14.11.2012 Views

Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital

Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital

Spring 2011: FMH Emergency Services - Frederick Memorial Hospital

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

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.”

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!