Thank You for Being Ready for an Eventful Thanksgiving Morning
I am a paramedic in Battle Creek, working for LifeCare Ambulance. On the morning of November 23rd, the city was called into action for a mass casualty incident involving simultaneous overdoses. The call was hectic from start to finish. When it came time to transport, a collection of ambulances arrived to Bronson Battle Creek, all in quick succession. I would like to take a moment to recognize a few team members that made our handoffs so much easier.
Firstly, Renee, RN, received a warning that we were dealing with a spicy call. I called the red phone prior to departure to give her the shortest hern report to date. "Hey, we're headed your way. I've got 3, but anticipate many more." When we arrived to the hospital, team members were in the bay. Registration was ready to go. Everyone managed flawlessly. As the shift's charge nurse, she was orchestrating the task force wonderfully.
Secondly, Brooke, RN, was one of the receiving nurses in the ambulance bay. My partner was handing off the ambulatory patients through the side door while I was moving the patient on the cot from the rear exit. Due to the patient's build, it required two people to safely move the cot. Brooke didn't hesitate. She jumped right in to assist. She has always been a top-notch ED nurse, but this act was something well outside of her scope of practice. She didn't refuse or question what I was asking of her. She was enthusiastic to help. Because of her willingness to act, the patient was properly handled without further injury. So many thank yous!
Lastly, Johnny, Registration, received the little (and in some cases, none at all) information on the massive influx of patients. He was jostling around to all of the rooms, gathering what information was available, and had everyone assigned and registered expediently. After speaking with the other crews, they all mentioned how Johnny was quick to getting our face sheets to the correct teams. Without his attention to detail and superior competencies we would not have been able to complete our reports. He is a wizard!
Collectively, Renee, Brooke, and Johnny all had smiles on their faces and a "Lets do this!" attitude. They have always been the pinnacle of 'Bronson Positivity' but this incident accentuated their stellar commitment to our community and the supporting agencies. Thank you to the Bronson Battle Creek Emergency Department for being prepared and ready for an eventful Thanksgiving morning!
