2012 Patient First Award: Catherine Grissett and April Ortega
May 30, 2012
Catherine Grissett and April Ortega of TTP-OB-GYN shared the Patient Frist SPIRIT Award for helping TTP “deliver our
best to every patient at every encounter.”
A story submitted nominating Grissett and Ortega:
“A few months ago we had a patient who had recently delivered twins bring her children
to an appointment in pediatrics. The twins had some complications at birth and both
were on oxygen. As the woman came off the elevator, the front desk staff saw she didn’t
have anyone helping her and that she was struggling to carry a car seat in each hand
and the babies’ oxygen machines. She briefly spoke to the front desk staff about her
delivery before checking in at the pediatrics desk. As she was leaving the clinic
she again stopped to visit with the OB-GYN front desk staff who asked her if she had
any help with the two babies. She said she did not have any help, could not afford
a double stroller and that she was struggling to get her children around especially
with their oxygen machines. The woman told them she needed to get a prescription filled
at the pharmacy. April Ortega offered to help the woman carry her babies downstairs
to the pharmacy and then helped her get the babies out to the car. Catherine Grissett
began calling around to find a low cost stroller. She ultimately found one that was
$85 in her hometown of El Paso. Catherine frantically wrote down the number, and asked
me to run it down to the pharmacy to hopefully catch the patient. But Catherine was
concerned that the patient may not have $85, and she began asking the clinic staff
if they would pitch in. I hurried down to the pharmacy and found April and the new
mother there with the two babies still waiting on the prescription. I told the woman
that Catherine had found this place with a double stroller for $85 and she was very
appreciative. A woman working in the pharmacy overheard this conversation and asked,
‘Did you say you need a double stroller?’ The woman replied that she did. The pharmacy
employee told her that she had a double stroller that she no longer used and would
be happy to give it to the woman. The patient was ecstatic, proclaiming, ‘Thank you
Jesus!’ and on, and on…. It was a beautiful moment. While April and Catherine acted
with all the SPIRIT values, they did not do it because they had to or because it was
in their job description. April and Catherine helped this patient because they care
for our patients. I am proud to tell this story and to have them as staff in the OB-GYN
clinic.”
“A few months ago we had a patient who had recently delivered twins bring her children to an appointment in pediatrics. The twins had some complications at birth and both were on oxygen. As the woman came off the elevator, the front desk staff saw she didn’t have anyone helping her and that she was struggling to carry a car seat in each hand and the babies’ oxygen machines. She briefly spoke to the front desk staff about her delivery before checking in at the pediatrics desk. As she was leaving the clinic she again stopped to visit with the OB-GYN front desk staff who asked her if she had any help with the two babies. She said she did not have any help, could not afford a double stroller and that she was struggling to get her children around especially with their oxygen machines. The woman told them she needed to get a prescription filled at the pharmacy. April Ortega offered to help the woman carry her babies downstairs to the pharmacy and then helped her get the babies out to the car. Catherine Grissett began calling around to find a low cost stroller. She ultimately found one that was $85 in her hometown of El Paso. Catherine frantically wrote down the number, and asked me to run it down to the pharmacy to hopefully catch the patient. But Catherine was concerned that the patient may not have $85, and she began asking the clinic staff if they would pitch in. I hurried down to the pharmacy and found April and the new mother there with the two babies still waiting on the prescription. I told the woman that Catherine had found this place with a double stroller for $85 and she was very appreciative. A woman working in the pharmacy overheard this conversation and asked, ‘Did you say you need a double stroller?’ The woman replied that she did. The pharmacy employee told her that she had a double stroller that she no longer used and would be happy to give it to the woman. The patient was ecstatic, proclaiming, ‘Thank you Jesus!’ and on, and on…. It was a beautiful moment. While April and Catherine acted with all the SPIRIT values, they did not do it because they had to or because it was in their job description. April and Catherine helped this patient because they care for our patients. I am proud to tell this story and to have them as staff in the OB-GYN clinic.”