Mass shooting in Las Vegas signals new reality for hospitals
Skip to main content
MDHC_Logotype_white
Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • This Week's News
    • COVID-19
    • Providers
    • Insurance
    • Government
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Safety & Quality
    • People
    • Regional News
    • Digital Edition
    • Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years
       Alan B. Miller
      Looking ahead with optimism as we continue to transform healthcare
      Cable news and the gender gap
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Want more diversity in clinical trials? Start with the researchers
    • Two travel nurses wearing personal protective equipment.
      Healthcare providers face high costs, demand for agency staff as COVID-19 rages
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Want more diversity in clinical trials? Start with the researchers
      A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years
    • Health suffers as rural hospitals close
      Medicare ACO participants fell in 2021
      Louisiana gets reports vaccine providers are discriminating
      'We know this is real': New clinics aid virus 'long-haulers'
    • Last-minute COVID costs cut into UnitedHealthcare's $396 million operating income
      CMS approves rule forcing insurers to ease prior authorization
      COVID-19 still a big uncertainty for insurers in 2021
      Health insurers' outlook boosted after Dems' Georgia win
    • It's a secret: California keeps key virus data from public
      lacewell_linda_supertinendent_dept_of_financial_services_8.47.jpg
      New York state investigates drug price spikes during pandemic
      Health experts blame rapid expansion for vaccine shortages
      HHS freezes rule targeting community health centers' drug discounts
    • By the Numbers: 20 largest healthcare investment banks in 2020
      Providers await new HHS coronavirus grant reporting deadline
      Operation Warp Speed Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Pfizer Group President Angela Hwang, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel, CVS Health Executive Vice President Karen Lynch and McKesson CEO Brian Tyler participate in a panel discussion on the COVID-19 vaccine.
      Hospitals, drug companies strive to stand out virtually at JPM
      Intermountain, Trinity, Memorial Hermann behind $300M private equity fund
    • Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years - Transcript
      A man in a room with servers.
      Momentum grows to outsource hospital tech functions in 2021
      5 things to know about Google's $2.1B Fitbit acquisition
    • An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Want more diversity in clinical trials? Start with the researchers
      Avocado
      Avocado a day keeps the doctor away
      50% of Americans make resolutions. Fewer than 27% keep them over time.
      Data Points: Sticking with your resolutions
      U.K. chief scientist says new virus variant may be more deadly
    • Cerner names Erceg as new CFO
      Elizabeth Richter will serve as acting CMS administrator
      Providence names new chief financial officer
      Wisconsin's top health official departing for federal job
    • Midwest
    • Northeast
    • South
    • West
  • Insights
    • ACA 10 Years After
    • Best Practices
    • InDepth Special Reports
    • Innovations
    • The Affordable Care Act after 10 years
    • New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      doctor with patient
      COVID-19 treatment protocol developed in the field helps patients recover
      Rachel Wyatt
      Project to curb pressure injuries in hospitals shows promise
      Yale New Haven's COVID-19 nurse-staffing model has long-term benefits
    • Modern Healthcare InDepth: Breaking the bias that impedes better healthcare
      Videos: Healthcare industry executives describe their encounters with racism
      Michellene Davis
      Healthcare leadership lacks the racial diversity needed to reduce health disparities
      Dr. James Hildreth
      How medical education can help fight racism
      Quotes from rebadged employees
      Outsourcing IT, revenue cycle takes toll on internal culture
    • A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      self service station
      COVID-19 pushes patient expectations toward self-service
      Targeting high-risk cancer patients with genetics
  • Transformation
    • Patients
    • Operations
    • Care Delivery
    • Payment
    • Highmark Health inks six-year cloud, tech deal with Google
      Study: 1 in 5 patients report discrimination when getting healthcare
      HHS proposes changing HIPAA privacy rules
      Android health records app launches at 230 health systems
    • California hospitals prepare ethical protocol to prioritize lifesaving care
      Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Berkshire Hathaway disband Haven
      Digital pathways poised to reshape healthcare continuum in 2021
      Healthcare was the hardest hit by supply shortages across all U.S. industries
    • A phone screen showing the question, "Mary we hope this information was helpful and we'd like to keep guiding you. Are you interested in knowing when it's your turn to receive the vaccine?"
      Chatbots, texting campaigns help manage influx of COVID vax questions
      A woman with a wearable sensor talking to her provider.
      Wearable sensors help diagnose heart rhythm problems in West Virginia
      New care model helps primary-care practices treat obesity
      How hospitals are building on COVID-19 telehealth momentum
    • Regional insurers bet big on virtual-first plans
      MedPAC votes to boost hospital payments, freeze or cut other providers
      Most Next Gen ACOs achieved bonuses in 2019
      Congress recalibrates Medicare Physician Fee Schedule after lobbying
  • Data/Lists
    • Rankings/Lists
    • Interactive Databases
    • Data Points
    • Health Systems Financials
      Executive Compensation
      Physician Compensation
  • Op-Ed
    • Bold Moves
    • Breaking Bias
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Vital Signs Blog
    • From the Editor
    • Wellstar CEO calls adapting for the pandemic her bold move
      Howard P. Kern
      Recognizing the value of telehealth in its infancy
      Dr. Stephen Markovich
      A bold move helped take him from family doctor to OhioHealth CEO
      Dr. Bruce Siegel
      Why taking a hospital not-for-profit was Dr. Bruce Siegel’s boldest move
    • Barry Ostrowsky
      Ending racism is a journey taken together; the starting point must be now
      Laura Lee Hall and Gary Puckrein
      Increased flu vaccination has never been more important for communities of color
      John Daniels Jr.
      Health equity: Making the journey from buzzword to reality
      Mark C. Clement and David Cook
      We all need to 'do something' to fight inequities and get healthcare right, for every patient, every time
    •  Alan B. Miller
      Looking ahead with optimism as we continue to transform healthcare
      Dr. Bruce Siegel
      By protecting the healthcare safety net, Biden can put us on the path to a stronger country
      Healing healthcare: some ideas for triage by the new Congress, administration
      Dr. Sachin H. Jain
      Medicare for All? The better route to universal coverage would be Medicare Advantage for All
    • Letters: Eliminating bias in healthcare needs to be ‘deliberate and organic’
      Letters: Maybe dropping out of ACOs is a good thing for patients
      Letters: White House and Congress share blame for lack of national COVID strategy
      Letters: VA making strides to improve state veterans home inspections
    • Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      How blockchain could ease frustration with the payment process
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Three steps to better data-sharing for payer and provider CIOs
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Reduce total cost of care: 6 reasons why providers and payers should tackle the challenge together
      Sponsored Content Provided By Optum
      Why CIOs went from back-office operators to mission-critical innovators
  • Awards
    • Award Programs
    • Nominate
    • Previous Award Programs
    • Other Award Programs
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare Logo for Navigation
      Nominations Open - Best Places to Work in Healthcare
      Nominations Open - Health Care Hall of Fame
      Nominations Open - 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • 100 Most Influential People
    • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
    • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
    • Health Care Hall of Fame
    • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
    • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
    • Top 25 Innovators
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders
    • Top 25 Women Leaders
    • Excellence in Nursing Awards
    • Design Awards
    • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
    • 100 Top Hospitals
    • ACHE Awards
  • Events
    • Conferences
    • Galas
    • Webinars
    • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Leadership Symposium
    • Healthcare Transformation Summit
    • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
    • Workplace of the Future Conference
    • Strategic Marketing Conference
    • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
    • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
    • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
    • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
    • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
  • Listen
    • Podcast - Next Up
    • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
    • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
    • Video Series - The Check Up
    • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • Dr. Karen DeSalvo
      Next Up Podcast: What to expect with telehealth and healthcare technology in the next 4 years
      Carter Dredge
      Next Up Podcast: Ready, set, innovate! Innovation and disruption in healthcare
      Next Up Podcast: COVID-19, social determinants highlight health inequities — what next?
      Ceci Connolly
      Next Up Podcast: How to navigate the murky post-election waters
    • Beyond the Byline: Regulators aim to boost value push with fraud and abuse law updates
      An older man wearing a mask receiving a vaccine.
      Beyond the Byline: Verifying information on the chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout
      doctor burnout
      Beyond the Byline: How healthcare supply chain struggles contribute to employee burnout
      Beyond the Byline: Covering race and diversity in the healthcare industry
    • Leading intention promote diversity and inclusion
      Introducing Healthcare Insider Podcast
    • The Check Up: Chip Kahn
      The Check Up: Chip Kahn of the Federation of American Hospitals
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray
      The Check Up: Trenda Ray of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis
      The Check Up: Dr. Kenneth Davis of Mount Sinai Health System
      The Check Up: Dr. Thomas McGinn
      The Check Up: Dr. Thomas McGinn of CommonSpirit Health
    • Video: Ivana Naeymi Rad of Intelligent Medical Objects
  • MORE +
    • Advertise
    • Media Kit
    • Newsletters
    • Jobs
    • People on the Move
    • Reprints & Licensing
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Providers
October 07, 2017 01:00 AM

Mass shooting in Las Vegas signals new reality for hospitals

Maria Castellucci
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    "We had neurosurgeons available, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons--almost every specialist on hand to assist with injuries and to stabilize patients in the emergency department." Dr. Jeff Davidson
 Emergency room physician

    Dr. Jeff Davidson, a longtime emergency room physician in Las Vegas, received two disturbing phone calls late on the night of Oct. 1.

    The first was from an emergency medical responder who told him there was shooting nearby at a concert. Then, a few minutes later came a call from the emergency coordinator at Valley Hospital Medical Center asking him to come quickly; extra hands were needed.

    "You think you are prepared . . . but you are never prepared until something happens," he said.

    Davidson and his team treated 29 victims from the mass shooting in Las Vegas last week that injured 489 and left 58 people dead. Overall, Valley Health System, which operates six hospitals across Las Vegas, treated 232 injured individuals. Eight patients died.

    The victims came "in such high numbers, so quickly," Davidson recalled. And they had wounds Davidson doesn't normally treat. They were bleeding out from high velocity gunshot wounds typically only seen in war zones. Such injuries require immediate surgery to save the patient's life.

    Fortunately, Davidson was supported by a group of surgeons who were rallied as part of Valley Hospital's emergency preparedness plan.​

    THE TAKEAWAY

    Hospitals have started preparing for mass emergencies by conducting frequent drills throughout the year meant to mimic real-life scenarios.

    "We had neurosurgeons available, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons—almost every specialist on hand to assist with injuries and to stabilize patients in the emergency department," he said.

    On a typical night, Valley Hospital will see one patient with a single gunshot wound. The doctors will often stabilize the patient and then transfer them to one of two trauma centers—University Medical Center or Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center. "This was obviously quite different," he said.

    Many victims were dropped off at the doors of Valley Hospital by civilians trying to help. UMC and Sunrise Hospital were also busy, so not all the victims were able to be transported there.

    Even though it's not a designated trauma center, Valley Hospital was able to treat patients quickly and effectively, Davidson said. Patients were triaged quickly. ER beds were opened up to make room for the influx of patients, some of whom were directed to designated areas to impose some sense of organization amid the chaos. "Any emergency department can staff up with surgeons and act as a trauma center," he said.

    The actions Valley Hospital providers took that night to treat their patients represent a relatively new reality for hospitals across the U.S. As the incidence of mass shootings persists—and the attacks worsen in number of casualties—hospital leaders understand their communities are not immune from a similar tragedy and must be prepared.

    "Maybe 20 years ago, you thought, no it won't happen here. But now (hospitals know) it could happen here, and it just might happen here," said Dr. Gina Piazza, chief of emergency medicine at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta, Ga.

    Trauma centers and ERs prepare with frequent drills throughout the year meant to mimic real-life scenarios. For instance, Orlando Health had completed a drill that simulated a mass shooting at a local school just before the Pulse nightclub shooting that sent 44 patients to its ER in June 2016.

    "One of the guiding principles of emergency preparedness is that what you do in response to an event most resembles what you do every day," said Dr. Richard Zane, UCHealth executive director of emergency services. UCHealth's flagship, University of Colorado Hospital, treated 23 victims of the 2012 shooting at an Aurora movie theater.​

    Efforts are also ongoing across the nation to amp up training of ER physicians to effectively treat patients with injuries usually only seen in military settings, Piazza said.

    The American College of Emergency Physicians in January 2016 launched a task force to improve training. The effort includes enlisting military-trained trauma surgeons to host sessions with ER and trauma doctors on the best techniques to treat mass shooting victims.

    Doctors who have been on the front lines of such tragedies have made it a point to visit other trauma centers to offer advice. "They take what they learned and speak to their colleagues—share what went well and didn't," said Piazza, who co-chairs the ACEP task force.

    UMC CEO Mason VanHouweling, whose hospital treated 104 victims of the Las Vegas shooting at its Level 1 trauma center, said in addition to frequent drills, the hospital "takes every opportunity to learn lessons from other organizations."

    A few months ago, UMC hosted an emergency physician from Orlando Health who lectured on practices learned from treating victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting. "We took a lot of notes, and we followed up on those," VanHouweling said.

    The emotional toll such traumatic events have on hospital staff also can't be overlooked, Zane said. "This is not normal medicine, this is mass casualty care. Providers need to be supported in how they all deal with the aftermath."

    Davidson at Valley Hospital said they plan on having debriefings for staff in a week or so to talk about their experiences. Right now, their time and attention is still focused on their many patients who still need their help.

    "There is going to be a lot of memories of what we saw," Davidson said. "You just hope it makes you a better physician and you hope it never happens again."

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Health suffers as rural hospitals close
    Health suffers as rural hospitals close
    Medicare ACO participants fell in 2021
    Medicare ACO participants fell in 2021
    Sponsored Content
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up for free enewsletters and alerts to receive breaking news and in-depth coverage of healthcare events and trends, as they happen, right to your inbox.

    Subscribe Today

    The weekly magazine, websites, research and databases provide a powerful and all-encompassing industry presence. We help you make informed business decisions and lead your organizations to success.

    Subscribe
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS
    • Instagram

    Stay Connected

    Join the conversation with Modern Healthcare through our social media pages

    MDHC_Logotype_white
    Contact Us

    (877) 812-1581

    Email us

     

    Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Editorial Dept
    • Submission Guidelines
    • Code of Ethics
    • Awards
    • About Us
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Modern Healthcare
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • This Week's News
      • COVID-19
      • Providers
      • Insurance
      • Government
      • Finance
      • Technology
      • Safety & Quality
      • People
      • Regional News
        • Midwest
        • Northeast
        • South
        • West
      • Digital Edition
    • Insights
      • ACA 10 Years After
      • Best Practices
      • InDepth Special Reports
      • Innovations
    • Transformation
      • Patients
      • Operations
      • Care Delivery
      • Payment
    • Data/Lists
      • Rankings/Lists
      • Interactive Databases
      • Data Points
    • Op-Ed
      • Bold Moves
      • Breaking Bias
      • Commentaries
      • Letters
      • Vital Signs Blog
      • From the Editor
    • Awards
      • Award Programs
        • 100 Most Influential People
        • 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives
        • Best Places to Work in Healthcare
        • Health Care Hall of Fame
        • Healthcare Marketing Impact Awards
        • Top 25 Emerging Leaders
        • Top 25 Innovators
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders
        • Top 25 Women Leaders
      • Nominate
      • Previous Award Programs
        • Excellence in Nursing Awards
        • Design Awards
        • Top 25 COOs in Healthcare
      • Other Award Programs
        • 100 Top Hospitals
        • ACHE Awards
    • Events
      • Conferences
        • Leadership Symposium
        • Healthcare Transformation Summit
        • Women Leaders in Healthcare Conference
        • Workplace of the Future Conference
        • Strategic Marketing Conference
        • Social Determinants of Health Symposium
      • Galas
        • Best Places to Work Awards Gala
        • Health Care Hall of Fame Gala
        • Top 25 Minority Leaders Gala (2022)
        • Top 25 Women Leaders Gala
      • Webinars
      • COVID-19 Event Tracker
    • Listen
      • Podcast - Next Up
      • Podcast - Beyond the Byline
      • Sponsored Podcast - Healthcare Insider
      • Video Series - The Check Up
      • Sponsored Video Series - One on One
    • MORE +
      • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Newsletters
      • Jobs
      • People on the Move
      • Reprints & Licensing