An email to Dr. Gulshan Sharma from Dr. Mukaila Raji, internal medicine—geriatrics:
“I just wanted to let you know the heart of Jennifer Young. She got a call at 7:26 this morning from one of the few patients that still have our personal numbers. The husband of a couple she takes care of called her because he was having shortness of breath and chest pain and did not know what to do.
“Jennifer called 911 on one phone while she kept him on her other phone. She tried to call family, and there was no answer. She left a message with the hospice company that takes care of the Mrs., as she would be left alone at home. She also reached out to our geriatric social worker who said that she would get by there to check on her.
“Jennifer had six patients this morning. And without a second thought she dropped everything and went out to the house to check on the wife by herself. She emptied her PureWick, gave her the morning meds, gave her water and coffee and breakfast and called the family again from her phone.
“She then made plans to come back in the afternoon to check on her again. In the meantime, the husband who was now at the hospital called to let Jennifer know how grateful he was and that he had a heart attack and they were rushing him to do an emergency stent.
“This couple loves Jennifer because she cares. She did not do this because she had to, she did not do this because it is part of her job. She does things like this because that's who she is and because she has the heart for geriatrics.
“When you're out there doing home-based Primary Care, these patients become family. It takes a special person, and she is one of them. I could not go the rest of the day without sending you this email and letting you know what a compassionate valued person we have in Jennifer Young.”
From Dr. Sharma: "Jennifer, your attentiveness in providing the necessary assistance to the husband, going out to check on the wife, preparing her breakfast and giving her medications is a display of compassion and empathy that we all aspire to. On behalf of the Health System Executive Leadership, we are proud to have you on our team. Our patients truly benefit from these kind gestures. This profession is truly a calling for you!"