Teamwork Resolves Emergency Situations at Braxton, Summersville Hospitals
The photo above includes some members of the team from Summersville Regional Medical Center who joined with providers around the Health System to resolve challenges with two patients over the recent winter holidays. From left are Chloe Hill, RN; Stanley Morris, MD; and Emily Padgett, respiratory therapist.
Over the Christmas holiday, the emergency departments at WVU Medicine Braxton County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) and WVU Medicine Summersville Regional Medical Center (SRMC) faced two separate, high-stakes emergencies, each requiring rapid decision-making and extraordinary collaboration.
On Dec. 24, BCMH was managing a trauma patient who required transfer to WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital for a higher level of care. With air transport unavailable due to weather and difficulty securing an EMS crew, options were extremely limited. Alexandra Lawler, MD, brainstormed with Scott Findley, MD, who worked with SRMC leadership to find a solution. Favorable census conditions at SRMC led to an innovative plan, which succeeded thanks to SRMC’s John Hamon, RN. John, who has prior experience as a paramedic, volunteered without hesitation and drove to BCMH to assist with the transfer, ensuring the patient could safely reach Ruby Memorial.
“His willingness to step up resulted in him returning home late on Christmas morning, a generous and gracious act that exemplified professionalism, compassion, and cross-facility teamwork,” Susan Rose, RN, BSN, vice president of Nursing at SRMC, said.
On Christmas Day, the SRMC Emergency Department (ED) faced another complex case. A patient arrived in preterm labor with a high-risk pregnancy. Weather conditions again ruled out air transport, leaving ground transport to Ruby as the only option.
Stanley Morris, MD, transported the patient by ground to Ruby, and a team spanning multiple departments and facilities rallied around the patient during the journey.
Despite being off duty, SRMC respiratory therapist Emily Padgett came in to accompany the patient during transport. She was joined by Chloe Hill, RN, ensuring nursing care at every step along the way. Aaron Schneider, MD, also off duty, answered a 2 a.m. call and came in to cover the remainder of the ED shift for Dr. Morris. Even while short-staffed, the SRMC ED nursing staff never missed a beat, continuing to care for patients.
Along the way to Morgantown, an unexpected medication need arose, and Dr. Lawler arranged for a nurse to drive from BCMH to an interstate exit to deliver the medication to Dr. Morris.
During the transport, Kaitlyn Sweeney, MD, at Ruby, provided critical support throughout the process, while Transfer Center Coordinator Ashley Miller and Dr. Findley worked to coordinate potential diversion sites.
“The coordinated efforts of this team and their unwavering commitment saved the mother’s life,” Trista Rush, RN, BSN, director of Quality at BCMH and SRMC, said.
“Both events share a common theme: When resources are limited and circumstances are difficult, our teams come together,” Trista continued. “From physicians and nurses to respiratory therapy, EMS coordination, and leadership across both facilities, these moments reflect the very best of critical access hospitals and the people who serve within them.”
“Together, these events highlighted the strength of teamwork across two of WVU Medicine’s rural hospitals and the ‘patient-first’ mindset of both staffs,” Leslie Lawson, MBA, FACHE, president of SRMC and BCMH, added.