Letter to the editor from Dr. Jared B. Barton of Evanston
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
Editor:
I’m writing this letter of appreciation for an event that happened on Christmas Eve. I think it typifies the type of people we have in our community. I have permission from the family to write this letter, but I will withhold the patient’s name out of respect for privacy.
On Christmas Eve, a gentleman from our county came to the ER. He had a problem that is rarely seen and was rapidly bleeding to death. After seeing this patient, he was immediately rushed to the operating room. In the OR, the bleeding was controlled. He received blood and blood clotting products through IV transfusion. He was stabilized, but remained in critical condition. He required respiratory support, cardiovascular support and what we call definitive care for his problem. Our hospital didn’t have the ability to provide definitive care for this very serious condition. We could only stop the bleeding and support the patient until he received permanent care.
The University of Utah was contacted for transfer. They had the ability to take care of the patient, but there was no way to transport the patient there. A severe storm had affected roads, and no ambulance, helicopter, or fixed-wing aircraft could come to Evanston for transport.
At this point, members of our local medical community stepped up. Our local crew offered to brave the roads and drive in the ambulance with this patient to the University of Utah. Mind you, the patient had extensive needs with a breathing tube, breathing machine, IV infusions of blood products and the need for management of other necessary medications. Those who traveled to Utah with this patient included Angie Foster, RN; Chris Brinkerhoff, CRT; Don Bodine, EMT-I; Don Casper, EMT-I; and Byron Martinez, EMT-B.
The patient made it to the U of U, spent several days in the ICU and has now made it home. This group of people sacrificed their Christmas Eve to save a life. They were under no obligation to go. The roads were horrible, and no emergency services from Utah would come. So, members of our hospital, and Uinta County EMS, traveled the perilous roads because it was the right thing to do.
I’m grateful to be associated with people like this. I don’t often talk about what it’s like to provide emergency services. But, when you are faced with the life or death of another person, there are a flood of emotions. After stopping the bleeding and stabilizing this patient, I was crushed to learn there was no way to help him get to the U of U for further care. Those of us on call can’t leave the area. That’s part of what made the sacrifice of the group that traveled so significant — they weren’t on call, and they went on their own time without obligation.
I can’t express how thankful I am for Angie, Chris, Don, Don and Byron! They braved the storm when others wouldn’t. They sacrificed their Christmas Eve for another. I will never forget Christmas that year. I will never forget the people who truly showed what Christmas is about. They refused to allow someone to be turned away from the proverbial inn. These are the kind of people we have in Evanston. Regardless of religion, this is what Christianity is about. I’m honored and humbled to work beside people like this.
Thanks again!
Dr. Jared B. Barton
Uinta General Surgery
Evanston