and arranged for an ambulance to respond to the patient's home. The patient was transported to the emergency department for further care. Her actions reflect outstanding clinical awareness, teamwork, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to patient safety. Her ability to recognize subtle warning signs and advocate for urgent intervention exemplifies the highest standards of patient care.