The Columbus Division of Fire's Medic 11, Engine 11, and EMS 17 crew members were honored with OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital’s EMS Department of the Month for July, a recognition presented at Station 11. The acknowledgment took shape in the form of a visit from the hospital's Emergency Department and cath lab team, who delivered a tangible token of appreciation comprising a gift, certificate, and challenge coin. The life-saving squad, celebrated included Lt. Jared Wadsworth, Lt. Mitchell Beard, and Firefighters Barry Webster, Jorge Robles, Delaney Connors, Matthew Horn, and Ryan Funk.
On July 28, a critical situation unfolded when a man was rushed to Station 11 with severe chest pain. The crew's decisiveness and medical prowess surfaced as they executed an EKG, which confirmed a STEMI – a severe heart attack stemming from a blocked coronary artery. Tragedy loomed during transport to Riverside Hospital as the patient succumbed to cardiac arrest, spurring the medics to escalate their response with CPR, defibrillation, fluids, and medication – all while keeping Riverside in the loop to prime them for the incoming emergency.
What transpired next was not just a demonstration of on-the-ground expertise but also cooperation. The medics and hospital staff's joint effort shone through the cloud of urgency, as evidenced by commendations that spilled from those within hospital walls. Dr. Kari Gorder, Emergency Department nurse Abby Johnson, and ED nurse TC Williams stood behind the nomination that brought the crew into the spotlight.
TC Williams penned his observations, laying bare the impact of Medic 11's handover: "M11 gave an outstanding account and timeline of the events during EMS timeout which was instrumental in the clinical decision making to put the patient on eCPR with ECMO cannulation." Abby Johnson weighed in too, highlighting the extended commitment Medic 11 stayed until nursing staff could transfer the patient to our own monitor and helped expedite the process. After extraordinary efforts done by Medic 11 and Riverside staff, including ACLS intubation and ECMO, the patient had a positive outcome and made a full recovery. This most likely would not have been the case without Medic 11’s interventions. Great job Medic 11!" according to the Columbus Division of Fire. The implication was clear – without these interventions, the patient’s chances would have been starkly different.
In a post shared by the Columbus Division of Fire, the department extended congratulations to the team for their outstanding service. The post was accompanied by photos courtesy of OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, capturing moments from the commendation at Station 11.
