LBJ Emergency Department Family
May 2018
Lbj
Family
Harris Health System
Houston
,
TX
United States
Fernando Holguin RN,
Elizabeth Brewer RN,
Andrew Martin,
Israel Martinez RN,
Minh Pham,
Cameron Tolliver RN,
Lizeth Flores,
Paige Henry RN,
Sara Renwick RN,
Laura Gutierrez RN,
Rene Fenner RN,
Theresa Williams RN,
Shannon Stephens RN,
Shelby McKay RN,
Andrew Basara RN,
Ashley Floyd RN,
Tiffany Lam,
Amanda Lampkins RN,
Josephine Mitchell RN,
Raj Narinsesingh RN,
Michelle Godson,
Josephine Cruz RN,
Christina Sullivan RN,
Marcy Balderas RN,
Maggie Triplett RN,
Neil Rogers RN,
Melany Berumen RN,
Jordan Wann,
Sandra Alzate RN,
Kaysie Marshall RN,
Donaldson Betts RN,
Kelsey Phillips RN,
Alexandra Wogan,
Jaime Garza RN,
Kyina Miles RN,
Merlie Calvo RN,
Prisca McDonald,
Laura ORosky RN,
Kaitlin Seastrunk RN,
Erica Franciosi RN,
Morgan Brock RN,
Christine Pisuena,
Stuart Mortenson RN,
Mohamad Koroma,
Ali Alizan RN,
Veronica Giron,
Leena Eapen RN,
Marie Robin RN,
Megan Groneman,
Valentine Alia RN,
Megan Niche RN,
Lily Budinsky RN,
Hayly Davis RN,
Emeka Orji,
Dustin Navarro RN,
Gabby Lemus RN,
Sarah Patranella,
Lisa Burch RN,
Amanda Fernando,
Mike Marcos RN,
Barbara Gogol RN,
Marie Carlson RN,
Casey Hogan RN,
Apryl Stewart RN,
Joy Keterson,
Morgan Lewis RN,
Jaime Joshua RN,
Taylor Wahington – Moses RN
Elizabeth Brewer RN,
Andrew Martin,
Israel Martinez RN,
Minh Pham,
Cameron Tolliver RN,
Lizeth Flores,
Paige Henry RN,
Sara Renwick RN,
Laura Gutierrez RN,
Rene Fenner RN,
Theresa Williams RN,
Shannon Stephens RN,
Shelby McKay RN,
Andrew Basara RN,
Ashley Floyd RN,
Tiffany Lam,
Amanda Lampkins RN,
Josephine Mitchell RN,
Raj Narinsesingh RN,
Michelle Godson,
Josephine Cruz RN,
Christina Sullivan RN,
Marcy Balderas RN,
Maggie Triplett RN,
Neil Rogers RN,
Melany Berumen RN,
Jordan Wann,
Sandra Alzate RN,
Kaysie Marshall RN,
Donaldson Betts RN,
Kelsey Phillips RN,
Alexandra Wogan,
Jaime Garza RN,
Kyina Miles RN,
Merlie Calvo RN,
Prisca McDonald,
Laura ORosky RN,
Kaitlin Seastrunk RN,
Erica Franciosi RN,
Morgan Brock RN,
Christine Pisuena,
Stuart Mortenson RN,
Mohamad Koroma,
Ali Alizan RN,
Veronica Giron,
Leena Eapen RN,
Marie Robin RN,
Megan Groneman,
Valentine Alia RN,
Megan Niche RN,
Lily Budinsky RN,
Hayly Davis RN,
Emeka Orji,
Dustin Navarro RN,
Gabby Lemus RN,
Sarah Patranella,
Lisa Burch RN,
Amanda Fernando,
Mike Marcos RN,
Barbara Gogol RN,
Marie Carlson RN,
Casey Hogan RN,
Apryl Stewart RN,
Joy Keterson,
Morgan Lewis RN,
Jaime Joshua RN,
Taylor Wahington – Moses RN
When the LBJ Emergency Department Team stepped into work that day, we did not realize exactly what we were getting into. The rest of the team and I had come prepared with snacks, extra clothes and a few accessories, such as games to keep us busy for the next few days. We spent Friday and Saturday not too busy, eating our snacks and playing card games. By the end of Saturday, we were wondering if this whole hurricane thing was really going to happen. We hadn't received a drop of rain.
Upon waking Sunday morning, everything changed. Helicopters could be heard circling the building. Everyone looked outside and realized that the hospital had literally turned into an island. We thought no one could get into the hospital. Not long after that, however, the Houston Fire Department began bringing in truckloads of displaced victims into the hospital via high water vehicles, sometimes 50 people at a time. The entire LBJ Emergency Department Team jumped into action and began providing these victims, adults and children, with dry clothes. When we ran out of clothing we wrapped them in blankets, gave them scrubs and whatever else we could find. In total, we cared for more than 200 victims.
In the midst of attempting to care for the increasing influx of flood victims, the LBJ Emergency Department Team was also receiving critical patients. Being the only hospital in the area that was accessible by high water vehicles, and in one of the most badly flooded neighborhoods, we received critical patients by boat, helicopter, jet ski, and the Houston Fire Department rescue vehicles. Our hospital does not have a helipad, but when the Coast Guard began landing in our parking lots with critical patients. The team responded by building "flight teams" to assist with receiving patients from the helicopters. When several elderly and physically disabled patients needed to be evacuated from the hospital, the team responded by lifting them into high water vehicles- sometimes requiring 10 people- and rode in the backs of trucks in the rain holding tarps over the patients to keep them dry. We met a team of paramedics outside in the rain to assist them with a seizing patient. The team of paramedics, one who was a pregnant woman, had carried the patient on a backboard through waist-deep water a few miles for care.
When one of our patients had to be emergently transferred to another hospital via military Blackhawk helicopter, the LBJ Emergency Department Team responded and one of our employees rode in the helicopter kept the patient stable until arrival at the other hospital. In the midst of all of this, most of the team worked on little sleep and worried for their families at home. Several employees received news that their houses had flooded or their families had evacuated, but were still able to selflessly care for all the victims of Harvey. By day four of the ride out, most of us were in a constant state of wet and cold, having run out of dry clothing.
Realizing how busy the hospital was, members of the "recovery team" began calling to see how they could assist. Several recovery team members even offered to attempt to access the hospital by boat. When the recovery team was able to come in on Wednesday, many members of the ride team cried- it had been a tiring and traumatic several days. Many of the ride out team continued to stay and work. In the several days post-storm, many of the recovery team also slept at the hospital so they could work long hours. The hospital was open and busy, and all hands on deck was needed. The recovery team tirelessly worked long hours post-storm and were able to effectively treat a large number of patients who had been unable to receive medical care until the roads opened.
In the days following the storm, the team realized that many had lost everything. The team was able to come together and create a "go-fund me" account which raised over $8,000, and benefited many employees in their time of need. Since Harvey, the entire LBJ emergency department has become much closer- we shared blood, sweat, and tears during Harvey and have truly become a family. Our LBJ Emergency Department Team family responded to our community in its time of need and I am confident that we could respond to any obstacle thrown our direction.
Upon waking Sunday morning, everything changed. Helicopters could be heard circling the building. Everyone looked outside and realized that the hospital had literally turned into an island. We thought no one could get into the hospital. Not long after that, however, the Houston Fire Department began bringing in truckloads of displaced victims into the hospital via high water vehicles, sometimes 50 people at a time. The entire LBJ Emergency Department Team jumped into action and began providing these victims, adults and children, with dry clothes. When we ran out of clothing we wrapped them in blankets, gave them scrubs and whatever else we could find. In total, we cared for more than 200 victims.
In the midst of attempting to care for the increasing influx of flood victims, the LBJ Emergency Department Team was also receiving critical patients. Being the only hospital in the area that was accessible by high water vehicles, and in one of the most badly flooded neighborhoods, we received critical patients by boat, helicopter, jet ski, and the Houston Fire Department rescue vehicles. Our hospital does not have a helipad, but when the Coast Guard began landing in our parking lots with critical patients. The team responded by building "flight teams" to assist with receiving patients from the helicopters. When several elderly and physically disabled patients needed to be evacuated from the hospital, the team responded by lifting them into high water vehicles- sometimes requiring 10 people- and rode in the backs of trucks in the rain holding tarps over the patients to keep them dry. We met a team of paramedics outside in the rain to assist them with a seizing patient. The team of paramedics, one who was a pregnant woman, had carried the patient on a backboard through waist-deep water a few miles for care.
When one of our patients had to be emergently transferred to another hospital via military Blackhawk helicopter, the LBJ Emergency Department Team responded and one of our employees rode in the helicopter kept the patient stable until arrival at the other hospital. In the midst of all of this, most of the team worked on little sleep and worried for their families at home. Several employees received news that their houses had flooded or their families had evacuated, but were still able to selflessly care for all the victims of Harvey. By day four of the ride out, most of us were in a constant state of wet and cold, having run out of dry clothing.
Realizing how busy the hospital was, members of the "recovery team" began calling to see how they could assist. Several recovery team members even offered to attempt to access the hospital by boat. When the recovery team was able to come in on Wednesday, many members of the ride team cried- it had been a tiring and traumatic several days. Many of the ride out team continued to stay and work. In the several days post-storm, many of the recovery team also slept at the hospital so they could work long hours. The hospital was open and busy, and all hands on deck was needed. The recovery team tirelessly worked long hours post-storm and were able to effectively treat a large number of patients who had been unable to receive medical care until the roads opened.
In the days following the storm, the team realized that many had lost everything. The team was able to come together and create a "go-fund me" account which raised over $8,000, and benefited many employees in their time of need. Since Harvey, the entire LBJ emergency department has become much closer- we shared blood, sweat, and tears during Harvey and have truly become a family. Our LBJ Emergency Department Team family responded to our community in its time of need and I am confident that we could respond to any obstacle thrown our direction.