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Mary Klinge OPA Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas |
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On July 3, 2007, my mom was brought to St Joseph Memorial Hospital in Larned, Kansas, from the local nursing home. She was critically ill. She was dehydrated and having trouble maintaining her blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s disease complicated her condition. That evening, the emergency room was very busy but the staff was attentive and concerned. Soon after arriving, Mom was examined by the emergency room physician. Her attending physician came in and helped me weigh the option for transfer versus staying at St Joseph Memorial Hospital, as well as other end-of-life decisions. My questions were answered and we decided that Mom could be safely cared for at St Joseph’s, so she was admitted. During her six days in the hospital, Mom’s condition seemed to improve one day and deteriorate the next. Everything her attending physician said might happen, did indeed happen. But, most importantly, my mother received the attention she needed. The night before Mom died, I knew that I needed to be by her bedside. While she received exceptional care throughout her stay, I cannot say enough for the nurses who were on duty that night. They did everything they could to keep her comfortable. The nurses kept me informed through the night about Mom’s condition. At about 1:30 a.m., they told me she was in the dying process. They were concerned about Mom and about me, because I was there alone. The core value of compassion truly shone through. In fact, our core values were exemplified in every physician, nurse and ancillary professional who took care of Mom. It made me proud to work for an organization that not only has its values posted on the wall, but lives them on a daily basis. |
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Reverence Integrity Compassion Excellence |
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¨ Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) ¨ Central Kansas Medical Center ¨ Sister Peggy Martin OP, JCL, Senior Vice President, Sponsorship and Governance, Catholic Health Initiatives (1) CHI Photo, and (2) 2001 Leadership Letter ¨ Sister Mary Ann Klein OP Endowment Video on the Nursing Shortage ¨ Sr Terry Wasinger OP, RN, Family Birthing Unit, Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas ¨ Sr Malachy Stockhemer OP Volunteer, Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas ¨ Mary Klinge OPA, Central Kansas Medical Center, Great Bend, Kansas ¨ Sr Diane Traffas OP Catholic Health Initiatives, Minneapolis, Minn. (2000) |