Blessing Health System issued the following announcement on Aug. 26.
COVID-19 brought with it many changes to daily life - including the way people grieve.
Latisha Politte, RN, C3 on the Negative Pressure Unit, recently teamed up with four coworkers to help the family of a 99-year-old patient emotionally prepare for her passing.
The patient was admitted with respiratory distress. Based on the woman’s advanced age, the family requested supportive care for 24 hours. When there was no improvement in her condition within that time, the family requested the woman receive comfort care.
Because of COVID-19 visiting restrictions and the fact the woman was being cared for on NPU, family members would not be able to visit her. The attending physician gave one of the patient’s daughter’s Latisha’s contact information to schedule a video chat.
Latisha scheduled a Zoom call for the patient and 15 family members.
Because she had limited experience with Zoom, Latisha turned to Sarah Cole, Volunteer Services, for tips on setting up the call. Then, Lastisha practiced what she learned by testing the technology with a call to her coworker, Amy Byrd, Inpatient Care Coordination.
It worked. The link for the call was sent to family members, and Latisha and two more coworkers prepared the patient.
“What surprised me was how alert and oriented she was,” said Latisha. “When you are dealing with someone that close to end of life you might see some change in mental status. But she was just sharp as a tack."
The patient was also strong enough to be taken off BiPap and receive her oxygen through a nasal cannula so she could interact with her family members. Matt Beaver, RN, assisted with that part of the process.
Then, with an iPad from Blessing and the patient ready, the call took place. Stefanie Allen, CNA, assisted the patient and Latisha during the 10-minute call.
“They took turns, one at a time, saying their beautiful words to her. Lots of tears. It was incredible,” Latisha described of the interaction between the woman and her family.
A half-hour after the Zoom call, the patient passed away.
“The family needed that closure,” Latisha continued. “This was a really good use of technology. Blessing has done a nice job of coming up with the tools to keep patients connected with their families.”
Blessing teamwork is the foundation of the tools that keep patients and families connected.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Blessing Health System
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