Betsy Hlavac

Ambulatory Nurse Manager, Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute

St. Vincent’s Medical Center

In a hospital setting, lives are saved every day. On occasion, experience and instinct can take those lifesaving efforts outside of the hospital and well beyond what a provider might encounter on a regular day.

Betsy Hlavac, BSN, RN, ambulatory nurse manager with Hartford HealthCare’s Cancer Institute, has worked at St. Vincent’s for more than 25 years and has gone above and beyond many times to provide exceptional care – and this particular situation exemplifies just that.

Following a clinic visit, a patient’s blood glucose lab result showed extremely high and potentially deadly levels after that patient had left the facility. Hlavac took immediate action. She tried contacting the patient by phone with no luck. She then tried additional emergency contacts on the patient’s medical record. No response.

Hlavac did some investigating and was able to determine that the patient was employed at a local supermarket. Hlavac immediately got in her car, drove to the supermarket, and was able to take the patient aside and explain the alarming lab result in person. She then assisted in getting that patient to the emergency department at St. Vincent’s Medical Center for further treatment.

A situation like this can be frightening for both the patient and provider. Hlavac’s immediate action, personal concern, and discretionary effort is a shining example of compassion and professionalism at its best – and likely saved this person’s life.

Click here to view all the 2025 Healthcare Heroes.