In a recent letter to Park City Hospital leaders, a man shared his gratitude for the wonderful and lifesaving care he received while a patient at the hospital. “I’m a recovering COVID-19 patient, discharged after a long stay at your facility. Because of the phenomenal care I received from your staff, I didn’t become a statistic on the negative side.”
The patient said he was in a high-risk group with many pre-existing conditions. As his condition worsened and he began to struggle with the disease, he asked not to be placed on a ventilator—a request that required a different approach to the care he’d receive. The patient said in his letter, “Your staff respected my decision, warned me of the possible complications, and committed to save my life.”
When the patient ultimately recovered, he reflected on some of the caregivers who looked after him during his hospital stay: “Your staff in every capacity are held in my highest regard. They were sincere in my care and I never felt patronized. Their care was sincere and full of optimism. Katie [Peabody], Kim [Benuska], and Emily [Mlupi] (to name a few) were truly remarkable. Katie kept me informed of my daughter's phone calls, as I couldn’t speak, responded to any needs I had, and made me smile with her words of encouragement. She wheeled me to the curb upon my discharge and I felt quite emotional, although happy to go home. Kim made me feel great with her constant care and contagious laugh. Emily’s stories of her travels and journey to Park City were uplifting. The doctors were all fantastic and I appreciated being spoken to in an intellectual tone … They always displayed a sense of optimism in my recovery.”
Connecting with patients in a compassionate way improves care. “It’s so important to take time to connect with our patients and whenever possible involve them in their plan of care needs,” says Shelley Egley, system director of patient advocacy. “Park City caregivers took time to understand what was important to this patient and did their best to meet his needs. The patient was very grateful to both the caregivers and advances in treatment and medications that all contributed to a positive outcome.”
“Your staff saved my life and simple words can’t convey the sense of gratitude I have for Park City Hospital and the entire staff,” the patient said.
Sharpen your Compassionate Connections skills by completing the Computer Based Training in My Learning or reviewing the Compassionate Connections website.