Excellence in Action - Catherine DeNobile
Catherine DeNobile is a nurse practitioner with the medical center's Home-Based-Primary Care team.
A Veteran, who asked we not use his name, recently stopped into the Home-Based Primary Care office. Although he had suffered a traumatic brain injury and struggled with his speech, he desperately wanted to tell the HBPC Program Director, Terry Mikovich, RN, about his “amazing” Nurse Practitioner Catherine DeNobile.
“I can always count on her, whether it’s getting me a new pill box or talking to me when I’m afraid, I know she is there for me,” the Veteran said.
The Veteran has no family support in the area. But that doesn’t mean he has to be lonely during the holidays or any other day for that matter. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas since 2012, Ms. DeNobile comes to his home with a complete holiday feast. Before the blizzard in January and February, she stopped by with groceries to last him through the storm.
“Even if it is not my turn for a visit she always makes the time,” the Veteran said. He went on tell about all the extra things Ms. DeNobile does for him. Things he knows are not really part of her job description but nonetheless demonstrate “service above and beyond”. She does a lot of things she doesn’t have to do, like making the Veteran’s outside appointments because she knows his speech deficit makes this difficult for him.
No one on the HBPC staff even knew she went to such heights, at her own expense, to improve the quality of life for her patients.
The Veteran was not surprised. He knows her compassion is real and she isn’t in it for the recognition. But he was adamant; he wanted to be sure she was recognized and nominated Ms. DeNobile for employee of the month.
“I’ve always been impressed with Catherine and her willingness to go the extra mile when needed,” said Ms. Mikovich. She leads a team in providing primary care in the home to some of VA’s most vulnerable patients. “Catherine sets the example and is a role model for the meaning of teamwork.”
HBPC is a cohesive multidisciplinary team that travels to Veterans’ homes to provide services to those whose physical health or mobility limits their ability to come to the hospital. For more information about HBPC call 202-745-8540.
