"Everything we need to do doesn't always feel good and isn't always comfortable, but sometimes we need to make sacrfices" @Joyce Meyer Twitter 8/31 night. This is the best description I founded last night I found for my day on Friday 8/31
Friday 8/31 0745 I rounded with ER staff to see if there were an safety events in the pervious 24 hours to report at organizational "Safety Rounds" at 0840 all was well. The report was all was safe despite many intoxicated JMU students. It has been a very short 3 months since the left on summer break.
One of the paramedics from Rockingham County where RMH is located finished reporting on a chest pain patient. She got paged out for a car versus multiple children at a Bus stop, she can back to make sure we got the "Heads Up"
I let RC staff and ICU staff know, ER Leaders agreed and paged a "External Disaster Standby" We received updates every few minutes from EEOC (911 Dispatcher) 2 adults and 5 children ...one children was priorty 1 (highest priorty) the rest priorty were 2.
The response from within RMH was awesome; 3 Pedtricans, addtional ER MDs & RN came in on their days off, RNs from the floors, pharamcy, three senior leaders and very service within RMH stepped up and helped. We had Heilcopter in the air and on scene at RMH before the first child arrived. Five RCPs (including me) each with a ventilator in an ER room were ready before arrival.
Sadly the first patient was an 18 month old who had severe head injures and was DOA. One of the adults was flown to UVA Medical Center with severe femur fx, the rest including sister of the 18 month old were treated and later released. The hardest part was yet to come, assuring the 18 month was ready for the mother, grandmother, and friends of family to see depsite being a Medical Examiners case. The 18 month old's Dad was hours away working.
The care given to all the patients and families especially the 18 months old was beyound words. The support from the local EMS, Chaplians, and Behavioral Heath team was amazing. We debriefed ER and those who took care of the patients at 1200. Among the tears, a local chaplin opened with moment of silence and prayer for all, he ended his comments with this is the most amazing team I have ever seen. Later at 1500 we debriefed from an organizational view. Quiet a few good suggestions, because we are always preparing for next time but we ended with sharing what went well. More tears, and broken voices but very proud teammates. Debrifeing with EMS folks tomorrow night.
Last night I was blessed to see three of my four grandchildren and my oldest son a local firefighter. I really need to see them. Today was spent checking on RC and ER Teammates sure all were properly coping and talking about it. I know each of you have faced these events you know the effect, so pray for our team, because the ER NEVER Closes.