A patient with end-stage heart failure was admitted to 5 East on a home Milrinone infusion. Because we are not able to continue the patient's home Milrinone, the 5 East nurse disconnected the pump and started one of our own infusions (using our medication and pump etc.). It then came time for the patient to be discharged and that afternoon the patient pointed out to the team that he didn't have all of his supplies (or the Milrinone) he needed to be converted back to his home Milrinone infusion so he could go home. Cardiology did not want him to be discharged unless he was converted back to his home infusion (sometimes we disconnect patients and the simply reconnect when the patient returns home but this patient was simply too brittle and cardiology wanted him connected prior to going home). At 5pm on a Friday afternoon the 5 East team was collaborating with VNA and trying to pull together resources to get the patient discharged prior to the weekend. And in the end it all worked!

Sarah Spangler was the Affilia RN who went waaayyy out of her way to physically drive to the patient's home and pick up all of the supplies he needed...including a Milrinone bag and the tubing. She also stayed with the patient at his bedside for 20 minutes plus setting the entire system up and getting him ready for discharge. I would also like to point out this was all done from 530p - 730p on a Friday!!