Shining a Spotlight on our Emergency Department!

For many people, the Emergency Department (ED) is the first touchpoint with the hospital, often remembering the faces of our ED staff and their experiences here for years to come.

In the ED, each of the 148 team members have unique and important roles:

• Nursing Staff: Nurse Practitioners (NP), Registered Nurses (RN), Registered Practical Nurses (RPN), and Geriatric Emergency Management (GEM) Nurses
• Physicians
• Support Staff: Communication Clerks, Attendants and EVS (Housekeeping)
• Leadership: Manager, Assistant Manager, Director, and Chief Nursing Executive

The unexpected, unscheduled, and undiagnosed is all in a day’s work for the ED team triaging and managing anywhere from 160-190 patients daily.

“I am very proud to be part of this team,” says Wendy, Manager ED. “ED needs to be prepared for, and respond to, change, challenge, and urgent care needs, often with little lead time and competing priorities.”

The ED team works in collaboration with units across the hospital to maintain flow out of the department, moving patients to the appropriate inpatient units. When possible and when needed, units often provide additional staff support in the ED to provide care for patients awaiting a bed—something that is important and greatly appreciated by team.

“The teamwork and collaboration to provide the best possible care to our patients is astounding,” says Wendy. “I am amazed daily by what the team can accomplish, and respect and admire their dedicated to our patients and to each other. Thank you does not capture the depth of my gratitude.”

This year, the ED team added 15 new full-time positions across multiple roles and through their hard work and dedication, received additional funding related to performance key indicators. Our ED also implemented new self-registration kiosks moving the triage system from pen and paper to real-time digital oversight helping Triage nurses identify patients quicker by need rather than arrival time.

Our ED team continues to see a higher-than-normal number of patients each day, often sicker and presenting with more complex illnesses as many delayed seeking care throughout COVID. Throughout all of this, the team has come together to support each other, showing compassion, collaboration, and strength.

“I have always been amazed at the dedication and commitment by the SMGH ED team,” says Kathleen, Director ED, Chest & ICC. “It takes a special kind of person to work in the unpredictable and fast-paced environment that is the Emergency Department. I am so grateful for and proud of the team, and I want to thank them, although thank you seems woefully inadequate for the incredible work they do on a daily basis.”

This week, we recognize Emergency Nurse’s Week and acknowledge the hard work of every member of the ED team. Thank you for the work that you continue to do ensuring our patients and community receive the best care possible.