Focus Ridgeview Foundation
Spring | 2015
Compassionate care: ‘It’s what we do here’
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idgeview has a long history of being recognized for providing the highest quality of care … and for doing so with kindness, compassion and intuition to every patient and family member, even in the most unexpected situations. Ann McKinnon lives in North Carolina, so when she received a call from Ridgeview in November 2014 saying her 65-year-old dad, Doug, was at the hospital after being found driving erratically in Norwood Young America she was more than concerned. Not only was she living far away in North Carolina, but her dad was the sole caregiver for her developmentally disabled and handicapped brother, Steven. She had no other family in Minnesota to comfort her brother while her dad was being treated at Ridgeview for vascular dementia and multiple strokes. When Doug arrived via Ridgeview Ambulance with Steven, the Emergency Department staff assessed the situation. They quickly determined that Steven should not be separated from his dad. They realized the best support for Doug, as he received inpatient care, was to reassure him that son Steven was right alongside him, just like he always was. One of Doug’s nurses, Beth Stender, RN, CICU, explains: “We typically don’t have two patients in a room, but Doug and Steven needed each other. We just had to make it work.” While his physicians and nurses took care of Doug, Beth helped Steven feel comfortable
Ann McKinnon with her brother, Steven. Photo courtesy of Sarah Grace Photography. and settle into a chair right next to his dad’s bedside. She also had his clothes laundered and found DVDs for him to watch. The nursing team continued to watch over Steven, and spent time helping him relax with movies and be less anxious so he would eat and rest. Miles away, Ann says this compassionate care was such a comfort to her. “It was difficult being so far away, but the doctors and nurses helped me navigate this situation. It was a blessing knowing they were both being cared for so well.” Ann was so appreciative that she wrote an email to Robert Stevens, Ridgeview president and CEO, before Thanksgiving. She wanted to express her thanks to everyone who went
above and beyond for her family, and to tell them how much it meant to her. She did not expect to hear back from Ridgeview nor its CEO, but did so almost immediately. She summed up his response: “That’s what we do here.” On a recent trip back to Minnesota, Ann had the opportunity to personally thank the Ridgeview nurses and staff who cared for her dad and brother. Ann urges others to support the work done at Ridgeview. “Giving to Ridgeview can create more experiences like mine. You are supporting folks who, like my dad, didn’t have resources to pay for medical care. And it makes sure Ridgeview is here for your family, too.”