Press Releases: National
Dec 15 2004
Saying Goodbye Half a World Away
A woman was dying of cancer at KP San Francisco. She wanted very badly to say goodbye to her parents in Hong Kong, and Marilyn Williams, RN, wasn't sure how to make that happen. So she called Michael Stoerger, facility service project manager, on Tuesday morning, April 13, to see what he could do.
At first, Michael was doubtful that KP's videoconference system could make a link with a facility in Hong Kong. But Michael works for KP, and a member needed his help. So he called Brian Bernardis of National Videoconference Communications. Brian, not sure who to call about a Hong Kong connection, did what most of us do these days when we have a question and Internet access: he went to Google.
A company was found that offered videoconference links in Hong Kong. That afternoon, Michael called the dying woman's relatives in San Francisco and had them contact the parents, directing them where to be at 9 a.m. the following day. At 6 p.m. California time, the links had been tested and they worked. The parents were waiting when the screen went on. The patient was wheeled in, oxygen mask removed, and a daughter got to spend 22 final minutes with her parents, half a world away, before she was too weak to continue.
The woman died on Friday, but thanks to the noble efforts of dedicated nurses and technicians, she got her final wish.
"I was very nervous about it, but it all came together," Michael said. "I just dropped everything and focused on it."
"For us to have the opportunity to touch the lives of patients is unusual," said Brian. "I went home that night and told myself I had had a good day at work."
"It was obviously a tragic situation," Michael added, "but to shed a little light in a dark situation is just fantastic."
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
