Emergency Transport Team Receives Golden Stitches Award

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 3, 2010) – Kentucky Children’s Hospital has awarded the Golden Stitches Award to the  emergency transport team known as Kentucky Kids Krew, a specialty team that provides inter-facility (hospital-to-hospital) critical care transportation for neonatal and pediatric patients.

The team was nominated by Dr. Erich Maul, assistant professor of pediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

"The outstanding work these people do cannot be overlooked," said Maul.  "Whether by air or ground, these nurses take their 'can-do' attitudes and bring the sickest patients to receive care at Kentucky Children’s Hospital. They are the first Kentucky Children's Hospital heath care providers to meet families, often in some of the most stressful times of that family’s life.  Even under the duress of a critically ill child, every situation is handled with professionalism, grace and empathy."

Transport team members include: Deb Rice, Tina McCoy, Kimberly Samuelson, Gayle Powell, Kelly Turner, Yoshiko Ishmael, Shelly Marino, Amy Brassfield, Caty Curlis, Alissa Bastin, Jennifer Moore, Carrie McCreary, Kate Fletcher, Lynne Kain, Terry Nalle and Erin Willis.

"This is, without a doubt, the most cohesive, compassionate, professional group of nurses that I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with," said Marino, manager of the Neonatal/Pediatric Emergency Transport Team. "They epitomize the concept of team and have the innate ability to recognize and respond to an emergency situation with speed and skill, while at the same time providing calm, reassuring atmosphere for their young patients and their families. They are colleagues and friends and I’m so proud to be associated with the dedicated professionals who make up the Kentucky Kids Crew."

Dr. Tim Bricker, professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics, UK College of Medicine, and physician-in-chief of Kentucky Children's Hospital, presented the award.

The award was initiated by Bricker and is presented quarterly to a Kentucky Children's Hospital staff member whose work is making a difference in the lives of children. The recipient of the award is selected from nominations received from the medical staff of Kentucky Children's Hospital.