Two first responders from the Florence Fire/EMS Department received commendations for outstanding care provided during an emergency call in August.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare Outreach Manager Chris Vogelpohl and EMS Outreach Coordinator Josh Cox gave certificates to Captain Chris Fuhrmann and paramedic Lauren Goldfuss at the Nov. 18 Florence City Council caucus meeting.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare emergency department staff picked Furhmann and Goldfuss to receive the newly revived St. Elizabeth’s “Crew of the Quarter” award. Vogelpohl told council members that the award is intended to strengthen relationships between the hospital’s emergency department and regional EMS providers.
“These recognitions come directly from emergency department staff, including staff, nurses, assistant nurse managers, and nurse managers,” Vogepuhl said.
“This was a mutual aid run that they made into another city where they worked collaboratively with another department to provide patient care to a critical patient,” Vogelpohl told LINK nky before the meeting.
Florence Fire/EMS staff responded to the call, along with the Elsmere Fire Department.
“Florence recognized that the mom had significant postpartum hemorrhage, which can be life-threatening,” Vogelpohl told Florence council members. “Florence Fire was assigned to take care of the mother as the newborn child was critical and Elsmere was taking care of that child. Mom was also critical.”
About 15 Florence Fire/EMS personnel turned out to congratulate their colleagues.
Goldfuss has been a paramedic since 2019. She’s been with Florence for about a year.
Unable to provide too many details to protect the patient’s privacy, Goldfuss said the woman was in a dangerous situation. “Sometimes after a birth, there can be a complication where there’s too much bleeding that occurs, and that can absolutely be life-threatening to the mom,” Goldfuss told LINK nky after receiving the award.
In cases like these, first responders have to act quickly. “It’s something that has to be managed very quickly. Otherwise, there can be poor outcomes, but thankfully, with this situation, that wasn’t the case,” Goldfuss said.
Vogelpohl told the council that the woman was admitted to St. Elizabeth hospital and that she was discharged in good condition. Vogepuhl said that Fuhrmann and Goldfuss contributed to the good outcome.