A story of support
A story of going above & beyond
Throughout the pandemic our Main Line Health and Bryn Mawr Hospital (BMH) teams are deeply committed to making sure every patient feels seen, and that can sometimes go beyond medical needs and cross over into something more. This dedication was demonstrated recently by a BMH physician and nurse manager who both stepped up in unexpected ways to help a patient.
Shared by a Bryn Mawr Hospital employee: A Spanish speaking patient had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and was being discharged to quarantine at home. The interpreter technology was having difficulty printing home care instructions in Spanish. Knowing how vital it is for every patient to understand their post-care needs, one of BMH’s physicians – who is fluent in Spanish – visited with the patient and translated the instructions and medication information into Spanish on the spot. The doctor then reviewed the information in detail to make certain the patient understood the at home care.
At this point, the physician discovered that the patient had not been able to get a ride home and the hospital’s usual ride share service could not take the patient. The doctor assisted the patient in downloading a ride share app and calling for a ride. Abruptly, the ride share was cancelled so, still by the patient’s side, our dedicated doctor used her personal account to order a second ride. That ride was consequently cancelled as well. The Hospital floor’s nurse manager saw the difficulty this patient was having in finding a way home and made the decision to drive the patient to their house herself, using all precautions for COVID.
It was a true team effort and the patient was able to get home safely with a clear understanding of what they needed to do in order to care for themselves. These staff members definitely went above and beyond to deliver superior care, and this is just one of the many reasons our community trusts BMH to care for them.
A story of celebration
Main Line Health (MLH) and Bryn Mawr Hospital (BMH) have continued to care for patients with medical needs beyond COVID-19 during the pandemic. Outpatient care for those fighting cancer, though undergoing adjustments to further protect this vulnerable population, has been ongoing. And there are times when outpatient care must transition to inpatient care in order to reach the best possible outcome for our patients. With specific guidelines in place to protect our community, this often means visitors cannot enter the hospital with their loved ones. Thankfully, our team has adapted and still found ways to safely celebrate the small joys of life.
Shared by a Bryn Mawr Hospital employee: A patient who had been routinely visiting BMH for his cancer treatment had to be admitted for several days. His family hoped he would be discharged before his birthday, just a few days away, but that was not going to be the case. This did not stop our care team and the patient’s family from planning a surprise for the patient. The celebration started at lunch time on his birthday, BMH staff sang happy birthday to him from his doorway. The Dietary Dept. sent him cupcakes with his lunch and his nurse practitioner brought him his favorite frozen yogurt. This alone brought a smile to the patient’s face, but he still did not know what was to come. At 2 p.m., his nurse started to get him ready for a quick trip downstairs to the Warden Lobby. Just outside the lobby doors he was met by more than a dozen family members who were wearing masks, practicing social distancing and holding signs, including several grandchildren proudly displaying a banner that read “Happy Birthday Pop.” It was very heartwarming and truly amazing to see everyone come together to make this happen. Tears were shed by everyone involved. These are the stories that make MLH and BMH such a wonderful place to give and receive care!
A story of seeing through
Mental illness comes without casts, x-rays or thermometers. It’s hidden in the places we love, the neighborhoods we call home and the institutions we support. And no matter how commonplace it may be, it’s tougher to see behavioral health needs than many think. One in four residents of our community lives with a mental illness, impacting over 375,000 individuals and their loved ones. Tending to those with mental health needs has been a priority of ours since we first opened our Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at Bryn Mawr Hospital (BMH) in 1985. And while we’ve helped many patients, the need for behavioral health services continues to escalate.
Main Line Health’s Seeing Through Campaign supports our unique position to see patients through to wellness and recovery. Our goal is to raise $10 million to expand the current inpatient unit at BMH by doubling the number of patients that can be treated and expanding accessibility to a safe, comfortable, warm and healing environment. The expanded two-floor Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit will feature:
- 40 private rooms
- Group therapy spaces
- Nursing stations
- Exam rooms
- Exercise rooms
- Consult, physician, social work & staff offices
- Plus dining rooms & staff lounges
The impact of 40 beds is immeasurable, though as a starting point it will mean that BMH can treat twice the number of patients each and every year who require inpatient care for their behavioral health needs. This expansion will be the first pivotal step of our long-term plan to broaden and sustain our behavioral health services. Construction on the Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit at BMH will begin after Labor Day 2020, with an expected opening in early 2022.
Visit online to learn more about Behavioral Health services at Main Line Health, and keep an eye out in future editions of Impact for ways to support this vital expansion. With your support, we can see the unseeable and treat the untreated. Together we can make a difference.