Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City
May 2026
Lehigh Valley Hospital-Dickson City
Lehigh Valley Hospital
Dickson City
,
PA
United States
Their courage, compassion, teamwork, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to patient safety transformed a potentially devastating emergency into a remarkable example of nursing excellence.
A fire in an adjoining medical office building created an immediate and escalating threat to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City. As fire alarms sounded and smoke began entering the hospital, the Registered Nurses immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation and made the critical decision to evacuate the facility without hesitation.
Acting with urgency, confidence, and exceptional clinical judgment, the nursing team placed patient safety above all else. Registered Nurses led the complete evacuation of the Emergency Department, two inpatient units, and the Intensive Care Unit, safely evacuating more than 70 patients. Those patients included ambulatory individuals, non-ambulatory patients, fresh postoperative patients, and patients who were confused, frightened, or otherwise unable to fully understand the unfolding emergency.
Working seamlessly across departments, nurses rapidly triaged and prioritized patients, organized movement to stairwells, and coordinated transportation down multiple flights of concrete stairs. Many patients were evacuated wearing only hospital gowns into freezing winter temperatures. Throughout the evacuation, nurses remained continuously at their patients' sides, covering them with blankets, offering reassurance, preserving their dignity, and ensuring they never felt alone during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Once outside, Registered Nurses personally escorted patients to their own vehicles, warming cars whenever possible and remaining with patients to keep them safe, comfortable, and reassured while a nearby office building was identified and established as a temporary patient care site. Even amid uncertainty, nurses continued monitoring patients, addressing clinical needs, and providing compassionate emotional support.
In the Emergency Department, after all patients had been evacuated, Registered Nurses voluntarily re-entered the smoke-filled hospital to retrieve linen carts so patients waiting outside could be kept warm. This selfless act perfectly exemplified nursing at its finest—anticipating patient needs, placing others before themselves, and extending care far beyond traditional expectations during a crisis.
First responders on scene specifically recognized the professionalism, teamwork, and unwavering patient-centered focus demonstrated by the nursing staff. Because of the team's preparation, decisive actions, and exceptional collaboration, the hospital was successfully evacuated in a remarkably short period of time with no injuries to patients and no injuries to staff.
Nurses also played an essential role in maintaining continuity of care by helping establish a temporary treatment area in the nearby office building, ensuring patients continued receiving safe, uninterrupted care despite the emergency.
Extraordinary nursing leadership was evident throughout the event. Holly Turinski remained onsite, providing calm, visible leadership from the outset. Within minutes, Amy Reuther, Ruthann Giombetti, and Gordon Travis arrived to support both patients and staff. Amy and Gordon entered the smoke-filled building to assist with evacuation efforts and patient identification. Gordon retrieved additional linen carts to help keep patients warm at the temporary care site and conducted a complete sweep of the hospital to ensure every patient and staff member had safely evacuated before confirming the building was clear. Their courage, decisive leadership, and unwavering commitment to safety exemplified extraordinary nursing leadership under the most challenging circumstances.
Following the evacuation, the hospital remained closed for nine days. Throughout that period, nurses supported one another through the emotional impact of the event while remaining actively engaged in recovery efforts. They played an integral role in preparing the hospital to safely reopen, assisting with cleaning, reorganizing, and completely restocking patient care areas with new supplies. Their dedication enabled the hospital to resume caring for its community after only nine days.
Throughout every phase of this event, the Registered Nurses of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City demonstrated the Jefferson Health mission of improving lives by protecting patients during a moment of extraordinary danger. Their actions reflected the organization's core values by consistently doing what was right, putting people first, and pursuing excellence under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Their courage, compassion, teamwork, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to patient safety transformed a potentially devastating emergency into a remarkable example of nursing excellence. The Dickson City Nursing Team embodies the very spirit of the DAISY Team Award and is profoundly deserving of this recognition.
Acting with urgency, confidence, and exceptional clinical judgment, the nursing team placed patient safety above all else. Registered Nurses led the complete evacuation of the Emergency Department, two inpatient units, and the Intensive Care Unit, safely evacuating more than 70 patients. Those patients included ambulatory individuals, non-ambulatory patients, fresh postoperative patients, and patients who were confused, frightened, or otherwise unable to fully understand the unfolding emergency.
Working seamlessly across departments, nurses rapidly triaged and prioritized patients, organized movement to stairwells, and coordinated transportation down multiple flights of concrete stairs. Many patients were evacuated wearing only hospital gowns into freezing winter temperatures. Throughout the evacuation, nurses remained continuously at their patients' sides, covering them with blankets, offering reassurance, preserving their dignity, and ensuring they never felt alone during one of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Once outside, Registered Nurses personally escorted patients to their own vehicles, warming cars whenever possible and remaining with patients to keep them safe, comfortable, and reassured while a nearby office building was identified and established as a temporary patient care site. Even amid uncertainty, nurses continued monitoring patients, addressing clinical needs, and providing compassionate emotional support.
In the Emergency Department, after all patients had been evacuated, Registered Nurses voluntarily re-entered the smoke-filled hospital to retrieve linen carts so patients waiting outside could be kept warm. This selfless act perfectly exemplified nursing at its finest—anticipating patient needs, placing others before themselves, and extending care far beyond traditional expectations during a crisis.
First responders on scene specifically recognized the professionalism, teamwork, and unwavering patient-centered focus demonstrated by the nursing staff. Because of the team's preparation, decisive actions, and exceptional collaboration, the hospital was successfully evacuated in a remarkably short period of time with no injuries to patients and no injuries to staff.
Nurses also played an essential role in maintaining continuity of care by helping establish a temporary treatment area in the nearby office building, ensuring patients continued receiving safe, uninterrupted care despite the emergency.
Extraordinary nursing leadership was evident throughout the event. Holly Turinski remained onsite, providing calm, visible leadership from the outset. Within minutes, Amy Reuther, Ruthann Giombetti, and Gordon Travis arrived to support both patients and staff. Amy and Gordon entered the smoke-filled building to assist with evacuation efforts and patient identification. Gordon retrieved additional linen carts to help keep patients warm at the temporary care site and conducted a complete sweep of the hospital to ensure every patient and staff member had safely evacuated before confirming the building was clear. Their courage, decisive leadership, and unwavering commitment to safety exemplified extraordinary nursing leadership under the most challenging circumstances.
Following the evacuation, the hospital remained closed for nine days. Throughout that period, nurses supported one another through the emotional impact of the event while remaining actively engaged in recovery efforts. They played an integral role in preparing the hospital to safely reopen, assisting with cleaning, reorganizing, and completely restocking patient care areas with new supplies. Their dedication enabled the hospital to resume caring for its community after only nine days.
Throughout every phase of this event, the Registered Nurses of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Dickson City demonstrated the Jefferson Health mission of improving lives by protecting patients during a moment of extraordinary danger. Their actions reflected the organization's core values by consistently doing what was right, putting people first, and pursuing excellence under the most difficult circumstances imaginable.
Their courage, compassion, teamwork, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to patient safety transformed a potentially devastating emergency into a remarkable example of nursing excellence. The Dickson City Nursing Team embodies the very spirit of the DAISY Team Award and is profoundly deserving of this recognition.