When Vice President of Specialized Services Kelly’s husband received a message from an old high school friend expressing concern about her father’s health, Kelly immediately offered to check on him. Their friend lived far from her parents, and her father had been struggling with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). During recent phone calls, her mother had sounded increasingly worried and overwhelmed, which is understandable when caring for a sick spouse. As a licensed respiratory therapist with years of experience, Kelly grabbed her stethoscope and pulse oximeter before making the 45-minute drive to the home, prepared to assess his condition if needed.
When Kelly arrived, she was pleasantly surprised. She was welcomed by his wife and found her friend’s father comfortably sitting with a nurse, playing cards. Kelly quickly realized the nurse worked for PCM and immediately felt reassured.
“The nurse was at the table playing cards with him, and it was really nice to see. She was engaged with him, and they were joking around and laughing, which really shows the culture of PCM.”
The nurse was happy to have Kelly perform a brief assessment so she could report back to her husband’s friend and help put her mind at ease. Kelly found that his lungs sounded clear and his oxygen levels were stable. Looking around the home, she also saw that he had all the medical equipment needed to support his care, something we help coordinate for our clients.
She learned that he had been a client of ours since 2023 and was receiving 24/7 care, meaning he had continuous support in the home. Kelly was able to reassure his wife that she had complete confidence in PCM and was relieved to see he was receiving care from a team she trusted. During their conversation, Kelly asked about his impairment history and learned it had been five or six years since his last impairment evaluation. Since follow-up evaluations are typically recommended every two years, she suggested he schedule another one. His wife was hesitant, assuming it would be difficult to arrange. Kelly explained that we help make the process much easier and that he could be eligible for additional compensation through the Department of Labor.
After Kelly’s visit, he completed an updated impairment evaluation and learned that his impairment rating had increased from 52% in 2021 to 79% in 2026. As a result, he became eligible for an additional $67,500 in compensation, providing valuable financial support for his ongoing care.
What began as a favor for a family friend ultimately helped ensure this client was receiving not only the care he needed, but also the compensation he had earned. It’s one more example of how the right support can make all the difference.
Make sure you are up to date with your impairment evaluations. Call 866.578.2580.
