From Daniel Pessin

In a historic year that saw over 800 nominations, the Boston Globe has recognized 15 Commonwealth Cares Alliance nurses in its annual Salute to Nurses.  Nurses were nominated by their colleagues for going above and beyond the call of duty to provide exceptional care to CCA members. Among those recognized by the Boston Globe was Kerrilyn Pessin of Holliston.

Kerrilyn Pessin, Nurse Practitioner with Commonwealth Cares Alliance, wife to Daniel Pessin and mother of four children, was recognized by her employer and selected by The Boston Globe for her efforts both in volunteering to be a on a COVID-19 task force where she provided in-home care to patients throughout the pandemic, and continues today, and for caring for a patient unable to obtain needed medical treatment during the Governor’s stay-at-home orders at the start and most fearful time of the pandemic. 

Kerrilyn’s nomination may be found at 2021 Salute to Nurses letters: Hospitals C-D (bostonglobe.com) with the full nomination below:

Kerrilyn Pessin, Commonwealth Care Alliance

I’m nominating Kerrilyn for the exceptional care she has provided to CCA members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kerrilyn supports CCA members with complex needs through our patient-centered, home-based primary care services. When CCA offices closed due to the pandemic, Kerrilyn volunteered to continue seeing members as part of the Field Response Team. Through this role, Kerrilyn met an elderly CCA member who contacted CCA when she wasn’t feeling well and was unable to access her primary care provider. Kerrilyn was dispatched to assess and treat the member for her concerns.

Kerrilyn immediately knew that this member needed more than one visit. The member was significantly ill, and urgently needed medical intervention and durable medical equipment. As part of Kerrilyn’s treatment plan, a rehab specialist evaluated the member and ordered the necessary equipment and an LPN drew labs that pointed to larger health concerns. Kerrilyn spoke candidly with the member about her goals of care and wishes, one of which was that she wanted to remain in her home.

After a trip to the ER revealed that the member had cancer, Kerrilyn coordinated in-home hospice care and worked closely with the hospice nurse until the member passed away peacefully at home in March 2020. Kerrilyn remained committed to honoring the member’s wishes by helping her get the proper care and equipment she needed to be comfortable at home.—Nominated by Heather Korencsic