We at Mission Hospital McDowell (MHM) are proud to offer efficiently delivered, compassionate, advanced emergency care through our Emergency Department. Our services are diverse, focused on patient safety, and allow community members to be assessed and receive care close to home, which significantly contributes to community wellbeing.
When a community member arrives with chest pain, a rash, a broken bone, or some other unexpected symptoms, we’re here and ready to treat them in our ED, which is equipped with 15 exam rooms that include three beds designed for patients with behavioral health needs. We see more than 26,000 patients annually and within the Mission Health system, we have the second busiest ED.
Our Emergency Department’s Medical Director, Dr. John Pierson, delves into what our dedicated ED providers do — and all they have to be ready for during each shift.
“In the ED, we see everything under the sun in terms of what we treat,” explains Dr. Pierson, “And we need to be prepared for anything. No two days are the same.” He adds that on any given day, the MHM ED may see people with chest pain concerned they’re experiencing a heart attack, abdominal pain, stroke symptoms, or problems related to an underlying medical condition, such as trouble breathing due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “There are also patients whose needs are extremely urgent, like those who have been involved in a car accident,” says Dr. Pierson, “As well as patients with minor trauma, such as a twisted ankle from slipping on the ice in the winter. We’ve seen this lately with the recent winter weather.”
When the ED staff — which includes physicians, nurses, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and other ancillary staff — is faced with a serious situation and a patient arrives with severe injuries from an accident or may be having a stroke or heart attack, communication between the ED providers and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) staff becomes critically important. “The EMS technicians will typically call us when they’re about 10 minutes away to explain what we need to be ready for,” says Dr. Pierson. “This way, we can be as well prepared as possible to give them the treatment they need immediately upon their arrival.” These relationships and protocols like what MHM has with McDowell EMS are vital and lifesaving. In many of these situations, time is critical and this communication saves time. McDowell EMS plays a crucial role and is an outstanding partner.
Dr. Pierson notes that if a patient is having a heart attack or stroke, they will be transferred to Mission Hospital, since it’s a Level I Trauma Center. MHM is also a certified as an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital (ASRH), meaning that providers are equipped to quickly diagnose, stabilize, and care for stroke patients with clot-busting drugs and other advanced treatments. This is vital, since every second counts when treating a stroke. They are also able to consult via telemedicine with an offsite neurologist before a patient is transferred.
Depending on the patient’s condition and needs, they will either be treated and released or, if necessary, admitted to MHM as an inpatient. Dr. Pierson references an apt analogy he’s heard about the ED: “The ED is like the front porch of the hospital in a sense,” he says. “Some come to the porch and stay a bit, while others need to get invited with our inpatients.”
Dr. Pierson shares that patients can feel reassured that every emergency room physician is highly trained, and this training encompasses four years of college, another four years of medical school, and an additional three to four years of residency training, where they rotate through various departments. This allows them to learn about different specialties, everything from orthopedics to pediatrics and more.
Another part of being ever ready in the ED is that, as patients get assessed, providers need access to important diagnostic tools that must be present at all times, like imaging (X-rays and CT scans) and lab services.
“We plan accordingly for when we know things will be busiest,” says Dr. Pierson. “and strive to care for patients with compassion and respect. This is very rewarding work.”
Since March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, it’s an important reminder to speak with your primary care physician about your individual risk factors. For most adults at average risk, screening should begin at age 45. If you have a family history or other risk factors, your doctor may recommend starting earlier. Screening — particularly colonoscopy — allows colon cancer to be detected early or even prevented, leading to significantly better outcomes.
Lee Higginbotham is Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion. He is an accomplished healthcare leader with nearly three decades of diverse experience in healthcare. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Higginbotham earned his Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) from The Medical College of Virginia and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He resides in Marion. Lee is most proud to be a husband to his best friend and father of three remarkable children.