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An MUSC hero NORA team: a relief to patients, families by Cindy Abole Public Relations For 20 years, nurse anesthetist Pat “Sandman” Tobin has been a beacon for patient care as it relates to anesthesia and managing pain. Tobin is the co-founder of the Non-Operating Room Anesthesia (NORA) and Moderate Sedation team within the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine.      The demand for anesthesia services and non-operating room sedation at MUSC has grown steadily within the last decade. Procedures such as bone marrow aspirations and biopsies, radiation therapy and lumbar punctures for chemotherapy are just some of the procedures that may require pain control and a compassionate touch.   Pat Tobin administers anesthesia to a young patient. “Pat is the stabilizing factor for the NORA team,” said Laurie Uebelhoer, CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist) and NORA team member. “He will do almost anything to make sure that children get the treatments they need and that they feel safe, and love him back in return. He makes parents feel like they are a part of the team and, because he has three teenage daughters, he empathizes with their hopes and fears. Pat is a hero to everyone he meets. He is the crown jewel of the anesthesia department and has single-handedly molded one of the finest, largest and safest NORA programs in the country. I am honored to work with him every day.”   Since its inception in 1999, this service has grown to support adults and children who require anesthesia care and moderate sedation for examinations and procedures performed in 22 Medical Center settings outside of the operating room. The NORA team administers anesthetics to about a quarter of all inpatient and outpatient cases that the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine supports.   Tobin has been part of a core group of CRNAs, medical residents and anesthesiologists who help maintain the program at MUSC. Honoring this clinical nursing specialty, CRNA staff supports the work of the larger departmental care teams that provide specific anesthesia services to men, women and children of different ages throughout the hospital. Currently, MUSC is the only hospital in the state that offers an anesthesia induction service to help minimize a child’s worry or discomfort that may be connected to an interventional radiological treatment or procedure.    “Pat bends over backwards to help families and children undergoing treatments in pediatric oncology,” said Roc Tennyson, patient coordinator, Pediatric Oncology.   “Pat, Lori and the NORA team put kids first and easily relate to the children on all levels. Some children with cancer must go through specific preparatory procedures like bone marrow aspirations or spinal taps prior to their cancer treatments. It can be a frightening experience that children will remember. But Pat and the team always try to make it a better experience. They make things wonderful for the children and others who work alongside them to provide excellent patient care.”   Like his colleagues, it is not uncommon to find  Sandman helping patients from steadying a pacifier in a baby’s mouth to keep the baby still while avoiding a risky anesthetic or holding a sobbing parent once he/she learned of their child’s initial diagnosis of cancer.   “For 30 days, we were in and out of MUSC because of Luke’s cancer,” said Dawn Schevich, parent of son, Luke, 2, who was diagnosed with cancer last January. “Throughout that time, Pat was amazing. He comforted us and made us feel like we were part of MUSC’s family. His empathy and caring attitude took away the fact that my son was sick, which is the worst feeling in the world. Pat and the NORA team made us smile, laugh and dance through it all. Now, my child loves coming to the hospital. All of them are amazing!”   That level of dedication and commitment to care were grounded early in Tobin’s training. As an Anesthesia for Nurses program student in the College of Health Professions, Tobin received the program’s highest award, the Agatha Hodgins Award for Clinical Excellence. He also won the Anesthesia for Nurses’ Clinical Instructor of the Year award several times throughout his career.   “Pat goes out of his way to help others and complete cases,” said Frank Overdyk, M.D., Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine and medical director for NORA. “What’s challenging is that the NORA team practices anesthesia in about 22 sites around the Medical Center everyday. All the children request Pat because of his dedication to his job and sense of humor. He’s personable, competent and empathetic to everyone he works with and cares for.”   “Pat has a heart of gold and genuinely cares about every patient he places his hands on. He makes the kids laugh and smile and eases their anxiety level with his exuberant personality and ability to address them on their level. He gives freely of himself and his time. He is an exceptional CRNA,” said Alden Finlayson, radiation technologist and the MRI staff. Editor’s note: At MUSC, heroes abound. They exist in the form of caregivers, faculty, students and staff. The Catalyst’s MUSC Heroes is a column that offers employees and staff the opportunity to recognize MUSC’s everyday heroes. Send an e-mail about your MUSC hero along with your name and office phone number to catalyst@musc.edu.     Friday, Feb. 16, 2007 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. 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