Valerie Hughes
February 2019
Valerie
Hughes
,
BSN, RN, CCM
Care Link Care Now
Christiana Care Health System
Newark
,
DE
United States

 

 

 

It would be so difficult to provide just one example of how Valerie has made a difference in the life of a patient and/or family, as this is what she does all day long with every patient!
She is an embedded Carelink nurse in the Primary Care Office of HCCMAP2. I happen to share an office with her and I hear her speak on the phone to between 30-40 patients a day, helping to check in on them, explain labs or new medications, facilitate setting up home care, preventing ED visits and/or hospitalizations by arranging to have the patient seen by their PCP for an evolving issue and even being called into patient's rooms for face to face consults.
She comes to work every day with a smile, a positive attitude, and a team spirit, that encourages all of us to raise each other up to excellence. She embodies what it means to be a great nurse.
Valerie is a valuable member of our huge team. We have 22 providers in the office whom she helps support. She recently passed her Certified Case Manager exam and helps support all our patients who need help and support when they get discharged from the hospital. She keeps all the providers up to date on their individual patients and is always there to lend a hand and get our patients or staff the assistance they need. She is a valuable resource for this large team of providers and we all benefit by having her here on site!
She is so on top of working with patients and has a great rapport with providers in the office while also providing wellness activities to the group.
Valerie is by far the most dynamic caregiver whom I have ever worked with. Her ability to connect with patients and families has tremendously impacted our ability to care for our patients at MAP2 primary care.
I have one patient with Down Syndrome, suspected OSA, and a recent diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Prior to surgery, she would tremendously benefit from CPAP and through persistence, she was able to get sleep study covered, supplies delivered to group home to ensure the best surgical outcomes for patients.
She connects with many of our patients virtually and teaches patients how to use the computer and be connected.
Lastly, she has the ability to really connect with patients and help with medication and diet adherence. These key areas help patients have better outcomes and less utilization.
She is always going above and beyond for our patients. She is always willing to call my patients to check on them and report back to me if she has any further recommendations. She is available at all times during the day and jumps into complicated situations with a smile. When I had a complicated family, she started brainstorming right away with me and gave them the support they needed. She is a positive person in our office and brings the morale up greatly.