Assistive Technology for Cardiac Arrest Response Now Available at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown
Contact:
Trena Williamson:
Cassandra Price (seated), clinical nurse coordinator, Acute Care and Marjorie Shaffer, clinical nurse, Acute Care | (standing) Justin Harper, lieutenant, Kent County Emergency Services; Rebecca Baxter, administrative supervisor, and Beverly Greaves, clinical nurse, Emergency Department.
When a patient goes into cardiac arrest and CPR is required, the licensed staff at UM Shore Medical Center at Chestertown have a new life-saving tool: a LUCAS 3 Chest Compression System by Physio Control. The self-contained, 19-pound device will be put into service in March after all staff are trained.
Funded by community donations to the Chester River Health Foundation, the LUCAS 3 System cost nearly $16,000. "It will add a significant resource to the hospital especially during the evening and night shifts when there isn't a large pool of additional staff to respond to a cardiac arrest," says Beverly Greaves, clinical nurse, Chestertown Emergency Department. Greaves has begun training all nursing supervisors, clinical coordinators and Emergency Department staff to use the device.
"The physical demands for performing CRP under the new standards are exhausting even for the most physically fit person," Greaves explains. "Staff members are permitted to do manual chest compressions for just two minutes, then another staff member must step in. With the LUCAS 3 device, 'rescuer fatigue' is no longer a problem as the device performs consistent, repetitive chest compressions for as long as necessary."
With training, all licensed, CPR-certified staff members – a physicians, a nurse and techs – are permitted to use this life-saving device, with training. Says Greaves, "During a cardiac arrest, it's a fast-paced environment and resuscitation can run for hours. The LUCAS 3 is a state-of-the-art tool that will help us achieve the best possible outcome for our patients."