Heroes of Healthcare: Hali Hitt and Jarrett Pethtel

Hali Hitt is a nurse practitioner, and Jarrett Pethtel is a medical assistant in the pulmonology office at Vandalia Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Sometimes providers are called upon for more than medical care.

A patient recently stopped by the office without an appointment seeking assistance with the reinstatement of her Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Upon learning of her situation, Pethtel and Hitt immediately took the time to meet with her, assess her needs and determine the steps required to help her move forward.

The patient was visibly upset and emotional, having lost her CDL due to her oxygen requirements.

Recognizing both the urgency of the situation and the significant impact it had on her livelihood, Pethtel and Hitt quickly coordinated the necessary care, arranging a new six-minute walk test and pulmonary function test as required by her employer.

Their efforts helped the patient regain her CDL within just a few weeks of its revocation, allowing her to return to work.

Pethtel and Hitt set aside their own responsibilities that day to focus on a patient in need. They exemplified the values of service, compassion and advocacy. Their dedication to helping others, especially during moments of uncertainty and distress, makes a lasting difference in the lives of the patients they serve.