Ericson Bruno: Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Outreach Response Team.
Navigating the emergency department after having a mental health crisis is difficult in the best of times. Once patients are discharged from South Health Campus, a member of the Psychiatric Outreach Response Team will reach out to each patient to ensure they’re getting the care they need.
Ericson Bruno is a Registered Nurse with the Psychiatric Outreach Response Team at South Health Campus. On a regular basis, he helps improve patient’s experiences by identifying gaps in care and offering solutions. That’s what makes Ericson our Hero in Health!
The Heroes in Health initiative encourages patients and their families to give back in thanks for the extraordinary care they’ve received. To donate and nominate your health hero, visit our website.
“We take a look at if patients have questions about their visit and how they’ve been since they’ve left. We try to bridge them to services or clinics and make referrals on their behalf,” said Ericson Bruno.
Patients often just need to review their plans and get some help looking at mental health support in terms of building skills like resiliency and learning coping strategies. Ericson often works on communication skills, mindfulness, and relaxation skills with patients.
The team’s ability to be mobile is another advantage, being able to see patients in their home, at South Health Campus or virtually. They try to check in with patients once a week for about four to six weeks after they’ve been discharged to ensure they’re headed in the right direction.
“There’s still a lot of stigma in mental health. It’s getting better, but sometimes people don’t seek out help. Families can be confused and unsure of how to access help.”
Ericson was very humbled to receive the Heroes in Health nomination from his colleague, Kelly. While he was surprised by it, Kelly says, “Ericson always looks at improving patient experience and identifies gaps in care. He provides alternate solutions for patients and families to consider. He’s always patient and persistent in tracking down and connecting clients to appropriate resources.”
Ericson worked in a psychiatric unit after graduating from nursing school and decided to see what it would be like to work with patients in the community to get a better picture of how the system supports those who struggle with mental health.
One of the biggest differences from working in an inpatient facility, was working with a team of nurses and doctors, whereas in his current role, he works more independently. He can make referrals to therapy and psychiatry services as needed, but he works with a patient on a more individual basis and has greater autonomy in his current role.
For Ericson, the most rewarding part of his job is making a personal connection to patients. In his experience, he’s been able to make these valuable connections because he works with patients for weeks in comparison to if he was working in an inpatient unit, they’d likely be in and out in a matter of three to five days.
“When they say, thank you so much for what you’ve done and you’ve really helped me, it’s really special.”
Being able to see the journey of a patient from when they come into the hospital and then see them get their plans in order and follow through with them is very fulfilling for him.
“We don’t do the job for them. We give them ideas and feedback, and when you see them use it, it’s a great feeling.”
He knows how difficult it can be to navigate the system when someone is struggling with their mental health and hopes that he can help make the process easier.
Ericson is most passionate about helping people get to know a bit more about themselves. Often times, patients have a hard time expressing their struggles or don’t know what their emotions are or how to deal with them. Helping equip people with these skills that they can use in their life is what keeps him going back to work every day.
Ericson, we’re proud to call you a Hero in Health, and to have you as part of our extended family.
Heroes in Health is part of our Grateful Patient initiative. Patients and their families can make a gift to Calgary Health Foundation and recognize their healthcare heroes. To donate and nominate your hero in health, visit our website.
Dr. Eglee Gimon has dedicated her career to providing holistic care, helping alleviate the suffering of patients with complex life limiting or life changing illnesses.
Ken Mont is a Nurse Clinician in the Emergency Department at Rockyview General Hospital. He has dedicated nearly 30 years working in Emergency, and he is our Hero in Health!
Kirsten Deemer is a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at South Health Campus. Together with her colleagues, she created the Persistent Critical Illness.
