Matt develops relationships with patients and their families, spends time in the room talking with them, runs out and puts money in their parking meter, and has even helped a patient get her motorcycle moved to the appropriate place in the parking garage when she found out she was getting admitted. He always has a neat fact about something he learned while getting to know his patients, pays attention to the little things, and takes the time to do so even though he may not always have it.
A 78 year old gentleman presented to our facility with complaints of chest pain. He arrived via personal vehicle, and Matt took a wheelchair outside and brought the patient to his room. Some of the comments received from the patient and family were that he made everything easy, took time to explain things, and provided outstanding care. This patient was from out of town, thus was understandably anxious.
Upon initial registration his last name was misspelled. Matt quickly got it corrected, and was very reassuring to both the patient and his family during their time in the unit. The family reported that he was extremely professional, yet personable enough to have everyone comfortable enough to laugh in spite of the circumstances. They stated that he helped the patient become pain free very quickly, and was frequently in the room to keep them informed of exactly what was going on with their loved one's care.
The patient and his wife have been together since the 3rd grade and were clearly inseparable. Matt was compassionate and intuitive enough to recognize this bond and took the time to comfort them every step of the way.
When the patient was ready to be transferred to a different room, Matt informed them of the transfer process, let them know the name of the nurse that they would have on the different unit, and transported the patient himself. Once in the room, he introduced the family to the receiving nurse and gave a very thorough bedside report. The comment that stemmed from this was that "it could not have been better orchestrated". It was a very smooth transition and everyone felt very well taken care of.
What makes Matthew Allen stand out is that this level of nursing is a constant for him. The care of this patient was well underway prior to his even being aware that the patient's family member is an employee at TUMC. This speaks volumes to the fact that he treats everyone the same regardless of where they are from or who they may know. He is a consistent example of how to treat others, and definitely sets the bar for all aspects of patient care.