Acts of Selflessness
By Jennifer Siragusa, Director of Patient Services, Bertrand Chaffee Hospital
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage “seeing is believing.” This saying could not be more relevant now, especially in the healthcare field or, for that matter, any service-related industry.
As you walk in to a crowded hospital waiting room in your local community, you may be alarmed at first by the sheer volume of people waiting for care, perhaps you may feel disgruntled by the time you are waiting to be seen by a provider.
What you don’t see beyond the busy waiting area is what is happening behind the waiting room door.
What you don’t see is the unresponsive baby who had been rushed in by ambulance who is requiring the attention and care from half of the Emergency Department staff or the teenage boy involved in a skiing accident who arrived hours after you did who will lose his leg if he isn’t treated immediately.
What you don’t see while you waited 20 minutes for pain medication or 10 minutes for assistance to use the bathroom is the nurse performing chest compressions on the mother of three young children so that she might have a chance to see her children grow up.
Our doctors and nurses perform these actions every day, most of which go unseen or untold. They are entrusted to save lives, to provide outstanding care, and to deliver that care with compassion and kindness.
What we as patients and community members don’t necessarily see or feel is that the figurative rubber band of healthcare has snapped – the people we depend upon to perform these extraordinary acts of selflessness have been stretched to their breaking point. Despite clocking longer hours and fielding complaints of circumstances beyond their control, they weather this unparalleled environment with poise and pride. They are working harder than ever with less resources than ever, yet they continually show up so they can respectfully care for your loved ones and neighbors with dignity.
Please, the next time you are at your local healthcare facility, even your local grocery store, restaurant, or gas station, consider your interactions with the people you are depending upon to care for you, to serve you. You may not be seeing the full picture of what is going on in their workday, what is going on “behind the scenes”.
Your patience and understanding goes a long way with the staff who are working selflessly and tirelessly to make sure your small community hospital can care for your emergent needs.
Bertrand Chaffee Hospital has installed a drug disposal drop off box in its Emergency Department Waiting Room. Members of the public can use this service to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications in a safe and secure manner.
Representatives from the Cattaraugus County Town Highway Superintendents Association delivered a sleigh full – or maybe car full – of toys and games to the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Emergency Department and Lab on December 15.
At its July meeting, the BCH Foundation gave a scholarship to Amber Kohn, RN, to apply to her educational expenses. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Alfred University, and is a nurse in the BCH emergency department. She previously worked on the medical-surgical floor at BCH as a registered nurse and in the ED as a nursing assistant.
Thanks to the efforts of the Cordelian Club, the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Foundation received a gift that will fund equipment in the Emergency Department.
The St. Aloysius Crafters group put together a generous donation of handmade teddy bears for Bertrand Chaffee Hospital. Before finding new homes with children, they will be staying comfortably in the hospital’s emergency department and lab. Thank you to Karen Schlageter, who coordinates the group, and BCH Women’s Association President Karen Ritenour for making this project happen for our facility.
The people who work in the Bertrand Chaffee Hospital Emergency Department have the distinction of being able to say that they are part of one of the most valuable teams in our community.
Most people don’t realize the length and depth of experience that BCH ED nurses have. Just five of the 23 nurses have a total of 130 years of nursing experience at BCH. Some have decades’ more experience at other facilities. “I am astonished by the commitment these nurses have shown throughout their career,” explained Gardner. “We are lucky to have that kind of allegiance in this small community.”