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Behind the scenes at a trauma exercise
Posted: 06.01.2011 at 4:35 PM
Updated: 06.02.2011 at 4:05 AM
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Memorial Hospital  / FOX21: file photo
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Employees of Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs performed a real-time trauma exercise Wednesday morning, a routine they do every month to help ensure quality patient care.

The hospital sees more than 100,000 patients in its emergency room every year, making Memorial Health System the busiest emergency room in Colorado.

"They're in the trauma room, and they're taking care of a mannequin that acts and responds like a real trauma patient would," Asst. Trauma Director Dr. Andrew Berson said.

In Wednesday's training exercise, employees dealt with a 'patient' named Joseph who had multiple gunshot wounds.

"You can't look at it like it's a fake situation," technician Deborah Fisher said. "You have to think it is real. This is a real patient, this is what we really have to do."

Memorial Hospital uses the latest technology to help staff train for any trauma situation.

"We can regulate his blood pressure," nurse Dan Lauer said. "So he can come in, and we can watch it drop right in front of us. So having a practice scenario like this is great."

The staff said teamwork is essential when it comes to saving lives.

"If you don't have teamwork, you don't have successful care of a patient," Fisher said. "You have to have teamwork."

One mistake could be devastating for the patient, but also for the hospital.

"We want the public to have confidence in us," Lauer said. "We want them to know that we know what we're doing, and that you can bring your loved one here. Plus it's a pride thing. We want to be the best."

Staff members have been doing these exercises since 2009 and said they help reduce patient time in the emergency room.

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