Matt M Fitzgerald
May 2025
Matt M
Fitzgerald
,
RN
Home Care
Mercy Northwest Arkansas
Rogers
,
AR
United States
He knew how important it was for her to go to this facility and that she wouldn’t be able to go without his help. Matt went above and beyond to get this patient what she needed.
Matt had a patient who was bed-bound and could only get up to a wheelchair via a Hoyer lift. The patient lived by herself with intermittent hired caregivers. Matt worked diligently with the social worker to get the patient placed in a rehab skilled nursing facility, as she was not safe at home. On the day that the transportation van was going to pick the patient up and take her to the facility for admission, the transportation van stated they could not assist the patient into the wheelchair—that she would need to do it by herself, which she could not. The patient notified Matt and, in between his regular patient schedule that day, he took the extra time to go to her home and assist her out of bed and into the wheelchair to be ready for the transportation van so she could be admitted to the facility. Matt was not scheduled to see her that day and definitely wasn’t responsible for getting her out of bed and ready for transportation. He knew how important it was for her to go to this facility and that she wouldn’t be able to go without his help. Matt went above and beyond to get this patient what she needed.
***
Matt had gone out to do an admission for home health on a patient referred to us from the ER – had been seen at the ER the day prior due to a fall. Upon arrival, the patient was very short of breath, with low oxygen saturations and increased weakness since returning home. Matt assisted with administering respiratory medications in the home and messaged the doctor throughout the visit. With no signs of improvement, they decided to go ahead and call for an ambulance. Once back in the ER, providers found that the patient had developed a pneumothorax from her fall the day prior and needed to be admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, the patient didn’t recover and transitioned to hospice from the hospital, but this would have led to a respiratory emergency or tragic event at home had Matt not intervened and acted quickly. Matt provided excellent care. I appreciate his assistance in responding quickly and staying with the patient. Matt always goes above and beyond.
***
Matt had gone out to do an admission for home health on a patient referred to us from the ER – had been seen at the ER the day prior due to a fall. Upon arrival, the patient was very short of breath, with low oxygen saturations and increased weakness since returning home. Matt assisted with administering respiratory medications in the home and messaged the doctor throughout the visit. With no signs of improvement, they decided to go ahead and call for an ambulance. Once back in the ER, providers found that the patient had developed a pneumothorax from her fall the day prior and needed to be admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately, the patient didn’t recover and transitioned to hospice from the hospital, but this would have led to a respiratory emergency or tragic event at home had Matt not intervened and acted quickly. Matt provided excellent care. I appreciate his assistance in responding quickly and staying with the patient. Matt always goes above and beyond.