NEWS RELEASE

Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center announces that it has opened a new surgical suite. The addition of the new suite was part of a $3 million expansion plan that makes this the seventh surgical suite inside the hospital.

The new surgical suite will be used for general, bariatric and thoracic surgeries that require complex surgical care. It is equipped with a da Vinci Surgical System as well as advanced lighting and equipment booms.

The da Vinci system delivers 3D high-definition views, giving the surgeon a crystal clear view of the surgical area that is magnified 10 times to what the human eye sees. The advanced lighting and video displays improve the surgical team’s visibility of surgical procedures while also providing for ease of image capture.

In addition, surgical booms in the new surgical suite are designed to centralize surgical support equipment and utilities. This improves workflow in the surgical suite by providing better visualization of the sterile field and unrestricted access to the patient.

“We are excited about adding the seventh surgical suite at the hospital,” said Donna Longmire, RN, BSN, MH, MBA, CNOR, CENP, surgical services director. “The surgeons who will be providing surgical care in the new surgical suite are excited to be using it as well. The new surgical suite provides the advanced technology and equipment to meet complex surgical needs.”

Haggin Hospital emergency nurses recognized

Nurses at Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital’s Emergency Department were recently honored with The DAISY Team Award for Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses has been adopted by healthcare facilities around the world to celebrate nurses for their extraordinary care and compassion.  The DAISY Team Award is for nurse-led teams of two or more who come together to solve a specific situation by going above and beyond.

Nursing teams may be nominated by patients, families, and colleagues, and they are chosen by a committee of nurses at Ephraim McDowell Health to receive The DAISY Team Award. The DAISY Team Award is presented once each year at a surprise presentation.  Each member of the Nursing Team receives a certificate commending them for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.”  The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference your teamwork makes in the lives of so many people.”  The Team also receives a specially engraved plaque with the name of the Team.

The Emergency Department nurses were nominated by an Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital employee who said, “In August 2022, I witnessed this group set all emotions aside and give all they had to resuscitate a patient. Their faces showed such bravery and determination but I knew their hearts told a different story. The teamwork and confidence shown were incredible. Their continuous education and specialized certifications were put to use and they exceeded all expectations. They worked tirelessly to not only stabilize the patient but comfort his family, again putting their feelings to the side. As they successfully stabilized this patient quickly and prepared for transportation to a higher level of care, it was now well into the next shift. These nurses were exhausted mentally and physically but they stood in the parking lot as they watched their patient fly away and hoped for a miracle. Although feeling defeated and an unsettling amount of sadness these nurses felt the desperation just as the family was feeling. They didn’t go home and turn off their emotions, instead they supported one another and expressed their feelings while debriefing. As for the nurses remaining at work, they had to continue to push those feelings aside to provide care for the other patients. While nurses are accustomed to rapidly adapting to their environment, it is incredibly challenging to clear your mind enough to give the next patient their undivided attention. Emergency Department nurses are a different breed, often marked with being emotionless and desensitized. This is far from true as these characteristics are merely coping mechanisms to survive the environment. This group of nurses is the epitome of “life savers”. They continue to show up, giving their all, sacrificing time from their families, and never working alone, only as a team.”

Nomination forms for the DAISY Award are available at various locations throughout Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Ephraim McDowell Fort Logan Hospital, Ephraim McDowell James B. Haggin Hospital and other Ephraim McDowell facilities.