Day Kimball Healthcare Medical Staff Go the Extra Mile, Saving a Patient’s Life
09/25/2019Day Kimball Healthcare (DKH) is full of amazing people that come to work every day to serve our community. There are countless stories of medical staff and employees going above and beyond the call of duty for patients on a daily basis. Here is Elizabeth’s story.
Pomfret Center resident, Elizabeth Morin, 67, found herself in immediate need of a medical examination due to an infected wound on her leg. However, it was a Sunday and the local physician offices were closed.
That did not stop Day Kimball Hospital’s affiliated Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Raja Fattaleh, who opened his office doors for Mrs. Morin upon receiving a pleading call from a family member who was one of his patients.
After careful examination and reviewing her complicated medical history, Dr. Fattaleh recognized the gravity of Mrs. Morin’s condition and contacted the Hospital’s laboratory, which already had closed for the day. In an effort to get her in after hours for a blood draw, he explained the urgency to the lab’s medical technologist, Laura Wittenberg, who made accommodations to have her come right in.
Dr. Fattaleh personally escorted Mrs. Morin to the lab. Mrs. Morin’s blood draw was more challenging than normal, but Wittenberg and phlebotomist Leslie Taylor were able to successfully complete the draw. “Kudos to the lab techs who drew my blood. I have always been a difficult stick,” said Mrs. Morin.
A few hours later, the hospital staff phoned Dr. Fattaleh to inform him of Mrs. Morin’s critical lab results. They indicated that she was in acute kidney failure with a life-threatening potassium level. Dr. Fattaleh had her immediately admitted to the hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
“I thank God for Dr. Fattaleh. It was the first time I met him, and he did everything he could to save my life. I can’t say enough how grateful I am to DKH and its team of experienced medical staff and employees. I have always come here for my medical care including the births of my three children,” said Mrs. Morin.
“It was a team effort,” said Dr. Fattaleh. “We are all part of an integrated system. That’s one reason I have stayed at DKH. We have exceptional physicians and staff who assist each other in caring for our patients.”
Dr. Fattaleh praised the lab technicians who helped save Mrs. Morin’s life. Delaying the lab work even another day could have meant her demise. “Had it not been for the accommodation by the lab team, I shudder to think of the consequences for Mrs. Morin,” said Dr. Fattaleh.
Currently, Mrs. Morin is back home with her family and recovering well.
“It’s such a relief to have immediate access to medical staff and employees who are willing to go above and beyond for their patients,” said Mrs. Morin. “I am so thankful for my community hospital.”
Taking the time to meet a patient’s needs, as Dr. Fattaleh and the laboratory team did, is one of many extraordinary examples of going the extra mile found in your local community hospital, Day Kimball Hospital.
Our certified and dedicated diagnostics professionals, accredited facilities, and integrated network ensure that you’ll receive the highest quality, most efficient and reliable testing available, in a convenient and comfortable environment.
Located on the main floor of the Hospital, our outpatient laboratory services include: routine lab work, glucose tolerance testing, specimen drop off, and pick up of collection kits. And our blood draw locations at the Day Kimball Healthcare Centers in Danielson, Putnam and Plainfield also offer experienced phlebotomists and convenient access to the full range of testing offered at our Hospital.
Our lab services are accredited by The Joint Commission, the College of American Pathologists, and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
Dr. Raja Fattaleh is a Family Medicine Physician affiliated with Day Kimball Healthcare and is accepting new patients of all ages.