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Disaster ... Hurricane Preparedness ... Emergency Medicine ... Disaster... Hurricane Prep

Stroke Survivor Reunites with Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Personnel

and the Jupiter Medical Center Stroke Team that Saved his Life

It’s rare for people to get to thank the
emergency medical personnel who pro-
vided their lifesaving care, but that’s what
happened for 73-year-old Leonard
Bechtold of Jupiter Farms. He returned
to Jupiter Medical Center on Friday, May
17, to meet the paramedics and the hos-
pital’s stroke team members whose quick
response and expertise were instrumen-
tal in his survival and recovery.
Bechtold suffered a massive stroke at
his home on March 15. His wife, Sharon,
recognized the droop on the side of his
face and his distorted speech and imme- (l-r) Stroke survivor Leonard Bechtold with
diately called 911. A five-member Palm Dr. Jennifer Buczyner and Dr. Jeffrey Miller,
Beach County Fire-Rescue team respond- co-medical directors of the Comprehensive
ed and rushed him to Jupiter Medical (l-r) Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue Paramedic David Lincoln and Captain John Bradley, Stroke Center at Jupiter Medical Center,
Center, where Dr. Jeffrey Miller, co-med- IV, with stroke survivor Leonard Bechtold and his wife, Sharon, and Lieutenant Vicki and Lisa Hanusin, the center’s
ical director of the Comprehensive Donechie and Paramedic Edward Bauries. stroke coordinator.
Stroke Center, removed a blood clot from
his brain in a procedure known as a medical experts necessary to gain desig- complex stroke cases. Jupiter Medical
thrombectomy. Within two weeks of sur- nation as a comprehensive stroke center Center is the only hospital in northern
gery, Bechtold was back home with his in January 2019. The typical patient Palm Beach County and in Martin
wife and singing the praises of his med- could lose up to 2 million brain cells County to achieve designation as a com-
ical team. every minute that a stroke is left untreat- prehensive stroke center.
“The connection between the para- ed. Having a comprehensive stroke cen- Returning to Jupiter Medical Center
medics and the emergency room—and ter closer to home gives stroke patients a was a gratifying experience for Bechtold
the stroke team being ready so quickly— greater chance for survival and recovery. and his family. During the reunion,
is what saved my life,” he said. “This suc- “The advanced capabilities we have which took place in the hospital’s
cess story that we have is your success today at Jupiter Medical Center gives Calcagnini Center for Mindfulness,
story, and I’m incredibly thankful. We are patients in northern Palm Beach County Bechtold joined Jupiter Medical Center
very lucky to have a comprehensive and southern Martin County the best in recognizing his emergency medical
stroke center in Jupiter.” possible chance for a full recovery,” said team, including Paramedic David
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue proto- Joanne Miller, interim co-CEO of Jupiter Lincoln; Captain John Bradley, IV;
cols require that ambulances take stroke Medical Center. “Statistics show we are Paramedic Edward Bauries; Lieutenant
patients to a comprehensive stroke cen- making a difference. From January to Vicki Donechie, and Driver/operator Joanne Miller, interim co-CEO of Jupiter
ter for treatment. If Bechtold had his April 2019, EMS has transported 76 Vincent Depascale. Dr. Jeffrey Miller, co- Medical Center, presents a bouquet of
stroke just six months earlier, EMS stroke cases to our medical center.” medical director of the Comprehensive flowers to Sharon Bechtold.
would have transported him from Jupiter Awarded by the Florida Agency for Stroke Center; Dr. Jennifer Buczyner, co-
Farms all the way to West Palm Beach, at Health Care Administration (AHCA), the medical director of the Comprehensive “We are celebrating you for knowing
that time the closest city with a compre- comprehensive stroke center designation Stroke Center; and Lisa Hanusin, stroke the signs of stroke,” Miller said before
hensive stroke center. ensures that Jupiter Medical Center has coordinator, were also recognized. The presenting Sharon Bechtold with a bou-
A $5 million gift from an anonymous the most advanced facilities, technology hospital also paid tribute to Bechtold’s quet of flowers. “Your quick action made
donor, enabled Jupiter Medical Center to and specially trained physicians to wife, Sharon, for her quick, decisive the difference in your husband’s survival
acquire the technology and recruit the improve patient outcomes in the most action in calling 911. and his quality of life.”

Patient Logistics Critical to Emergency Preparedness

In preparation for hurricane season,
Broward Health put its Patient Logistics
Center to the test with a scenario that
included a direct hit by a storm.
Emergency Management recently held
a 90-minute drill with Broward Health
Medical Center and Broward Health
Imperial Point to prepare for the
upcoming hurricane season. Engaging
system and hospital leadership, repre-
sentatives from county emergency man-
agement and law enforcement officials,
participants responded in real-time to a
disaster scenario during the exercise. The Broward Health Patient
“This evacuation drill showed our Logistics Center
community partners that we have a
solid incident command structure and evacuation process,” said Kelly Keys, man-
ager of emergency management, Broward Health. “It also showed us that we are Broward Health Medical Center’s Command Center
ready and prepared, but as always have some opportunities to improve what we
already do well.” conduct the drill.
New to this year’s drill was the use of the Patients Logistic Center to relocate “Teletracking enables us to know at all times where our patients are located,” said
patients. The Center uses teletracking to manage patient flow throughout the system Paul Taber, director of centralized patient logistics at Broward Health. “In emergency
to help ensure patients move through the cycle of care as efficiently as possible. The scenarios, healthcare organizations may be faced with evacuations – both within and
hospital partnered with local EMS, Emergency Management, Florida Department of outside of your hospital. This drill reinforced that Teletracking and the patient logis-
Health, MCT Express Ambulance Service and neighboring healthcare systems to tics center are in place to ensure safe transfer and continual patient tracking.”

28 June 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News