3 minute read
A Note from Brady
Protecting What Matters
When emergencies strike, every second matters—and Mid-Missouri residents can count on Boone Health's Emergency Department to deliver expert, compassionate care when it’s needed most.
Serving more than 36,000 people each year, our emergency department is equipped to handle significant injuries and medical events. The expanded and remodeled ER now has 16 patient rooms, a larger triage area and an additional treatment area to decrease wait times while still providing excellent care.
Our emergency team is dedicated to providing outstanding, individualized care to everyone who comes through the door.
“Every patient complaint is taken very seriously,” according to Dr. H. Orlando Heredia, director of Emergency Medicine. “We find that most people do not have a serious problem, but the only way to make sure is by having a thorough evaluation by one of our providers.”
As a designated Level I Stroke and STEMI Center, we offer the highest level of emergency response for lifethreatening conditions, including heart attacks and strokes. This distinction means faster diagnoses, immediate treatment, and better outcomes, all delivered by a team trained to act swiftly and treat patients with dignity. Our commitment to excellence is what drives us. It’s this commitment to excellence that led to our recognition by U.S. News & World Report ranking us as the No. 1 hospital in mid-Missouri.
In this issue of My Boone Health, you’ll read about what brings most people to the ER, the flow of a typical visit, and how the ER determines the order to treat patients. You’ll also read about ways our emergency department is advancing patient care. Our cover story is the account of one man’s health emergency and how he is alive today because his son took a proactive stance and was educated in Basic Life Support (BLS), including CPR.
From my own experience, I was first introduced to CPR when I was in high school. My football coach required the entire team to take the class. I maintained my certification over the years that I worked as a therapist. While I never had to use this training during high school or through my early career, many years later, I had to use the techniques I had learned to help dislodge a hotdog from my daughter’s airway when she began to choke on her lunch. There are few things as scary as a loved one needing immediate assistance. I will always be thankful for the training that helped ensure a good outcome.
I was taught CPR in high school, but children as young as nine can begin learning those skills even if they don’t have the strength to perform chest compressions on an adult. And ask yourself—if your family faces a life-threatening emergency, could they call on you to help save them, especially if a medical professional is several minutes away?
Learning Bystander CPR addresses one type of emergency in our community. From house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning to natural disasters, a variety of emergencies occur every day, so it’s important to take steps (even if they are small ones) toward being prepared now. We’re fortunate to have several resources in mid-Missouri that teach these critical skills.
To learn CPR through Boone Health Community Wellness, visit boone.pub/boonecpr
To schedule a free Red Cross home fire safety appointment, visit boone.pub/RedCrossSmokeAlarm
When we all work together to be prepared, we create a safer community for everyone.
Sincerely,
