Gratitude Stories - Patty
It was a typical workday in mid-September for clinical nurse Patty McHugh when she received a “low heart rate” alert on her Fitbit. She was feeling normal, no dizziness or weakness, so Patty continued tending to her patients for a period before mentioning her device’s detection to a colleague. At the colleague’s urging, Patty took an EKG at the clinic, which confirmed her bradycardia.
Patty needed further evaluation and a higher level of medical attention, and she chose to go to the emergency department at The Miriam—over two closer hospitals—because she knew she’d be in the best hands there; a family member had three surgeries at The Miriam over the years and their care was exceptional. Patty’s confidence in The Miriam paid off for her, too.
“I have had many, many ER experiences in my life,” she says, “and honestly this was the best one ever. From the minute I walked in, everyone was friendly, informative, on top of things, attentive, honest, respectful, and made me feel human and cared for!”
More specifically, Patty was administered another EKG upon arrival and had her vital signs assessed as her care team worked quickly to investigate the underlying cause of her bradycardia. They poured over blood test results, reviewed her medications, gathered family health history, and consulted with Patty’s personal cardiologist. It was a thorough, rapid, and coordinated response.
Ultimately, it was decided that Patty did not need to be admitted because she was stabilized soon and her numbers returned to normal. After several hours of careful observation, she was discharged from The Miriam’s ED with a plan to follow up with her cardiologist and explore other reasons her heart rate may have dipped. Sleep apnea and other conditions were discussed as possible culprits.
For Patty, the takeaways from her ED visit only strengthened what she already knew. “I got the impression from everyone I encountered at The Miriam that they genuinely loved their jobs. They were competent and skillful, but also compassionate and communicative,” she explains. “That’s the way an ER is supposed to work. I was floored by my experience at The Miriam. They are the crème de la crème.”