Stephanie Brackbill is there for people in their time of need. As the Palliative Nurse Navigator at UPMC Northwest, she cares for patients with chronic illness or terminal diagnoses. Her role is to bring these patients comfort by assisting with symptom management, advanced care planning, diagnosis support, and end-of-life care. Her job is deeply personal and impactful for patients and their families.
Photo courtesy Stephanie Brackbill
Working at UPMC Northwest, Stephanie experiences firsthand everything the Northwest Hospital Foundation does on behalf of patients. She is active in these efforts through her ongoing payroll donation to the Patient Hardship Fund. This fund helps underinsured or uninsured patients with expenses related to their care, such as durable medical equipment, prescriptions, clothing, and after-hours transportation.
Her contributions to the Patient Hardship Fund make a difference for those in difficult circumstances, sometimes even her own patients. In one case, one of her patients received a refurbished hospital bed so she could be discharged to hospice and spend precious time with her family at home. “You never know who might benefit from your donation – it could be a friend, neighbor, or family member you don’t even realize is struggling,” she said.
Another Foundation program Stephanie is passionate about is the Holiday Presents for Patients program which provides small gifts to inpatients at UPMC Northwest on holidays. She knows how difficult holidays are for patients who have no family or friends to visit them in the hospital. She said, “Something as small as bringing them a flower and wishing them a happy holiday can remind them that they are cared for and remembered in their time of crisis. They see that someone is thinking of them at a time when they are feeling lonely and isolated.”
As Stephanie grows her family here in our region, she plans to continue caring for her patients both as a UPMC Northwest employee and donor to the Northwest Hospital Foundation. “Giving back is something that’s very important to me. We have to work together to meet the healthcare needs of our community,” she said.