Emergency Care Advisory
From crisis to care: handling an emergency
Lorraine, 74 years old, Miami
SITUATION
Lorraine, 74, lives in Miami. She suffers from diabetes and heart disease, which complicate her medical needs. Additionally, she faces significant challenges as she is nearly blind and has hearing difficulties. Wellworth manages her care in conjunction with her live-in aide and nine different doctors. We also collaborate with her financial advisors to plan for the expenses associated with long-term care.
One evening, Lorraine slipped while getting out of the shower, falling and hitting her head on the tile floor. She could move, but her forehead and face were bleeding. Her aide called 911 — and then called us.
SUPPORT
Since we create emergency plans for every client at the beginning of their relationship with Wellworth, Lorraine was already a few steps ahead in this urgent situation. As part of the plan, we give patients a list of their health information to bring to the ER in an emergency and a decision tree of what to do in different situations.
Lorraine’s emergency plan included an escalation protocol with everything from her current medications to her ongoing treatments to direct contact information for her family members and doctors. Because we had this detailed plan in place, our team was ready to take immediate action to support her and she knew what to do.
Considering her medical situation, we advised her to go to a specific emergency room. Following this, we contacted the ER directly. We spoke with the charge nurse and attending physician, providing them with critical health information, including Lorraine’s current medications, medical history, and her team of doctors. Additionally, we arranged for a private duty nurse to accompany Lorraine while she was in the ER.
Over the next several hours, as Lorraine received treatment at the hospital, the Wellworth team provided updates to Lorraine’s family and her external doctors. We connected her primary care physician directly to the doctors in the hospital to help her get the best possible care.
OUTCOME
When Lorraine was ready to be discharged, we coordinated the next steps. We arranged for robust follow-up care in her home, scheduled an appointment with a plastic surgeon, and arranged for a dermatology consult. Meanwhile, we continued to monitor and manage Lorraine’s other health issues.
With Wellworth’s hands-on support, Lorraine and her family know she is in great hands. Even in an emergency, everything went smoothly because she had three health advisors working in unison to guide her care. Our close relationships with Lorraine’s medical team and her family allow us to provide an unmatched level of personalized service.