At Greenwich Hospital’s Critical Care Skills Day, Michael Franco, MD, a pulmonary disease medicine physician with Northeast Medical Group (left), visited a station on the LUCAS 3 mechanical CPR device.
Greenwich Hospital hosted its first Critical Care Skills Day to enhance emergency response and life-saving proficiency among physicians, residents and advanced practice providers (APPs).
The event featured immersive demonstrations on arterial line (A-line) insertion, Hare Traction use, Stop the Bleed techniques and other trauma and critical-care procedures.
Participants rotated through simulation stations that allowed them to practice these procedures. The A-line insertion station demonstrated how to place a thin catheter into an artery to continuously monitor blood pressure and obtain blood samples in critically ill patients. The Hare Traction exercise focused on stabilizing and aligning fractured femurs in trauma scenarios, reducing pain and preventing further injury. The Stop the Bleed session reinforced evidence-based techniques to control severe bleeding using tourniquets and wound packing, a key life-saving skill both in- and outside hospital walls.
Another demonstration featured the LUCAS 3, a mechanical CPR device that delivers consistent, high-quality chest compressions during cardiac arrest. By automating compressions, the device ensures uninterrupted circulation and allows medical staff to focus on other critical interventions during resuscitation efforts.
Greenwich Emergency Medical Services provided hands-on instruction and shared best practices from the field. Their participation emphasized the vital collaboration between hospital clinicians and first responders in delivering seamless, coordinated care during emergencies.
“Even though our teams are highly trained, medicine is an evolving field where hands-on refreshers are crucial,” said event organizer Ann Cook, RN, Greenwich Hospital Trauma Program manager. “This event was designed to keep our clinicians confident and competent in high-stakes situations. Continuous learning is a cornerstone of excellent care.”
