In the past, MaryAnn taught the ER instructors how to teach CPR (a teacher for the teachers). She is currently a member of the Maryland Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Mayors Council Against Domestic Violence. MaryAnn is the Domestic Violence Coordinator in the St. Joseph ER.

In addition to her duties as an Emergency Department Clerical Technician, she also is an active member of the Emergency Department Flow Team, serving as the initiator/coordinator of the team. When the ER gets a surge, she notifies necessary team members, starts the process of the Rapid Flow Team to get patients through the ER and receive care faster.

She has been part of Osler Drive Emergency Physicians since July 1990.

At St. Joseph Medical Center, besides being Chief of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Cunningham is President-Elect of Medical Staff and Chair of the Credentials Committee.

We truly hope you never have need to visit an ER, but if things should happen that require immediate medical attention it’s good to know where you can go to get the best possible care. For Laura Sands of Parkville, it seems there is only one ER to choose: the ER at St. Joseph Medical Center. We’ll let her tell it:

“Back in June I had to go to the ER.  My left sinus was completely blocked… I never thought I could have pain that was so bad – it was as bad as labor. Everyone at the ER was wonderful.  They were very concerned and understanding…

“We will always go to St. Joe’s.  My fiancée was working with a mitre saw and cut his thumb, and Dr. Cunningham sewed up his thumb so well.  She made everyone feel so relaxed.  On New Year’s Day, my son knocked his tooth out.  She helped to push it back into the root canal enough to save it.  She made him feel so comfortable.  The next day he went to a dental surgeon to have it fixed.

“Even when I was little, my mom would take me there for emergencies… When my son was young, I took him there for respiratory problems.”

It’s good to know that everyone has recovered nicely. And it’s good to have such a supportive fan.

Trish Thibeault was floored when she got the call that her son Thomas, a healthy college lacrosse player was being rushed to the hospital with a life-threatening heart problem. While working out at a local health club, he had suddenly collapsed. What no one yet knew was just how dire his problem was – Thomas had a burst aorta. Without quick thinking and the right care, he would be in serious trouble.

Here’s what Trish had to say:
“The ambulance rushed him to St. Joseph’s Emergency Department. The nurses and doctors were literally waiting at the door for us. We knew that this was a huge medical problem. Everyone took care of us so fast it was amazing. Otherwise, we could have had a very different outcome. Dr. Frankel made the determination to do a CT scan which is not the usual protocol for a 20 year old. Just 20 minutes later we had the results…The nurses were phenomenal.”

In a situation where time was everything, Dr. Frankel was able to make the correct diagnosis and get Thomas the surgery that would save his life.

Recovering with his heart’s new mechanical valve, Thomas had this to say:
“This whole experience has given me a much greater appreciation for medicine in general. I felt that the staff at St. Joseph really cared for me as a person and for the well-being of my family.”

While enjoying a steak dinner at a local restaurant, Pam Moss’s husband began to choke and passed out. He was rushed by ambulance to the St. Joseph ER, where our medical team was able to quickly restore his breathing and prevent any long-term damage to his heart or brain. Later, he would wake up in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph Medical Center and has recovered completely.

Pam had this to say:
“He was thrilled about his experience. Everyone was very nice. It was a very positive experience. Only 20 percent of people survive this type of problem and even less survive without a lot of heart problems or brain damage from the lack of oxygen.”

Stuart, Pam’s husband, added:
“Thank you for saving my life.”

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
• Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

This simple test will help you detect stroke symptoms and Act F.A.S.T.:

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?

T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it’s time to call 911 or get to the nearest stroke center or hospital.

St. Joseph’s Stroke Center is certified by the Joint Commission and accredited by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Systems. To learn more, click here.

Link: current screenings and events >>