A Note from Dr. Trey Wofford

Dr. Wofford is an Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine and is the ED Medical Director.

Our biggest challenge this year has been the boarding of hospitalized patients in the ED. Thankfully, our institution has recognized this as a significant problem and has dedicated multiple resources to help alleviate some of the pressure we have felt. In the first few months of this year, we have seen multiple inpatient service lines adopt a priority discharge protocol and we have opened a newly created discharge lounge. These are just two of the more visible ways that the institution has prioritized facilitating hospital throughput to improve ED boarding of hospitalized patients.

While we have had to adapt in certain ways to maintain the delivery of high-quality patient care as a result of these challenges, we have nonetheless demonstrated our strength during several important site visits this spring.

First, the Mississippi Department of Health came to inspect our newly developed burn program. We are very proud to have stepped up when Mississippi’s previous burn center closed last fall. In a very short period of time, UMMC has put together an all-encompassing program focused on burn care. The Emergency Department is proud to be a part of that package and we were able to impress the MSDH, who have designated us as a Mississippi Burn Center.

Then, in late March, the Joint Commission visited UMMC to evaluate our Stroke Program as we have sought to become designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. The Emergency Department is very proud of our role in providing Mississippi with high quality stroke care. Our dedication, along with the dedication of many other service lines, shone through at that site visit. As of now, we are awaiting final designation, but expect to soon be designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Also, we have an upcoming STEMI site visit and we are excited to showcase yet another way that the Emergency Department shines.

Finally, this clinical update would not be complete without announcing the retirement of Dr. Jimmy Kolb. A renowned clinician, academic, and ED Medical Director, he will be very missed around the Department of Emergency Medicine. He has led us, taught us, and inspired us for decades and he is truly irreplaceable. We wish him well in retirement!