Wha We
Biev
Langlade
Hospital’s Mission:
As a Ministry of Jesus,
we heal, promote
health and enrich lives.
Langlade
Hospital’s Vision:
We are the provider
of choice for
people living in and
around Langlade
County given our
dedication to clinical
excellence, superior
service, employee
and physician
commitment,
state-of-the-art
facilities and their
experience of our
Christian values.
FOR A HOMELESS PERSON,
there are many obstacles, and help may seem nearly impossible
to fnd—especially when it comes to accessing health care. Often, even the most basic
medical care is very difcult to get. Homelessness and health are tightly interwoven, and
homelessness is often the result of a downward spiral that begins with a health problem.
Unfortunately, many homeless people who are sick and need treatment do not receive it.
Tis was not the case for a homeless man who happened to be passing through Antigo
during the summer of 2010. A bicycle accident sent him to the Emergency Department at
Langlade Hospital and subsequently to the Intensive Care Unit for several days. Te man
was traveling with nothing more than the clothes on his back and his bicycle. While he was
in the hospital, the staf reached out to him and cared for him beyond his medical needs,
including providing him with new clothing and washing and mending his other clothes.
When he was well enough to be discharged from the hospital, concern grew among
staf as to where he would recuperate. He was well enough to be discharged from the
hospital but certainly not strong enough to travel or be out in the elements. Times like
this are when the hospital’s Mission and the commitment of staf members to live out
that Mission become crystal clear. Langlade Hospital Social Services took action, making
arrangements to assist the man after he was discharged. Langlade Hospital owns and
operates an independent living facility that happened to have a vacant apartment, which
the hospital provided to the man. Te staf also went to the pharmacy and purchased
recommended over-the-counter pain medications and provided hot meals through the
Nutritional Services Department. He was truly being cared for.
Within days, a nurse from Langlade Hospital Social Services visited the man in the
apartment and, after talking with him, she had concerns that he may be experiencing
some complications. She transported him back to the hospital where he was readmitted
for pain management.
When he was well enough to be discharged, he needed accommodations for one night.
He decided to stay in a hotel until a family member arrived the next morning. Langlade
Hospital Social Services made a prepaid reservation, arranged transportation for him,
provided gift cards and money to cover food and delivered prescription medications to
him to ensure that he would heal and be well until his family member could pick him up.
Te compassion shown to this man was incredible—a shining example of living out
the Langlade Hospital Mission. In the end the man’s hospital bills totaled well
over $60,000 and were covered 100 percent through the Langlade
Hospital Community Care Program (see next page).
Te Pow of a
8
Pathways • www.langladehospital.org