A patient came to Chesapeake Clinic to see a dermatologist, and while waiting for her appointment, the patient became unresponsive in the waiting room.

Bianca, who was at the front desk, immediately noticed and leaped into action, immediately getting two nurses, David Auh and Mary Kathryn Ross, from inside the clinic after checking to see if the patient was okay. David and Mary Kathryn came out to the waiting room to immediately assess the patient and began CPR when they could not find a pulse.

During that time, Bianca had called 911 and calmly told the dispatcher the severity of the situation, which caused nearby EMS personnel to be redirected to Chesapeake Clinic to help. The nurse manager, Catherine, came to help with relieving the RNs with CPR, and Dr. Jang also came to help. EMS arrived within minutes of the call to 911 to help the patient.

The patient's family had the patient's paperwork, which included a durable DNR, so CPR was stopped, and the patient unfortunately died. The patient's daughter and son-in-law were very appreciative of the care the patient received and were very impressed with both the team's professionalism as well as their reaction to the emergency. The patient's daughter said her mother got the best care possible from the Chesapeake team.

While this event was happening, other members of the Chesapeake team were making sure that patients were still being cared for by redirecting patients through other doors to get their appointments, allowing the patient and her family to have privacy during this time. Everyone on the Chesapeake team jumped into action and found some meaningful way to help, be it continuing to take care of patients being seen, sitting with the patient's family to comfort them, directing other patients in and out of the 5th-floor clinics, or coordinating care for the patient.

I was so impressed by the way the team came together to care for the patient and her family during a time that is not often seen outside of the hospital. Every team member knew they had a part to play, and each of them played that part perfectly.

The emergency response of the clinic team was what you would expect from an ICU or ED level of care, not from a clinic-based staff. If the patient were not a DNR, the patient would have had the best possible chance to survive with quick activation of 911 with clear communication, starting CPR immediately, and attaching the AED.

I have seen many emergencies and code situations in my career, and this response and care of the patient and family was some of the best I have ever seen. You could not have asked for more than what the whole team gave.