I’ll be the first to admit that I was not the biggest fan of opening a behavioral health unit at SJN. Now, 15 months after the UPM opening, I’m one of the unit’s biggest cheerleaders. If you were to ask what changed my mind, it is the incredible team and the difference they are making far beyond the walls of 3 East. 

Let’s start with the work that is happening on the unit. There are countless stories of lives saved. I remember one patient in particular who had been admitted to the unit and discharged home. Sometime later, the patient had a return of his suicidal thoughts. Due to the trust the patient developed during his inpatient stay; he called the unit. Through excellent collaboration, the team was able to work together to get the patient the help he needed while keeping him safe. 

Mental illness does not discriminate. They’ve cared for prestigious community members, doctors, team members, and many more, while maintaining dignity and respect. There are numerous encounters in which the UPM team makes a difference for those they serve. A mother shared with me an experience about her son, who faced a mental health crisis for the first time. This was completely unexpected and traumatic for the entire family. It also occurred during Thanksgiving, turning a time of celebration into a time of darkness. After several days on our unit, the patient was discharged back home with his family. Several months later, the patient continues to do well. The family attributes this continued survival to the compassion, attentiveness, calmness, and extra special touches provided by the 3 East team. 

I’m often impressed by the unit’s desire to do and learn more. Over the last 15 months, several more medical inclusions have been added to the unit criteria. This takes careful planning and additional training. Instead of saying “We can’t take that here”, the answer turns to “Let’s figure out how we can take care of that patient safely”. The continued growth of 3 East makes the team not only an asset to SJN but also across the system. 

The 3 East team has become invaluable to our hospital by going above and beyond their call of duty. This has included attending code greys, helping de-escalate difficult patient situations, providing education, and expanding the role of our psychiatrists to see medical patients in need. 

It is my pleasure to nominate the 3 East UPM team for the DAISY Team Award. While I used to be conflicted about the unit opening, I now don’t know what we would do without them.