2006 Inspired Comfort Award Grand Prize Winner — Advanced Practice Nurse Category

Nomination

Recipient:	John Scott Eutsler, PT, MS 2006 Cherokee Inspired Comfort Award Grand Prize Winner Healthcare Professional Category
Job Title:	Senior Physical Therapist
Employer:	Memorial Hospital Martinsville, VA
Nominated by:	Johnathan Phillips
Employer:	Memorial Hospital
Title:	Director/Administrator, HomeCare & Hospice of Memorial Hospital

John Scott Eutsler is a true patient advocate. He exceeds the award criteria but would view himself as the last person deserving of such honor. Scott’s daily dedication and caregiving truly inspire all who come in contact with him with his exceptional service, sacrifice, and innovation.

For eight months, Scott and his therapy staff worked very closely with a 12-year-old muscular dystrophy patient and went above the call of duty with the patient and his family. Examples include:

• Scott coordinated a meeting with he, the patient, the patient’s mother, and a prosthetic professional to determine why the patient’s brace was not locking properly. Standard of practice would have only required that the prosthetic vendor be notified.
• It was determined that the patient would benefit from knee-ankle-foot braces and a set of parallel bars. However, the patient’s payor source did not cover such items. Scott secured both without difficulty.
• Scott referred the patient to Care Connection for Children, a statewide network of regional programs that provides healthcare services, community support, and resources to children with special healthcare needs. He suggested that a therapy dog and/or attending the Muscular Dystrophy Association — MDA Camp would be beneficial.
• Realizing that the patient could benefit from more frequent, less taxing exercise, Scott sought short-term inpatient rehabilitation in an appropriate pediatric facility. He contacted the Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. With patients between the ages of birth through 21 from all over the world, placement can be somewhat competitive. However, Scott was able to plead his case, and they accepted the patient for evaluation.

Scott completed a lymphadema therapy inservice. Six days later, the first patient was admitted, not leaving time to train anyone else. Scott began an unexpected eleven-day medical leave the very next day. During this time, though, he made five visits to perform this therapy. He jeopardized his own health to ensure optimal patient care and to maintain HomeCare’s reputation. No other local home health agency provides this type of wound care, so transferring the patient was not an option.

Scott served as President of the Board of Directors and is a very active volunteer with the Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment & Endowment — FREE . FREE is a non-profit organization which assists physically challenged adults in their struggle for greater independence by providing rehabilitative equipment when it is not available by any other source. An office was opened in Martinsville in 2004 primarily from a grant of $158,000. He has spearheaded various drives to receive donated equipment and money and has sponsored events at his farm to raise funds.

Scott served on the Board of Directors of the Historic Star Theatre and played an integral part in its reopening in September 2005. The theatre first opened in 1947 but, for many years, remained vacant and in decay. Approximately $250,000 was spent to renovate the establishment. The Star now offers the region an outstanding mix of professional quality dinner theater productions, new and classic films, and concerts by internationally renowned artists. Scott has been instrumental in various publicity efforts, including “spreading the word,” selling tickets, actually performing, and helping to bring Scotland’s premiere Celtic band, The Tannahill Weavers, to the area.

Scott was instrumental in providing “A Living Story Book” to approximately ten elementary schools in Virginia and North Carolina. This program, by the local high school drama team, presented three different plays to students, faculty, and parents. He, also, played the pennywhistle and digital saxophone for the background music.

Scott and his family live on a farm, “Spirit Haven,” which welcomes those needing spiritual relief and guidance. Scott has fully renovated his guest cabin to make it appropriate for handicapped or disabled people. Several guests have already visited, including a couple new to the area without housing. The farm is, also, a frequent host to various charitable fundraisers, “pig pickins,” and musical concerts. Scott hopes to expand it to host group conferences or meetings.

Scott has exhibited his commitment to excellence, also, by:

• Helping decorate cookies that his daughters baked and deliver them to his patients and nursing home patients at Christmas
• Providing musical instruments to needy students
• Staying in contact with his former “Little Brother” after thirty years of being a “Big Brother”
• Hosting nursing home patients for outings on his farm
• Serving as a leader of the 4-H Shooting Sports Club
• Picking up and delivering equipment from durable medical equipment vendors to optimize patient care

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