This past month, I had the unfortunate experience of having both my mother-in-law and mother admitted to the emergency department on the same day within an hour of each other. I witnessed first-hand the extraordinary teamwork and compassion of our ED staff members. EVERYONE was phenomenal. This isn't just for the care they provided my family, but the care I saw them providing to ALL the patients. Leaders were wheeling patients to procedures or up to rooms. Sitters and Techs were attending to a pediatric patient that needed constant observation and support...so much so that I witnessed them walking this patient around to do "laps" and keep them active and taking them outside to get fresh air and play. I saw staff members making patients smile and even laugh, knowing that they were scared about being in the ED and what might lie ahead for their hospital staff (if needed). I witnessed staff members apologizing to patients and families for longer than usual wait times due to the number of patients coming into their department. I also witnessed them wishing the patients that were able to leave the best of luck and that they hope they see them again...but not in the ED. It was a pleasant chaos if that makes sense. So many moving parts with ambulances coming and going, patients coming and go, and staff shift changes that were seamlessly conducted.

When it came to my family members' care, they realized I was going to patient room to patient room and that I was trying to keep both patients informed and calm (and I will tell you my mom is NOT a good patient so this could have been challenging). Surprisingly, my mom was calm. It wasn't because I was there, but because the people taking care of her actually took the time to listen to her, explain things to her, and reassure her that everything was turning out okay. It’s very easy for people to complain about wait times, especially in the ED, but on this night, I heard patients and family members saying, "thank you" and realizing that the pleasant chaos was due to the great teamwork of the Trenton ED Staff. Bravo team...you guys are amazing!