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PACES little Johnny fell out of a tree, and he has a bad cut on his forehead. He is crying hysterically, claiming he hurts' everywhere. After a nice family dinner, Grandpa suddenly clutches his chest in pain. The baby was fine all day, but suddenly she is crying and has a high fever. What do you do? Where do you go for medical care? In 1982, over 81 million Americans turned to local emergency depart­ ments for help. Frequently these people had tawer needed emergency care before and did not know what to expect. The emergency department at Northern Medical Center is in its 12th year as a state-designated trauma center. This means it is equipped with not only the most modern medical technology, but that it has emergency medicine specialists and a specialized emergency nursing team to take care of its patents. NIMC was designated a Trauma Center in 1972. To qualify, the emergency department had to meet several criteria, the most essential being staffing. This means the physicians in the emergency department are members of the newest medical specialty- emergency medicine. This specialty was organized on 1968, when severed physicians practicing emergency medicine founded the American College of Physicians. Among their goals was the improvement of emergency patient care by providing education for physicians practicing in emergency departments throughout the country. , Because it is a state-designated trauma center, NIMC's emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by emergency medicine physicians. Even if a health care facility is a full hospital, a free­ standing clinic, or affiliated with a health care institution, an emergency department cannot attain the status of trauma center unless it is staffed by emergency medicine physicians. In many emergency rooms, physicians rotate on-call duty regardless of their specialties. At NIMC, the medical staff of the trauma center is prepared to make rapid decisions on appropriate treatment for a wide range of medical problems. Happy Anniversary 1325 N. RIVERSIDE DR. McHENRY 315-4424 Emergency physicians never know what case will enter the hospital emergency department. They may be treating a heart attack victim one moment and a sprained ankle the next. They may have to treat a small child who swallowed household detergent, after which they may be stabilizing a gunshot wound victim. Emergency physicians must have the special knowledge necessary to treat certain cases that frequently appear in the emergency department. Included among the types of cases that commonly appear are: poisonings-overdoses; heart attacks; trauma; environmental emergencies (such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, and allergic reactions from insect bites and stings); social emergencies (like child abuse, spouse abuse and rape). It was the unique aspects of emergency care which caused eight physicians to work for the creation of a specialty of emergency medicine. At NIMC, the emergency depart­ ment is staffed by the following emergency physicians: George M. Gallant, MD, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine; Oscar Habhab, MD, and K. S. Mohan, MD. Twelve other emergency medicine physicians also rotate duty at NIMC. Grace Bentz, RN, is the emergency department manager. There are 21 registered nurses on the emergency staff, of which all are certified in coronary care. Eight are also trauma nurse specialists and 10 are certified in emergency mining. Nine are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support. The nurses must also pass an examination on mobile intensive care unit field protocol, as well as an examination on triage procedures. Emergency medicine also en­ compasses pre-hospital care, and in its capacity as an EMS resource hosptal, NIMC is responsible for the training of 14 area rescue squads. According to the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Ilinois leads the nation in registered EMNT's, with this part of the state having the highest per capita ratio of emergency care personnel to the * population. In the 750-square mile area under the training-supervision of NIMC, there are mobile intensive care unit vehicles which can provide advanced life support to patients as they are being transported to the trauma center. Currently in the. McHenry- Western Lake County system there are 128' certified paramedics, 21 provisional paramedics, and 268 Continued on poo* 9 An injured construction worker is examined by an emergency room nursing team at the Northern Illinois Medical Center. Nearly everyone will be exposed to an emergency room in their lifetime, either through personal injury or that of a loved one. NIMC boasts an efficient and highly-qualified emergency department, which i&now in its 12th year as a state-designated trauma center. OUR BEST TO THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEDICAL CENTER! BJORKMAN'S ACE HARDWARE 3729 W. ELM. (RT. 120) McHENRY. ILLINOIS (115)315-3440 OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEDICAL CENTER! 28414 W. ARCH DRIVE BARRINGTON, ILLINOIS (312)381-4494 CONGRATULATIONS NORTHERN ILLINOIS MEDICAL CENTER! CARLSON & KORDAS MASONRY INC. 533 WINSOR DRIVE ANTIOCH, ILLINOIS (312)395-4238