How one ER visit changed this caregiver’s life

| Everyday Moments | Patient Stories

Leslie Clements

PeaceHealth’s Leslie Clements shares what it’s like to be on the other side of patient-caregiver equation.

Leslie Clements, is no stranger to medical settings. The director of palliative care at PeaceHealth has spent countless hours in patient care over the last 20 years.

Not long ago, however, she experienced her own medical emergency. And she came away awed by the compassionate care she received.

The surgery

Severe stomach pain sent Clements to the ER at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington. When emergency medicine doctor Daniel Hubbard, MD, overheard her symptoms, he took immediate action.

“He knew the emergency nature of it,” Clements says, “He explained calmly what needed to be done. He acknowledged it was a very painful condition and said, ‘I’ll get you taken care of.’”

She was diagnosed with intussusception. The serious condition happens when part of the intestine folds onto itself. Within three hours of her arrival at the hospital, Clements had emergency surgery. “If I had waited a little longer, I could have lost some of my intestines,” she says. “It was an intensely vulnerable time.”

Michael J. Casey, MD, who specializes in trauma and critical care, performed her surgery. Another trauma surgeon, Andrew W. Jennings, MD, also followed Clements’ weeklong hospital stay.

Their careful explanation and attentive care made a big impact on her, she says. Dr. Jennings knew she was a PeaceHealth employee, but most caregivers did not. “They all treated me amazingly without knowing who I was.”

The diagnosis

Most intussusception cases happen in children under the age of two. Since Clements’ diagnosis was unusual, gastroenterologist Dana N. Hemmati, MD, came in on her day off to see her after the surgery.  

Dr. Hemmati ordered lab tests, blood work, and thoroughly interviewed Clements to make sure she got the best care possible. The test also showed that she has celiac disease, which makes it difficult to digest food containing gluten. That explained symptoms Clements had been dealing with for years. "For decades I didn't know this,” she says. “Overall, this was life-changing for me.”

The recovery

Throughout her recovery, Clements says every staff member she interacted with was “kind, present and caring.” She also praised PeaceHealth’s nurses for going above and beyond.

One float pool nurse made an effort to be assigned to her floor after Clements asked if she’d be seeing her again. Two certified nurse assistants helped her find a creative way to shower and protect her incision and IV site from getting wet.

And every PeaceHealth nurse she encountered supported and respected her, Clements says. They helped her manage pain or take walks down the hall. “I know I don’t know all their names, but I sure hope they read this and know who they are.”

She also says the support of her coworkers meant a lot. Her manager, Bryan Stewart, PeaceHealth’s system vice president of home and community services, and other directors checked in on her. “PeaceHealth is a not only a good place to receive care, it’s a good place to work.”

Gratitude goes a long way

With her expertise in palliative care and clinical social work, Clements knows the pressure that healthcare workers are under. That made her all the more grateful for the excellent care she received.

“Physicians don't often hear ‘thank you’ or ‘wow, that conversation was life changing,’” she says. “You wonder, does it matter? It does."

portrait of Daniel H. Hubbard MD

Daniel H. Hubbard MD

Emergency Medicine

Daniel H. Hubbard MD practices Emergency Medicine in Vancouver.

portrait of Michael J. Casey MD

Michael J. Casey MD

Trauma/Acute Care Surgery
General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Dr. Michael J. Casey, is board certified physician who specializes in trauma and critical care. He belongs to numerous medical and specialty societies. He has also served as the Alaska State director for disaster management. His clinical interests include trauma and prevention, critical care medicine, complex abdominal closures and urology. Dr. Casey is also a biomedical design engineer and has served as the Alaska state director for disaster management. His philosophy of care is to care for people as if they were his own family and he says the best thing about his job is the people he gets to meet and his partners. A Nevada native, Dr. Casey and his wife have five children. In addition to time with his family, he enjoys gardening, playing with his dogs, off-roading and metal-sculpting.
portrait of Andrew W. Jennings MD

Andrew W. Jennings MD

Trauma/Acute Care Surgery
General Surgery
Surgical Critical Care
Dr. Jennings was born and raised in Texas. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center followed by completing his general surgery residency at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Jennings then completed a fellowship in surgical critical care at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital. He practiced in Dallas for two years prior to relocating to the Pacific Northwest. In his spare time he enjoys exploring the local trails, traveling, cooking, reading and spending time with his family.
portrait of Dana N. Hemmati MD

Dana N. Hemmati MD

Gastroenterology
Internal Medicine
Dr. Dana Hemmati is double board-certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. From an early age Dr. Hemmati has had a strong desire to serve her community by leveraging her interest in science and perpetual education. Her goal as a physician is to help patients feel their best by using evidence-based medicine and applying the latest advances in science and technology to prevent and treat diseases. With education, residency, fellowship and medical practices that have spanned across multiple regions of the United States, Dr. Hemmati has consistently put patients first, serving communities in the Midwest, East Coast, Southwest, Northwest and Hawaii prior to joining the team at PeaceHealth. In addition to maintaining active memberships and continuing education through numerous medical societies, Dr. Hemmati has served on the Medical Advisory Committee of both the Southwest and Northwest Chapters of the Crohn’s and Colitis foundation, allowing her to stay informed on the latest medical developments and treatments, while helping develop preeminent patient resources. Outside of the office, Dr. Hemmati enjoys spending time with her family and friends, sailing, practicing yoga and traveling.

Related