RMC Emergency Care Center Team
April 2020
RMC Emergency Care Center Team
Emergency Care Center
Hackensack Meridian Health - Riverview Medical Center
Red Bank
,
NJ
United States
Jennifer Quattlebaum, PCT
Kathleen Thimons, Nurse Manager Assistant
Kathryn Murphy, PCT
Kelly Varga, RN
Kelsey Fitton, RN
Kerri Tampa, RN
Kimberly Eberenz, PCT
Kristen DelRosario, PCT
Kurt Jeff Santelices, Patient Observer
Kyle Santiago, PCT
Vanessa Massarotti, RN
Linda Lamia, RN
Lindsay Louis, RN
Madison Rothman, PCT
Marcelo Aguirre, RN
Marie Rodney-Figuera, Unit Secretary
Mary Chris Masiddo, PCT
Meghan Boyle, RN
Meghan Dowzycki, PCT
Michele Gero, PCT
Myrna Abetria-Ramas, RN
Nicole Mella, PCT
Niel Lobaton, RN
Nigell Daradar, RN
Ruth Chesek, RN
Samantha Maxted, RN
Julia Blaney, PCT
Stephen Araburu, PCT
Teresa Marron, Nurse Manager Assistant
Ubaldo Nino, PCT
Victoria Pulido, RN
Wendy Horakh, RN
Yin Ni Ng, RN
Daniel Aponte, RN
Mark Cybulski, RN
Wayland Mayfield, RN
Nicola Crombie, RN
Tammy Harden, Nurse Manager
Denise Swan, Director of Patient Services
Alana Sherman, PCT
Aldrin Alburo, PCT
Alex Baron, RN
Alexa Hartmann, RN
Alexander Ruane, RN
Analyn Santiago, RN
Andre Militante, PCT
Andrew Fouchey, RN
Aniceto Carumba, RN
Antonia Watts, Unit Secretary
April Gresham, Unit Secretary
Ariana Tivari, RN
Barbara Christy, PCT
Bernardo Besa, RN
Britni Pirog, RN
Brittany Diehl, Patient Observer
Bryan Morello, RN
Charles Christensen, RN
Cherilyn Fernando, PCT
Christine McSorley, PCT
Clarissa Mae Fuentes, RN
Dana Miller-Brown, Unit Secretary
Danielle Alexieff, RN
Darren Smith, PCT
Dennis Kinney, PCT
Diana Sanchez, PCT
Diana Wieczerzak, RN
Dominador Orienza Jr, RN
Ethan Smith, RN
Felicia Letowksy, RN
Fernando Montes-Estrada. PCT
Gena Grant, PCT
Gina Lewis, RN
Hope Lewis-Ramos, Unit Secretary
I'Reana Lewis, PCT
Irene Ansong-Dwamena, PCT
James Cameron, Patient Observer
Jamie Higgins, RN
Jeanine Veress, PCT
Jennifer Fay, Assistant Nurse Manager
Kathleen Thimons, Nurse Manager Assistant
Kathryn Murphy, PCT
Kelly Varga, RN
Kelsey Fitton, RN
Kerri Tampa, RN
Kimberly Eberenz, PCT
Kristen DelRosario, PCT
Kurt Jeff Santelices, Patient Observer
Kyle Santiago, PCT
Vanessa Massarotti, RN
Linda Lamia, RN
Lindsay Louis, RN
Madison Rothman, PCT
Marcelo Aguirre, RN
Marie Rodney-Figuera, Unit Secretary
Mary Chris Masiddo, PCT
Meghan Boyle, RN
Meghan Dowzycki, PCT
Michele Gero, PCT
Myrna Abetria-Ramas, RN
Nicole Mella, PCT
Niel Lobaton, RN
Nigell Daradar, RN
Ruth Chesek, RN
Samantha Maxted, RN
Julia Blaney, PCT
Stephen Araburu, PCT
Teresa Marron, Nurse Manager Assistant
Ubaldo Nino, PCT
Victoria Pulido, RN
Wendy Horakh, RN
Yin Ni Ng, RN
Daniel Aponte, RN
Mark Cybulski, RN
Wayland Mayfield, RN
Nicola Crombie, RN
Tammy Harden, Nurse Manager
Denise Swan, Director of Patient Services
Alana Sherman, PCT
Aldrin Alburo, PCT
Alex Baron, RN
Alexa Hartmann, RN
Alexander Ruane, RN
Analyn Santiago, RN
Andre Militante, PCT
Andrew Fouchey, RN
Aniceto Carumba, RN
Antonia Watts, Unit Secretary
April Gresham, Unit Secretary
Ariana Tivari, RN
Barbara Christy, PCT
Bernardo Besa, RN
Britni Pirog, RN
Brittany Diehl, Patient Observer
Bryan Morello, RN
Charles Christensen, RN
Cherilyn Fernando, PCT
Christine McSorley, PCT
Clarissa Mae Fuentes, RN
Dana Miller-Brown, Unit Secretary
Danielle Alexieff, RN
Darren Smith, PCT
Dennis Kinney, PCT
Diana Sanchez, PCT
Diana Wieczerzak, RN
Dominador Orienza Jr, RN
Ethan Smith, RN
Felicia Letowksy, RN
Fernando Montes-Estrada. PCT
Gena Grant, PCT
Gina Lewis, RN
Hope Lewis-Ramos, Unit Secretary
I'Reana Lewis, PCT
Irene Ansong-Dwamena, PCT
James Cameron, Patient Observer
Jamie Higgins, RN
Jeanine Veress, PCT
Jennifer Fay, Assistant Nurse Manager
Our team adjusted our processes many times to accommodate the needs of the day.
Would any of us ever have thought that covid could result in positive outcomes a year ago? Well, for the ED Nursing Team, we believe it did.
In the covid beginnings, it seemed overwhelming to provide safe care for both the patients and the staff. The fear and uncertainty were palpable everywhere. We wanted to keep our patients, coworkers, and families safe and well. Isolation care is difficult when caring for one patient and suddenly it seemed as though every patient required isolation. It was so tiresome and at times overwhelming to put on our PPE wrappers for an hour or so, only to remove it and place it on all over again to enter the next room. We still get emotional when we recall the sadness we felt when we were unable to touch our patients and let them see our smiles and expressions of hope. We became their families and their advocates when no visitors were permitted.
For most of us, we had to distance ourselves from our own families. We did not see our families for months. Outsiders resisted contact with us, fearful that we were covid carriers. It was such a lonely feeling. Then there was concern for patients we knew were not coming to the ED, who desperately needed our care but were too fearful to come. No one wanted to seek care in known covid areas. Ultimately, they came in masses. Some patients were beyond our ability to help. Their medical care had been neglected for so long, they came to us in extremis. This is devastating.
Our team adjusted our processes many times to accommodate the needs of the day. An isolation tent was built and set up for patient care. Fast Track became an isolation unit. Critical Care areas were realigned. Supply carts were adjusted. Schedules were changed. The Lab specimen delivery process was changed to hand delivery. We learned to do point of care antigen covid testing for staff members. We provide antibody infusions. Our adaptable team proceeds with whatever is asked of us with the awareness that this is new for everyone, and each day provides a learning opportunity. We are so grateful for the efficiency of care that developed and ultimately the reduction in covid volume and severity.
We have relentless support from our leadership who provide constant updates, communication, and education. When the volume and acuity are overwhelming, our Manager works beside us. She cares for the staff, understanding our needs and providing the opportunity to briefly “tap out”. Some of us were asked to float to the ICU. This was a challenge. The experience served to ameliorate comradery between the ED and the ICU. It was an eye-opening experience. We were proud of the flexibility and willingness of staff to go beyond their comfort zone.
We can always count on a colleague to listen. The locker room gatherings before and after our shifts have become a sort of therapy as staff share ideas for better personal protection for hair and skin etc. We share stories, concerns, and successes. We can always count on a colleague to help “wrap” us up in PPE.
We have an increased awareness of the environment of care. The staff has become increasingly focused on making care areas more welcoming, informative, and cheerful. Bright bulletin boards have replaced those of old. We are clean and clutter free. Patients and visitors observe our cleaning processes as we change from one patient to the next and express their gratitude.
The comradery that exists between EMS, ALS and LE has become even stronger. We share our concerns for their well-being as they enter the unknown in the field. We marvel as they express concern for us. They know how important they are to us and how much we value their service. We are all so grateful for our ED family. We appreciate the value that each of us contributes. We are proud of the care we provide to our patients.
Ultimately, the ED has received the highest patient satisfaction scores seen in a few years. Nursing scores were 75.2 YTD with a target of 70.6. Nursing continually hit its target since January 2020.
In the covid beginnings, it seemed overwhelming to provide safe care for both the patients and the staff. The fear and uncertainty were palpable everywhere. We wanted to keep our patients, coworkers, and families safe and well. Isolation care is difficult when caring for one patient and suddenly it seemed as though every patient required isolation. It was so tiresome and at times overwhelming to put on our PPE wrappers for an hour or so, only to remove it and place it on all over again to enter the next room. We still get emotional when we recall the sadness we felt when we were unable to touch our patients and let them see our smiles and expressions of hope. We became their families and their advocates when no visitors were permitted.
For most of us, we had to distance ourselves from our own families. We did not see our families for months. Outsiders resisted contact with us, fearful that we were covid carriers. It was such a lonely feeling. Then there was concern for patients we knew were not coming to the ED, who desperately needed our care but were too fearful to come. No one wanted to seek care in known covid areas. Ultimately, they came in masses. Some patients were beyond our ability to help. Their medical care had been neglected for so long, they came to us in extremis. This is devastating.
Our team adjusted our processes many times to accommodate the needs of the day. An isolation tent was built and set up for patient care. Fast Track became an isolation unit. Critical Care areas were realigned. Supply carts were adjusted. Schedules were changed. The Lab specimen delivery process was changed to hand delivery. We learned to do point of care antigen covid testing for staff members. We provide antibody infusions. Our adaptable team proceeds with whatever is asked of us with the awareness that this is new for everyone, and each day provides a learning opportunity. We are so grateful for the efficiency of care that developed and ultimately the reduction in covid volume and severity.
We have relentless support from our leadership who provide constant updates, communication, and education. When the volume and acuity are overwhelming, our Manager works beside us. She cares for the staff, understanding our needs and providing the opportunity to briefly “tap out”. Some of us were asked to float to the ICU. This was a challenge. The experience served to ameliorate comradery between the ED and the ICU. It was an eye-opening experience. We were proud of the flexibility and willingness of staff to go beyond their comfort zone.
We can always count on a colleague to listen. The locker room gatherings before and after our shifts have become a sort of therapy as staff share ideas for better personal protection for hair and skin etc. We share stories, concerns, and successes. We can always count on a colleague to help “wrap” us up in PPE.
We have an increased awareness of the environment of care. The staff has become increasingly focused on making care areas more welcoming, informative, and cheerful. Bright bulletin boards have replaced those of old. We are clean and clutter free. Patients and visitors observe our cleaning processes as we change from one patient to the next and express their gratitude.
The comradery that exists between EMS, ALS and LE has become even stronger. We share our concerns for their well-being as they enter the unknown in the field. We marvel as they express concern for us. They know how important they are to us and how much we value their service. We are all so grateful for our ED family. We appreciate the value that each of us contributes. We are proud of the care we provide to our patients.
Ultimately, the ED has received the highest patient satisfaction scores seen in a few years. Nursing scores were 75.2 YTD with a target of 70.6. Nursing continually hit its target since January 2020.