Bulletin - Des Moines · “Even with my experience I was nervous,” Brenda admitted. ... When the...
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Mercy’s Brenda McGraw returns from two-week mission of mercy in earthquake-ravaged Haiti FEB. 26, 2010 Bulletin As an Emergency Department nurse and Mercy’s Emergency Management coordinator, Brenda McGraw has seen a lot – including the effects of natural disasters. She was not surprised when she received a phone call asking for her assistance following the Jan. 13 earthquake that demolished Haiti, but she never expected this mission of mercy to affect her so profoundly. As a member of Iowa’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team 1 (DMAT 1) – a group of medical professionals organized and trained by the United States National Disaster Medical System – Brenda was called to duty following Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and the North Dakota floods. Because she had demonstrated an ability to provide care under difficult circumstances and lead medical missions, Brenda was recommended to fill an RN position with the federal medical team from Ohio (OH-5) as it planned to travel to Haiti in late January. “Even with my experience I was nervous,” Brenda admitted. “This was my first international mission. It wasn’t my government and English wasn’t the native language. The security for our unit was provided by the 82nd Airborne.” In a pre-deployment briefing in Atlanta, Ga., Brenda was subjected to a battery of tests in order to prove she was up to the task, which would be physically and emotionally draining. She passed them all. “I was committed to going. There was pride in being a part of Mercy and representing the Iowa DMAT team,” said Brenda. “This was another chance to live the Mercy mission and values. My care would touch relatively few people, but I knew I could offer compassion along with the medicine.” As her plane circled Port-Au-Prince, Brenda saw military and relief ships anchored below. When the door opened, the seasoned emergency relief worker stepped off into a hot dusty airfield in a country where 80 percent of residents practice Catholicism and 100 percent practice Voodoo... Look for the second part of this story, detailing more of Brenda’s experience, in the March 5 issue of the Bulletin. Mercy’s pre-hospital stroke program shared at international conference Terri Hamm, RN, Mercy stroke team coordinator, and Brian Helland, assistant chief with the Clive Fire Department, recently presented “Emergency Services Feedback: Closing the Loop, Increasing Knowledge” at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 24. The presentation discussed how Mercy developed pre-hospital stroke protocols with the assistance of area emergency medical services (EMS) providers. Using the protocols, trained EMS providers can start evaluating patients for stroke en route to the hospital and notify the hospital of the situation. The International Stroke Conference provides education in stroke advancements for neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, endovascular specialists, emergency medicine specialists, nurses and many other health care professionals from the United States and around the world. Above, Brenda (far right) stands with members of her medical Strike Team, which helped reach people in Haiti still in need of medical assistance. Below, the Strike Team traveled with members of the 82nd Airborne to set up roadside tents for residents in need of shelter.
Transcript of Bulletin - Des Moines · “Even with my experience I was nervous,” Brenda admitted. ... When the...
Mercy’s Brenda McGraw returns from two-week mission of mercy in earthquake-ravaged Haiti
FEB. 26, 2010BulletinAs an Emergency Department nurse and Mercy’s Emergency Management coordinator, Brenda McGraw has seen a lot – including the effects of natural disasters. She was not surprised when she received a phone call asking for her assistance following the Jan. 13 earthquake that demolished Haiti, but she never expected this mission of mercy to affect her so profoundly.
As a member of Iowa’s Disaster Medical Assistance Team 1 (DMAT 1) – a group of medical professionals organized and trained by the United States National Disaster Medical System – Brenda was called to duty following Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina and the North Dakota floods. Because she had demonstrated an ability to provide care under difficult circumstances and lead medical missions, Brenda was recommended to fill an RN position with the federal medical team from Ohio (OH-5) as it planned to travel to Haiti in late January.
“Even with my experience I was nervous,” Brenda admitted. “This was my first international mission. It wasn’t my government and English wasn’t the native language. The security for our unit was provided by the 82nd Airborne.”
In a pre-deployment briefing in Atlanta, Ga., Brenda was subjected to a battery of tests in order to prove she was up to the task, which would be physically and emotionally draining. She passed them all.
“I was committed to going. There was pride in being a part of Mercy and representing the Iowa DMAT team,” said Brenda. “This was another chance to live
the Mercy mission and values. My care would touch relatively few people, but I knew I could offer compassion along with the medicine.”
As her plane circled Port-Au-Prince, Brenda saw military and relief ships anchored below. When the door opened, the seasoned emergency relief worker stepped off into a hot dusty airfield in a country where 80 percent of residents practice Catholicism and 100 percent practice Voodoo...
Look for the second part of this story, detailing more of Brenda’s experience, in the March 5 issue of the Bulletin.
Mercy’s pre-hospital stroke program shared at international conference
Terri Hamm, RN, Mercy stroke team coordinator, and Brian Helland, assistant chief with the Clive Fire Department, recently presented “Emergency
Services Feedback: Closing the Loop, Increasing Knowledge” at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference in San Antonio, Texas, on Feb. 24.
The presentation discussed how Mercy developed pre-hospital stroke protocols with the assistance of area emergency medical services (EMS) providers. Using the protocols, trained EMS providers can start evaluating patients for stroke en route to the hospital and notify the hospital of the situation.
The International Stroke Conference provides education in stroke advancements for neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, endovascular specialists, emergency medicine specialists, nurses and many other health care professionals from the United States and around the world.
Above, Brenda (far right) stands with members of her medical Strike Team, which helped reach people in Haiti still in need of medical assistance.
Below, the Strike Team traveled with members of the 82nd Airborne to set up roadside tents for residents in need of shelter.
CONGRATULATIONS TO...Royale Andrews, Mercy River Hills Surgery Center, and Mark, on the birth of their daughter, Reese Nicole. Reese was born on Jan. 30 and was welcomed home by Kasey, 4.
Jennifer Bolfik, Bishop Drumm, and Mike, on the birth of their daughter, Caydence. Caydence was born on Feb. 3 and was welcomed home by Gage, 6.
Stacy Dority, Medical Imaging, and Sean Dority, Medical Imaging, on the birth of their son, Noah Benjamin. Noah was born on Feb. 1 and was welcomed home by Alyson, 3.
Alison Jensen, Blood Bank, and Eric, on the birth of their son, Brayden Robert. Brayden was born on Feb. 5 and was welcomed home by Nicole, 5.
Kim Kane, Mercy West Lakes Emergency, and Austin, on the birth of their daughter, Landry Lynne. Landry was welcomed home by Madden, 2.
Eric Kelderman, Cardiac Cath Lab, and Lisa, on the birth of their son, Asher Robert. Asher was born on Jan. 27 and is the couple’s first child.
Chief surgery resident receives first-place award for presentation
Dr. Kris Harley, chief resident with the Mercy General Surgery Residency Program, was awarded first place for his poster presentation at the 2009 Annual Clinic Assembly of Osteopathic Surgeons held in Chicago, Ill., between Oct. 31 and Nov. 3. The poster, entitled “Integration for Simulated Technology in General Surgery,” is currently on display in the physicians’ lounge on A-Level of the Main Building.
Huge FLG sales benefit patients
Mercy patients who are in need of breast care and are unable to afford it will be receiving much-needed assistance, thanks to the sale
of the popular “Fight Like a Girl” (FLG) merchandise.
Last fall, Mercy Medical Imaging, the Kaztmann Breast Center and the Mercy Cancer Center kicked off their annual sale with new styles of T-shirts and totebags. To date, the campaign has raised $10,311 in proceeds that will benefit Mercy patients.
Additional FLG sales are scheduled to be held later this spring. In the meantime, merchandise can be purchased at www.signifypink.com/MercyDSM. The site carries additional items that were not available at the sales held at Mercy and occasionally adds new items. All proceeds from the online sale also benefit Mercy patients in need.
Mercy employees forming vanpools to save money, gas
Mercy Family members who live out of town have some new opportunities to join vanpools and save on gas and mileage. The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) recently opened a new RideShare route from the Huxley/Ankeny area to Mercy’s Main Campus and Wells Fargo Financial at 800 Walnut Street. The vanpool is looking for riders who work between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call Jerry at (515) 491-9677.
In addition, a RideShare route is being organized from the Osceola/New Virginia area to Mercy West Lakes and the Mercy Wellness Campus. The vanpool needs riders who typically work between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call Lisa at (641) 414-1402.
BULLETINVolume 10 Issue 09 | February 26, 2010
The Bulletin is published weekly for employees and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.
EDITORIAL STAFFErin Kennedy Kurth ....................................... EditorHeather Hyatt ............................................ DesignerLisa Jones ............................................. Contributor Megan Jorgensen ................................. Contributor Gregg Lagan ......................................... ContributorTraci McBee .......................................... ContributorSarah Todd ............................................. Contributor Kate Westercamp .................................. ContributorLaura Vanden Bosch .................................... Director
If you are interested in submitting information to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and Marketing or call (515) 247-3050.
MCDC offers Ready for School lunch and learn for parents
On Wednesday, March 3, teachers and staff from Mercy Child Development Center (MCDC) will present a lunch and learn for parents of preschool-aged children entitled “Ready for School.” The presentation will be held in East Tower Conference Room 8 from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m., and will include information about the MCDC curriculum – “The World at Their Fingertips” – and how it prepares young children for kindergarten.Registration is not required to attend.
Announcements & News Briefs
Valerie McIntyre, Main OR, and Jeff, on the birth of their son, Trace Jeffrey. Trace was born on Feb. 18 and was welcomed home by Cole, 4.
OUR SYMPATHY TO...Friends and family of Sister Beatrice Costello, RSM.
Rebecca Cox, Admitting, on the death of her father.
Kristi Ickowitz, Admitting, on the death of her grandmother.
Allyson Johnson, Mercy Starbucks, on the death of her grandfather.
Glenda Knight, Patient Accounts, on the death of her brother.
Amy Nicol, Admitting, on the death of her father.
Kim Rogers, Admitting, on the death of her mother.
