Cardiology "Guardian Angels" Save Co-Workers Life

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March 17, 2010

Cardiology "Guardian Angels" Save Co-Workers Life

Teresa Mullins, a medical receptionist for the Lexington Clinic Cardiology Department, loves her job. She is absolutely dedicated to her co-workers and her patients and is described by both as a responsible and indispensible employee. So when Teresa Mullins didn't show up for work one morning last November, her co-workers were concerned.

“Teresa is always at work,” said Mary McGee, Lexington Clinic R.N. and Teresa's co-worker, “and if something comes up and she can't make it in, she always calls to let us know.” Teresa's co-workers had every reason to be worried, because Teresa was still at home, going into full respiratory arrest, and if it weren't for her concerned co-workers, Teresa Mullins wouldn't be here today.

The cardiology department is one of Lexington Clinic's largest and busiest departments. “We have a very high patient volume and every member of our team is absolutely essential to keep our department running,” said McGee. “When you have to work together as closely as we do, you really develop a family atmosphere.”

By 9 a.m. on that cold November morning when the department had still received no word from Teresa, they knew something was terribly wrong. Her co-worker and friend Cheryl Powell tried to reach Teresa at home with no answer. It wasn't until her second attempt to call that Teresa's phone was answered by her 9-year-old daughter. “That was when I got really worried, because Teresa would never let her daughter miss a day of school, even if she is sick herself, she always gets her daughter to school,” said Powell.

Teresa's daughter confirmed Cheryl and Mary's worst fears when asked if she could put her mother on the phone, stating that she couldn't because her mother was really sick and wouldn't wake up.

Mary, Cheryl and several of Teresa's other co-workers quickly sprang into action, telling her daughter that they needed to hang up for a moment but would call her back shortly. Immediately the employees began tracking down Teresa's family members. They were fortunate and quickly located a family member who had stopped by her house to check on Teresa because he had noticed her acting strangely the day before. They informed the family member of the situation and instructed him to call 911 immediately. After speaking with him, the ladies were also able to locate Teresa's mother at work, quickly explaining what was going on and insisting she leave work and go over to check on Teresa and her daughter. “We had to call several places but were finally able to find the establishment her mother works in and explain what was going on,” said Powell.

Teresa was immediately taken to Saint Joseph Hospital, where Dr. Cary Blaydes, a 46-year veteran of Lexington Clinic and the cardiologist with whom Teresa has worked for over 25 years, rushed to meet her ambulance. Her co-workers were later told, that had paramedics been called even thirty minutes later, Teresa would not have made it. “I am very lucky to have co-workers like these,” said Mullins, “They are my guardian angels.”

The family atmosphere that this department has fostered over the years is the reason Teresa Mullins is alive and well today, and why so many patients entrust their heart care to Lexington Clinic Cardiology. The dedication and teamwork shown by this department to each other and to patients is a model of excellence and sets a wonderful example for other departments.

Mutual respect among co-workers, dependability and dedication to the job at hand leads to a close-knit, smoothly functioning department. This in turn leads to superior patient care delivery, and in Teresa Mullin's case, close bonds of friendship that saved her life. “I love working in this department,” said Mullins, “because anyone of us would do this for every person here.”

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