ECMC’s Trauma Center currently treats about 55% more patients than its initial design intended. The patient volume is a testament to the high-quality emergency care at ECMC.
Dr. Sam Cloud, Associate Medical Director and Attending Physician of the Emergency Department, discusses emergency services and the importance of expanding the Trauma Center.
Selected Podcast
Expansion at ECMC: New Trauma Center & Emergency Department Project
Featuring:
Learn more about Dr. Samuel D. Cloud
Sam D. Cloud, DO
Dr. Samuel D. Cloud is an attending physician at ECMC, focusing on providing emergency care and oversight and education of residents studying emergency medicine. His research interests include physician wellness, as well as subarachnoid hemorrhage detection.Learn more about Dr. Samuel D. Cloud
Transcription:
Bill Klaproth (Host): From broken bones to sudden illnesses to severe trauma, the emergency department at ECMC is dedicated to providing the highest quality emergency care available in an environment committed to patient satisfaction. Here to talk with us about the vital importance ECMC Emergency Medicine and the new trauma center emergency department project is to the community is Dr. Sam Cloud, Attending Physician and Associate Medical Director at ECMC Corporation. Dr. Cloud thanks for your time. So, why is the emergency department at ECMC so important to the community?
Sam D. Cloud, DO (Guest): Well, thank you for having me. The emergency department at ECMC is vitality important to this community. It is one of the crown jewels of the western New York medical community because we are the only adult level one trauma center in western New York. Western New York is a large eight county area that relies on ECMC to provide all the major trauma care for all of the citizens, from the Pennsylvania border all the way up to the Canadian border. So, it’s a large catchment area. We take care of tens of thousands of patients per year and many, many, many cases of major trauma.
Bill: So, Dr. Cloud why the need for a new emergency department and trauma center?
Dr. Cloud: Well the original – the building that we are in originally was built in 1978 and had a renovation in 1995. In 1978, when the physical plant was first built and then to some extent in 1995, trauma care was still nascent. It was developing into what it is today but wasn’t there yet. In 2018, the need for much larger rooms is critical because there is much more in the way of technology and the trauma teams are at least double the size they were twenty years ago. So, there’s a major space consideration that has made our current physical plant wholly inadequate. In addition, our volume has grown tremendously in the last forty years. So, we have many, many more patients in a very crammed space and it is not conducive to the type of care that we are providing.
Bill: So, why do the visits to the trauma center continue to grow at a steady rate?
Dr. Cloud: Well we have an aging population and owing to the development of emergency medicine starting in the 1960s; there has been a tremendous growth in emergency department volume nationally. It’s not just a Buffalo phenomenon, it’s a national phenomenon. Things you would have gone to your doctor for twenty years ago; you now go to the emergency department for. In addition, patients are living much longer but unfortunately, they are living those years often with complex medical conditions that are chronic and some of those patients are kind of in and out of the hospital to maintain their health. And the emergency department is the front door of the hospital these days. So, most patients that come in for admission come through the emergency department. So, those are some of the factors that are driving the growth, not just here at ECMC, but nationally.
Bill: So, I know construction is underway, but can you share with us the vision of the state-of-the-art trauma center and emergency department?
Dr. Cloud: So, we are fortunate that we don’t have to renovate in place. That is very complicated. It shuts down some of the space that you have in an already cramped area. So, we made the decision to build the trauma center directly next door to the hospital. When I say next door, I’m talking five feet away and so it’s going to connect to the main hospital with high speed elevators and because it is its own space; it’s on the ground floor now instead of the first floor which is where the current emergency department is. It’s on the ground floor. The space was a parking lot, so we are able to start construction, build the whole thing in one fell swoop and then open it with the flip of a switch. In addition to it being on the ground floor; it is a much safer environment for the community in that if there is heaven forbid a mass casualty incident; the ambulance flow and the patient flow is much safer and easier with a ground floor space.
Bill: So, what is the projected completion date?
Dr. Cloud: Well we broke ground not that long ago. The construction is going on right behind me out of my window. And we have made significant progress so far. The winter is coming so I know they are trying to get as much done as possible before the snow flies, but it takes about eighteen months. So, we are probably about sixteen months away from completion.
Bill: So, earlier, you mentioned that ECMC is the only level one trauma center in the area. What are some of the core services that you provide at the ECMC emergency department?
Dr. Cloud: Well number one, we are an emergency department, so that means that we treat kids all the way up to 100-year olds, men, women and children and so in addition to that; we are the adult trauma center for the area. So, anybody the age of 16 who is involved in a major trauma will come to ECMC. In addition to that, we take referrals from all over western New York. So, we never say no. And irregardless of the patient’s insurance status or whatnot; we take patients if the referring physician feels that the patient would benefit from the experience of our surgeons; we will take them no questions asked. So, we are also a major referral center, so we take about 20 transfers a day from other hospitals that feel that the care that they – they are not able to provide the care that the patient needs, and the complexity is high enough that it needs to be transferred to Erie County Medical Center. In addition to that, we are also the center for behavioral health and addiction. So, we see many, many patients per day who are struggling with addiction and are trying to win that fight and in addition, also, we are kind of the safety net for mental health issues in Erie County.
Bill: So, we all know a trip to the emergency department can be stressful. Can you talk about the renovated waiting and quiet rooms to help ensure the comfort of patients and their family members?
Dr. Cloud: Well, currently as I mentioned before, our physical plant is wholly inadequate meaning it’s just too small. This is a very – whenever you get a phone call from Eric County Medical Center at two in the morning saying your loved one is at the hospital; it’s got to be one of the worst phone calls someone ever takes. So, they come to the hospital under immense stress and when you get here then you are in a cramped space. There’s a lot going on. It’s a very noisy environment. The new emergency department and trauma center will have much more space. It will be much quieter. It will be much calmer and so all those things can psychologically matter to somebody who is already under tremendous strain that if they are in a calmer, quieter, more comforting environment; hopefully that can contribute to the process of healing, not only for them but for their loved one.
Bill: And when it comes to the emergency department’s special training is needed. Can you tell us about the training your attending physicians and registered nurses go through?
Dr. Cloud: So, being an academic level one trauma center; there’s a lot that goes into that. So, first off, we have board certified surgeons, trauma surgeons and emergency medicine physicians. Both of those training pathways are very rigorous and take many, many years. In addition to that, we have fellowship training programs here at ECMC in trauma critical care and in ultrasound and emergency medical services. So, many of our attendings are actually also fellowship trained. So, we already at baseline have a high level of training; and then in addition to that, to maintain your certification as a level one trauma center; there are many kinds of hoops to jump through that ensure that you are maintaining up to date knowledge of the most – the latest innovations in trauma care. So, all the physicians and nurses have to go through yearly training on the latest and greatest in trauma medicine. So, there’s a lot that goes into it to maintain that certification.
Bill: And Dr. Cloud if you could wrap it up for us. Anything else we need to know about the state-of-the-art trauma center and emergency department at ECMC?
Dr. Cloud: As we are the only level one trauma center; we are here for the community. We are your level one trauma center. We are your emergency department. We exist to serve you and your family. We all are residents here of western New York and so our own families occasionally use this department and so, we take the utmost pride in the level of care that we deliver here at ECMC and we will continue to do so in a much – in a space that is much more conducive to delivering that high-quality care.
Bill: Dr. Cloud this has been very interesting and exciting news about the new trauma center and emergency department. I thank you so much for your time. For more information on ECMC visit www.ecmc.edu, that’s www.ecmc.edu. This is the True Care Healthcast from Erie County Medical Center. I’m Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.
Bill Klaproth (Host): From broken bones to sudden illnesses to severe trauma, the emergency department at ECMC is dedicated to providing the highest quality emergency care available in an environment committed to patient satisfaction. Here to talk with us about the vital importance ECMC Emergency Medicine and the new trauma center emergency department project is to the community is Dr. Sam Cloud, Attending Physician and Associate Medical Director at ECMC Corporation. Dr. Cloud thanks for your time. So, why is the emergency department at ECMC so important to the community?
Sam D. Cloud, DO (Guest): Well, thank you for having me. The emergency department at ECMC is vitality important to this community. It is one of the crown jewels of the western New York medical community because we are the only adult level one trauma center in western New York. Western New York is a large eight county area that relies on ECMC to provide all the major trauma care for all of the citizens, from the Pennsylvania border all the way up to the Canadian border. So, it’s a large catchment area. We take care of tens of thousands of patients per year and many, many, many cases of major trauma.
Bill: So, Dr. Cloud why the need for a new emergency department and trauma center?
Dr. Cloud: Well the original – the building that we are in originally was built in 1978 and had a renovation in 1995. In 1978, when the physical plant was first built and then to some extent in 1995, trauma care was still nascent. It was developing into what it is today but wasn’t there yet. In 2018, the need for much larger rooms is critical because there is much more in the way of technology and the trauma teams are at least double the size they were twenty years ago. So, there’s a major space consideration that has made our current physical plant wholly inadequate. In addition, our volume has grown tremendously in the last forty years. So, we have many, many more patients in a very crammed space and it is not conducive to the type of care that we are providing.
Bill: So, why do the visits to the trauma center continue to grow at a steady rate?
Dr. Cloud: Well we have an aging population and owing to the development of emergency medicine starting in the 1960s; there has been a tremendous growth in emergency department volume nationally. It’s not just a Buffalo phenomenon, it’s a national phenomenon. Things you would have gone to your doctor for twenty years ago; you now go to the emergency department for. In addition, patients are living much longer but unfortunately, they are living those years often with complex medical conditions that are chronic and some of those patients are kind of in and out of the hospital to maintain their health. And the emergency department is the front door of the hospital these days. So, most patients that come in for admission come through the emergency department. So, those are some of the factors that are driving the growth, not just here at ECMC, but nationally.
Bill: So, I know construction is underway, but can you share with us the vision of the state-of-the-art trauma center and emergency department?
Dr. Cloud: So, we are fortunate that we don’t have to renovate in place. That is very complicated. It shuts down some of the space that you have in an already cramped area. So, we made the decision to build the trauma center directly next door to the hospital. When I say next door, I’m talking five feet away and so it’s going to connect to the main hospital with high speed elevators and because it is its own space; it’s on the ground floor now instead of the first floor which is where the current emergency department is. It’s on the ground floor. The space was a parking lot, so we are able to start construction, build the whole thing in one fell swoop and then open it with the flip of a switch. In addition to it being on the ground floor; it is a much safer environment for the community in that if there is heaven forbid a mass casualty incident; the ambulance flow and the patient flow is much safer and easier with a ground floor space.
Bill: So, what is the projected completion date?
Dr. Cloud: Well we broke ground not that long ago. The construction is going on right behind me out of my window. And we have made significant progress so far. The winter is coming so I know they are trying to get as much done as possible before the snow flies, but it takes about eighteen months. So, we are probably about sixteen months away from completion.
Bill: So, earlier, you mentioned that ECMC is the only level one trauma center in the area. What are some of the core services that you provide at the ECMC emergency department?
Dr. Cloud: Well number one, we are an emergency department, so that means that we treat kids all the way up to 100-year olds, men, women and children and so in addition to that; we are the adult trauma center for the area. So, anybody the age of 16 who is involved in a major trauma will come to ECMC. In addition to that, we take referrals from all over western New York. So, we never say no. And irregardless of the patient’s insurance status or whatnot; we take patients if the referring physician feels that the patient would benefit from the experience of our surgeons; we will take them no questions asked. So, we are also a major referral center, so we take about 20 transfers a day from other hospitals that feel that the care that they – they are not able to provide the care that the patient needs, and the complexity is high enough that it needs to be transferred to Erie County Medical Center. In addition to that, we are also the center for behavioral health and addiction. So, we see many, many patients per day who are struggling with addiction and are trying to win that fight and in addition, also, we are kind of the safety net for mental health issues in Erie County.
Bill: So, we all know a trip to the emergency department can be stressful. Can you talk about the renovated waiting and quiet rooms to help ensure the comfort of patients and their family members?
Dr. Cloud: Well, currently as I mentioned before, our physical plant is wholly inadequate meaning it’s just too small. This is a very – whenever you get a phone call from Eric County Medical Center at two in the morning saying your loved one is at the hospital; it’s got to be one of the worst phone calls someone ever takes. So, they come to the hospital under immense stress and when you get here then you are in a cramped space. There’s a lot going on. It’s a very noisy environment. The new emergency department and trauma center will have much more space. It will be much quieter. It will be much calmer and so all those things can psychologically matter to somebody who is already under tremendous strain that if they are in a calmer, quieter, more comforting environment; hopefully that can contribute to the process of healing, not only for them but for their loved one.
Bill: And when it comes to the emergency department’s special training is needed. Can you tell us about the training your attending physicians and registered nurses go through?
Dr. Cloud: So, being an academic level one trauma center; there’s a lot that goes into that. So, first off, we have board certified surgeons, trauma surgeons and emergency medicine physicians. Both of those training pathways are very rigorous and take many, many years. In addition to that, we have fellowship training programs here at ECMC in trauma critical care and in ultrasound and emergency medical services. So, many of our attendings are actually also fellowship trained. So, we already at baseline have a high level of training; and then in addition to that, to maintain your certification as a level one trauma center; there are many kinds of hoops to jump through that ensure that you are maintaining up to date knowledge of the most – the latest innovations in trauma care. So, all the physicians and nurses have to go through yearly training on the latest and greatest in trauma medicine. So, there’s a lot that goes into it to maintain that certification.
Bill: And Dr. Cloud if you could wrap it up for us. Anything else we need to know about the state-of-the-art trauma center and emergency department at ECMC?
Dr. Cloud: As we are the only level one trauma center; we are here for the community. We are your level one trauma center. We are your emergency department. We exist to serve you and your family. We all are residents here of western New York and so our own families occasionally use this department and so, we take the utmost pride in the level of care that we deliver here at ECMC and we will continue to do so in a much – in a space that is much more conducive to delivering that high-quality care.
Bill: Dr. Cloud this has been very interesting and exciting news about the new trauma center and emergency department. I thank you so much for your time. For more information on ECMC visit www.ecmc.edu, that’s www.ecmc.edu. This is the True Care Healthcast from Erie County Medical Center. I’m Bill Klaproth. Thanks for listening.