These calls are never simple

Blessing Health System’s COVID-19 Hotline nurses make calls to those who have pending COVID-19 tests and share the test results. The report is either “positive” or “negative.”

Sounds simple enough.

These calls are not simple. COVID-19 is not simple. The virus changes lives.

Just ask Melissa Roush. She works in Blessing’s Information Systems department full time, applying the clinical and critical thinking she developed as a registered nurse to help develop the bedside computer systems that improve the health of our communities. 

During COVID-19, Melissa saw another need and temporarily changed job responsibilities. She is serving as part of the team that makes Hotline calls to people about their COVID-19 test results.

Melissa’s calls impact lives, including hers.

Recently she called a single mom. The mom provides the only financial support for multiple children. Melissa had to tell the mom that one of her children was COVID-19 positive and all had to quarantine. The mom shared with Melissa what that meant to the family. She would lose her job. With a car payment due in three days, she would also lose the family car.

Melissa’s job was done. Nothing else she could do, right?

Wrong.

Melissa immediately called Ann Awerkamp Dickson, administrative director, Blessing Foundation. The Foundation raises, manages and disperses donations on behalf of Blessing Health System patients with unmet needs.

“Melissa called me and began to cry,” Ann said. Melissa shared with Ann the family’s story.

“I told her it would be taken care of,” Ann continued.

On her way home from work Friday, November 13, Ann delivered a check to the company holding the title to the family’s car. The car is safe for another month. 

This is not Blessing Health System money. This is donor money, provided by community members and Blessing employees. Not for any particular need.  But for any need discovered by Blessing Health System employees and confirmed as unable to be met in any other way by the Blessing Foundation team. Like for a family who is working so hard to do everything right in a world where everything seems to be going wrong.

Together, we are changing that.