“When you’re here, you’re family.”

The extended medical care unit (EMCU) is a lot like Olive Garden, “When you’re here, you’re family.” Not only is the staff family, but our patients are also.

Personally, I have had the pleasure of working on EMCU since we opened our doors eleven years ago. I know even on my worst day, everyone will have my back-which is one of the many reasons I stay.  

We are often given difficult patients and work hard to excel with them. Recently we had one of those difficult patients. This patient stayed with us for 97 days. During that time, we were physically and verbally assaulted by her, but that did not change the care we provided. It was a difficult time, but our staff grew as a unit.  Everyone that was involved with her worked together to provide the best care possible. This included EVS, Case Managers, Nurses, Patient Care Assistants, Unit Clerks, Unit Coordinators, Social Work, Providers, etc. When the patient left, we threw her and her mother a going away party. We decorated her room and wheelchair, ordered lunch to have together and then had cake and ice cream to celebrate together as a family.  

Our unit has also done many other amazing things to provide our patients with a feeling that they are a part of our family. The following are a couple of examples of how our team works together to help give our patients the best possible outcome:

• We get together to make blankets to give to patients that have been on the unit for a while or just need a pick me up.
• We have a closet full of clothes that have been donated by staff members to give to patients in need.
• We also have a tub of toiletries for patients to help them feel good during their stay.  
• Recently we had a patient that we were having a difficult time finding placement for. He was going to be staying for a while. He would “golf” with his cane and a golf ball that he had in his room. One of our nurses brought in a portable putting green and putter for him to use during his stay.  
• An example of exceptional teamwork happened last week right after shift change when one of our patients was not doing well. The patient’s nurse and the charge nurse were in the room for several hours. The unit was short-staffed that day and every staff member on the unit helped in one way or another. Other nurses were helping pass medications while the nurse was busy in her room. The PCA’s were making sure call lights were getting answered and helping in any way possible. Everyone on the unit came into the room at some point in time to offer assistance and check to see if there was anything else they could do.  

These are just a few of the many examples that make the Extended Medical Care Unit such an amazing team and why once again, “When you’re here, you’re family.”