No quiet nights at ER

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Donald Osborn
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It's 11 p.m. and the eerie silence at Travis is shattered by the crashing sound of twisted metal and broken glass. There are victims with multiple lacerations and in need of immediate medical attention. 

The 911 calls from other motorists reach the David Grant USAF Medical Center emergency department. Within seconds, emergency technicians race towards the accident with flashing lights and a blaring siren. Within a few minutes, the emergency department technicians reach the scene, stabilize the victims and transport them back to the emergency department. 

This scenario, along with other emergencies, has been a reality before for the men and women of Travis' emergency department. Having a 24-hour, fully trained and staffed emergency department ensures rapid treatment for emergency incidences at Travis, even in the middle of the night. 

Although most times, the only noises coming from the emergency department are beeping machines, groans from the patients and the shifting of feet from the busy staff; the technicians here are ready and waiting for any emergency that may come their way.
"We perform everything from a headache to a full cardiac arrest," said Senior Airman Karen Go, 60th Medical Operations Squadron emergency room technician. "The only times we have to transport patients are for major procedures like open-heart surgeries."
There are no certain nights that are busier than the other, according to Airman Go.
"It seems that patients come in different waves sometimes," she said. "It can go from total silence, to extremely busy, and back to total silence in the span of just a few hours."
When the emergency department staff isn't busy, which isn't too often, it gives them a chance to catch up on training and other administrative procedures required to successfully run the department. 

The Travis emergency department is considered a Level 2 emergency room. A Level 2 means the facility has the capability to fully diagnose and treat any emergency, according to Maj. Raymond Nudo, 60th Medical Operations Squadron emergency department officer-in-charge and registered nurse. The only exceptions are certain emergency surgeries needed during treatment that requires a certain specialist. This is good news for Travis personnel who may need their services.
"We have an excellent staff here," said Major Nudo. "Everyone that works for us has proven their capabilities in other areas of the hospital and also come with a recommendation to work here." 

In order to help keep current and sharp on emergency room procedures, some of the emergency department doctors and nurses offer their services at other hospitals in the local area.
"We don't always have a chance to see every emergency here," said Dr. (Maj.) William Ankney, 60th Medical Operations Squadron emergency service staff physician. "So working at other hospitals and seeing the patients out there, are one of the ways that allows us to better serve our patients here." 

The physicians and staff on hand here are trained well and ready to treat any emergency that may come their way, even in the middle of the night.
The 24-hour operating hours of the emergency department ensures that there is always a well-trained staff ready to treat you to the best of their ability.

Editor's note: This story is part 2 of a 3-part 'Travis at Night' series