Staff at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s recognize the amazing accomplishments of former trauma patients.
“We were in a room full of miracles.”
That’s how Deb Travis, RN, Manager of the Trauma Program, described the special celebration of strength and courage the Trauma Program at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s held as part of National Trauma Survivors Day. Ten former patients and their families joined with hospital staff, reconnecting with the people who cared for them during their hospital stays.
The Trauma Survivors Day celebration at St. Luke’s brings everyone together to recognize the amazing progress trauma survivors have made on the long road to recovery, to share gratitude for the surgeons and care teams who never accepted “impossible,” and to marvel at the strength, determination, and optimism of survivors. The event was held May 17.
“One of the great things about our Trauma Program is it makes everyone at the hospital excited about what they do,” said Ms. Travis. “Having our patients come back was an even better way to say, ‘Look at what we’ve done. And look at these people.’”
The Trauma Program at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s was established in 1983. As a Level 2 Trauma Center, St. Luke’s provides care to communities across the Upper West Side and Harlem, treating injuries from incidents ranging from motor vehicle accidents to traumatic falls. From the moment a patient is admitted to the Emergency Department, staff from the Trauma Program are there to help at every stage of care.
Led by Raymond Wedderburn, MD, FACS, Chief of Trauma and Critical Care at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, the Trauma Team includes specially trained medical professionals who provide coordinated, efficient, and compassionate care. Rapid assessment and prompt interventions account for the team’s success rate, and the staff’s deep compassion and wholehearted commitment pushes this success even further, according to Dr. Wedderburn.
“We see patients in their worst state because none of these patients actually planned to see you that day, in that context,” Dr. Wedderburn said. “When people are injured like this—totally unexpected, totally disruptive—their lives just fall apart. We witness that and try to help them get through that, and it’s amazing, the strength and courage of these people.”
“We were in a room full of miracles.”
During the last four years, St. Luke’s Trauma Program was reviewed and verified by the American College of Surgeons, allowing the team to do “a more holistic kind of trauma care,” according to Ms. Travis. Every member of the Trauma Team—from the Emergency Department to the Operating Room, from the Intensive Care Unit to rehabilitation and recovery—contributes to this approach, supporting patients along the continuum of care.
Another aspect of this holistic approach is the involvement of family, which Dr. Wedderburn recognizes as essential to helping trauma patients heal. “You can’t take care of the patient without taking care of the family,” he said.
The Trauma Program staff have taken this to heart, as the father of one survivor noted by describing the attentiveness and compassion of the staff in a letter sent to the hospital. “The room was small and my wife and I were often in the way; the staff never lost patience,” he wrote. “The nurses watched over our son tirelessly, to keep him as comfortable as possible, administer meds, check vitals, change bedding—and then do it all over, again and again. They often offered support and comfort to my wife and me as well.”
The recognition offered by the annual event is important for patients and caregivers. “Once you’ve actually cared for someone who’s gotten through something incredibly difficult, there’s an attachment, a bond that’s created, a certain level of trust and comfort,” said Dr. Wedderburn. “The Trauma Survivors Day is a way for us to honor them but also to remind them that they’re part of our family, and we’re there to continue to support them for as long as they need it.”
Trauma Survivors Day also serves as a reminder to the staff of the significant help they offered to patients and their families, no matter their role. “All the different people along the continuum of care, they see a small part of the patient’s care, so our entire staff is rejuvenated by the experience of Trauma Survivors Day,” Dr. Wedderburn said.
The celebration gives trauma staff the opportunity to talk with patients who have since recovered from serious, often life-threatening injuries. “It’s incredibly moving to talk to staff afterwards who are so touched by what patients have told them about their experiences,” Dr. Wedderburn said. “They may not know they had that impact.”
From their comments, it was clear the survivors are filled with gratitude for the Trauma staff, who make an indelible impact in the lives of patients every day, giving them a chance not only to survive, but also to thrive.