Our first team DAISY Award honor was given to a group of employees for their knowledgeable response and teamwork to save a life.
The three-month-old patient was brought to the Emergency Department and a team of caregivers was quickly assembled in response, including Asha Freeman, MD, Cecilia Torres-Day, MD, and staff from ED, NICU and respiratory therapy.
Although the infant was no longer in cardiac arrest when she arrived, she required ventilations via bag-valve mask and later was intubated. The NICU nurses – Maria Sombillo, Amy Cheng, Cristina Martin, Lydia Oleksy and Maria Torres – assisted ED nurses Breanna Smith, Vanessa Shepherd, Amanda Lloyd, Mario Muniz and Tim King in calculating the medications required and managing the ongoing care.
“Having nurses with the background and specialty in pediatrics gave our ED nurses a sense of comfort and support,” wrote the nominator.
The respiratory therapist, Mary Hyland, also has significant pediatric experience. “She was a valuable team member as she provided input and knowledge,” wrote the nominator.
Before the patient could be transferred to the medical center for additional care, she began deteriorating. “She was highly critical at this point, but we had every team member working to stabilize her,” the nominator wrote.
Eventually, the patient was transferred, thanks to the team’s coordinated efforts over a three-hour period.
HMSL will choose one team per year as DAISY Award honorees.