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TRAUMAUPDATE News from the Trauma Center at BryanLGH
Kimberly Russel, President, BryanLGH Health System; John Woodrich, President, BryanLGH Medical Center; Edgar Bumanis, Director, Public Relations; Paul Hadley, Editor.
FALL 2011
Story of summertime crash has happy ending for Monnich
F We’re preparing for Level 2 reverification It’s reverification time for BryanLGH — the only ACS (American College of Surgeons) Level 2 Trauma Center in Eastern Nebraska. Whether it is respiratory therapy, trauma registrar, radiology, nursing staff or the many others who play a role, dedication from the entire BryanLGH family is required to maintain this status. As a result, we take a lot of pride in our care for the injured patient. Our goal is to provide the most efficient and optimal care possible. We have applied for reverification and expect the process to occur this spring. Surveyors will review the 2011 year, making this year pivotal in our quest to maintain verification. The program underwent many personnel changes this year, welcoming a new trauma program manager and midlevel providers. The team has changed, but our care has remained constant — exhibiting the same efficiency and skill we’ve always provided. Being prepared to handle trauma is a basic service of a lead trauma center; being able to handle any trauma well is what makes us unique. We hope the ACS will agree during their evaluation. Watch for updates on how you can assist in preparing for our review.
Oct. 14 Symposium has pediatric focus
T
his year’s Trauma Symposium is Friday, Oct. 14, in the Conference Center at BryanLGH West. Keynote speaker Don Moores, MD, chief of pediatric surgery at Loma Linda (Calif.) University Children’s Hospital, will present Recognition of Child Abuse at 8:15 a.m. and a breakout session, Pediatric Abdominal Compartment Syndrome, at 2:10 p.m. Other addresses include:
Pre-hospital Pediatric Trauma at 9:30 a.m. by featured speaker Elisabeth Abel, RN, educator and flight nurse from AirLife of Denver, Colo. She also is presenting General Pediatric Trauma Care from a Nursing Perspective at 1 p.m.
PTSD: Putting Together the Pieces by Mary Kathryn Hunsberger, PhD, is at 10:30 a.m. Dr. Hunsberger is with BryanLGH Counseling Center. Preparation of Trauma Patient for Transfer begins at 2:10 p.m. Emergency medicine physician Tadd Delozier, MD, presents this breakout session. For more information about the Trauma Symposium from BryanLGH Medical Center and StarCare Air Ambulance, contact medical education coordinator Carol Brandl at 402-481-5674. Register today! Go to www.bryanlgh.org, then click on Classes and Screenings, then the Continuing Education calendar.
red Monnich’s world changed position in the vehicle and our desire not to suddenly one evening in late July. move him more than we had to, the fire crew The senior account manager for began removing the top of the vehicle.” NRG Media in Lincoln was on his This proved difficult to accomplish, way back to Eagle, driving to despite the crew’s attempts to stabilize the meet some friends for dessert, when his SUV SUV. and another vehicle collided at the Uridil says, “During this time, I covered intersection of Highways 63 and 34. Fred with a blanket to protect him from Rescue Captain Joe Uridil — who’s also an broken glass and other debris.” Emergency Department manager at The crew was able to remove some of the BryanLGH — recalls when his Eagle Volunteer Fire & Crash survivor Fred Monnich, who lives south of Eagle, is thankful his neighbors include volunteers from the local Rescue crew mates arrived fire and rescue squad. Some on that squad are Fire Captain at the scene at about 9 p.m. John Sedlachek, left, Asst. Chief Nick Glanz, Lt. Captain Dan “We and Southeast Fire Meier, Chief Rick Weyers, Traci & Rescue responded,” he Harrington, Rescue Captain Joe Uridil and Susan Sedlachek. says. “Fred’s vehicle was Sedlachek perched precariously on an embankment, leaning on its passenger side. He was conscious, but it was obvious both by the mechanism of injury and the tremendous amount of damage to the vehicle that there was a very high index of suspicion that Fred had suffered severe injuries.” The 65-year-old patient was disoriented, and his head was contorted at such an angle that responders suspected a neck injury. “I made entry into the vehicle through the back window and completed an initial assessment,” says Uridil. “Because of his
rear seating through the back of the vehicle, so ultimately the decision was made to extricate Monnich through the rear of the SUV. BryanLGH StarCare arrived and assisted with the extrication. Monnich was secured to a long spine board, additional assessments were completed, and he was transferred to the helicopter’s stretcher and prepared for rapid transport to BryanLGH West. “I don’t remember a lot about that evening,” says Monnich. “I didn’t even realize I’d been in a crash; I woke up in the helicopter, asked ‘Where am I?’ and went back to sleep.” He was treated by the BryanLGH Trauma Team, then transferred to the intensive care unit. “I had some bumps and bruises and was in the ICU before they moved me to rehab on the 3rd floor,” he continues. “Altogether I was at BryanLGH about three weeks, and everybody was really top notch.” He says the crash broke his 2nd cervical vertebra: “I’m told that can control your breathing and heart, so Dr. Robert Vande Guchte (orthopedic spine surgeon) secured the (Please turn to Page 2.)