Orange Regional Medical Center

Trauma center ready for launch accident

When Shuttle Atlantis roars skyward Friday, a trauma team in Melbourne will be ready in case of an accident during the launch.

NASA will bring injured astronauts to Holmes Regional Medical Center Trauma Center if something goes wrong at Kennedy Space Center.

Trauma surgeon Dr. Edgar Figueroa, trauma nurse Lucy Gomez and the trauma center staff might not be able to take a break and watch the scheduled 11:26 a.m. launch of Atlantis on the last shuttle mission.

"Hopefully, we will," Gomez said of the unpredictable nature of emergency room work. "You never know what you'll see here." After an agreement between the agency and the hospital, the trauma center staff began training to handle a shuttle accident in 2007.

While doctors and nurses are ready to treat astronauts, the trauma center likely will experience a normal flow of injuries Friday.

"It's business as usual," Figueroa said. "This is just one more piece of our daily routine."

When an ordinary trauma victim arrives at the emergency room, the staff quickly cuts off the injured person's clothes in the quickest way possible. An astronaut's orange flight suit, however, has special circuits and metal rings on the wrists and neck that cannot be cut.

"It does take a little longer than for someone coming in from a car accident," Figueroa said. "These suits are custom built for each astronaut. There are certain specifics for each of them."

While the hospital was not paid for the preparation, Figueroa and Gomez have attended special training sessions at KSC to familiarize themselves with how to treat an astronaut's injuries. Training exercises were held last year.

Figueroa said that treating astronauts would require three extraordinary considerations:

Safety and security because an accident could be the result of a terrorist attack.

Unusual treatment protocols because astronauts might be exposed to dangerous chemicals.

Getting them out of the orange suits.

"There are all kinds of chemicals you don't normally see," Gomez said. "They could come in needing some kind of decontamination."

The trauma staff's first action would be to open the astronauts' medical records, which have been delivered but are sealed. The next action would be to prepare for the arrival of helicopters carrying the injured astronauts. Soldiers and security guards will be on the scene.

"There has to be a certain level of security established to make sure they are going to be safe," Figueroa said.

Orange Regional Medical Center Foundation Announces 2011 Golf ...

Orange Regional Medical Center Foundation is proud to announce Kevin Trapp, MD and Michael Blustein as Co-Chairs of its 2011 Annual Golf Classic to be held on Monday, June 20, 2011.  This year’s Golf Classic will be held at the Otterkill Golf and Country Club in Campbell Hall and Orange County Golf Club in Middletown.  All proceeds will benefit the Comprehensive Cancer Care Program at Orange Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Kevin Trapp is Medical Director of the Bone & Joint Center at Orange Regional Medical Center and an orthopedic surgeon with Crystal Run Healthcare in Middletown, specializing in Reconstructive Surgery.  Dr. Trapp attended Cornell University Medical College in New York. He completed an Internship in General Surgery and an Orthopedic Residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where he was awarded “Orthopedic Resident of the Year” from 1999 to 2000. Dr. Trapp completed a Fellowship in Adult Joint Reconstruction at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. He has interest and specialized training in joint replacement, including revision of the hip, knee and shoulder. In addition, he obtained specialty training in arthroscopy of the hip. Dr. Trapp is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Michael Blustein is Managing Partner of Blustein, Shapiro, Rich & Barone, LLP, located in Goshen. He attended Cornell University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Labor Relations and earned his law degree from the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1992 and the New York Bar in 1993. Mr. Blustein started his career in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in 1992, where he advanced and was assigned to the Felony Narcotics and White Collar Crime Investigations units.  Mr. Blustein joined his father in private practice in 1997.  In addition to heading the firm’s Closing Department, he currently focuses his practice in commercial transactions, representation of national and local lenders, zoning and land use matters for residential and commercial development, collections and foreclosures.  He is a past president of the Middletown Bar Association and current member of Orange County Golf Club Board of Governors.

Proceeds from the Annual Golf Classic support Orange Regional’s Comprehensive Cancer Care Program in the new hospital, scheduled to open summer 2011.  Our oncology services provide treatment options and procedures for all stages of cancer, offering inpatient and outpatient services including: interventional therapies, a fully accredited Breast Center, infusion and radiation therapy, robotic surgery, clinical trials, support groups, complementary therapy and various free cancer screenings. Additionally, we provide the latest in state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging technology including our newest and advanced PET/CT scanner capable of detecting cancer in its early stages as well as managing the disease with greater accuracy. Orange Regional’s Cancer Care Program is designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center with commendation by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer.

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