News
Silver Cross Hospital’s New Design Aids in Saving Orland Park Woman’s Life
New Lenox, IL (April 11, 2012) — Orland Park resident Dianne D’Andrea suffered for years with pain in her right knee, so she decided to have total knee replacement surgery at the new Silver Cross Hospital. Little did she know the newly designed Procedural Care Unit (PCU), would aid in saving her life. The PCU is a new unit that consolidates all the traditional procedural areas found in hospitals including surgery, endoscopy, interventional cardiology/radiology. The unit was designed to place clinical expertise and equipment with dedicated support services on one integrated “platform” to enhance the delivery of quality care to patients.
To begin her preparation for knee surgery D’Andrea was escorted into a pre-procedural room in Surgery Pre/Post Recovery (SPPR) which is immediately adjacent to the operating rooms (OR) suites on the PCU. Prior to any surgical procedure, patients are interviewed by nursing and anesthesia staff, and are seen by their surgeon one last time before going to the OR. Once in the OR, as D’Andrea began to receive anesthesia, she developed ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) a fast, irregular heart rhythm that can be fatal. As the V-tach occurred, the heart monitor alarm sounded and her orthopedic surgeon Anuj Puppala, M.D., with Hinsdale Orthopedics, determined she did not have a pulse. He instantly began heart compressions- the time noted at 8:26 a.m. - and the surgical staff called a Code Blue.
Photo Caption: Members of the Silver Cross Medical Team are gathered with patient, Dianne D’Andrea, who saved her life as a result of their medical expertise and ability to administer care quickly due to the department adjacencies in Silver Cross Hospital’s newly designed Procedural Care Unit. Pictured are Orland Park resident Dianne D’Andrea (center) with: Front row- Jen Stevensen, RT; Ish Ahmad OR RN; Andrea Hartong, OR RN; Natalie Stanger, OR RN; Kathy Pechotta, PACU RN. Back Row- Grace Connor, SPPR RN; MaryAnn Hutin, OR RN; John Lindenmulder, OR RN; Mary Egan, IPPR RN; Sheila Buroff, IPPR RN; Pat Kroesch, RN, OR Manager; and Dr. Sheldon Cin, Anesthesiologist.
At the same time, cardiologist John Dongas, M.D., with Heartland Cardiovascular, was prepping his patient in the nearby interventional cardiology suite. Dr. Dongas is an electrophysiologist who specializes in treating abnormal heart rhythms. He heard the Code Blue and decided to walk down the hall to the OR to see if he could help, and with his assistance D’Andrea was successfully resuscitated.
At 8:48 a.m., just 22 minutes after the Code Blue was called, D’Andrea was urgently transferred to the Cardiac Cath Lab for a diagnostic heart catheterization to see if she had blockages that may have caused her cardiac arrest in the OR. Dr. Abdul Sankari, an interventional cardiologist and partner of Dr. Dongas, performed the procedure that indicated her vessels were all clear of any blockages. However, the bottom chamber of her heart was severely compromised resembling what is known as “tako-tsubo”, indicating she was suffering from “Broken Heart Syndrome”.
Also known as “takotsubo cardiomyopathy”, Broken Heart Syndrome is a temporary heart condition brought on by highly stressful situations. In Japanese, “tako-tsubo” means “fishing pot for trapping an octopus,” and the heart of a patient with this clinical situation resembles this shape. People with broken heart syndrome may have sudden chest pain or think they're having a heart attack. These symptoms may be brought on by the heart's response to a rush of stress hormones.
The nurses who interviewed D’Andrea in SPPR prior to her procedure all agreed in retrospect that she was extremely nervous, which would explain a state of high emotional stress that could have caused her clinical presentation of “broken heart syndrome”. “In broken heart syndrome, a part of your heart temporarily enlarges and doesn't pump well, while the rest of the heart functions normally or with even more vigorous contractions,” said John Dongas, M.D., cardiologist on staff at Silver Cross Hospital. “In Dianne’s case, her heart was portraying all the signs of “broken heart syndrome”, so it was critical that the appropriate medical team assemble as fast as possible. In addition to the expertise of our staff, I believe Dianne’s life was saved because these key medical professionals were able to come together more quickly than ever before due to the fact that the PCU has brought all our areas adjacent and in close proximity to one another.”
D’Andrea was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at 9:13am, less than one hour after her cardiac arrest in the OR and after a couple days was discharged home.
“It was amazing to witness our esteemed healthcare team as they provided multi-disciplinary care to Dianne. We had specifically designed the Procedural Care Unit to be an environment with the clinical expertise and equipment readily available when needed to care for critically ill patients and this situation confirmed it was the right thing to do. We never imagined we’d know this so soon after our move, but are pleased Dianne was the beneficiary of our vision,” said Marybeth Antone, Administrative Director of Surgery and Cardiology.
“I am forever grateful to all the physicians, nurses and others who quickly reacted to save my life,” said 56-year-old Dianne D’Andrea. “The high quality care I received from everyone was just wonderful, and I am so relieved that I chose to have my surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.” Dandrea is still determined to have her knee fixed and has scheduled her knee surgery for this spring. “I have such peace of mind knowing that I will once again be in such capable hands with all the staff at Silver Cross Hospital”.
About the Procedural Care Unit (PCU)
The PCU is located on the second floor of the new hospital. Surgery, endoscopy, interventional cardiology and radiology areas are now conveniently adjacent to the PCU Family Lounge and a total of 66 private pre/post procedural rooms. The PCU has been designed for flexibility, operational efficiencies, and advanced technology.
“Consolidating these surgical services into a central location minimizes unnecessary patient movement, and promotes quality outcomes and safety,” said Marybeth Antone, Administrative Director of Surgery and Cardiology.
Advanced Technology
In designing the PCU, Silver Cross has brought in some of the latest and greatest technology available. There is special green surgical lighting which makes seeing patient’s anatomy easier. Also each of the 11 state-of-the-art operating rooms have overhead equipment and video booms to improve procedural ergonomics and digital imaging. Staff in 6 of the ORs are able to browse through images that can be displayed on several monitors hanging from the ceiling so that everyone involved in the case knows what is going on.
In one of the ORs, the Hospital has a DaVinci surgical system, which is a robotic surgical system designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach.
The new Silver Cross Hospital also has anesthesia Pyxis (medication) machines, a negative pressure endoscopy lab to accommodate bronchoscopies and Bronchial Endoscopic Ultrasound and an automatic glide system for instrument loading in Sterile Processing.
Operational Efficiencies
To enhance the patient-family experience, the PCU is supported by a standardized process for patient scheduling and pre-procedural preparation, inventory management, charge capture, environmental service and best-practice nursing care.
For example, the Anesthesia Department provides services to every area in the PCU. At the previous campus, these services were needed in various areas throughout the hospital. In the new hospital, the anesthesiologist only needs to travel down a hallway saving valuable time.
Some of the other ways that we have improved operational efficiencies include:
- Placing storage closer to point of use
- Dedicating a trauma elevator from the Emergency Department to the PCU
- Having 2 physician/family consult rooms with dual access
- Storing surgical/interventional supplies in the Sterile Processing Department
- Dedicating two pediatric recovery rooms with external access for patients
About Silver Cross Hospital
Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for the seven years and as one of America’s Most Customer Friendly Hospitals by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 2,900 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 304-bed acute care hospital and 10 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices and recently opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).
