Trauma to triumph

Recently I had the privilege of working the night shift in the emergency department at Hartford Healthcare St. Vincent’s Medical Center. I was not a doctor or a nurse or a tech or an aid or a secretary. I am the president of the Fairfield Region of Hartford Healthcare.

What I witnessed was an ordinary weeknight for the colleagues with whom I interacted. For the rest of us mere mortals, it was nothing short of daring. People typically think doctors are healers, but after spending a night in the ER, I discovered there’s an entire team each doing their part to turn a trauma into a triumph. They are all healers.

As a group of us visited at the front lobby desk as woman was casually wheeled into the lobby by a friend. She did not appear to be in deep distress. But after being asked a few brief questions, the team quickly realized the patient was the victim of a knife injury. Penetrating trauma. Instantly the mood and actions changed on a dime. Dozens of colleagues sprang into action while barely uttering a word. They were activating a trauma alert and they all know their roles and their places. Kelly, the nurse in charge, calmly orchestrated the team as physicians and surgeons and many others gathered with disciplined precision.

Then, minutes later, another patient arrived by ambulance — also a trauma patient with a major head injury. Blunt force trauma.

Security guards on duty were not only protecting the patients, staff, and visitors, but were often assisting with parking or those navigating the unfamiliar setting of a hospital.

Registration staff were busy gathering information about each patient and their emergency contacts.

Nurses prepared patients, opening lines of communication and explaining procedures while documenting their care meticulously.

Patient care technicians, often shouting out vital signs for all to hear, assured all team members were kept well informed on a patient’s condition or progress.

Radiology technologists were ready, taking images to supply critical information to the doctors.

Respiratory therapists were preparing emergency airway kits and mechanical berating devices.

Environmental services staff were also constantly on the move, sweeping, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

The word “patient” comes from its root in Latin meaning “one who suffers.” Regardless of their task or their formal training, the jobs of all those I observed in action that night was to relieve distress, to provide compassion and to heal those suffering.

They are all healers.