MEDICAL EMERGENCY! Who should I call? > The Medical Center at Ocean Reef > Medical Center at Ocean Reef

Medical Center News

Friday, February 17, 2012

By Joan Birsh

The answers to these typical member questions are based on interviews with the staff of both the Public Safety Department and the Medical Center at Ocean Reef.

Q. I haven’t really had an emergency, but if and when I do, I’m confused about whether I should call 911 or Public Safety (367-2222) or the Medical Center at Ocean Reef (367-2600)?
A. In reporting a serious emergency it is important to call 911 immediately for the quickest response. Calling any other number might slow down the response in a situation where sometimes minutes count.

Q. I’ve heard that if you call 911 on your cell, you might get an operator in Marathon.
A. Most, but not all, cell phone servers, will connect your 911 calls directly to Public Safety. But if your cell is not served by a carrier with an Ocean Reef hook-up, don’t worry Marathon will have you on the line with Ocean Reef’s Public Safety before you can count to 10. If you call from your Ocean Reef house phone, 911 will be immediately answered by Public Safety. (Note: from a phone inside the Inn, it’s 9-911.)

Q. A good friend and I were playing golf on the Hammock Course, when she suddenly complained that she was having trouble seeing? She also appeared to be having difficulty walking? Should I call 911?
A. Your friend is showing symptoms of a stroke. Call 911 immediately. Clot busting drugs taken early enough can often reduce long-term disability. Check out this page to learn how to identify a stroke.

Q. My four-year-old grandson was jumping on our king bed. He fell off and hurt his wrist. I don’t think it is broken. Who do call?
A. If the misdirected jump took place during Medical Center office hours (weekdays - 8 to 5 and Saturdays 9 to 4), the doctors there suggest you bring him over for an evaluation. If they determine the wrist is broken, chances are they will advise a trip to Mariner’s or Homestead Hospital to have it set.

Q. My husband is experiencing mild chest pains. Should I call 911, the Medical Center or Public Safety?
A. If your husband is under 40 and has no other symptoms or if the symptoms have abated, call the Medical Center. Over 40 or after 5 p.m. call 911. Public Safety will be at your door in minutes.

Q. What does Public Safety do, when they respond to a 911 call?
A. Public Safety’s trained paramedics arrive on the scene with all the necessary equipment to assess, monitor and treat the emergency. If they suspect the medical situation is serious, they will recommend immediate transport in their ambulance to a nearby hospital.

Q. How does Public Safety decide where to transport the patient? Mariner’s Hospital in Tavernier, Homestead Hospital, Baptist Hospital in Kendall, Ryder Trauma Center in Miami, or Jackson Memorial in Miami?
A. The hospital the patient is taken to is first and foremost determined by the nature of his injury or illness. For example, Baptist (cardiac problems); Ryder Trauma Center; or Jackson Memorial offer specialized treatment that may be required. In most other cases, unless the patient expresses a different preference, it is likely that Homestead Hospital will be the destination. It’s new, it’s close and it has an excellent relationship with Ocean Reef. (The Medical Center claims that all Ocean Reef members get special treatment, but if you are a Medical Center Founder, it will be extra-special.) If the ambulance finds there is a problem with traffic or construction, then Mariner’s might prove to be the best choice.

Q. My uncle had a fainting spell. We called 911 and Public Safety wanted to transport him to Homestead Hospital. He refused and asked them to just take him to the Medical Center. They said they couldn’t do that. At least not in the ambulance. Is that true?
A. Absolutely true. State Law prohibits an ambulance from transporting a patient anywhere but to a hospital. Your uncle can sign a waiver and turn down the ambulance. Then he could be driven to the Medical Center in a family member’s car or in another Public Safety vehicle.

Q. Suppose I’m taken to the hospital by Public Safety, but my medical records are at the Medical Center. How is the hospital alerted that, for example, I’m on a blood thinner?
A. Not to worry. Public Safety has immediate electronic access to all MCOR (Medical Center at Ocean Reef) records. A printout of your medical history will go out the Gate in the ambulance with you.

Q. My 20- year- old daughter woke up at 3 a.m. on a Saturday with an unexplained fever of 104 degrees. If I call the Medical Center will I be able to reach a doctor?
A. One of MCOR’s medical professionals is available and prepared to offer primary care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. After talking to you on the phone, he or she will decide on the appropriate course of action.

Q. At the end of May an Ocean Reef friend of mine is having a hip replacement in New York. She would like to come back to Ocean Reef and stay in her home for the recovery period, but she isn’t sure that the Medical Center’s physical therapy program continues in the summer months.
A. Reassure your friend. The Medical Center’s excellent physical therapy team works year round and many Ocean Reef members enjoy the convenience of receiving their surgeon’s prescribed therapy at our Medical Center, just a golf cart ride away.

Q. Occasionally I hear of a helicopter transporting an accident victim from Ocean Reef to a Miami hospital. Does Ocean Reef own a helicopter?
A. No, Ocean Reef does not own a helicopter, but there are three sources for helicopters available in case of a serious emergency. The one usually employed by Ocean Reef is from the Miami Dade Fire Department. Monroe County also has a helicopter service, as does Lifenet, a private firm. Public Safety reports that in 2010 there were 6 helicopter transports from Ocean Reef.

Q. Recently my son was taking out the recycling when he tripped and cut his leg on a sharp curbstone. The laceration was large. We took him to the Medical Center. Was that the right call?
A. The Medical Center’s primary care providers are trained in suturing uncomplicated lacerations. If the laceration was not so deep that a tendon, artery or nerve was involved or so large that a cosmetic surgeon was required, the Medical Center was the right place to go. Note: In case of feeling faint, uncontrolled bleeding, lost sensation or function related to the laceration, call 911.

Q. A good friend from Tampa became ill while visiting me at the Reef. Before making an appointment for her at the Medical Center, she asked about the qualifications of the doctors. How should I reassure her about the education and experience of the physicians at the Medical Center?
A. Before a doctor is hired, he is vetted by the Medical Advisory Committee. This committee is made up of Ocean Reef members, who are retired physicians who practiced in a variety of medical disciplines. This group monitors MCOR physicians and is available to offer advice and suggestions. All members of the Medical Center’s staff are encouraged to continue their training, either at off-site facilities or online with UpToDate, a software program that offers the latest information on everything medical. If your friend needs further reassurance, she can go to the Medical Center’s website and review the education and experience of the four doctors and the nurse practitioner working at MCOR.

Q. I know the Public Safety officers are good policemen, but what kind of training do they have for the medical emergencies they have to deal with?
A. If you call Public Safety with a medical emergency, there are 7 trained paramedics on duty night and day. (There are 21 on the PS staff and they work alternating 24-hour shifts.) All of the Public Safety Officers are certified to perform Emergency Medical Services. They work under strict medical protocols, supervised by Dr. David Nateman, a Miami based urgent care specialist. Dr. Nateman frequently travels to Ocean Reef to instruct and review the work of the paramedics. He has also developed an online training and testing program to keep Ocean Reef’s PS officers sharp. When you call 911, you can be assured that a team of qualified medics will be at your doorstep in minutes. Public Safety’s record for a quick response is unrivaled.

Flu season is upon us. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is recommending the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months and older this year. The Medical Center has a current supply of vaccine for those four years old and older. Please stop by between the hours of 8:30-10 a.m. or 2-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

The Medical Center is able to provide for such diverse specialty services because of the Medical Center Foundation's Founder’s Society. If you are interested in having a personalized tour of the Medical Center’s facility or would like more information on how to support the Medical Center Foundation, please contact us at 305-367-4224.

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