EMMC’s mission is to care for patients, families, communities, and one another. This last reference reminds us of our commitment to co-workers, which takes different forms in different situations. Vicki Pomery, CMA, CP-C upheld the mission in a very literal sense when she came to the aid of one of her colleagues in a medical emergency.
Vicki works as a health coder at the Center for Family Medicine on Union Street. One day, a co-worker with a history of seizure disorder complained of an unusual headache and Vicki’s instincts kicked in. She periodically stopped by to check on her co-worker, monitoring her throughout the day. On one of these visits, Vicki noticed that the woman was not responding in a normal way and appeared unable to speak. Vicki sprang to action and called an overhead page for assistance, intending to bring her colleague to Walk-In Care. Medical assistance was quick to respond. They realized that the woman needed more emergent care and called an ambulance to bring her to the Emergency Department. Speaking continuously in a calming voice, Vicki stayed with her co-worker throughout the transition and went with the ambulance crew to EMMC to continue providing support.
Vicki answered questions and helped inform the ambulance crew and medical staff in the ED about her colleague’s past medical history. She also assisted Emergency Department staff by answering questions for the family and letting them know what to expect. Vicki was a welcome source of comfort and support.
Her colleague has now recovered and attributes Vicki’s actions with saving her life. Vicki’s thoughtfulness and concern prompted her to keep a watchful eye and provide help when it was needed, going above and beyond to care for a patient, a family, an office community and a co-worker.