1 0 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A U G U S T 2 0 1 9
Ideas Work
P r a c t i c a l p e a r l s f r o m y o u r c o l l e a g u e s
That
W
e hang an image of
the American flag
on the OR door to
alert the surgical team that the
patient is a combat veteran
who suffers from post-traumat-
ic stress disorder (PTSD).
These patients might react vio-
lently to sudden sound, light or
unfamiliar environmental
changes, and could place
themselves and our caregivers
in harm's way. The flag
reminds the entire perioperative team, from admission to discharge,
to focus on creating a supportive, quiet environment.
That's Eric Gonzales, CST, one of our surgical technologists, in the
photo. Eric, who was awarded a Purple Heart while serving on the
U.S. Army Forward Surgical Team, came up with this idea. Many
active and retired military veterans call the Tri-Cities region home in
southeast Washington. Eric and other military veterans in our depart-
ment introduce themselves and ask to be assigned to PTSD sufferers.
They offer these patients the support that only a fellow veteran could.
Roshelle Satterthwait, RN, MHSA, CNOR, CENP
Kadlec Regional Medical Center
Richland, Wash.
roshelle.satterthwait@kadlec.org
• HONOR AMERICA Eric Gonzales, CST, came up with the idea to
hang a flag on the OR door to let the surgical team know that the
patient is a combat veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress
disorder.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
Protect and Care for Combat Veterans
Kadlec
Regional
Medical
Center
