I would like to point out two recent instances in which Linda Elmquist, RN, displayed exceptional service to our veteran patients. First, a tracheostomy dependent patient with unresectable oropharyngeal cancer was admitted to a community hospital. The patient was ready for discharge to home hospice. The discharge was delayed several days as the VA was having difficulty obtaining home equipment for tracheostomy care and other supplies. The patient was despondent and tearful. He just wanted to go home to live out his last days. When contacted by the university, Nurse Elmquist took it upon herself to identify and communicate with key players in this process that would have otherwise taken several more days. She personally located and collected the miscellaneous supplies and subsequently arranged transport of the supplies to the patient. By the end of the day, the patient was home.
The second instance involves a patient with osteonecrosis of the mandible who needed a major reconstructive procedure to be done at a VA in another state. Nurse Elmquist went to great lengths to arrange transportation for this patient, who would have otherwise not been evaluated by the appropriate specialists. She maintained communication with the patient on a regular basis to ensure he did not miss his car or flight travel. Both of these instances took her several hours of research and telephone communication to ensure the necessary process was understood and subsequently performed to ensure the best care for our VA patients. There are many other examples where she took exemplary care of our patients.
In both of these instances, Nurse Elmquist went above and beyond the call of duty. A lesser person would not have assumed responsibility, and veteran care would have been unnecessarily delayed. Her empathy, compassion, and initiative are inspiring and motivating to our entire team.