Mike Laughlin's life has been saved two times by KHSC care teams. Two motor-vehicle accidents (one from blizzard conditions and the other from a collision with a deer) brought Mike to the KHSC Emergency Department fighting for his life, broken leg and arm, broken back, broken neck. "I don’t feel sorry for myself, even when complications from my injuries send me back to the hospital. I never take it for granted that the hospital is there for me when I need it. And that trust and confidence in their ability to get me back on my feet never go away."

Recognizing the signs of stroke and calling 9-1-1 right away led to life-saving treatment for Doug Duffy, a Belleville resident, who after a brief stop at the Belleville General Hospital for assessment and the clot-busting drug tPA, was brought to KHSC's Emergency Department (ED) by the Hastings Quinte Paramedic Services ambulance. From the ED, Doug went on to the interventional radiology suite where he was given Endovascular Treatment (EVT) to remove the stroke-causing clots from his brain. KHSC is one of 11 EVT centres in Ontario. "I'm back to 100 per cent thanks to the stroke teams and the paramedics. I thank every last one of you for saving the quality of my life."

Sharp pain in your belly, nausea and vomiting are a few of the signs of gallbladder problems. Herbert Rae was experiencing severe symptoms caused by gallstones — small stones that form in the gallbladder and can block the flow of bile and irritate the gallbladder — when he made his way to KHSC's Emergency Department (ED). Turns out he needed emergency surgery to remove his gallbladder. As a way to keep Herbert from returning to the ED unnecessarily after his surgery and after he had returned home, he was monitored remotely by KHSC nurses using virtual care technology.

Almost eight years after Reid Gladman was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy, the type for which doctors cannot pinpoint an apparent cause, he ended up in KHSC's Emergency Department because he experienced the worst seizure he has ever had. An MRI was ordered and it showed a non-cancerous brain tumor. This new information meant there was a possibility of treating the seizures in a different way, other than anti-seizure drugs, which had stopped working for him. Under the care of the multidisciplinary team at KHSC's District Epilepsy Centre, Reid made the decision to have surgery to remove the tumor and has been seizure-free.

As the head of KHSC's trauma service, Dr. Chris Evans is no stranger to traumatic injuries and the long-lasting impacts they can have on patients and families. He led a study that showed major traumatic injury increases the risk of mental health disorders and suicide. Every year, the number of serious injuries increases across Ontario between the May long weekend through to the Labour Day weekend, when the weather is warmer and more people are out on the roads, lakes and trails. As the regional trauma centre for southeastern Ontario, many patients throughout the region are taken by ambulance directly to KHSC for specialized care. On average, KHSC's trauma service provides care to more than 350 people annually.

[Pre-pandemic photo] If a person or unborn baby could die or be permanently disabled, from a physical or mental health condition, it is an emergency. Mental Health Nurse Navigator Richard Cook (right) works with other members of the Emergency Department (ED) team such as Social Worker Sarina Cormier (left), ED physicians, psychiatrists and on-site crisis service to speed up treatment and reduce wait times for patients experiencing mental health emergencies. The result of this teamwork is care plans, which can range from medication adjustment to outpatient or community referrals to admission to hospital, that are initiated as fast as possible. Read more.

Nurse Curtis Gray says the biggest thing he can give to people is a moment of my time. "It is not uncommon for people to be frustrated or act out of character while in the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) due to their stress. Actively listening to the concerns patients have when they are in a vulnerable place goes a long way. The UCC is a fast-paced, high-patient-turnover environment where patients are not usually known to the health-care providers and it's possible to encounter a wide range of health concerns. "It's important to take our work one step at a time. Going into all situations with new perspectives from everyone on the team leads to great outcomes for patients."

[Pre-pandemic photo] “Many people might think it’s the lights, drama, things you see on TV that make working in Emergency Medicine exciting, but it’s really the interactions that we have with our patients and families that are most meaningful and purposeful in this work. It is a real privilege to help add comfort in their moments of illness, not just through the medical care necessarily, but by hearing their stories and building a connection,” says Dr. Damon Dagnone. Connections like the one he made with a patient who arrived at the Emergency Department by ambulance after being hit by a car while riding her bike. Unable to ride in a cycling fundraiser for Kingston hospitals after her accident, Dr. Dagnone, a fellow cyclist, offered to take her place and rode for her.