CNRV Collaboration Serves Very High Risk OB Patient
On Saturday, November 2nd, a very high risk OB/cardiac patient arrived at CNRV that was scheduled to deliver on Wednesday at VCU. The patient came in laboring and Dr. Tanner Hurley, OB/GYN, consulted VCU, CRMH, UVA, and Lewis Gale Salem to arrange for her transfer to a higher level of care. Unfortunately CRMH was at OB capacity, Lewis Gale Salem did not accept the patient since she was so high risk, and there were delays in the accepting OB & Cardiology physicians from VCU. Ultimately in a matter of a few hours, the patient progressed to the point she would need to be delivered at CNRV. The patient was quickly moved to our CNRV Critical Care Unit (CCU) where she had an assisted delivery, and was then transferred to VCU by the Lifeguard team.
A special thanks to Heather Freeman, RN who never left the patient's side and provided compassionate care. Also kudos to Dr. Hurley for his calm and collaborative leadership, to Dr. Meg Grove, OB/GYN, for coming in on her day off to assist Dr. Hurley with this patient and other patients on the OB unit, to Dr. Mary Carter, Intensivist, who stayed on the phone with the VCU while she remained by the patient’s side, and to Dr. Amy Hamilton, Anesthesia, for placing an arterial line and supporting the patient until she was transported out. To the Clinical Administrator, Meghan Sigmon, RN, for her leadership and collaboration, and to the OB staff and CCU staff for their collaboration and support of the patient's care. Thanks to Rhonda Lambert, RN, Nursery, and Dr. Leah Birdwell, Pediatrics for going to CCU to care for the baby and supporting dad when mom was unavailable. A huge thanks to Jason Chrisley and the Lifeguard team who went with the patient from OB to CCU and was there in CCU to lend a helping hand and then transport mom to VCU! Thanks also to the Carilion Transfer Center for handling all our phone calls and arranging her transport to VCU. Additional thanks to Wendy Worrell, CNRV Birthplace and Pediatrics Unit Manager/Director, for coming in at a moments notice to support her teams.
Without the communication, collaboration, compassion, and courage of this ENTIRE team, the outcome for this mom and baby could have easily ended very differently. Thank you to all who participated in the care of this patient!
