Susan Patterson Defines Dedication

As a rule, new physicians at Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital must attend an orientation before they start their first shift, because clinical systems and protocols can change from hospital to hospital. It’s just best practice to get an overview before patient care begins.

Recently, we had a new physician scheduled to work on a Saturday who hadn’t received that training yet. Staff tried for a weekday orientation, but finally determined that a Saturday 7 a.m. session would be necessary. Educator Susan Patterson was contacted, and though she usually works Monday through Friday, Susan agreed to come in early on Saturday morning. Staff discovered later that Susan was, in fact, going out of town and delayed her plans to help. At 4:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, the medical staff office got word that the physician needed to change his arrival time to 11:30 a.m. instead of 7 a.m. on Saturday. Susan was contacted again with the change of time and asked if she could still make it.

Susan said, “I thought about it as if I had someone I loved coming to the ED. Would I want a physician seeing them who hadn’t been trained or oriented?”

She immediately agreed to come in and changed her plans. Instead of going to her lake house for the weekend she gave the orientation that was needed.

“Susan’s actions remind us that the patient should always be the first priority, even if your decisions are not directly affecting them,” said LaChanda Maxie, medical staff services manager, who nominated Susan for a WOW Moment.

We applaud Susan for her patients-first work ethic!

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