Shortly after the new equipment was made available in March, nurses shared their excitement and gratitude for the generosity that enabled the procurements.
“I am so excited that MCR ED was able to add the LUCAS device to our tools to help us better serve our patients,” said Jamie, an RN. “I have used the LUCAS device in other facilities and felt very strongly about its benefits. Here at MCR, I have examples of two patients who had excellent outcomes. In the first example, we were able to get the LUCAS placed quickly, and after 40 minutes of CPR, the patient stabilized. She was awake and requesting a pen and paper to communicate with us (patient was intubated). She ended up having an excellent outcome and was discharged later in the week. In the second example, the patient was in need of chest tube placement bilaterally. Because we were using the LUCAS, the patient could receive compressions without disrupting the process and placement of the chest tubes. This patient survived her cardiac arrest and was admitted to the ICU.”
“I am eager to keep familiarizing the staff with the LUCAS benefits,” Jamie said, “and am so thankful that this tool was made available to us.”
Mike, a charge nurse, said, “We used the new GlideScope the other day, and it was incredible. It is very user friendly and the screen is so much better. You can choose between intubation and bronchoscopy as soon as you turn it on. Additionally, the screen is large, and the picture is crystal clear. This allows for a smooth intubation, as you can easily visualize all of your airway landmarks. Thank you for getting this equipment for us.”
MCR is a Level 2 trauma center, verified by the American College of Surgeons and is designated by the State of Colorado. The hospital is in the process of qualifying as a Level 1 trauma center, the highest level of trauma care. The different levels refer to the kinds of resources available in a trauma center and the number of patients admitted yearly.
The LUCAS system extends the reach of care by maintaining chest compressions during transport to advanced lifesaving therapies. Photo courtesy Stryker Medical.
The GlideScope delivers clear airway views and enables rapid intubation—insertion of a ventilation tube into the trachea. Photo courtesy Verathon Inc.