"too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around"
- Leo Buscaglia
GSS MRI Team
July 2nd I was so proud of our MRI team!
It was all hands on deck because we had a patient coming in who they knew would be challenging for reasons beyond her own control.
Dr. Harvey had gone out of her way to accommodate the patient’s concerns about the metal in a biopsy clip . She and biopsy coordinator Peggy Petenbrink arranged for ceramic clips.
It was a challenge from the start. The patient gave Mary H, MRI team lead, a hard time about not being able to use the bathroom during the procedure which led to being upset that Mary clicked her pen too much. When I went to the waiting room to ask how she was doing she loudly said she did not want Mary working on her because clearly there was something wrong with Mary who clicked her pen and denied her bathroom access during the test.
When Valerie inserted the IV for contrast the patient dramatically told her it was the worst stick she had ever had.
After much work the team had the patient lined up on the table, held their breath and started moving the patient into the tube. Suddenly the patient started screaming they had to stop! It turns out she had magnets in her underpants as a part of “Eastern” medicine. She had forgotten to tell Valerie about them when she was asked about metal.
Mary swung into action for the safety of everyone involved. Pulled the table & patient out of the tube and got them away from the machine in seconds. Everyone was safe, the machine was fine. She comforted the patient and got everyone in order to get the procedure moving again.
While Val & Lauren comforted the patient, Mary & Dr. Harvey worked steady and calm as a team and the biopsy was successfully completed.
Our team Mary, Lauren, Saline, Valerie & Dr. Harvey pulled together in a way that took my breath away dealing with a patient who was frustrating on the surface but when you drilled deeper, she is heartbreaking. These ladies took a great deal of verbal punishment from the patient and they managed to support each other in supporting our patient. Beautifully. It was a privilege to be there with them. - Kate Pisano