March 25, 2021 - TCO

Difference Maker: Kari C.

When we ask patients and their families about their experience, we often hear it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Every month we recognize a team member who went above and beyond to make a difference in the life of others. Often they did something that, if you asked them, “was no big deal,” or “is just part of their job.” But the truth is, their actions inspired others around them.

As a small token of our appreciation for making our organization a better place, we partnered with local artist Claire Ward to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art featuring an image of the recipient’s choosing.

Today, we’d like to thank Kari for being a Difference Maker.

Kari’s Story

Kari’s gut told her something was wrong, and it ended up saving a patient’s life.

When a patient with lower back pain came into meet with Kari, a physical therapist, for an initial evaluation, she noticed he was short of breath and was also experiencing leg pain.

Prior to their meeting, the patient had received an epidural steroid injection, but Kari knew these symptoms were more than side effects or even the patient’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), so she called in another physical therapist to assess the situation.

Kari’s gut was telling her the patient could potentially have a blood clot, so she decided immediate action needed to be taken and sent the patient to the emergency room. Come to find out, the patient had several large blood clots in the leg, lungs, and veins surrounding the heart, and needed emergency surgery.

After the patient recovered, he returned for physical therapy a few weeks later and thanked Kari for saving his life. He told Kari that if it wasn’t her for her, he would have only had days to live. Kari’s instincts, knowledge and expertise made all the difference.

Thank you, Kari, for your integrity, service, and for always providing the highest quality care. You are making a true difference in the lives of others and inspire us all!