Скачать или смотреть Trauma Centers Always on Standby

An untimely accident can turn a regular day into a tragedy. One misstep, collision or miscalculation can land someone in serious trouble.

“Certainly summertime is coming up and the water is going to start warming up again and people are going to want to get back in their pools and there’s always a possibility of hitting your head when you dive,” says Dr. Robert O’Connor, a trauma surgeon with Lee Memorial Health System.

Head injuries that impact the spinal cord are among the critical incidents requiring the fast, specialized care which only a trauma center can deliver.

“Everybody knows if you’re a trauma alert, you’re going to Lee Memorial Hospital which is the regional Trauma Center,” explains Michael Marcus who is the trauma program manager.

The trauma center model is built on research. Critically injured people have the best chance of survival if they get the help they need within one hour. To achieve that, only a dedicated facility will have a proper team of specialists on standby, waiting.

“We are always prepared; there is always a team available. Not just a primary team, but also a backup team. Ready to go in case we have multiple incidents going on which frequently happens,” says Marcus.

That includes trauma surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists and nurses. A core team is 10 professionals; up to 20 may be involved - for a single patient.

“We’ve had some miraculous outcomes and I literally use the word miraculous but there’s times when patients that don’t have a lot of potential to recover and they literally walk back into our office six months later,” says Dr. O’Connor.

The proof is all around us; people alive and well, thanks to the effort of the trauma team.

View More Health Matters video segments at leememorial.org/healthmatters/

Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit leememorial.org