After my father had an inpatient admission, I felt compelled to let you know about his care and the impact the staff had on his health care. My father’s treatment for CHF exacerbation started in the ED, where he was taken care of by a team of medical professionals. He was treated quickly, and the cardiologist was notified of the need for admission. I can’t say enough great things about the ED staff. The next morning, I was on the phone with my dad when Andrea Goodwin came to evaluate my dad. At the end of the visit, it was mentioned that we planned a trip to Yellowstone and Tetons in two days. Dad had already decided that he would not be able to go and would make plans to go next year. After a brief conversation with Andrea about how difficult it is to get a reservation in Yellowstone, Andrea said,” Hang on, I’ll be back.” Andrea left to talk about the possibility of my dad being able to make this bucket list trip.
What an amazing person! Andrea shifted from physical healthcare to being a patient advocate for my dad’s wish to make this trip. She got the entire care team to understand my dad’s situation and the limited time to do it. As my dad continued to improve, he began to believe he could make the trip. Andrea was determined to see this through. She requested that my dad be the first to be evaluated and discharged. She also requested to be his nurse the next day to prepare everything. Dad got to leave the hospital shortly after, and we headed west to Yellowstone. We had a great trip and added Mt Rushmore and the Badlands on the way home. On our way home, my dad said,” I may not always remember Andrea’s name, but I will never forget what she did for me.”