Having worked in an emergency room for nearly 30 years, Louis Isaacson, D.O., medical director of emergency services at Florida Medical Center, has witnessed several major changes that have taken place in emergency departments throughout South Florida. His ability to adapt to these changes, along with his many years of experience, superlative professional skills, and the popularity he enjoys among his patients, peers and all those with whom he interacts, has made Florida Medical Center’s ER one of the most respected in Broward County.

According to Dr. Isaacson, the most significant shift in ER care in recent years has been patients using the ER as their chief medical provider, instead of first seeing a primary care physician. While this transition has significantly increased the number of patients trafficking through the ER, Dr. Isaacson and the administrative team at Florida Medical Center have found a way to continue their high level of care by adding nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants to their team. These specialists, who work under doctor supervision, are able to treat minor injuries and afflictions, such as minor orthopedic injuries, lacerations, earaches and sore throats, which leaves the physicians available to treat the sickest and most seriously injured patients. In order to ensure the seamless integration of all emergency care professionals, Dr. Isaacson offers educational programs which enlighten paramedics and hospital staff as to the internal workings of the ER and critical care areas of the hospital. Each seminar gives an in-depth focus on the key medical conditions that would necessitate coming to the ER, such as a stroke or heart attack, and allows the paramedics to have their questions answered by physicians and other hospital staff who are involved in the continuum of care provided to the patients they bring to the ER.

“Our emergency responders need to understand the hospital’s ER environment, so we can optimize each patient’s treatment at Florida Medical Center,” explains Dr. Isaacson.

Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Isaacson is a graduate of Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine and is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine.

For over seven years, Dr. Shabtab Karatela has been a full time emergency physician at the Veteran’s Administration Medical Center in West Palm Beach. She graduated from Dow Medical College and underwent Internal Medicine training at the prestigious Emory Hospital in Atlantic, Georgia and Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. As a Board Certified Internal Medicine physician, she is well suited to evaluate and treat the veteran beneficiary population, presenting to the West Palm Beach VA Emergency Department. Veterans appreciate her compassionate and gentle approach. She takes extra time with patients to educate them and guide them through the sometimes stressful process that patients can experience in an emergency room. Her favorite hobbies are reading novels and listening to music. She and her husband Dr. Rizwan Karatela, who is a cardiologist at JFK Medical Center in West Palm Beach, have three children: Raamish, Nofel, and Maham.

Submitted by Gary Lammert, M.D., Chief Emergency Department

In her 21 years as a nurse – including stints in a burn unit and working with high-risk pregnancies – Judy Jensen has seen her share of people in need.

But Jensen, now working in the emergency department at Martin Memorial Hospital South, has gained a different perspective since she began going to South America on medical mission trips. The missions provide impoverished residents of villages along the Amazon River with medical services – and her travels have given Jensen a different view on life in the emergency department.

“It certainly changes your perspective,” Jensen said. “Our worst day in the emergency department is better than the best day down there.”

From July 11-18, Jensen and a team of 16 healthcare professionals – including Dr. Linh Le, an emergency department physician at Martin Memorial, and Shaun Bloulin, an emergency department technician at Martin Memorial – will travel on a boat down the Amazon that serves as headquarters and living space.

They stop at villages that range in size from 35 to 300 people, treating a wide array of ailments. They provide medications and vitamins, give eyeglasses, treat insect bites and skin infections, while trying to impart education on preventative medicine as well. For many villagers, it’s the only medical treatment they will receive for a year.

“It makes me so appreciative of what we have in the United States,” she said. “I don’t take anything for granted. We have clean bandages, we have medications we can give. You wouldn’t believe what a bottle of Pepto-Bismol can do down there.”

Jensen has made helping others a mission. This is her third trip to the Amazon in the past five years, and she has traveled to both the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina and to Sri Lanka after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia to help provide care in the aftermath of the storms.

“Doing something like this reminds me why I went into nursing. It makes a significant difference in someone’s life,” Jensen said. “It’s what medicine is truly meant to be.”

It’s a Thursday morning at Martin Memorial Medical Center, and though the crush of seasonal residents has slowed considerably, most of the rooms in the emergency department are occupied.

Doctors, nurses and patient care technicians hurry from room to room, checking charts, collecting samples and asking questions. There is always something to do in the emergency department and the concept of a slow time of year is losing credibility on the Treasure Coast – one of the fastest-growing areas in the state.

Mark Hendricks has worked in the Medical Center’s emergency department since 1989 – long enough to remember a time when there were fewer patients coming through the doors. Back then, the Treasure Coast was a sleepy bedroom community popular with retirees. Things have changed since then.

“In the old days, we could hustle and clear this place out, get people taken care of more quickly,” Hendricks said. “Now it’s just a conga line of people signing in at the front desk. It’s just become a very busy emergency department.”

Despite the changes, Hendricks still enjoys his job. He revels in the excitement the emergency department brings. Mostly, he likes the people he works with. As Hendricks sits in the emergency department break room, he jokes good-naturedly with his colleagues, who kid him about being old enough to work in one place for nearly 20 years.

“My coworkers are really a great bunch of people,” he said. “The doctors, the nurses, everyone in the emergency department, they’re all great to work with. Combine that with the rewards of helping people and that’s the best part of the job.”

Patricia “P. Kay” McGill, R.N., is one of those special people who continually sets goals and achieves them. After a challenging and fulfilling career of raising her children, P.Kay began taking nurses courses at Atlantic Technical Center where she earned her LPN in 1993. She subsequently joined the North Broward Hospital District and worked in pediatrics at North Broward Medical Center until 1997 when she earned her RN degree from Broward Community College. Following graduation, P.Kay began working at Imperial Point Medical Center’s medical-surgical floor. In 2000, she transferred to the emergency department and has worked there ever since.

P.Kay brings to the emergency department – enthusiasm, integrity and love. She is a true role model for the entire ER team as she provides the highest standards of care while never forgetting the “human component” of patient and loved ones. She also takes students under her wing and ensures that they are aware of their value and potential. She purports that it is never too late to start learning, and based on example, believes one should never stop striving.

In addition to her outstanding performance in her everyday roles, P.Kay is an active member on NBHD’s employee Star Council. Her participation on the council has led to an initiative for pain evaluation and treatment in the ER. She has attended NBHD’s Leadership Academy for rising leaders, achieved her CEN, participates in nursing grand rounds, is a trainer for HazMat preparedness at IPMC, and is in the process of completing her clinical ladder.

As a scout leader for over fifteen years, P.Kay understands the value of providing guidance. She has mentored and positively impacted many lives, and will continue to inspire her coworkers and students with the stellar examples she practices. Thanks, P.Kay!

Submitted by Mary Anne Usher, BSN, MBA, Nurse Manager/Emergency Services.

Paula Gatrell started her nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1974. In 1977, she earned her Associate’s Degree in Nursing and then in 1997 she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). She has extensive experience as a Certified Emergency Department Technician, EMT, Mobile Intensive Care Nurse, MICU and Board Certified Emergency Nurse, CEN.

For the last twenty-five (25) years, she worked in various Emergency Departments accepting a position at the Veteran’s Administration (VA) Emergency Department twelve (12) years ago. Paula provides excellent and compassionate care, which has resulted in positive feedback from veterans and their families. She had been recognized and nominated for “The Heart and Hand Award” and “Nurse of the Year 2006 Award”. She describes her work as a rewarding experience.

On a personal note, Paula is married. Her husband, Steve, also works for the VA Medical Center. Paula’s hobbies include reading and gardening. In addition, she enjoys some of the water activities that South Florida has to offer such as boating, fishing and scuba-diving.

Submitted by Litha Varone, RN, MSN, Associate Director for Nursing Services.

Briege’s experience speaks for itself. In 1974, she began her career as an LPN in Middleton, NY and became an RN three years later. She has worked all over the country in various critical care areas.

She has been a member of the Imperial Point Medical Center (IPMC) family for 17 years and has worked in nearly every department providing expert patient care from both a humanistic and technical perspective.

In addition to expanding her knowledge to numerous areas including the ICU, cath lab, telemetry, and the emergency department, she has held the role of clinical specialist in cardiac catheterization.

Her recent promotion to assistant nurse manager of the emergency department presents both wonderful opportunities and great challenges. Breige understands the importance of valuing, trusting and guiding her team. She has always been a resource person for the ER staff but now becomes more available given the change in roles. She maintains a positive environment and minimizes stress levels by assuring her staff that help is available if needed.

While balancing the constant demands the emergency department inherently makes of an ANM, Briege continues to be actively involved in the planning of IPMC’s new ED department and is an active member of the Star Council.

Briege, a naturalist who loves boating and fishing, believes a team of professionals have a natural rhythm similar to that found in nature and if we respect and nurture that rhythm, we can ensure positive outcomes.

Submitted by Mary Anne Usher, BSN, MBA, Nurse Manager/Emergency Services.

Vicki Miller has been a member of Imperial Point Medical Center’s (IPMC) emergency department since 1988. She came to IPMC with a wealth of knowledge after graduating from Cornell New York Hospital’s nursing program, and training on the streets of New York with the public health department.

Vicki attributes her affinity for the ER to that fact it requires her to think on her feet. While the ER is a more controlled environment, it certainly can bring challenges that are similar to those encountered during her early days of training.

Vicki’s skills as an ER nurse are apparent from simple observation. She approaches all situations in a calm manner and organizes her actions to produce the best possible outcome for patients and coworkers. She is a systematic problem solver, using critical thinking and available resources while considering the personal needs of the patient and family. One can only admire her style and ease with which she practices her nursing.

In truth, Vicki is an expert – gifted with the wonderful skills of teaching, mentoring and motivating. Her gifts are the ER’s greatest asset. She has generously given her time, expertise and nurturing to all new staff. As a result, we have wonderful nurses who love their jobs, feel welcome and supported in their area and know they have an outstanding resource person if they need one.

Vicki will be retiring this June and we would like to thank her for her many years of devoted service and for imparting her nursing skills to our nurses. Vicki’s style will always be a part of the IPMC’s emergency department.

Submitted by Mary Anne Usher, BSN, MBA, Nurse Manager/Emergency Services.