BWH Physicians Provide Care, Compassion for Marathon Victims

From left: BWH trauma surgeon Joaquim Havens, Emergency Medicine Chairman Ron Walls and trauma surgeon Zara Cooper talk with Scott Pelley of CBS Evening News about the Marathon bombings.

Trauma surgeon Zara Cooper, MD, was in her office at BWH on April 15 when she heard about the explosions at the Boston Marathon finish line, close to where her 3-year-old daughter was watching the marathon with her nanny.

Panicked, Cooper began trying to reach her family and rushed to the Emergency Department to help triage the patients being sent to BWH. Fifteen minutes later, she received a call that her daughter and nanny were safe. A relieved Cooper later went into the Operating Room, which remained open all night, and performed surgery on one of the 35 patients ultimately brought to BWH for treatment.

Five days later, a group of 30 physicians from BWH Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Anesthesia and the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) performed four complex surgeries in a true team effort.

"So many employees came together to do what was best for patients on a day when they were scheduled to be off," said staff surgeon Matt Carty, MD, part of the reconstructive surgery team. "This was especially important because the priority for reconstructive surgery for these types of injuries is four to five days after injury. This also meant that other patients could be taken care of during their normally scheduled time the next week."

"We Were Prepared"

From BWH's Emergency Department to Operating Rooms and Trauma Service, the heroic stories of BWH physicians' response efforts immediately after the Monday explosions and in the days following are countless. Physicians, along with nurses, patient care services, support and administrative staff and many others across the institution, responded immediately, with courage and compassion, providing coordinated care for BWH's patients and families. They turned a chaotic situation into an example of excellence in care.

"As a Marathon participant for Team Stork, who was nearby when the bombs detonated, I know firsthand just how critical the Brigham response was," said Brigham and Women's Physicians Organization President Allen Smith, MD, MS. "We are so grateful for the extraordinary work of our dedicated physician colleagues and of all our clinical and administrative staff throughout the distributed campus, who work so hard to take care of our patients and their families."

Added Ron Walls, MD, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine: "We had never seen anything like this before, but we were prepared. We've practiced drills over and over again and were ready to respond immediately." Walls' expertise was widely sought by local and national media following the event.

Emergency Management Director Barry Wante and Chief Medical Officer Stan Ashley, MD, provided hourly updates on the situation throughout the afternoon and early evening in the Emergency Operations Command Center in the Duncan Reid conference room April 15. BWH leadership from departments across the hospital gathered there throughout the evening to coordinate response efforts.

"We hoped we would never face a situation like this, but thankfully, regular drills and exercises helped us to respond quickly and effectively to the situation and provide care for the injured," said Wante.

Departments and teams across the hospital continued the response efforts throughout the evening and next day, providing care, coordinating communication and offering support. Prayer services led by staff chaplain Ron Hindelang were held the next day. Since the tragedy, distinguished guests, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Deval Patrick, U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy and members of the Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics and New England Patriots, have visited BWH to meet with employees and patients, as they, the BWH community and the City of Boston continue to heal.

Please note that all members of BWH's Team Stork are safe. Staff in need of support are encouraged to contact the BWH Employee Assistance Program at 617-732-6017, or visit the EAP website.