Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Hilah Smith-Robinson and Jamie Clark with EMS Care Ambulance the organization’s October First Friday Heroes.

This crew was called to a home where a woman was experiencing shortness of breath and possible bacterial infection. Once on-scene, they found the patient on the floor struggling to breathe, wheezing, confused, and her blood sugar levels were extremely high. Hilah and Jamie reacted quickly—stabilizing and transporting her to the Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown Emergency Department. They called ahead with urgency so staff could be well prepared to meet the patient and fast-track her care on a day when the ER was very busy. The patient was intubated and sent to the Cath Lab to establish a temporary pacemaker. She was ultimately admitted to the ICU for a heart block, septic shock, and diabetic ketoacidosis. The patient was later able to have her temporary pacemaker removed, and is now back at home with her family.

In addition to performing lifesaving measures and their incredible teamwork with hospital staff, Hilah and Jamie had the presence of mind to ask important questions to the patient’s family. They were able to relay to the hospital care team that the patient was recently diagnosed with bronchitis and a urinary tract infection, but had no prior heart history. With that knowledge, hospital staff was able to begin the proper treatment protocols without delay and provide much-needed information to the Cath Lab and critical care teams.

A ceremony with Smith-Robinson, Clark, and hospital leadership will be held at a later date to commend them for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make Columbus a better and safer place.