Telling Kelsey’s Story: How Our Supply Chain Improved a Patient’s Life

When a medical emergency occurs, having the right medical supplies and tools at the ready is of equal importance to having the trained personnel to use them.

Here at Munson Healthcare, our Supply Chain team is working behind-the-scenes every day — and through many shortages and protocol changes brought on by the evolving pandemic — to ensure that the right items get to the right location, to care for the right patient, at the right time.

Everything from office needs to medical supplies is evaluated, contracted, sourced, purchased, stored, and transported to each of the eight Munson Healthcare hospitals, clinics, and practices. The delicate balance of tracking expiration dates, usage rates and stocking statistics keeps our Supply Chain team challenged as they match each location’s demand and storage capability with safe and affordable medical equipment.

For Supply Chain Coordinator Clinical Value, Carol Clous, the work of her incredible colleagues is something she not only witnesses during her regular work hours, but their efforts became a profound presence in her personal life as well. The work of the Supply Chain team gave her the gift of time with her daughter, Kelsey.

In 2009, Carol’s 16-year-old daughter, Kelsey, was admitted to the hospital with flu-like symptoms. Discovered to be a clotting disorder, her illness eventually caused damage to her lungs, intestines, and several other internal organs. Additionally, damage from the original clotting disorder triggered an autoimmune inflammatory disease that often shut down Kelsey’s ability to breathe. “Her emergency needs were many, and she became well known at Munson Medical Center,” explained Carol. “Kelsey traveled the hospital’s full journey as a patient.”

As Manton residents, the nearest hospital for Kelsey’s care was Cadillac Hospital, though much of her medical team was based at Kalkaska Memorial Health Center. In addition to receiving care in both these locations, Kelsey often required ambulance transport to Munson Medical Center, where she was a familiar patient on several different units. In 13 years, Kelsey never went more than 90 days without requiring inpatient care and experienced a total of 30 life-threatening episodes.

As a nurse of more than 34 years before moving to the Supply Chain side of healthcare, Carol was fortunate to have the skills and resources to care for Kelsey at home, as much as possible, preventing her from being hospitalized continuously or needing nursing home care.

“My experience as a nurse gave me what I needed to be successful both in my role in Supply Chain and to take care of my daughter.”

When Kelsey’s care required ambulance transport, Carol saw first-hand the good work of the Supply Chain team. Each ambulance, and each hospital, was equipped with the life-saving equipment necessary to provide immediate and uninterrupted care. When Kelsey’s treatment required treatment at the Mayo Clinic, she and Carol would often travel by car. The MHC nursing staff, respiratory department and Supply Chain teams would come together to ensure the pair had everything they needed to make the trips safely. Carol shared, “I had to have everything I needed to keep her safe: IV antibiotics, multiple oxygen tanks to make the distance, and all the things for an emergency. Supply Chain was always there for me.”

On January 21, 2022, Kelsey passed away at the age of 29. In Kelsey’s legacy and memory, Carol is committed to carrying two of Kelsey’s life wishes forward. First, to raise funds to build and create care homes, much like Ronald McDonald House, specifically for those patients have aged out of the Ronald McDonald program. These homes would provide affordable housing for patients — closest to the medical facility they needed.

Second, Kelsey wanted to make sure that all caregivers, in particular those who work behind the scenes to support our front-line staff, know that they make a difference in the lives of patients and their families. No matter what their work is, their piece is an important part of patient care. For Kelsey, the Supply Team was always working hard to ensure she had the medical supplies she needed the most.

“Everyone is working to treat the Kelsey’s of the world,” emphasized Carol. “She never had to go without because this team worked so very hard to ensure there was never a disruption in care. We were both incredibly thankful for how they helped extend Kelsey’s life.”

Thank you to Munson Healthcare’s Northern Michigan Supply Alliance and our Supply Chain team for the extraordinary work you do each day. Our patients’ days are brighter and better because of you.