6 • 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-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These patients might react violently to sudden
sound, light or unfamiliar environmental changes,
and could place themselves and our caregivers in
harm's way. The flag reminds the entire periopera-
tive 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 department
introduce themselves and ask to be assigned to
PTSD sufferers. They offer these patients the sup-
port 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
