10/26/2025
Our Employee of the Month for August is Vanity Johnson!
Recently, Vanity Johnson, was instrumental in probably saving a patient’s life.
A pt I had never seen before was our last patient of the day, a “simple” hospital follow up. Vanity got him ready and mentioned to me that he just did not feel well, was weak and tired, and complained of feeling sweaty. However, there were no typical CV symptoms such as CP, SOB or palpitations. Her concern prompted me to take a close look at the chart and led me to suspect severe or critical aortic stenosis as the possible cause of his complaints. When I entered the room he was in no distress and volunteered no symptoms, not even those he had mentioned to Vanity. He denied any SOB or CP or palpitations, and only when I directly asked did he admit to not feeling well and having the symptoms he had mentioned to Vanity.
He had gone back into atrial fibrillation since DC from the hospital but at a controlled rate and did have a murmur, though it was not dramatic.
I sent him back to the ER by ambulance and a stat echo showed severe aortic stenosis but also a newly reduced ejection fraction indicating that his heart muscle was very weak.
He was admitted, and his aortic valve was promptly replaced.
He has since been discharged and apparently is doing well. A pacemaker was also placed during that admission.
Had he not had gone to the ER, it’s quite probable he would have suffered sudden cardiac death. Were it not for Vanity’s thoroughness and concern and her expressing it to me just before I saw him, things may not have ended so well.
Vanity is a pleasure to work with and an asset to GHI. She embodies our respectful compassion and passion for excellence and is a true representation of demonstrating courage to speak up for her patient displaying one of our core competencies.
Thank you Vanity for all you do!
