Kelli Harwell
September 2021
Kelli
Harwell
,
BSN, RN
Internal Medicine Endocrinology Clinic
The University of Kansas Health System
Kansas City
,
KS
United States
I don’t know how she did it! I am now with a great company that, so far, has delivered my Dexcom supplies on time, without any complications, and it’s all thanks to Kelli’s research, efforts, and persistence!
As a patient in numerous specialty clinics, I’ve had appointments, procedures and both outpatient/inpatient surgeries at the University of Kansas Hospital during the past six years. During this time, I’ve interacted with literally hundreds of nurses, but there’s a special RN who recently stood out for her extraordinary efforts: Kelli Harwell.
What do I think makes Kelli so deserving of a DAISY Award? As a fairly new Type 1 Diabetic, I’ve struggled with getting supplies (as do many others) for my Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) since receiving it about three years ago. I went from ordering from a sub-contractor, or DME as you call them in the medical world, to DEXCOM after two years of frustration, then was transitioned back to the same DME during COVID. There were many problems with the DME, but the worst was the delay in getting supplies on a regular basis. I would sometimes go for six-eight weeks without my CGM due to inefficiencies on the DME side. This was a serious issue for me as my blood sugar tends to drop very low, and without my Dexcom, I was nervous about slipping into a coma during the night!
Here’s where Kelli comes in. After speaking with a PA at Cray about needing a different company, Kelli took on the case of trying to find a supplier who would take my insurance and get me established with them. She spent several weeks and countless hours on the phone with my previous provider and new potential DMEs until discovering a small company based out of Nebraska that takes my insurance. She was relentless in her efforts to make sure I had the supplies I needed and that all the paperwork was in order, all while keeping me informed and of course, taking care of her other patients. I don’t know how she did it! I am now with a great company that, so far, has delivered my Dexcom supplies on time, without any complications, and it’s all thanks to Kelli’s research, efforts, and persistence!
In addition to Kelli’s help with this particular issue, every time I have a question or need assistance, she’s responsive, knowledgeable, and super sweet. I truly appreciate her amazing dedication and caring attitude and want to recognize her as a stand-out on the Cray team!
What do I think makes Kelli so deserving of a DAISY Award? As a fairly new Type 1 Diabetic, I’ve struggled with getting supplies (as do many others) for my Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) since receiving it about three years ago. I went from ordering from a sub-contractor, or DME as you call them in the medical world, to DEXCOM after two years of frustration, then was transitioned back to the same DME during COVID. There were many problems with the DME, but the worst was the delay in getting supplies on a regular basis. I would sometimes go for six-eight weeks without my CGM due to inefficiencies on the DME side. This was a serious issue for me as my blood sugar tends to drop very low, and without my Dexcom, I was nervous about slipping into a coma during the night!
Here’s where Kelli comes in. After speaking with a PA at Cray about needing a different company, Kelli took on the case of trying to find a supplier who would take my insurance and get me established with them. She spent several weeks and countless hours on the phone with my previous provider and new potential DMEs until discovering a small company based out of Nebraska that takes my insurance. She was relentless in her efforts to make sure I had the supplies I needed and that all the paperwork was in order, all while keeping me informed and of course, taking care of her other patients. I don’t know how she did it! I am now with a great company that, so far, has delivered my Dexcom supplies on time, without any complications, and it’s all thanks to Kelli’s research, efforts, and persistence!
In addition to Kelli’s help with this particular issue, every time I have a question or need assistance, she’s responsive, knowledgeable, and super sweet. I truly appreciate her amazing dedication and caring attitude and want to recognize her as a stand-out on the Cray team!