Three MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Associates Named Patient Safety Heroes!

LEONARDTOWN, Md. – Three associates were recently named Patient Safety Heroes at MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital! Amber Loughran, patient advocate; Diana Altevers, BSN, RN, clinical coordinator in the Emergency Department (ER); and Karina Cox, BSN, RN, nurse in the ER (now Perioperative Services) were honored by the Patient Safety Council in June.

Amber, Diana, and Karina assisted a young patient and their parent during a recent ER visit. The child had fainted and was brought to the hospital by another party, which the parent felt was unnecessary. They believed there to be a simple explanation for the episode and didn’t plan to stay for further care.

Amber, the patient advocate, was concerned; she asked Diana to talk with the family before they made any decisions. As they spoke, Diana noticed a sudden arrhythmia on the child’s monitor. She requested that Karina perform an EKG, which confirmed the patient was experiencing an irregular heart rhythm that required intervention. The patient was quickly transported to a higher level of care.

By digging deeper, the team ensured the young patient received the timely care they needed. Join us in congratulating Amber, Diana, and Karina!