People story | August 2024 | Read time: 1min
When caregivers need care too
Mary Rodriguez is a natural born caregiver. As a senior analyst on Deloitte’s heath technology and solutions team, you’d assume it’s her master’s degree in informatics that makes Mary great at implementing electronic health records. But she says she equally draws on her 25+ years of critical care nursing, much of it in New York City’s most demanding hospitals, as well as on her time in the Peace Corps in several third-world countries, where she was often the sole health care provider in the area.
What sets her apart in her work is her profoundly empathetic approach. She understands what it takes to give medical staff the tools they need to provide optimal patient care, without sacrificing precious time. By studying the workflows of doctors, nurses, front desk people, nurses’ aides, etc., she and her team in the United States and Deloitte US India build and maintain systems that shave off valuable minutes and even hours.
But even caregivers need a helping hand sometimes. Shortly after joining Deloitte, a series of serious medical crises hit close to home for Mary. Caring for her brother, who suffered from a brain tumor, took a toll on Mary, only to be followed by her father’s hospitalization for worsening cardiac conditions. When her father returned home weak, Mary’s mother couldn’t shoulder his care alone, so Mary pitched in. But balancing her own responsibilities and making the 40-minute drive to her parents’ house became overwhelming, although Mary was reluctant to take time off from her new position.
That’s when she learned about Deloitte’s family support services, which offers backup in-home eldercare options and access to ongoing guidance for eldercare needs. She called the number with tempered expectations but was blown away by the near-immediate—and empathetic—response. “I couldn’t believe it,” Mary says. “The caregivers were so compassionate and caring.” They even won over Mary’s mother, who was skeptical about having strangers in their home.
Having this support meant the world to her. “As a nurse, I’ve seen caregivers who have to quit or put their careers on hold to care for a loved one,” she says. With help in place, Mary could continue working, knowing her parents were in capable hands, and her father soon regained his strength and vitality.
But have no doubt that Mary’s caregiving impulses are still strong. Lately she’s even been planning a surprise birthday bash for her mother-in-law, bringing together extended family from the Dominican Republic. Knowing that she’s cared for as an individual at Deloitte empowers Mary to give her all and make an impact both at work and in the lives of others.
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