What do I have to work with here and what are some of the challenges?

 I am truly humbled, over 100 folks have read our blog since the previous posting. And some of you have asked some excellent questions. Some serious and some that made us smile. We will start with a few of the serious ones to begin.

Someone asked what I had to work with here on Akutan island. Here are a few pics of the clinic. I have a Bell Ranger on site for Medevac, Ralph is my nurse, the Safety Team is trained in first aid and CPR and they have been trained in clinic documentation during “emergencies”.

We are 760 air miles from Anchorage where there are two Level II trauma adult centers and a Level II pediatric trauma center. There are no Level I trauma centers in Alaska because there are no trauma research and teaching facilities in the state.

The closest Level I trauma center is Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. This facility is only 1,975 airmiles from Akutan however there are no aircraft closer than Anchorage with flight capabilities to Seattle. BTW, Seattle is only 1,434.59 air miles from Anchorage. 

So if Ralph and I can get them stable enough to send to Anchorage (760 air miles and "if everything is timed perfectly" the patient will be in the Trauma Center in Anchorage in about 3 hours).

These assignments are NOT something for every provider to consider undertaking. You have to remember,  I started in EMS in 1978 as a "driver". Like everything else I have ever undertaken Ralph and I went the long way up the hill. Became a Georgia EMT-B 13353, then Georgia Cardiac Technician 1469, then progressed to Georgia Paramedic 3161. We eventually went to an Community College ADN-RN program, then a RN to BSN program, a MSN FNP program and ultimately a DNP ACNP program. I have worked in third world settings, responded to multiple disasters, rural EMS, Grady EMS in Atlanta, worked the 1916 Olympic Park Bombing and specialize in rural and frontier medicine. When I am at home I work in ER, Critical Care , and Hospitalist.

But if you feel you are up for the challenge, let Ralph and I know. There are plenty of needs all over.

 

If ya'll keep asking, Ralph and I will answer honestly to the best of our ability.
 

And the other question I was asked: “is there anything you are afraid of?”

Well actually there is one thing: Kat 😜