Larry Merlis?s Monday was no ordinary workday as he chatted with the Baltimore County fire captain and experienced a house call with a cancer patient, but it was one he wants to repeat in a few months.
“I learned that Baltimore County fire and rescue and [Greater Baltimore Medical Center and hospitals] everywhere need to be working as a team,” said hospital CEO Merlis, who rode with Capt. Paul Burke to learn more about the emergency responders who bring patients to his hospital.
GBMC?s emergency department saw 61,000 patients this past year, said hospital spokesman Michael Schwartzberg, and 7,022 of those arrived by ambulance.
Merlis met with Fire Chief John Hohman, then visited Station 1 in Towson where firefighters were learning techniques for rescuing bariatric ? or obese ? patients.
“What happens if we have to pick up a patient who weighs 600 pounds,” Burke said. “Our stretchers are rated for 280 pounds, and average hospital beds can hold up to 375 pounds.”
Finally he saw how all the pieces fit together when Burke followed Engine 17 to a call for an unconscious person.
“Everybody had a role to play and they all seemed to really enjoy working together,” Merlis said.
