February 2018
Susan
Zeigler
,
RN, BSN, CDE
Diabetic Nurse Educator
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Madison
Madison
,
WI
United States
Sue was teaching her patient about his new Lantus insulin regimen. As she was finishing up the teaching session she noted that the patient's wife looked exhausted, as if she was drained of all her energy. She was concerned that the woman might be ill and began to gently question her about her health. Sue learned that the wife also had diabetes and took Lantus insulin. What Sue heard next was truly shocking: the woman disclosed that her insulin co-pay was $800 per month. Her husband had the same insurance and she was wondering how they could possibly afford the dual co-pays. The wife even told Sue that the situation "makes a person want to ration their insulin." Sue continued to talk to the patient's wife and she finally disclosed that she was only taking one-quarter of the prescribed insulin. Sue offered to call the couple's insurance company to inquire about more affordable insulin options.
Sue learned that the couple's insurance company's preferred insulin was Levemir with a co-pay of $80 per month. When the couple confirmed that they could easily afford the Levemir co-pay, Sue contacted their primary provider who, upon learning about the insurance coverage issues, promptly changed their insulin to Levemir.
When Sue told the couple about the provider changing their insulin to Levemir they were overjoyed. The wife became tearful and told Sue that she had no idea how much difference she had made in their lives. She shared that not only could they afford to take their insulin as prescribed, but now they could afford to travel to Texas to attend their grandson's wedding.
The therapeutic relationship that Sue forged with this couple went way beyond teaching them about insulin or even calling the insurance company and primary provider. She noticed that the wife wasn't well and was so attuned to her that she was able to make it safe for the woman to confide that she was only taking one-quarter of the insulin that was prescribed. Sue instantly realized she had two patients and took action. Sue would probably say, 'well any nurse would do that'. And that might very well be true, but that day Sue exemplified what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.
Sue learned that the couple's insurance company's preferred insulin was Levemir with a co-pay of $80 per month. When the couple confirmed that they could easily afford the Levemir co-pay, Sue contacted their primary provider who, upon learning about the insurance coverage issues, promptly changed their insulin to Levemir.
When Sue told the couple about the provider changing their insulin to Levemir they were overjoyed. The wife became tearful and told Sue that she had no idea how much difference she had made in their lives. She shared that not only could they afford to take their insulin as prescribed, but now they could afford to travel to Texas to attend their grandson's wedding.
The therapeutic relationship that Sue forged with this couple went way beyond teaching them about insulin or even calling the insurance company and primary provider. She noticed that the wife wasn't well and was so attuned to her that she was able to make it safe for the woman to confide that she was only taking one-quarter of the insulin that was prescribed. Sue instantly realized she had two patients and took action. Sue would probably say, 'well any nurse would do that'. And that might very well be true, but that day Sue exemplified what it means to be a DAISY Nurse.