A sweet patient was extremely anxious about being discharged to her Airbnb. She told Vanessa several times that she wouldn’t have any food until her daughter brought groceries at 9:00pm. Wanting to ease her transition, Vanessa went above and beyond by ordering a Walmart grocery delivery to be sent directly to her Airbnb. She even coordinated with the Airbnb host to ensure the shopper could place the groceries in the fridge before she arrived home.

Vanessa did all of this out of her own pocket—about $65—knowing that the patient had been struggling financially and had been on the phone with bill collectors throughout her stay.

When approached about reimbursement, Vanessa said, "I did it to help, but I don't want to cost Encompass anything. I had no prior authorization to do it. It was just to pay it forward, and I don't want anyone to go hungry."

This is a genuine example of living our values and caring for our patients beyond the bedside. What makes it even more remarkable is that Vanessa herself carries many responsibilities at home. Recently, she has been working extra shifts to replace household appliances that unexpectedly broke, yet she still chose to put a patient's needs above her own. Her act of quiet generosity and selflessness was extraordinary.