Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital
Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital
Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
<strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> <strong>Services</strong>
A MESSAGE FROM<br />
THE PRESIDENT<br />
This is the 8th edition of our<br />
community newsletter, Well Aware.<br />
I want to thank the <strong>Frederick</strong><br />
community for the many nice<br />
comments we have received about<br />
the newsletter over the past two and<br />
a half years. It has proven to be one<br />
of our most effective means of<br />
showcasing the many exceptional<br />
programs, services and people that<br />
are the <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong><br />
Healthcare System.<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> services are among the<br />
most visible – and most visited – of<br />
those exceptional programs. In this<br />
issue you will learn more about the<br />
people and capabilities that make<br />
the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department<br />
(ED) one of the busiest in the state<br />
of Maryland. The <strong>FMH</strong> ED is ready<br />
to provide the care you need every<br />
hour of every day of the year.<br />
Yours in Good Health,<br />
Thomas A. Kleinhanzel<br />
<strong>FMH</strong> President & CEO<br />
About the Cover: The <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department’s care team<br />
of skilled nurses, board-certified emergency physicians, physician<br />
assistants, nurse practitioners and technicians are standing by to<br />
deliver the expert diagnosis and treatment you need to help you<br />
and your loved ones cope with illness or injury. Pictured L-R: Tim<br />
O’Neal, RN, Dr. Ron Rakowski, Chair of <strong>Emergency</strong> Medicine and<br />
Jackie Pettit, RN.<br />
Last year, staff at The George L. Shields <strong>Emergency</strong> Department<br />
cared for more than 73,000 patients, making <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong><br />
<strong>Hospital</strong>’s one of the busiest emergency departments in the state of<br />
Maryland. Its 24,000 square feet of space houses a waiting and<br />
triage area, 58 treatment rooms, a dedicated CT scanner and x-ray<br />
machine and a MIEMSS-certified Primary Stroke Center. A 14-bed<br />
Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> Unit was recently opened, and a Chest Pain<br />
Center is currently in development.<br />
is published by the Marketing & Communications Department at <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> Healthcare System<br />
400 W. Seventh St., <strong>Frederick</strong> MD • ph 240-566-3300 • www.fmh.org<br />
Thomas Kleinhanzl<br />
CEO & President<br />
To learn more, visit www.fmh.org.<br />
Adrianne Wodey<br />
Chairman, <strong>FMH</strong> Board of Directors<br />
Earl M. “Rocky” Mackintosh<br />
Chairman, <strong>FMH</strong> Development Council<br />
Harry Grandinett<br />
Director of Marketing & Communications<br />
Amanda Changuris<br />
Marketing & Communications Specialist<br />
Kenneth R. Coffey, II<br />
Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Know<br />
What to<br />
Expect<br />
Visiting the <strong>Emergency</strong> Department can be a traumatic and stressful experience. Taking a moment to learn how the ED<br />
works and what to expect can help reduce anxiety and ensure a smoother process should you or a loved one require<br />
emergency services.<br />
Arrival<br />
The George L. Shields <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Department at <strong>FMH</strong> has its own<br />
canopied entranceway next to the<br />
hospital’s Main Entrance. If you<br />
require assistance, such as the use of a<br />
wheelchair or a stretcher, personnel<br />
are stationed at the door to help.<br />
Intake<br />
Upon arrival, a nurse will pre-register<br />
you, perform a preliminary evaluation<br />
and direct you to the waiting area.<br />
Triage<br />
At the triage station, a nurse will<br />
evaluate your medical condition more<br />
thoroughly. Your temperature, pulse,<br />
blood pressure and respiration rate<br />
will be taken and recorded, and you<br />
will be asked some questions<br />
Gloria Sutton, <strong>FMH</strong> Interpreter<br />
regarding the nature of your illness or<br />
injury. Depending on the severity of<br />
your condition, the triage nurse will<br />
either ask you to return to your seat in<br />
the waiting area, or have you taken<br />
back to a treatment area.<br />
Keep in mind:<br />
Critically ill patients will ALWAYS<br />
be treated first. Every effort<br />
will be made to see other patients<br />
as quickly as possible.<br />
Examination<br />
In the private treatment area, you may<br />
be asked to put on a hospital gown for<br />
a thorough examination. Depending<br />
on the results of this examination,<br />
Mary Beth Mann,<br />
Director, <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
<strong>Services</strong>, with Dr.<br />
John Molesworth,<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Physician<br />
and <strong>FMH</strong> Chief<br />
of Staff.<br />
some testing may be ordered. Please<br />
be aware that this process may add<br />
time to your stay.<br />
Registration<br />
After you’ve been evaluated, a<br />
registration clerk will register you as<br />
an <strong>FMH</strong> patient right at your bedside.<br />
Discharge<br />
If your illness or injury does not require<br />
hospitalization, you will be discharged.<br />
You will be given both verbal and<br />
written instructions about what to do<br />
after you leave. You will be asked to pay<br />
any co-pay required by your insurance<br />
at the time of discharge.<br />
If necessary, you will be admitted and<br />
moved to another area of the hospital<br />
where your care will continue.<br />
One of our guiding values at <strong>FMH</strong> is to “Do our best to provide clear, complete health care<br />
information, and answer questions in a language you understand.” That’s why we have Spanish<br />
language interpreters on staff, and a wide variety of language interpreters available by telephone.<br />
If you or your loved ones require the assistance of an interpreter while receiving care at <strong>FMH</strong>,<br />
please let your caregivers know.”
The <strong>FMH</strong> Chest Pain Center<br />
The Right Treatment...Fast<br />
A<br />
ccording to <strong>FMH</strong> Program Manager for Stroke and Chest Pain, Tom Shupp, more than five million Americans present<br />
to hospital <strong>Emergency</strong> Rooms across the country with chest pain every year. Some may be experiencing a heart attack<br />
or cardiac event; others may not be. But seeking immediate medical care is always prudent, says Shupp, because it takes an<br />
expert to rule out whether or not the pain is being caused by a life-threatening event.<br />
To help in this effort, the hospital is creating a specialized, 8-bed observation unit located within its <strong>Emergency</strong> Department<br />
called The <strong>FMH</strong> Chest Pain Center. According to Shupp, who is working with Medical Director Dr. Michael Levangie on the<br />
project, the Center uses a protocol-driven approach which allows for rapid assessment, prudent monitoring, and fast<br />
treatment if and when it is determined that patients are experiencing a cardiac event or heart attack.<br />
Tom Shupp, Program Manager for Stroke & Chest Pain with Dr. Michael Levangie, Medical Director, <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Chest Pain Center<br />
“The <strong>FMH</strong> Chest Pain Center’s approach<br />
is based on collaboration between our<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department, Cardiology team,<br />
EMS, hospitalists and nurses. Together, this<br />
team ensures rapid evaluation and diagnosis,<br />
and assures that high-quality care is delivered<br />
to each patient who presents to the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department with chest pain.”<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 4<br />
“The <strong>FMH</strong> Chest Pain Center’s<br />
approach is based on collaboration<br />
between our <strong>Emergency</strong> Department,<br />
Cardiology team, EMS, hospitalists and<br />
nurses,” said Shupp. “Together, this<br />
team ensures rapid evaluation and<br />
diagnosis, and assures that high-quality<br />
care is delivered to each patient who<br />
presents to the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Department with chest pain.”<br />
“With heart attacks, time is muscle,”<br />
said Dr. Levangie. “Anyone who is<br />
experiencing the warning signs of<br />
heart attack should seek out<br />
professional evaluation immediately.<br />
The more quickly treatment can begin,<br />
the more effective it is…and the more<br />
complete the patient’s recovery.”<br />
The Center is scheduled to open this<br />
summer.<br />
What should I do if I have chest pain?<br />
If you or someone you love experiences any of these warning signs,<br />
call 911 immediately:<br />
• Tightness in the chest<br />
• Pain or discomfort in the neck, jaw or arms<br />
• Shortness of breath<br />
• Unusual fatigue<br />
Once a heart attack begins, every minute that passes<br />
means more heart muscle damage. Don’t delay!
Paramedic and <strong>Frederick</strong> County Battalion Chief David Chisholm with Bridget<br />
Plummer, RN (far left) and George and Bettie Delaplaine of The Delaplaine Foundation.<br />
E<br />
very moment following a heart attack is critical, because the earlier a patient can be treated, the more heart muscle can<br />
be saved. And outcomes improve even more when heart attack patients are taken to hospitals like <strong>FMH</strong> that offer<br />
emergency cardiac catheterization and angioplasty programs.<br />
And here’s even better news. Now, thanks to a grant from the Delaplaine Foundation, patients suffering heart attacks are getting<br />
treatment even faster with the help of a system called LifeNet.<br />
LifeNet is a system that transmits a patient’s electrocardiogram, or EKG, from the ambulance to the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department. If<br />
doctors determine from the EKG that the patient is an angioplasty candidate, they can immediately page the <strong>FMH</strong> Interventional<br />
Cardiology and Catheterization teams, reducing wait time once the patient arrives.<br />
According to Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Stephen Williams, the recommended “door-to-balloon time,” or the time between arrival<br />
in the ED and the inflation of a balloon in the coronary artery of the heart, should not exceed 90 minutes. At <strong>FMH</strong>, door to balloon<br />
times are closer to 60 minutes, which is far better than the national average and the fastest average time in the state of Maryland.<br />
“LifeNet allows us to activate our heart teams earlier, shaving precious minutes off the time it takes to open a blocked coronary<br />
artery,” said <strong>FMH</strong> Medical Director of Interventional Cardiology, Dr. David Brill, FACC, FSCAI. “The ability of this technology to<br />
help save heart muscle can’t be overestimated.”<br />
When Daniel Videtto, 59, felt some discomfort in<br />
his chest last February, he initially attributed it to a<br />
pulled muscle. But when the pain and pressure got steadily<br />
worse, Danny knew there was something far more dangerous<br />
going on. Minutes after Danny’s wife, Linda, called 9-1-1,<br />
EMTs from the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Station<br />
13 arrived at the couple’s home.<br />
As soon as Danny was settled in the ambulance, he was<br />
connected to LifeNet, which sent his EKG electronically to<br />
Dr. Karen Pheasant in the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department.<br />
When Dr. Pheasant determined that Danny needed an<br />
angioplasty, Dr. David Brill and the interventional cardiology<br />
team were ready and waiting when he arrived in the ED.<br />
“Literally minutes after I was brought into the <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Room, I was being taken into surgery,” said Videtto. “I don’t<br />
recall any waiting at all.”<br />
LifeNet<br />
When It’s A Race<br />
Against Time<br />
Living Proof: Danny’s Story<br />
A catheter with a balloon on the end was threaded through a<br />
blood vessel to the blockage, where a balloon was inflated,<br />
widening the inside of Danny’s artery and restoring blood flow.<br />
A small mesh tube called a stent was then put in the artery to<br />
help keep it open. In just over an hour, Danny was recovering<br />
in his hospital room.<br />
“I owe my life to my wife’s quick thinking, the EMTs,<br />
LifeNet and everyone at <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>,”<br />
says Danny Videtto. “If I had to rate the nurses and the<br />
doctors at <strong>FMH</strong> between 1-100, I’d give them 110. They<br />
were just exceptional.”<br />
“Thanks to all of them, the future looks bright. I’m making<br />
some changes in my lifestyle, and I’m feeling great.”<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 5
The <strong>FMH</strong> Pediatric<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department<br />
A trip<br />
Katherine Murray, Director of Women’s<br />
and Children’s <strong>Services</strong>, Dr. Robert<br />
Wack, Medical Director, Pediatric<br />
<strong>Services</strong> and Christie Bussard,<br />
Manager of Pediatric <strong>Services</strong>.<br />
to the emergency room with a sick child has<br />
become a little less stressful since the opening last<br />
year of the <strong>FMH</strong> Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> Department.<br />
According to <strong>FMH</strong> Director for Women’s and Children’s<br />
<strong>Services</strong> Katherine Murray, RN, MSN, the Pediatric<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department was created to meet the most<br />
common emergency medical needs of pediatric patients<br />
in an environment that is quiet, calm and secure.<br />
“There are some very specific illnesses, injuries and<br />
conditions that affect children that we will continue to treat<br />
in the traditional ER,” explains Murray, “but the vast majority<br />
of patients from birth through age 17 can be treated in our<br />
new Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> Department.”<br />
An expanded version of the Bess & Frank Gladhill KidZone,<br />
the Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> Department is open 24 hours a day,<br />
7 days a week to meet the unique needs of children from<br />
newborns to adolescents. Led by Dr. Robert Wack, <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Medical Director for Pediatric <strong>Services</strong>, a team of pediatricians,<br />
nurses and other technicians provide round-the-clock, familycentered<br />
care. The new wing serves, on average, 20 to 50 child<br />
patients each day, or an average of 1,000 per month, according<br />
to Christie Bussard, RN, nurse manager of the department.<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 6<br />
A new Pediatric Inpatient Unit is located on the same floor<br />
as the Pediatric ED, making the transition smoother and<br />
less traumatic for children and families who need to stay<br />
overnight. An extension of the original KayLo Pediatric Unit<br />
funded by the Nora Roberts Foundation, the new pediatric<br />
inpatient unit is staffed by the same specialists who began<br />
the child’s care in the emergency setting. “We made a<br />
point of co-locating the Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> and Inpatient<br />
Departments to maximize continuity of care, and to make<br />
admissions, when needed, less stressful for patients and their<br />
families,” says Bussard.<br />
For children who are not in isolation, there’s a well-stocked<br />
playroom full of toys and games to help pass the time prior<br />
to discharge. There are even rolling carts with TVs, DVDs<br />
and video games that can be moved into patients’ rooms.<br />
“There are a lot of kid-friendly details that make the space<br />
pleasant and enjoyable for our patients, but the most<br />
important aspect of the <strong>FMH</strong> Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Department is the staff,” says Dr. Wack. “Every one of<br />
us is a pediatric specialist, and we have all chosen to work<br />
on a unit dedicated to the care of children.”
Because<br />
Little Things<br />
Mean a Lot!<br />
S<br />
ix-year-old Adyn Isemann doesn’t get sick often, and when<br />
she does, it’s usually a 24-hour bug. But her last bout with<br />
an intestinal virus several months ago was a definite exception<br />
to that rule.<br />
“She came home from school on a Thursday feeling sick, and<br />
went straight to sleep,” says her mother, Jen Isemann of<br />
Thurmont. “During the night, her fever spiked and she couldn’t<br />
keep anything down—not even the smallest sips of water. The<br />
next morning, her pediatrician sent us straight to the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Room.”<br />
With two other children—Camryn, 9, and Peyton, 5, Jen and<br />
her husband Brian had made many trips to various emergency Jennifer Isemann with 6-year-old daughter Adyn.<br />
rooms over the years. “We probably had more experience than<br />
most parents with traditional ERs,” said Jen. “I had no idea how<br />
pleasantly surprised I was about to be. I didn’t know there was a Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong> Department at <strong>FMH</strong> until I walked<br />
through the door with Adyn in my arms, and a whole kid-friendly approach sprung immediately into action. Wow.”<br />
“ “ Another Family Heard From...<br />
One of the first things that impressed her was how quickly Adyn was evaluated. In less than 10 minutes, they were settled in a<br />
private, kid-friendly room. “As listless as Adyn was, she smiled when she saw that the nurses who would be taking care of her<br />
had written her name along with theirs on the whiteboard in her room,” said Jen. “While a child is sick and scared, those<br />
little things mean a lot!”<br />
“I wanted to thank everyone at <strong>FMH</strong> Immediate<br />
Care, the check-in desk at the <strong>Emergency</strong> Room, and<br />
the entire staff of the <strong>FMH</strong> Pediatric <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Unit for the excellent care my son, Brett, received<br />
after he fell while ice skating. I was very impressed<br />
with the speedy service and excellent care they gave<br />
him. I wish I had everyone's names, but I can tell<br />
you that someone was always with him, and that<br />
they explained everything they were doing. Everyone<br />
was very kind and helpful. Thank you so much for<br />
making a very unpleasant situation much better<br />
for my son!”<br />
--Debbie Ingram<br />
Jen said she felt immediate confidence in the <strong>FMH</strong> Pediatric<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department because the entire care team--from<br />
the attending physicians to the nurses to the technicians and<br />
aids-- specialize in caring for children. In addition, the<br />
equipment—from blood pressure cuffs to IV kits—is perfectly<br />
sized to make taking care of children from birth through<br />
adolescence easier and more accurate.<br />
“Having a child admitted to the hospital through the <strong>Emergency</strong><br />
Room is always going to be stressful. But it's far less so when<br />
you know that the people who are going to be taking care of<br />
your child are pediatric specialists. That should be a huge<br />
comfort to <strong>Frederick</strong> County parents. I know it made a huge<br />
difference for us. "<br />
--Jen Isemann<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 7
Campaign Update:<br />
Closer to Our Goal<br />
S<br />
ince 1902, <strong>FMH</strong> has<br />
been blessed to have a<br />
community of supporters who are<br />
generous and passionate about the<br />
healthcare we provide. Gifts from<br />
LEVEL<br />
individuals, businesses, foundations $9.6M<br />
and our own employees have raised<br />
close to $9.6 million toward our<br />
Transforming Healthcare in our Community<br />
campaign goal of $10 million. These funds<br />
provide support to two vital service lines: The<br />
Women’s Center at <strong>FMH</strong> Crestwood, and our<br />
expanded Cardiovascular, Interventional and<br />
Electrophysiology services.<br />
Earl M. “Rocky”<br />
Mackintosh, III<br />
Chairman, <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Development Council<br />
Thank you!<br />
If you have not done<br />
so already, we hope<br />
that you will join us<br />
as we work to reach<br />
our goal. To help the<br />
Transforming Healthcare<br />
in Our Community campaign, please<br />
visit www.fmh.org/campaign<br />
to donate online, or contact the<br />
<strong>FMH</strong> Office of Development at<br />
(240) 566-3478.<br />
Earl M. “Rocky” Mackintosh, III<br />
Chairman, <strong>FMH</strong> Development Council<br />
CURRENT<br />
GIVING<br />
$10 Million<br />
Campaign<br />
Goal<br />
$9M<br />
$8M<br />
$7M<br />
$6M<br />
$5M<br />
$4M<br />
$3M<br />
$2M<br />
$1M<br />
Has a doctor in our community provided<br />
exceptional care and comfort to you or a loved<br />
one? Ever wish there was an easy way to reach out and say<br />
thank you? Now there is.<br />
To honor a doctor who has made a difference in your<br />
life, visit www.fmh.org/doctorsday, or contact the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Office of Development at (240) 566-3478 to make a gift<br />
and/or leave a message of appreciation. We’ll share your<br />
comments with each physician, and notify them of the<br />
gifts made in their honor (without reference to the<br />
amount.) Contributions made in honor of your physician<br />
help support the Transforming Healthcare in our<br />
Community campaign.<br />
Thank you for helping us keep the spirit of Doctors Day<br />
alive!<br />
Pictured from L-R: John Molesworth, D.O., Chief of Staff, Saeed Zaidi, M.D.,<br />
Past Chief of Staff and Neil Waravdekar, M.D., Vice Chief of Staff.<br />
In 1999, the <strong>Frederick</strong> community lost a kindly benefactor when George L. Shields suddenly passed<br />
away. To honor the late Mr. Shields’s generous spirit and his belief in the hospital’s mission to provide<br />
quality healthcare close to home for <strong>Frederick</strong>’s citizens, the Family Foundation that bears his name<br />
came forward with one of the largest gifts in <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>’s history. In recognition of<br />
this extraordinary gift, the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department was named in his honor in May, 2004.
Delaplaine Foundation Gift<br />
Provides Life-Saving Equipment<br />
A<br />
t 7:00 p.m on Sunday, March 13th, Pat and Sharon<br />
Corey of Toronto, Canada got their first call from<br />
<strong>Frederick</strong>. It was their 20-year-old son, Ryan, telling them<br />
that he and his Herkheimer County Community College<br />
baseball team had arrived in town safely.<br />
Three hours later, the couple received a second call from<br />
<strong>Frederick</strong>. This time, it was Ryan’s coach, and the news was<br />
not good: Ryan had gone into full cardiac arrest, and had<br />
been rushed to <strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>. The situation<br />
was extremely serious, and the family was encouraged to<br />
get to <strong>Frederick</strong> as soon as possible.<br />
When he arrived at the <strong>FMH</strong> ICU, Pat learned that Ryan’s<br />
medical team had begun the process of lowering his son’s<br />
core body temperature to 91.4 degrees F. Using a device<br />
called an Arctic Sun machine, the<br />
team was working to create the right<br />
conditions in Ryan’s body to slow down<br />
cellular death, and minimize brain<br />
damage.<br />
Fortunately for Ryan, and thanks to a<br />
generous grant from the Delaplaine<br />
Foundation, Inc., the hospital had two<br />
Arctic Sun machines available that day.<br />
After 26 hours of induced hypothermia,<br />
Ryan’s medical team began to slowly<br />
raise his body temperature. “It might be<br />
days, weeks, even months before we<br />
begin to see the results we’re looking<br />
for,” cautioned Sue Archer, Clinical Specialist on the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Intensive Care Unit to Ryan’s anxious father. “Keep in mind<br />
that results are not usually immediate.”<br />
Just hours into the “warming up” phase, Ryan’s eyelids began<br />
to flutter. He recognized his father, and began to respond to<br />
simple commands. His breathing tube was removed, and he<br />
became increasingly alert and oriented. It slowly began to<br />
dawn on everyone in the room that the Arctic Sun machine,<br />
in the skilled hands of Ryan’s caregivers, had performed the<br />
highly unlikely.<br />
A week and a day later, after having a defibrillator implanted,<br />
Ryan was back at home in Toronto. He has little memory of<br />
his time in <strong>Frederick</strong>, but he’s back at college, preparing for<br />
20-year-old first baseman Ryan<br />
Corey prior to his full cardiac arrest<br />
in March <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
Ryan at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor 8<br />
days after his cardiac arrest.<br />
finals and looking forward to rejoining the baseball team in<br />
the fall.<br />
“Watching Ryan respond to the treatment is something the<br />
staff of the <strong>FMH</strong> ICU will never forget,” said Sue Archer.<br />
“Our chief intensivist Dr. Nam had educated us on the<br />
hypothermia protocol, and thanks to his quick-thinking<br />
teammate who started CPR, and the Delaplaine Foundation,<br />
Ryan’s recovery was nothing short of remarkable.”<br />
According to Marlene Young of the Delaplaine Foundation, Inc,<br />
the organization’s mission is to support programs and services<br />
that enrich the lives of individuals, families and the community.<br />
“To have been a part of something that is as dramatic and lifesaving<br />
as Ryan’s story is a profound joy…and a true privilege.”<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 9
Dr. Shahid Rafiq, Medical Director of <strong>FMH</strong> Primary Stroke Center, with Tom Shupp,<br />
Program Manager for Stroke & Chest Pain<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 10<br />
<strong>FMH</strong> Primary<br />
Stroke Center<br />
Provides<br />
Superior<br />
Care<br />
hen blood vessels that supply the<br />
brain suddenly burst or become<br />
blocked, brain cells begin to die from lack of<br />
oxygen and other nutrients. Immediate transport<br />
to a hospital emergency department with a<br />
Primary Stroke Center is crucial so that<br />
treatment—including the dispensing of special<br />
clot-busting drugs when appropriate—can begin<br />
as soon as possible.<br />
Citizens of <strong>Frederick</strong> County and environs can rest easier knowing that just such a treatment option is available locally at <strong>Frederick</strong><br />
<strong>Memorial</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong>. Designated by the Maryland Institute of <strong>Emergency</strong> Medical Service Systems (MIEMSS) as a Primary Stroke<br />
Center, and recently awarded a Stroke Center Bronze Performance Award by the American Heart Association, the <strong>FMH</strong> Primary<br />
Stroke Center provides a methodical and organized approach to the care of patients suffering a “brain attack.”<br />
According to Medical Director of the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
Stroke Program Dr. Shahid Rafiq, the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
stroke team uses CT and MRI technologies<br />
within minutes of a patient’s arrival in the<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Room to determine if the individual<br />
has had a stroke, and, if so, what kind. Dr.<br />
Rafiq, an experienced neurologist, rapidly<br />
evaluates the data, either deciding to administer<br />
a clot-busting drug known as t-PA, perform<br />
emergent surgery or arrange rapid transfers to<br />
the ICU intensive care unit.<br />
“At the <strong>FMH</strong> Primary Stroke Center, our<br />
treatment protocols are extremely important,”<br />
says Dr. Rafiq. “But we are also committed to<br />
educating people about the risk factors for<br />
stroke, and the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.” “<br />
W<br />
“ <strong>FMH</strong> ER Patient Compliments<br />
appreciated the follow up calls.”<br />
concerns.”<br />
“I just wanted to thank everyone for the excellent care I received<br />
there yesterday. I have never had a doctor actually sit down and<br />
explain things to me like Dr. Pepper did, and I loved his name!<br />
Everyone on the team was exceptional! And I especially<br />
--Tamara Frank<br />
“I was extremely impressed with the care I received at the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department. Everyone was great, especially<br />
Margaret and the nurse she was training. They eased all of my<br />
--Richard Dorn
<strong>Emergency</strong> vs. Immediate Care<br />
Know the Difference<br />
Is it an <strong>Emergency</strong>?<br />
The initial minutes after an<br />
injury or medical crisis are<br />
often the most critical. Trust<br />
your instincts when deciding if<br />
you or a loved one needs<br />
immediate medical attention.<br />
Symptoms that generally<br />
indicate an emergency<br />
include:<br />
• Difficulty breathing or<br />
shortness of breath<br />
• Uncontrollable bleeding<br />
• Head injury or broken bones<br />
• Poisoning or suspected overdose<br />
• Seizure or loss of consciousness<br />
• Persistent chest or abdominal pain or pressure<br />
• Numbness or paralysis of an arm or leg<br />
Laura Jackson, RN<br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department, Manager<br />
• Sudden slurred speech, visual changes or weakness<br />
• Major burns<br />
• Intense pain<br />
• Severe reaction to an<br />
insect bite, medication<br />
or food<br />
The Immediate Care<br />
Option<br />
If you have a situation that<br />
requires prompt medical<br />
attention but is not lifethreatening,<br />
and your regular<br />
healthcare physician is<br />
unavailable, you may want to<br />
consider visiting one of our<br />
Immediate Care locations.<br />
• Moderate fever<br />
• Colds, cough or flu<br />
• Bruises, abrasions and<br />
minor cuts<br />
• Minor burns<br />
• Eye, ear or skin infections<br />
• Sprains or strains<br />
• Urinary tract infections<br />
• Respiratory infections<br />
Immediate Care <strong>Frederick</strong><br />
850 Oak Street<br />
<strong>Frederick</strong>, MD 21701<br />
301-698-8374<br />
Rachel Ridgeway, Physician Assistant<br />
Immediate Care<br />
Also offering Sports<br />
Physicals & Travel<br />
Immunizations!<br />
Immediate Care Mt. Airy<br />
1502 South Main Street<br />
Mt. Airy, MD 21771<br />
301-829-5888<br />
WellAware | <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | page 11
Non-Profit Org<br />
Presorted<br />
US POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
FREDERICK MD<br />
PERMIT #59<br />
<strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> Healthcare System | 400 W. Seventh Street | <strong>Frederick</strong>, Maryland 21701<br />
This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical<br />
treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.<br />
S.A.F.E. Care<br />
Professional and confidential care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for victims<br />
of sexual assault through a special program in the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department.<br />
S.A.F.E. Coordinator Kathy LeComte, RN in the<br />
program’s private examination room in the <strong>FMH</strong><br />
<strong>Emergency</strong> Department. The dedicated area contains<br />
special equipment for collecting evidence and<br />
documenting the case.<br />
A<br />
ECRWSS<br />
program called S.A.F.E. (Sexual Assault Forensic Examination),<br />
available through the <strong>FMH</strong> <strong>Emergency</strong> Department, has changed the<br />
way victims of sexual assault are treated and cared for in <strong>Frederick</strong> County.<br />
According to S.A.F.E. program coordinator, Kathy LeComte, RN, when a<br />
victim of sexual assault comes into the <strong>Emergency</strong> Department, the triage<br />
team activates the program’s protocol immediately. The patient is taken to a<br />
private examination room, and the S.A.F.E. nurse on call and an advocate<br />
from Heartly House are immediately contacted. The nurse and advocate arrive<br />
within the hour to explain the victim’s options, and provide comfort and<br />
support. Everything that happens after that, she explains, is done according to<br />
how the patient wishes to proceed.<br />
Although the S.A.F.E. program is partially funded by government grants,<br />
says LeComte, most of the financial responsibility for it is absorbed by<br />
<strong>FMH</strong>. “<strong>Frederick</strong> <strong>Memorial</strong> <strong>Hospital</strong> has been 100% behind this program<br />
since its inception in 1998,” she says. “This is a service <strong>FMH</strong> provides to<br />
the community that the vast majority of people don’t even know about, and<br />
probably will never need. But their commitment to it has been unwavering,<br />
simply because it’s the right thing to do.”<br />
To assure that each patient receives the best care possible, nurses with the<br />
<strong>FMH</strong> S.A.F.E. program meet regularly with other crisis intervention specialists,<br />
including representatives from law enforcement, the State’s Attorney’s Office,<br />
Child Advocacy Center, <strong>Frederick</strong> County Public Schools, Fort Detrick’s Crisis<br />
Center and Heartly House.<br />
The S.A.F.E. program and its founders have received local, regional and<br />
national recognition. However, for the program’s nurses, the best reward is<br />
knowing they are a part of providing care and comfort for patients at a very<br />
difficult time. “In 13 years, we’ve never missed a case,” says LeComte.<br />
“These nurses are extremely dedicated and compassionate.”