Hi Joseph,
I’m reaching out to you about a potential story on the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at The University of Maryland Medical Center and how it ties directly your local community. Last year, close to 500 people from the Eastern Shore were flown to Shock Trauma in Baltimore, Md. because their injuries were so critical that they required the life-saving expertise and technology only available at the facility. This means that the first responders in your community assessed the patient’s situation and decided that their case was so critical that Shock Trauma was the only place that could either save the patients’ lives or provide them with the world-renowned critical care treatment they required. Annually, over 8,000 people from throughout Maryland are treated at Shock Trauma, which has an amazing 97% patient survival rate.
What many don’t realize is that 60% of the patients that arrive at the hospital in need time-sensitive, critical care are due to car accidents. One remarkable story of a car accident survivor comes straight from your community. Darren Ruark was driving on Rt. 50 when he was involved in an automobile accident that would forever change his life. While a full scholarship to play soccer at a division 1 college was on the horizon, Darren’s accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Living as a quadriplegic changed Darren’s plans, but his remarkable physical therapy and inspiring resilience makes him an inspiring story of survival that is a testament to the work done each day at Shock Trauma. Thanks to the treatment he received at Shock Trauma, Darren not only survived his horrific accident but is not pursuing a degree at Salisbury University.
Darren’s story is just one of the many that come through the doors of Shock Trauma. As the nation's first and only integrated Trauma Hospital, they are dedicated to treating the severely injured and employing groundbreaking research and innovative medical procedures with one goal in mind - saving lives.
In May 2010, the University of Maryland Medical Center began construction on a new nine-floor building that will significantly expand the Shock Trauma Center and drastically help the doctors and staff meet the growing needs for critical care. The existing Shock Trauma building opened in 1989 with a capacity for serving 3,500 people each year. As mentioned above, the hospital averages over 8,000 patients annually and the new facility will enable them to care for roughly 20,000 patients and save even more lives…like Darren Ruark.
4 comments:
I've been to Shock Trauma on two separate occasions and the doctors and nurses are the best you can find. I hope to never see any of them ever again but am very thankful they are there.
His name is spelled Darin, he is able to use his hands and arms and even has his own truck that he can drive. Here is his success story from shock trauma.
http://www.umm.edu/media/video/stss_darin_ruark.htm
On my way to work, January 10th 2010 I was involved in an automobile accident on Route 90. My left arm was severed between my elbow and shoulder. Ocean Pines responded and extricated me from my vehicle and transported me to the OP library. There I met Paramedic John Longest, Paramedic on Trooper 4 (Maryland State Helicopter). I thank God everyday for his decision to fly me direct to Shock Trauma and into the skillful and caring hands of Dr.s Scalea and Eglseder and the great staff there. Not only did they save my life (I had lost 10 units of blood), they spent 8 1/2 hours reattaching my arm!!! For 9 days (I was in a coma for 2) I received the most unbelievable care that one can imagine.
I now have had a total of 5 surgeries there and many, many checkup visits and I cannot tell you enough how absolutely super
we are treated from the moment we walk in the door to the time we leave. I have another 2 or 3 surgeries coming up and I can honestly say I look forward to the care that I will receive while I'm there.
I happen to know Darin Ruark and he is not only a living testimony to the great work they do at U of MD, but he is also a testimony to what a great attitude and extraordinary determination can do. Below is a link to a video he made for Shock Trauma.
We are truly blessed to have, not only that Facility, but also the wonderful staff that works there.
http://www.umm.edu/media/video/stss_darin_ruark.htm
Greg Dennis
The whole U of MD Medical System is excellent. A friend who was in complete organ failure was flown to U of MD and admitted into the Pulmonary Critical Care Unit with less than a 10% chance of survival and pulled though without any long term effects. The decision to have my friend moved was made by their family and was against the wishes of the local hospital he was already in.
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