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Letter to the editor
Dear Dr. (Patrick) Flume, Dr.
(Charlie) Strange, Dr. (Jay) Heidecker, MICU staff, and respiratory
therapy:
Where do I begin to thank and commend all of you when I feel as though
words cannot express the gratitude that is so rightfully due?
In regards to the young gentleman in bed 1 over the weekend; I have
never been so proud and fulfilled in my career as I was this weekend as
the team pulled together for MICU care and teamwork. Not only did the
multidisciplinary team come together, but the compassion and care for
the patient and his family exceeded what was expected.
First of all, many of the staff members and myself would like to
commend Dr. Patrick Flume for not only coming in when he was not on
call, but also for initiating the treatment the patient so desperately
needed. From speaking with staff members, Dr. Flume has the MICU teams
complete respect. If not for him the staff felt that the patient would
no longer be with us and that he went above and beyond the call of
duty. Staff members witnessed as he arranged for the patient to be
started on ECMO, then transported to a different facility, and then
encouraged the Marine Corp to initiate the fundraising to help the
patient’s family with the medical costs. Dr. Flume, we applaud you and
are proud to work along side you.
Second, Dr. Charlie Strange spent several day and night shift hours
with the patient and staff for the Surfactant study and to help attempt
to stabilize the patient. When all ventalitory efforts were exhausted,
he and Dr. Jay Heidecker helped the respiratory and nursing staff
manually prone the patient. When the patient was somewhat stable, he
left only to call a few hours later to check on if the patient had made
any progress and whether or not to continue with the study. Dr.
Strange, thank you for caring and educating the staff at the same time.
Third, Dr. Jay Heidecker on a few hours of sleep and the cell phone
glued to his ear, arranged for the ECMO flight team and MEDU care
ambulance crew to transport the patient to Wake Forest. Working more
than 24 hours with the patient and managing to know exactly what to do,
he lead the night shift MICU team and recognition and applause is due
to Jay as well.
Last but not least, to the nursing and respiratory staff. You are why I
come to work everyday. To work along side a group of
extraordinary people that are not only patient advocates, but also care
for the patient as if they were their own family member. From the
charge nurse that made the call to Dr. Flume and presented our dilemma,
to the staff that cared for the patient, and to the staff that cared
for the rest of the patients in the unit while the needs in bed 1
became a 6:1 situation at times, I commend you and you have my utmost
respect.
We never want one of our loved ones to become critically ill.
Especially a 19-year-old. However from what was witnessed— the
teamwork, the compassion, the prayer chain, and the fight for what is
someone’s life will forever be remembered by some of the staff members
and myself.
Thank you again and I look forward to continuing this standard of care
with you on a daily basis.
Sincerely,
Sarah Bucko, R.N.
Friday, March 24, 2006
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