Page 12 - CNF OCTOBER 2021

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

MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL SOUTH MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WEST

Kelly J. Charles, RN BSN Sonia Murray, RN

It’s the smiles on the faces of patients and family members A case manager for more than two decades, Sonia Murray
that Kelly Charles enjoys, since it tells her she’s brought says her co-workers are like family to her. “We all work well
relief to a stressful situation and comfort to individuals together and truly want to do our best for patients and fam-
thankful for her advocacy on their behalf. ilies. We support each other in good times and during the
Working primarily with cancer, transplant and LVAD more difficult periods and the efforts of the entire team lead
patients, Kelly focuses on ensuring a smooth transition to to good patient outcomes.” While COVID-19 has compli-
wherever the patient is discharged to. “I provide a step-by- cated the jobs of everyone in hospitals, Murray says she has
step plan, because it can be intimidating even when return- adapted to sharing instructions on the phone with coron-
ing to environments an individual is familiar with, let alone avirus patients and not having families on-site because of
traveling to be with relatives or going to skilled nursing visitation restrictions. She says every patient and situation is
different but that her knowledge of available resources and willingness to begin commu-
facilities. There are follow-up appointments and treatments, transportation issues, med-
nicating immediately is the key to a successful discharge and what comes after for the
ical equipment that needs to be set up, and medications needed to provide the best oppor-
tunity for a full recovery .” patient. “Educating family members is critically important to ensuring a smooth transi-
tion to home,” says Murray. “The reward for me is guiding the patient journey and help-
Charles has now been a case manager for more than seven years and a registered nurse
for 10. ing everyone with what they need.”

MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIRAMAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PEMBROKE

Leslie Lavoy, RN Tra’keisha Patrick, MSW, RCSWI

Wife, mother, student (RN-to-MSN), nurse, and case A social worker, Tra’keisha Patrick brings some different
manager, it’s all in a day’s work for Leslie Lavoy , and she skills to her case manager’s position at Memorial Hospital
wouldn’t have it any other way . A self-described “passionate Pembroke. “My social service background makes me very
case manager,” Lavoy enjoys interacting with patients and aware of the emotional side of what our patients and fami-
family members, advocating for them in situations that are lies are going through. I’m able to counsel and reassure
unfamiliar. “I speak with patients, call families, and often them through the situations they’re in.” During her two
round with physicians to be up to date with the patient's years on the job, Patrick has worked with intensive care,
plan of care. Communicating with the family and care team COVID-19, and telemetry units and learned about the
enables me to ensure that treatment plans are understood unique needs of each type of patient. She credits past expe-
and that discharge plans are followed.” Lavoy cites the abil- rience with helping her adapt to constantly-changing envi-
ity to communicate effectively , prior bedside nursing experi- ronments, which included getting up to speed on medical terminology, labs, and med-
ence, and a positive attitude as the keys to her success in case management, a role she ications that can be unique to each area’s charts.
took on in the past year. It’s especially important, she says, to remain calm while interact- “The medical component is very important,” said Patrick. “But it’s also vital to honestly
ing with families to prevent confusion and guarantee a safe patient discharge. communicate and bring the human level of caregiving to each patient interaction.”

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