by Jeff Roehrig, flight paramedic
Synergy is what makes a gathering of people, sometimes from all different backgrounds, a very effective team. In EMS we often work with individuals from different departments, different professions, and different backgrounds. Despite the challenge we face of working with people we may have never even met before, we always develop a team relationship to produce the best possible outcomes from the worst situations. Most EMS providers have the stories of “the call” where everything went just right. Despite the environment, the patient’s condition, the distance from healthcare, or several of the other challenges faced in pre-hospital healthcare every day, a positive outcome was created. These positive outcomes usually develop from dedicated, highly trained, committed pre-hospital care givers, who work together to create synergy.
On August 17th I had the opportunity to witness a synergistic team at its best. At approximately 9:20 AM in the rural area of Shiocton this team was put into play. While inside of the barn milking cows, and nearly 30 minutes from the closest hospital, 61 year old Dennis Reese collapsed. A family member, who also happens to be a local first responder, immediately recognized that Dennis was in cardiac arrest and began CPR within seconds. EMS was summoned and within minutes Town of Maine first responders and law enforcement arrived with an AED. Shiocton ambulance arrived soon after, and Gold Cross Ambulance was called for a Paramedic Intercept. While on scene the first responders performed 15 minutes of CPR and when the AED arrived he received three defibrillations. For 15 minutes Dennis had no pulse, had not taken a breath on his own, and showed no signs of life. For 15 minutes this synergistic team performed as they had practiced, committed and dedicated to doing everything they could. After that 15 minutes this became one of “those calls” when return of spontaneous circulation was seen. Dennis began to breathe on his own and regained consciousness. He was mildly confused and complained of chest pain.
It was at that time that EMS providers elected to transport by ThedaStar considering the time of nearly thirty minutes’ drive to the closet hospital, and much further to a cardiac catheterization lab. At 9:45 ThedaStar was dispatched, at 9:49 ThedaStar was in the air and headed to intercept at New London Medical Center. A short time later we were diverted directly to the scene. Fifteen Minutes from Theda Clark and 33 line of sight miles away we were on the ground at the family farm greeted by the synergistic team put into play forty minutes earlier. Nine minutes later Dennis was inside of ThedaStar and on his way to the hospital and next level of care.
Cardiac Arrest so far from intervention most often has less than desirable results. On August 17th the odds were beat, thanks to early recognition, early and high quality CPR, early EMS Activation, early defibrillation, and transport to definitive care.
Dennis is a very modest man grateful for the “perfect storm of good events” that saved his life. He would like to thank all his caregivers responsible for his good outcome. He had an automated internal cardiac defibrillator placed and has some global heart weakening. He is getting stronger and looks forward to returning to his grocery delivery business for those unable to get out; he hadn’t missed a delivery day in 40 years of service to his rural community!
