Healthcare provider delivers holistic care to expecting mother

Holistic medicine is an approach to health care that considers the whole person – one's mind, spirit and body – when determining the appropriate care for that person.

A good example was seen recently at the Lovelace Women’s Hospital Clinic.

Towards the end of his shift, Mathew Burriel, RN cared for a young lady who was seen for nausea and vomiting. Even though she was being discharged, the young lady was very upset because she was approximately eight weeks pregnant. She had suffered a miscarriage a few months earlier and was very afraid her illness would affect her unborn child. She had told the provider that she was scared she was going to lose this pregnancy but was advised to make a follow-up appointment with her OB provider.

Burriel did his best to console the crying and distraught patient, even speaking to the provider to advocate for her need to verify the baby was healthy. Unfortunately, the patient did not meet the criteria for an ultrasound and would have to visit her OB provider later in the week.

On the way back to the treatment room, Burriel’s co-worker Stephanie Chappel, RN overheard the situation and offered a solution. With the patient’s permission, Chappel used a fetal doppler so the patient could hear her baby’s heartbeat.

Chappel took the time and found the baby’s heartbeat, which could be heard strong and clear. The healthy sounds relieved the expectant mother, who left calm and thankful that both nurses took the time to address her needs.

Healthcare providers at our hospitals are trained to address all aspects of a patient’s well-being and find solutions for the patient, even solutions that require thinking “out of the box.” Chappel’s quick thinking and genuine concern for the holistic care of this patient, even during a high-volume day, was exceptional and commendable.

This is one more example of our purpose: Caring for people; our patients, our communities and one another.