At Tampa General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, we face life-or-death situations every day. As staff of the Medical ICU, we’re often assigned to the code bed—the place reserved for patients who arrive in critical condition, sometimes with their hearts stopped. In these moments, every second counts. One of the most urgent needs is rapid venous access to deliver lifesaving medications. Unfortunately, our current ultrasound machine is unreliable, with poor imaging quality and frequent mechanical issues. It’s been out of commission for nearly a month, and the delays in repair and replacement have made it even harder to provide the care our patients deserve.
A new ultrasound machine would be used by both physicians and nurses for everything from venous and arterial access to placing critical central lines for close and almost instantaneous hemodynamic monitoring. It would allow for more accurate assessment of major organ dysfunction and better, safer access, reducing the risk of complications and increasing therapy success. This equipment would help us provide the care your family deserves, and we wish to provide. It’s what I would want for my family and yours.
With over 1,000 beds, Tampa General is one of the largest nonprofit level 1 trauma hospitals in the state of Florida and one of the nation’s largest organ transplants centers by volume. As such there are many competing priorities. Updating a single ultrasound machine in the ICU isn’t at the top of the administration’s massive list. This means our team is left navigating the current bureaucracy of shipping delays, repair request, approval, and cost hurdles, all while trying to save lives. I’m launching this fundraiser as a personal initiative on behalf of the ICU staff, because we know firsthand how much of a difference a new ultrasound machine would make. Your support will help us provide better, faster care to the sickest patients when they need it most.