Queens Gets Emergency Room Of The 21st Century

"He was brought to us in grave condition after being hit by a drunk driver while on duty at the scene of a call," she said. "The focus and intensity with which our trauma team cared for him was absolutely remarkable. Each and every person worked tirelessly to save his life. But sadly Tony died."
McVea said, "The silence was deafening. While we knew we had done everything possible, we were profoundly sad. I will never forget him."
There are comic moments as well.
Sandy Moeller, a registered nurse in the emergency department, tells this story:
"I want to share a more joyous moment of life in the emergency room. One evening, while I was assigned to interview incoming patients, a hysterical young man ran into the waiting room. He was dancing around in circles and yelling, My wife, in the car, having a baby, over and over again. I quickly ran outside and sure enough in the front seat of the car, his wife was giving birth.
"I retrieved a baby pack, blanket and additional assistance. Both mother and baby were placed on a stretcher and taken up to labor and delivery, right past the husband. When I turned around in the elevator he was missing. After returning to the emergency room, sure enough there was the hysterical husband, still dancing and yelling, My wife, in the car, having a baby. I finally got his attention and informed him he was the proud father of a healthy baby boy. He provided a good laugh to all the visitors in the waiting room."
On the new emergency rooms first day of operation last December, it was the busiest day of the year, according to Dr. Diane Sixsmith, chair of the Hospitals Emergency Department.
"We saw 220 patients that day," she said. "It was quite a challenge for a staff not yet completely familiar with the new environment."
Sixsmith estimated that waiting time in the ER is better than its ever been. She said one of the reasons is that the Hospital now has 30 more beds.
"But on a busy day at the inn, patients may have to wait a longer time.
"We look at the ER as a place for patients who are scared, worried and hurt whose private physician cant be reached," she said.
The Hospital emergency room ceremonies featured talks by Borough President Claire Shulman, Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, and District Attorney Richard A. Brown.
A ceremony to honor members of the uniformed emergency services and those who had fallen in the line of duty was conducted, and a scroll containing the names of the NYC police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel who died in the line of duty since 1957 was buried in a time capsule.