This month, I’ve come across some stories and events that you will really love. Like this first story…it’s literally about hearts and love.
Hospitals are traditionally known for the sounds of beeping machines and doctor pages, but recently, wedding bells were ringing at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital when the staff and nurses on the renal unit hosted a surprise wedding for patient Crawford Stratford and his fiancée, Sabrina.
Stratford was scheduled to undergo quadruple bypass surgery and he wanted to tie the knot with his partner of 19 years. When nursing director Kalpna Duvvuri discovered that Stratford’s pastor was due to arrive in two hours to perform the ceremony, she and her staff quickly mobilized to make the wedding a memorable experience.
Duvvuri and her staff purchased a wedding cake and bridal bouquet and decorated the unit. Stratford’s grandson served as ring bearer, and Duvvuri and a nurse walked the bride down a walkway strewn with rose petals to the tune of the wedding march, supplied by staff. On another happy note, Stratford’s bypass surgery was a success, and the happy couple headed home a few days later.
The Kindness of Strangers
At Northside Hospital, Beth Wilson received life saving treatment that came to her from the care and kindness of strangers.
When she was only 26 years old, Beth battled a cancer in her small intestine, and the chemotherapy she received helped saved her life.
However, seven years later, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a disease she became at risk for after her initial chemo. An ICU nurse herself, Beth knew the medical difficulties, but relied on friends and family to stay positive.
As an only child, finding a familial match would be difficult so doctors set her up for countless test and transfusions and endlessly searched for a full-match marrow donor.
With the help of The Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Northside and Atlanta Blood Services, Beth found the donors she needed.
Wilson says, “An anonymous, 21 year old woman from Germany went under anesthesia to have about half a gallon of her marrow removed, to donate to me. Knowing that someone else suffered to save your life is a humbling experience, to say the least. Donors now don’t have to donate via their marrow anymore. They can peripherally donate stem cells instead. For certain reasons that I can’t recall, my team of doctors requested that my donor donate her marrow directly, not peripherally. She agreed, even though she knew it would be a more painful and more invasive procedure. Within hours of her donation, a team flew the marrow from Germany to Atlanta, GA for me. Less than 24 hours later, I received the transplant.”
Wilson is now two years in remission.
Recently she was able to communicate with her donor in Germany. She says, “She is absolutely amazing and I have thanked her profusely, but can you ever thank someone enough for saving your life? We keep in touch through Facebook and Instagram and we are looking forward to the day we can meet in person. There is no way for me to contact all the donors that gave me blood, platelets and plasma. They helped save my life too.”
Helping Hands Behind The Scenes
Nicol Bates, a Certified Surgical Technologist, recently wrote to talk about the importance of this group of health care professionals. The oldest and most widely recognized professional organization serving this community is The Association of Surgical Technologists. The association was established in 1969 by members of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Hospital Association (AHA), and the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN).
Surgical technologists are vital surgical support team members.
Bates shares some of her responsibilities. She says, “We are responsible for preparing the operating room before surgery, and sterilizing and ensuring all equipment is available and working properly. In addition, we assist in preparing and positioning patients for surgery. We help the surgeon during surgery by passing them instruments and other sterile supplies, retracting tissue to provide visualization, and providing medications as needed. We are responsible for making sure all items are accounted for at all times. Many times, we assemble instruments during surgery and often must reload quickly. In addition, we apply dressings after surgery is complete and make sure the patient is clean and comfortable. We then remove and sterilize instruments and make sure the room is clean and sterile before the next case begins.
Bates adds, “We must be proficient in all surgical procedures in every specialty, and are trained in procedures, anatomy, specialized instrumentation, and equipment. We are also proficient in sterile processing of surgical instruments.”
Bates says, “Today, Surgical Technologists are working in one of the fastest growing professions in the country. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the Surgical Technology profession will grow faster than the average of all other occupations through the year 2020, and it is anticipated that the volume of surgery will increase exponentially due to the expanding senior population.”
Bates also points out that patients are rarely aware of the job a surgical technologist performs since patient interaction takes place in the OR only. However, she says that she is often the last face a patient sees before falling asleep in the OR which makes her proud to provide vital assistance towards patient care.
Awards and Recognitions
The WellStar Health Network (WHN) today announced exemplary 2017 performance year results for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) based on findings by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Emory University Hospital (including Emory University Hospital at Wesley Woods) has received Magnet recognition for a second time, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.
