EMS crews are heroes in the field every day

By Maureen Gilmer, Riley Children’s Health senior writer, mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

The unmistakable roar of a helicopter landing on the roof of Riley Hospital for Children makes conversation difficult for a moment in Simon Family Tower, but it is the perfect soundtrack for an interview spotlighting EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week.

Nicole Hall is the EMS liaison for Riley and emergency crews who treat and deliver sick and injured pediatric patients to the Emergency Department every day.

A paramedic with Indianapolis EMS herself for 12 years, Hall has been the Riley EMS liaison for five years, working to build relationships with EMS crews in Marion County and surrounding counties and to provide ongoing education about pediatric care and Riley’s capabilities specifically.

Paramedics and EMTs working on ambulances are not simply transporting patients; they are trained to provide lifesaving care in the field before arriving at a hospital.

“They work to stabilize patients before they get to the hospital so doctors can do their work,” Hall said.

The IU Health LifeLine crews in the helicopters do the same, using their medical knowledge in consultation with hospital physicians to treat patients during transport.

As a paramedic with many years of experience, Hall knows how difficult some runs can be, especially those involving children.

“I know how hard it can be and the follow-up that I want, so I try to provide that,” she said.

In-person case debriefings for crews who’ve had difficult peds runs help provide closure and insight into what a rescue team might have done differently.

Hall also schedules lunch and learns at stations in the Indianapolis area, sharing information and education from Riley’s specialized providers. In addition, virtual presentations reach teams throughout the state.

The mother of three has had her own experiences with saving lives, of course, as a paramedic and as a mom. She once helped deliver a breech baby in a bathtub at a patient’s home after a 911 call. A couple of years later, she got to meet that little guy, a reunion story that she treasures.

She also saved her daughter’s life several years ago when the girl choked on a piece of candy and Hall performed the Heimlich maneuver to expel the object that was blocking her airway.

With three kids and her work as EMS liaison and a paramedic, Hall is already busy, but she’s not one to take it easy. She has returned to school to earn a nursing degree, hoping to eventually find a spot working in labor and delivery at Riley’s Maternity Tower.

Just as she is focused on beginning a new career in nursing, her daughter, who is graduating from high school this spring, is following the same dream and will enter nursing school in the fall.

“I’m really proud of her,” Hall said. “She is my twin.”

As a recognized week of appreciation for all that EMS crews do for Riley patients and families comes to an end, Hall will continue to support crews every week in their lifesaving role.

“EMS is always taking care of other people, and I feel like my job is to make sure EMS is taken care of.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org