Passion is in the DNA of our Patient Safety Observers. Jennifer finds her role enriching from a care team perspective and in directly helping patients. Read more of her story below.
How many years have you been a PSO?
3 years.
What do you like most about the job?
Keeping patients safe and I love being a part of both my team and the care team directly working with the patients.
What did you do before and what do you hope to do in the future?
I am originally from the Philippines, where I was a respiratory therapist. When I moved here, I became a Patient Safety Companion providing basic bedside care in acute and psychiatric inpatient settings. I would like to go back to school to be able to become a respiratory therapist in the U.S.
What is your most rewarding memory from the job?
I was able to successfully stop a suicide by strangulation attempt in the emergency department. The patient did not express suicidal thoughts when they arrived, but as I noticed them trying to conceal pulling a cord from the cardiac monitor around their neck, I was able to get a care team member in the room quickly to intervene and triage the patient appropriately before any harm could take place.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love to travel. I recently had family move to California and that has become one of my favorite places to visit.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Pistachio and salted caramel.
Our patients simply wouldn’t have the same experience without our incredible PSOs. Thank you, Jennifer, for your consistent contributions to the well-being of our patients!