The American Heart Association Hampton Roads awards rapid transport flight team from Sentara Health acknowledging their contributions in support of heart and brain health
The American Heart Association Hampton Roads hosted An Evening In Monte Carlo, the 2023 Heart Ball at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott, a celebration of the Heart of Hampton Roads campaign. The program was filled with impact led by Chairwomen, Dr. Liisa Ortegon, President of Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Terrie Edwards, Regional President for Sentara Southside and Northeast North Carolina hospitals and Interim Acute Care Division President. The night included a live auction, performances from Better By Tuesday, a touching story featuring a young survivor of tricuspid atresia and his miraculous lifestyle today, as well as the announcement of Sentara Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance as the 2023 R. Bryan Grinnan, M.D. Memorial Research Award winner.
Established in 1991 in honor of the founder and president of the American Heart Association Hampton Roads board, the R. Bryan Grinnan, M.D. Memorial Research Award honors an outstanding individual who has served to make the Hampton Roads community a better place through their investment of time and/or a financial contribution in support of heart and brain health.
Prior to receiving the award, the American Heart Association spoke with Nightingale Manager Denise Baylous, on what the nomination meant to her team. “The nomination for the 2023 Grinnan Award is a true honor for our team because a large portion of our flights consist of cardiac and stroke patients. Working with our Sentara physician partners as well as our cardiac and stroke service lines, our team has developed cardiac and stroke transport protocols that allow us to provide advanced treatments and rapid transport saving precious time in getting our patients to cardiac and neurological interventions. Our average transport time for cardiac patients is 30 minutes to intervention and our stroke patients are 12 minutes. During our transports, we are able to provide advanced treatments and notify the hospital teams, so the transfer of the patient is seamless. Streamlining our care saves cardiac muscle and millions of brain cells thus improving the patient’s outcome and quality of life. This nomination recognizes the teamwork and care that we as Nightingale provide to our hospitals and community” expressed Baylous.
Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance provides rapid transport and care of the critically ill and injured patients of Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, and northeastern North Carolina. Since its inception in 1982, Nightingale has flown over 25,000 patients. The Nightingale team consists of flight nurses, flight paramedics, pilots, dispatchers, mechanics, and an operational medical director. Nightingale transports a wide variety of patients to include trauma, cardiac, vascular, neurological, pediatric, and obstetrical patients.
The Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance team was presented their award during the Heart Ball by 2022 Grinnan Award winner, and cardiologist Dr. Matthew Summers of Sentara Health.
Additional 2023 Grinnan nominees included Dr. Asesh Buch with Chesapeake Regional Healthcare and Dr. William “Chip” Harris with Riverside Cardiology Specialists.