Matt Briem
November 2025
Matt
Briem
,
RN
Provo Home Health
Intermountain Health
Provo
,
UT
United States
My nurse did everything he could to make sure that I got better, and I had his support, which meant the world to me.
When I first started with home health, Matt came to my home and spent time with me to understand my complete medical history on his initial visit, which is a lot. He knew my fears and what I had been through during my hospital stay. I was scared (I had sepsis and that spread to osteomyelitis in my spine). I had never had a PICC line, never given myself any meds, nothing. I had never been this sick before in my life.
When Matt took the time to really understand me and what I needed, I felt comfortable and confident with what I had to do. On his first visit to my home, he even knew what kind of dogs I have (a fairly unusual German hunting dog), and I knew immediately we had something in common: bird hunting! And I especially knew that we would be friends.
My first PICC line was in for 12 weeks, and the osteomyelitis destroyed my T6-7 vertebrae, which required surgery when the infection was cleared. My previous back surgery two years prior had been done by a Neurosurgeon I knew and liked, but he retired.
Matt and I talked about who I should take care of me for my T5-8 fusion, and he told me about Dr. Edwards, and that his wife had surgery from him, and that he felt really good about him, and that his wife had a great outcome. So, again, Matt helped me feel comfortable and safe with my surgical choice.
The surgery went well, and I thought I was on my way to healing until 9 weeks later, my incision broke open and started oozing. Back to the ER, back to the hospital, for the third time since Christmas.
When they told me I had MRSA, two days into my hospitalization, the first thing I did was text Matt to make sure he would be my nurse again for the next PICC line and doses of antibiotics. I hadn't even had my surgery to clean out the infection yet, but I knew if Matt would be my nurse again, I could get through it.
When he came to my home the day after I was released from the hospital, he could tell this hospitalization had really done a number on me. My PTSD from my disease (Crohn’s) and all these infections and hospitalizations had gotten pretty bad. I was shell-shocked and really scared this time around.
He sat in my kitchen with me and simply said that he would be here for me to get through this. He would help me if I needed help talking to my doctors, and he was basically here for me.
My husband and I have been so very grateful for Matt, for the confidence he had in me to do this, and the comfort he has given me to calmly get through this round of antibiotics. My nurse did everything he could to make sure that I got better, and I had his support, which meant the world to me.
Matt's impact and all that he did for me over the last 6 months have given me the confidence to do what I needed to get through. His compassion and understanding made me feel that I was heard. He listened and gave me great advice when I asked for it, and followed it up with encouragement when I needed it.
He remembered my medical history, never asked me to repeat anything. He really took the time to know me and not forget anything, which made it so much easier on me.
When Matt took the time to really understand me and what I needed, I felt comfortable and confident with what I had to do. On his first visit to my home, he even knew what kind of dogs I have (a fairly unusual German hunting dog), and I knew immediately we had something in common: bird hunting! And I especially knew that we would be friends.
My first PICC line was in for 12 weeks, and the osteomyelitis destroyed my T6-7 vertebrae, which required surgery when the infection was cleared. My previous back surgery two years prior had been done by a Neurosurgeon I knew and liked, but he retired.
Matt and I talked about who I should take care of me for my T5-8 fusion, and he told me about Dr. Edwards, and that his wife had surgery from him, and that he felt really good about him, and that his wife had a great outcome. So, again, Matt helped me feel comfortable and safe with my surgical choice.
The surgery went well, and I thought I was on my way to healing until 9 weeks later, my incision broke open and started oozing. Back to the ER, back to the hospital, for the third time since Christmas.
When they told me I had MRSA, two days into my hospitalization, the first thing I did was text Matt to make sure he would be my nurse again for the next PICC line and doses of antibiotics. I hadn't even had my surgery to clean out the infection yet, but I knew if Matt would be my nurse again, I could get through it.
When he came to my home the day after I was released from the hospital, he could tell this hospitalization had really done a number on me. My PTSD from my disease (Crohn’s) and all these infections and hospitalizations had gotten pretty bad. I was shell-shocked and really scared this time around.
He sat in my kitchen with me and simply said that he would be here for me to get through this. He would help me if I needed help talking to my doctors, and he was basically here for me.
My husband and I have been so very grateful for Matt, for the confidence he had in me to do this, and the comfort he has given me to calmly get through this round of antibiotics. My nurse did everything he could to make sure that I got better, and I had his support, which meant the world to me.
Matt's impact and all that he did for me over the last 6 months have given me the confidence to do what I needed to get through. His compassion and understanding made me feel that I was heard. He listened and gave me great advice when I asked for it, and followed it up with encouragement when I needed it.
He remembered my medical history, never asked me to repeat anything. He really took the time to know me and not forget anything, which made it so much easier on me.