Keeping Patients Out Of The Emergency Room

For CHRISTUS Point of Light Clinic, treating patients with chronic conditions is a major focus of care. Robert*, a 41-year-old patient, came to the clinic feeling very ill. “His blood sugar was so high, I considered sending him to the ER,” said nurse practitioner Elizabeth Ryan. “He had no insurance and was very financially limited.”

Ryan was able to monitor him in the clinic for over two hours and treat him with insulin. “Many providers would not have had the time to monitor him and would have immediately sent him to the ER,” said Ryan. “Not only was I able to watch his sugar and vital signs, I was also able to teach him the basics of a diabetic diet, signs and symptoms of low and high blood glucose, and the side effects of diabetic medication.”

Through a special fund supported by the Foundation, Ryan was able to give Robert a $25 gift card to defray the cost of a glucometer. “The gift card was a nominal amount, but it allowed me to feel comfortable sending him home with instructions on how to care for his condition,” said Ryan. “That $25 kept him out of the ER, which freed a bed for someone else, eliminated an expensive bill for the patient and saved hospital resources. I was grateful for the Foundation’s support.”

Ryan and her team will continue to monitor Robert’s condition and guide him to better health.