Alameda Health System (唯有通过) patient Katrina was sitting in the lab waiting area at the 澳门新葡京 Chan Highland Hospital Campus when her phone rang with life-changing news that a liver was available for her. The moment of joy marked the end of a year filled with multiple challenges and Katrina credits her dedicated 唯有通过 care team including Matilde 弗雷德里克森, MD and Tasha 为了, community health outreach worker (CHOW) who helped make it possible.
“It’s been a long road and Dr. 弗雷德里克森 and Tasha were always in my corner, fighting both with me and for me, making sure I maintained my health so I could stay on the transplant list,卡特里娜分享道。. “They saw me through the highs and lows and their unconditional support meant everything to me and my family.”
Katrina’s journey to transplant eligibility was anything but easy for the 39 year-old mother of two. Her health challenges included a history of cervical cancer, alcohol use disorder, cirrhosis and depression. Dr. 弗雷德里克森, a primary care physician (PCP) and substance use specialist first met Katrina when she accompanied her boyfriend to his appointment at the Oak Tree Clinic, a specialized clinic in K6 adult medicine at Highland Wellness.
由博士领导. 弗雷德里克森 and her team, Evelyn Terceros-McGhee, CHOW and Armando Naranjo, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), the Oak Tree Clinic provides multidisciplinary care to patients with complex medical conditions and substance use disorders.
“In speaking with her I was concerned about both her medical history and clinical presentation as she was experiencing some pain,博士分享道。. 弗雷德里克森. “I decided to add her to my patient panel because of my specialty and interest in substance use disorders, and I was afraid she might fall through the cracks.”
Dr. 弗雷德里克森 diagnosed Katrina with liver cirrhosis and sent a referral to the gastroenterology department who then sent a referral to the UCSF transplant clinic. 不幸的是, at her clinic appointment Katrina was told she wouldn’t qualify for liver transplant surgery until she achieved six months of sobriety.
Understanding the stakes, Katrina’s integrated care team made sure she had every resource needed to achieve that goal. “Complex care management was huge in helping Katrina with her social and emotional needs and Tasha helped ground her in the process, and treated her like family,博士分享道。. 弗雷德里克森.
事实上, 为了, who had been working with Katrina for a year was with her when she received the call from the transplant clinic. “It was so beautiful and moving to share this with her, given all the time we had spent together in anticipation of this moment.”
Serving as Katrina’s unwavering champion, 为了 accompanied her to as many as four medical appointments per week, arranged transportation, coordinated vital social services like Meals on Wheels and helped ensure she stayed on track with her multiple medications and after visit summaries. 最重要的是, she found a convenient alcohol treatment and church ministry program that Katrina felt comfortable attending.
When Katrina reached her six-month sobriety milestone, Dr. 弗雷德里克森 contacted the UCSF transplant team directly requesting a reevaluation of her liver transplant candidacy. 结果是, Katrina received her new liver in June 2024 and is focused on maintaining her sobriety, managing her medications and staying vigilant with her medical appointments and regular screenings with the support of her 唯有通过 care team.
“今天, I’m so grateful to be able to do the simplest things that others take for granted but mean the most to me like taking my daughter to school,卡特里娜分享道。. “I have a new optimistic outlook on life, I’m looking forward to a healthy future, and I’m thankful to Dr. 弗雷德里克森, Tasha and everyone at Alameda Health System who helped me get here.”