Terri
Larson
November 2012
Terri
Larson
,
RN
Medical Home
Mayo Clinic Health System - Eau Claire
Eau Claire
,
WI
United States
Photo: Terri Larson (left) with Pam White, Chief Nursing Officer
“Fall through the cracks.” It’s an expression that makes you cringe because, sadly, you know it can happen. Patients sometimes require more than their medical needs addressed. What can one person do to make a difference?
For Terri Larson, a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, the answer is: a lot.
“She connected the dots and tied up loose ends as quickly as possible so (this patient) did not fall through the proverbial cracks,” says Lori Miller, Medical Home director, who nominated Larson for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
Larson works with Medical Home — a project with Mayo Clinic Health System and Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire to reengineer primary care. Medical Home emphasizes preventive services and care coordination.
This particular patient suffers from multiple physical and mental health issues. Larson contacted many community resources, searching for all options for the patient. “She was the patient’s partner,” Miller says. Larson went so far as to participate in an office visit with him and his medical provider so she more effectively could assist the patient in coordinating additional community resources based on the provider’s evaluation. “It was the right thing to do,” Larson says. “Nursing truly is a work of heart.”
Larson educated the patient, formulated a plan and kept in touch with him. Her efforts resulted in the patient obtaining his medication and ongoing medical care which, without her intervention, he likely would have done without. “She was driven by her awesome responsibility of what it means to serve others as their nurse,” Miller says.
When Larson first discovered this man’s situation, he felt understandably overwhelmed. He didn’t know where to turn. “Her work and commitment turned his hopelessness into hopefulness in knowing that someone cared about his situation as much as he did,” Miller says.
Larson credits her Medical Home team who assisted in tracking down resources to help this man not only get the medicine he needed, but even basic necessities, such as food to eat. “It was a real team effort,” Larson says. “I was never alone.” For Larson, nursing is a legacy she continues. Her mother was a nurse until age 70. “She’s now 79, and she still misses it,” Larson says. “I’ll feel guilty if I retire at 65.”
“Fall through the cracks.” It’s an expression that makes you cringe because, sadly, you know it can happen. Patients sometimes require more than their medical needs addressed. What can one person do to make a difference?
For Terri Larson, a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, the answer is: a lot.
“She connected the dots and tied up loose ends as quickly as possible so (this patient) did not fall through the proverbial cracks,” says Lori Miller, Medical Home director, who nominated Larson for the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.
Larson works with Medical Home — a project with Mayo Clinic Health System and Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire to reengineer primary care. Medical Home emphasizes preventive services and care coordination.
This particular patient suffers from multiple physical and mental health issues. Larson contacted many community resources, searching for all options for the patient. “She was the patient’s partner,” Miller says. Larson went so far as to participate in an office visit with him and his medical provider so she more effectively could assist the patient in coordinating additional community resources based on the provider’s evaluation. “It was the right thing to do,” Larson says. “Nursing truly is a work of heart.”
Larson educated the patient, formulated a plan and kept in touch with him. Her efforts resulted in the patient obtaining his medication and ongoing medical care which, without her intervention, he likely would have done without. “She was driven by her awesome responsibility of what it means to serve others as their nurse,” Miller says.
When Larson first discovered this man’s situation, he felt understandably overwhelmed. He didn’t know where to turn. “Her work and commitment turned his hopelessness into hopefulness in knowing that someone cared about his situation as much as he did,” Miller says.
Larson credits her Medical Home team who assisted in tracking down resources to help this man not only get the medicine he needed, but even basic necessities, such as food to eat. “It was a real team effort,” Larson says. “I was never alone.” For Larson, nursing is a legacy she continues. Her mother was a nurse until age 70. “She’s now 79, and she still misses it,” Larson says. “I’ll feel guilty if I retire at 65.”