ACL
Lisa Prior
Aspen, COFAST THINKING, POSITIVE OUTCOME
Living only four minutes from Aspen Valley Hospital’s After-Hours Medical Care in Basalt, Scott immediately went there, where the After-Hours staff administered oxygen, checked his vitals and ran an ECG as they prepped him for an ambulance ride to the hospital. “What started as a seemingly normal visit became extraordinary,” recalled Bruce Bowen, MD, the attending physician that evening.
Attending nurse Cre Donovan, RN, was getting aspirin and an IV for Scott when Scott told Dr. Bowen that he was experiencing jaw pain. Cre quickly got the center’s cardiac cart and attached the heart monitor when Scott suddenly became unconscious. Dr. Bowen began immediate CPR. “Scott experienced lethal heart rhythm with no pulse depicting clear-cut cardiac arrest,” Dr. Bowen said.
Cre then administered a shock to restart his heart via a defibrillator. “During the second round of CPR, Scott suddenly woke up and stated, ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘thank you,’” Cre recalled.
At the hospital, Scott underwent surgery on Thursday night. “I had one completely blocked artery and required two stents,” he said. Two days later, he was released to return home.
EMOTIONAL REUNIONS
The following week, Scott returned to After-Hours Medical Care to thank Cre, Dr. Bowen and the rest of the staff. “It was very emotional,” he said. “Just thinking how they were able to save my life was overwhelming. As a veterinarian, I realize they were doing their job; but as a patient, I have a great sense of gratitude and humility.”
The experience was also awe-inspiring for the After-Hours staff. “In my many years of nursing, Scott’s experience presented the worst and best scenarios all in a matter of minutes,” Cre said. “It was an incredible experience to see him alive and well, and it was quite amazing to see the positive results from what we’re doing and practicing.”
“Our staff did a great job jumping in and doing exactly what they needed to do,” Dr. Bowen added. “It was definitely one of the most dramatic and highly gratifying situations we have faced.”