HEART-FELT THANKS: ER staff expedites care SPRING 2013

Transcription

1 SPRING 2013 HEART-FELT THANKS: ER staff expedites care You ve seen it in the movies a couple is lying in bed and the man sits up and grabs his chest. He s having a heart attack. On November 29, 2012, that scene came to life in rural Paris at the home of Dennis and Mary Huston. At about 3 am, Dennis woke up with severe pain in his chest. Right away I knew it was a heart attack, he said.

2 FEATURE STORY Heart-Felt Thanks A few months prior, Dennis had noticed a change. Some days I could walk around the block and some days I couldn t. I couldn t get on the treadmill and go 15 minutes. I knew I had some blockage. He began taking aspirin and vitamins daily hoping he could make it until after Christmas; he was just a month shy. The cardiologist concluded that Dennis had 100 percent blockage in one of the four arteries to his heart. He immediately received a procedure to put three stents into that artery. The whole procedure was done while I was awake, Dennis said in awe. Twenty years ago, I would have been dead. I really believe that. According to Dennis, the pain he experienced when he awoke was about a six on the scale of one to 10. He managed the pain until 8 am when he woke his wife Mary. You gonna sleep all day? he asked her. Mary called Dr. Reid Sutton, Dennis primary care provider, who instructed them to go straight to the emergency room. ER staff met them at the door. By the time I had the car parked, they already had him in a gown and hooked up to the machines, said Mary. They really worked fast. Immediately we gave him nitro and an EKG, said Samantha McCarty, RN, critical care manager. National standards state that all patients complaining of chest pain should receive an EKG within five minutes of arriving in the emergency department. We have worked hard over the past year to ensure we are meeting those standards. We were in the emergency room two or three hours, but it didn t seem that long, Mary recalled. [All the staff] talked so highly of each other. Dr. Ishmael was great. I didn t even realize he was a doctor. He was so laid back. Further assessment determined Dennis needed cardiac care, and he was transferred by ambulance. You guys did a great job; I would have never made it without you, he said of the ER staff. You guys did a great job; I would have never made it without you. Just a few days later, Dennis was released from the hospital. He was pleased to learn that he could schedule his followup appointment (with his cardiologist) at Paris Community Hospital. [It is a] real nice set up, said Dennis. That s great for this community. At that appointment, the doctor told Dennis he could do anything he wanted from now on just as long as he does not overdo it. Having a clean bill of health has allowed him to get back to clearing the 40 acres of land he and a relative recently purchased. Just a couple weeks later, Mary was leaving the Paris Walmart when she ran into Samantha, the ER nurse that had cared for Dennis. She stopped what she was doing, gave Mary a hug, and asked how Dennis was recovering. That was cool, said Mary. That s the kind of stuff that makes you trust people.

3 ER nurses: experience is on their side Imagine a team of nurses who bring nearly 170 years of bined patient care experience to a small rural community. com- Sound impossible? It s not. Five nurses in the PCH/FMC emergency department have been working side by side for more than 30 years. I feel dedicated to nursing and what I do, said Tina Cooper, RN, a 34-year nursing veteran. We all come from a long line of people who have worked here. My mother-in-law, Rita Cooper, worked in the PCH/FMC business office for more than 40 years. Cooper said nursing has changed since she was a certified nursing assistant back in I remember wearing the traditional white nursing hat, white uniform, and white shoes, she said. Protective gloves weren t required at that time. Like Cooper, Cathy Hess, RN, BSN, said working at PCH/ FMC is a family affair for her, too. Her mother Mary Step worked nights as a nurse for more than 40 years. Hess started as a nurse s aide in 1972 and later returned to PCH/FMC in the mid-1980s. Taking care of people in this community is just something you do, she said. All of us here have been friends forever. We ve been through everything together. Kathy Martin, RN, EMS coordinator, began her career in 1977 working nights on both the medical and surgical floors, which were separate departments at that time. She later managed the surgical floor and then became ER manager for a short time. She has worked in the ER ever since. When I started in the ER we didn t have 24-hour ER physicians, she explained. If there was an emergency, we had to contact the physician who was on call. Alice Rigdon, RN, an ER nurse for the past 23 years, said the severity of conditions seen in the ER have diminished over the years. We still see a variety of things, but not as frequently, she said. It could be due to preventative medicines, the fact people are living healthier, or because trauma centers and specialty clinics are more available. But one thing that hasn t changed is the close relationship the ER nurses have with each other, Rigdon said. It s a small hospital, and they are like a second family. If one of us gets into a pickle, the others are there to help, she said. Glenda Berry, RN, who has 45 years of nursing experience at PCH/FMC, was awarded the 2012 DAISY Award for her extraordinary patient care. Nominations for the annual award come from people inside and outside of the hospital. We re a pretty tight-knit group, Berry said of her ER comrades. I ve seen their babies born and we ve experienced the death of family members together. That draws you closer together, and I ll never forget that. And we have had happy times, too. Improving the ER Experience Significant improvements have been made within the PCH/FMC emergency department, thanks to the efforts of a new team that was put into place a year ago. Samantha McCarty, RN, critical care manager, and Olusegun Ishmael, MD, MBA, medical director, have worked together to produce the following results: PCH/FMC is now meeting national guidelines as a stroke ready hospital. If a stroke is suspected, a computed tomography (CT) scan is completed within the first 25 minutes of a patient s treatment in the ER. The hospital is meeting national guidelines related to heart care. Patients presenting with chest pain receive an electrocardiogram (EKG) within five minutes of being seen in the ER. Emergency orthopedic coverage is available in the ER 24 hours a day, seven days a week. PCH/FMC is better ard for emergency de minutes or less. Regular training th Carle Hospital in Urb protocols and treatm and administered prio Patient satisfaction improved in the ER ov

4 The doctor was very kind to her and explained everything in ways I could understand. The nurse was on it whatever she needed. They kept checking on us even though it was very busy. They didn t just leave us sitting and wondering. The nurse was very professional. I was her priority. The doctor was direct and did his job well. What people are saying... PCH/FMC prides itself on creating a positive experience for patients and their family members who visit. Here is a recent sampling of what people are saying about their experiences in the ER. Comments were collected from surveys that patients and family members completed after receiving treatment in the emergency department. They were fast and knew what they were doing. The nurses and doctor were excellent. By far the best ER visit. Th e nurse was very nice and sweet. The doctor made her laugh. I had the best care and treatment. The nursing staff and Dr. Ishmael were absolutely wonderful. Great improvements in the past few years. All were attentive and did all they could to make me comfortable. than the national standpartment wait times of 30 rough a partnership with ana ensures that proper ents are being followed r to patient transfers. scores have dramatically er the past year. The ER/Hospitalst Team As medical director, Dr. Ishmael leads a team of hospitalist physicians that provide 24-hour onsite care for both ER and admitted patients. Hospitalists work in collaboration with a patient s primary care physician to provide the best standards of care. Olusegun Ishmael, MD Zachary Iles, MD Ernest Mensah, MD These physicians represent the core team of the ER/hospitalist program. Not all physicians are pictured.

5 NEWS TO KNOW A lot is happening at PCH/FMC. Here are some brief news items to help keep you informed: Cancer Group Begins Milestone Year Established in 2003, the PCH/FMC Cancer Friendship Group begins its 10th year of serving the Edgar County community. The support group is designed to offer a network of encouragement and compassion for cancer survivors, family members, and caregivers within the community. Dr. John Nadeau Attains Board Certification John Nadeau, DO, recently attained board certification in general surgery from the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. This means Dr. Nadeau has met the highest standards of education, training, and knowledge in the field of surgery. Board certification is voluntary and demonstrates his commitment to quality patient care. Honor Guard Recognizes Fellow Nurses PCH/FMC has implemented a Nursing Honor Guard that recognizes and pays homage to men and women who have committed their lives to nursing. At the family s request, the Honor Guard pays tribute to local RNs and LPNs in Edgar County and surrounding communities at their remembrance services. Senior Care Therapist Earns New Licensure Connie Rhoads, full-time therapist at Senior Care, recently fulfilled stringent requirements to become a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). The licensure required that she complete 3,0000 hours of work under the clinical supervision of a LCSW. Rhoads also holds master s degrees in social work and early childhood education. PCH/FMC Able to Send Electronic Images PCH/FMC is now able to electronically send any patient diagnostic images to Carle Hospital and Sarah Bush coln Health System to enhance the care of patients being Lin- transferred. Work continues to expand that service to UAP Clinic and Union Hospital in Terre Haute. Nurse Earns New Wound Care Certification Leslie Brown, RN, BSN, WCC, recently earned tion in diabetic ic wound care (DWC) through the National certifica- Alliance of Wound Care and the Wound Care Education Institute. The certification focuses on overall diabetic wound care and promotion of an optimal wound healing environment. Brown manages the PCH/FMC C Wound Care Clinic. New Physician Coming to PCH/FMC Steven Macke, MD, a well-known and respected family physician from Clark County, will be practicing time in the Paris FMC starting April full- 8. Employee Spotlight Samantha McCarty, RN Position: Critical Care Manager Years at PCH/FMC: 1 Favorite Food: Anything at Andrews at the Westbrook Favorite TV Show/Movie: The Blind Side Hobbies: Reading, knitting, cooking, baking Samantha manages 25 nurses and medical technicians in the PCH/FMC emergency department. In collaboration with medical director Olusegun Ishmael, MD, MBA, she ensures the hospitalist physicians are effectively treating ER and admitted patients. My goal when I came here was to get everyone working as a team, she says. By supporting and educating staff, we can perform very focused patient care. Samantha returned to PCH in 2012 after nine years as a flight nurse. She lives in Paris with her husband, Josh, and son, Gunner, age 11. She and Josh are co-owners of Soleil Body Salon in Paris. Samantha has 15 years of nursing experience.

6 Calendar of Events March 11 April 29 An eight-week series of classes called Healing Pathways: After a Loss will meet Mondays, 6 to 7:30 pm, in Conference Room B. These free classes give attendees the opportunity to share feelings of grief and loss with other people who have had similar experiences. To register, call Carolyn Sutton at , Ext March 26 April 16 & 18 May 14 & 16 Monthly health screenings (blood sugar, blood pressure, and lipid panel HDL, LDL, and triglycerides) will be held in the Visiting Specialty Clinic from 7 to 9 am each day. Fasting for eight hours in advance is required. The cost is $25. To register, call , Ext March 29 & May 31 Two separate Safe Sitter classes for boys and girls ages will take place from 8:30 am to 2 pm in Conference Room B. This nationally recognized class teaches adolescents basic lifesaving techniques so that babysitters are prepared to act in a crisis. Register one week prior to each class. The cost is $35 per class. Scholarships may be available based on financial need. Call Leighsa Cornwell at , Ext April 20 The 11th Annual Caregiver Expo will take place from 8:30 am to 1 pm in the Visiting Specialty Clinic. Guest speakers and vendors will be available. The event provides local resource information for individuals caring for loved ones who have Alzheimer s disease, Parkinson s disease, or any other chronic illness. The $10 cost includes lunch. Free adult day care is available on site, but please call in advance. Register by April 17 by calling East Court Street Paris, IL (217) ParisCommunityHospital.com Presorted Standard U.S. Postage PAID Decatur IL Permit No 180 Family Practice Leland Phipps, MD General Practice M. Bert Akerman, MD Mert Guinto, MD General Surgery Duane Haskell, MD John Nadeau, DO Healthcare Providers Internal Medicine Reid Sutton, MD Orthopedics/Sports Medicine John Rowe, MD Pathologist Asuncion U. DeWitt, MD Podiatry Philip Holloway, DPM Radiology Bruce Houle, DO Nurse Practitioners/Physician Assistants Susan Arp, FNP Debbie Griffin, FNP, CDE Angela Hamilton, FNP (EZ Care) James Pitts, PA (EZ Care) Samantha Volstorf, FNP (EZ Care) Louwanna Wallace, FNP Crystal White, FNP Randy Simmons President & CEO Leighsa Cornwell Community Health/ Disease Mgmt. Coordinator Erin Frank Public Relations/ Marketing Manager Mike Harrison Public Relations/ Marketing Associate The information contained in Quarterly Check-Up is intended to inform and educate about subjects pertinent to health and should not be a substitute for consultation with a healthcare provider.