The VAD Coordinators
August 2014
Erin August, Michael Scala and
Debbie Riley
,
RN
VAD Coordinators
Tampa General Hospital
Tampa
,
FL
United States
Erin August, Michael Scala, and Debbie Riley, all showed exemplary nursing skills, advocacy, caring, and competency during an attempt to save a young man's life. Erin, Michael and Debbie are all VAD Coordinators, and they all work long hours to ensure our complex VAD patients get the care they need.
I didn't realize until yesterday, however, the true depth of their knowledge, their competence, and their compassion for their patients and families. One of our VAD patients was having technical alarms and difficulties with his VAD while in a parking lot in the community, and he was by himself. The coordinators all stayed on the line with him and tried to instruct him on how to correct the issue, long after the patient fell unconscious. They stayed on the line, yelling his name, trying to help him, until a passer-by came to the patient's assistance. The coordinators had incredible patience with the terrified good samaritan as they carefully explained how to help the patient. They had already called EMS, the physicians, and had an Aeromed helicopter on standby to get the patient to our facility as soon as possible. Erin had even thought to call the patient's significant other in the midst of the emergency.
When EMS arrived, Debbie confidently instructed them on how to handle the situation, how to access the pump, and how to best give this young man the best chance at survival. Realizing the patient did not have his anticoagulant in his bag, this stellar team quickly found the closest pharmacy and got an order in and explained the urgency of the situation. The medication was retrieved and given to the patient before Aeromed took off to bring the patient to TGH.
I am so impressed and so proud of the lengths this team went to, in an effort to save this patient's life. Many other VAD team members were on hand and helped in other ways as well.
Sadly, the patient did not survive this event. However, I know without a doubt that everything was done to give him the best possible chance to survive. I also know that in his last moments of consciousness, he was not alone; he had a team of caring and dedicated nurses on the phone with him, and I hope that gave him comfort.
I witnessed nursing at its best yesterday. I am so incredibly proud of these coordinators, and I know our patients are lucky to have such an exemplary team caring for them.
I didn't realize until yesterday, however, the true depth of their knowledge, their competence, and their compassion for their patients and families. One of our VAD patients was having technical alarms and difficulties with his VAD while in a parking lot in the community, and he was by himself. The coordinators all stayed on the line with him and tried to instruct him on how to correct the issue, long after the patient fell unconscious. They stayed on the line, yelling his name, trying to help him, until a passer-by came to the patient's assistance. The coordinators had incredible patience with the terrified good samaritan as they carefully explained how to help the patient. They had already called EMS, the physicians, and had an Aeromed helicopter on standby to get the patient to our facility as soon as possible. Erin had even thought to call the patient's significant other in the midst of the emergency.
When EMS arrived, Debbie confidently instructed them on how to handle the situation, how to access the pump, and how to best give this young man the best chance at survival. Realizing the patient did not have his anticoagulant in his bag, this stellar team quickly found the closest pharmacy and got an order in and explained the urgency of the situation. The medication was retrieved and given to the patient before Aeromed took off to bring the patient to TGH.
I am so impressed and so proud of the lengths this team went to, in an effort to save this patient's life. Many other VAD team members were on hand and helped in other ways as well.
Sadly, the patient did not survive this event. However, I know without a doubt that everything was done to give him the best possible chance to survive. I also know that in his last moments of consciousness, he was not alone; he had a team of caring and dedicated nurses on the phone with him, and I hope that gave him comfort.
I witnessed nursing at its best yesterday. I am so incredibly proud of these coordinators, and I know our patients are lucky to have such an exemplary team caring for them.