From the Very Start
Shelly Levesque, HHC at Home
Shelly Levesque knows what it’s like to experience patient care first hand as a cancer survivor and recently undergoing open-heart surgery. Ever since she was a child she found herself comforting other and has always had passion for helping people.
Levesque became acquainted with the nursing profession as a child; she watched her mother’s cancer journey after a total Laryngectomy and her own journey as she experienced such amazing nurses. Since then, she could envision nursing as her life-long career. Levesque will never forget the attention and care her nurse, Kelly, who treated her during her cancer journey, provided her with. Kelly would call Levesque every day, with or without treatment, just to connect.
Throughout her 16 years of nursing, each day holds a memory that she keeps dear to her heart. The most impactful would be when she
engages with a former patient or family member in the real world and they describe the impact she had on them. For her, it is such a rewarding feeling.
“I wake up every day trying to be the best version of myself. My journey can attribute to the way I care for and listen to people. Nursing is far more than a career, nursing is a lifestyle,” said Levesque.
In 2012, Shelly started working at Hartford Healthcare at Home and has enjoyed each patient interaction. Today she is a Telemonitor Nurse Coordinator and her role is multi-faceted. She reviews referrals, educates patients about programs, schedules telemonitor installs and acts as a resource and support for staff and clinicians. Levesque may be the first contact the patient has with the telemonitor team and continues to maintain close involvement with each patient in the program. Patients are equipped to complete their daily vitals, while receiving education on managing their disease. The program has had great success in decreasing rehospitalization and improving patient outcomes.
Levesque has been instrumental in the success and growth of the program, by recognizing the challenges of each patient as the medical and nursing fields change. The patients are diverse, her interactions are personalized and the innovations are becoming much more advanced. A nurse is forever evolving but one must always bring it back to the basics of patient care focused. “To give oneself daily is a beautiful gift,” said Levesque.
“Shelly is a true professional and has been instrumental in our Hartford Healthcare at Home
Telehealth success,” said Laurie St. John, Vice President of Hartford Healthcare at Home. “She has been recognized by our hospital partners as being vital to the success of the Hartford Healthcare at Home Intensive Care Program.”
Levesque is a compassionate, hardworking advocate for patients, families and colleagues. “There are so many amazing people throughout the company and to be chosen is a humbling moment,” said Levesque.