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SALUTE TO CASE MANAGERS... SALUTE TO CASE MANAGERS... SALUTE TO CA

MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL SOUTH JOE DIMAGGIO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Claudia Patricia Gomez Bilicich, RN Janice Odom, BSN, RN

Getting rehabilitation patients back home to a safe envi- The uninterrupted time spent with patients, families, and
ronment is the finish line for Claudia Patricia Gomez the opportunity to make a real difference in their healthcare
Bilicich, but there are lots of steps she takes with families journey is what matters most to Janice Odom.
along the way. For the past four years the Gainesville native has “put the
Gomez Bilicich, who was an ICU nurse in the Memorial clinical pieces together” for those at Joe DiMaggio Children’s
Healthcare System before becoming a case manager, gets to Hospital. That can be everything from admission to discharge
know patients and caregivers during a day-of-admission and beyond, including reviewing treatment plans, medication,
interview. In the time that follows, she assesses levels of insurance, and the care required once a child leaves the
function, reviews plans, and measures progress, right up to Memorial facility. “For the parents of our patients, everything
and including discharge. After that, her focus shifts to what about having a sick child can be stressful, so I try to articulate
medical equipment might be necessary and planning outpa- everything, tie up loose ends, and assist in any way I can,” said Odom.
tient therapy or home health care. Odom credits her nurse’s training and certain personality traits that make her a fit
“The families are very thankful for the services we provide,” said Gomez Bilicich. for the case manager’s position. She follows through to complete tasks, has a strong
“They often say they would have had no idea what was available to them without the desire to problem solve, and has empathy for those in her care.
information we shared.”
Gomez Bilicich says she most enjoys the positive environment at Memorial
Regional Hospital South and the support and educational opportunities employees
receive. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WEST

Rosalyn Rodgers, RN Pamela Gaviola, MSN, RN, CCM,
CCRN (Alumnus)
Rosalyn Rodgers brings a variety of relevant experience
to her role as a case manager at the Memorial Healthcare Pamela Gaviola began her nursing career with
System’s rehabilitation hospital, a facility where she has Memorial Healthcare System as an ICU nurse in 2000,
spent the past seven years. She previously worked as a but made the switch to case management a few years
bedside nurse, insurance representative, disease manager, later and has never looked back. “It’s a different kind of
and in home health, but there’s another skill that her nursing I do now. Case managers aren’t as hands-on with
patients also appreciate. “Sometimes they just want a patients from a clinical perspective, but we are their
compassionate, understanding person that is willing to advocates, educators, and gatekeepers.”
listen.” Gaviola prides herself on taking ownership, along with
Rodgers assists patients that have suffered strokes by the family, of the patient’s affairs. That includes doing
being an advocate who understands medical issues, can navigate the insurance maze, daily assessments and evaluations, collaborating on care plans, arranging discharge
refer resources, and coordinate aspects of care, but, as importantly, provides a listen- needs, and assisting with insurance. Each day she strives to deliver safe, cost-effective,
ing ear for those under her care. She received the DAISY Award in May for high per- and better outcomes for both the patient and hospital.
formance and dedication and is an important part of multi-disciplinary teams of doc- “We’re focused on delivering the highest quality care and excellent customer satis-
tors, nurses, social workers, and rehabilitation therapists. faction,” Gaviola said. “I take every day as a blessing, so I go above and beyond what
“My satisfaction comes from seeing our patients come in at one level of functional- might be expected to make sure we help patients get through this rough patch in their
ity and leave at a higher performance level, whether that’s ambulation, mental stabil- lives.”
ity, or emotional health.”

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PEMBROKE
MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL

Gail Kitterman, RN Susan Kenick, RN

When Gail Kitterman first began doing case manage- Susan Kenick has worked in a wide variety of medical
ment work at Memorial Regional Hospital, there was no situations during a nursing career that has spanned nearly
department that coordinated those efforts, just a nurse 40 years, but it’s the last eight years as a case manager that
willing to get patients whatever resources might be avail- have been some of the most satisfying. “I enjoy meeting
able. “I wanted their needs met while they were here and patients and providing the resources that help them find
after they were safely discharged. That meant including their way. What I do makes their lives easier.”
the family in the process and making sure they had the Kenick connects with individuals within 24 hours of
necessary medical equipment, whether the patient was their admission and learns how they function at home. In
headed home or to another facility.” one case, she found that an elderly man was using an
Prior to discharge, Kitterman is part of the medical umbrella to help him get around, not knowing he was eli-
team, along with doctors and nurses, that ensures every- gible to receive a cane. Kenick helps coordinate insurance coverage for medical equip-
one delivering care stays on the same page. That includes reviewing charts, staying ment and makes sure discharged patients are set for the next leg of their healthcare
abreast of tests being run, and communicating with the staff on the floor. That team- journey, whether that’s at home, a skilled nursing facility, or acute rehab.
work, which also includes hospital administration, is what she enjoys best about the “There’s an old expression that people may not remember your name, but they’ll
work she does. remember what you did for them,” said Kenick. “I believe that.”
A nurse for nearly 40 years, Kitterman has only worked at Memorial Regional
Hospital. “I liked being here from day one and have never wanted to leave,” she said.

Coming Next Month...

National Hospice Month – Salute to Hospice Workers - Profiles
Palliative Care – Advancing Quality and Improving Costs
Healthcare Education Update – Institutions and Professionals • Medical Technology & HIT Update

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26 October 2018 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News