I am a nurse who works for the “SWAT” team at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Our team does critical care intrahospital transport throughout our hospital system. On any given day, we transport a range of patients, from a neonate barely an hour after delivery to an elderly person. We specialize in transporting patients from various areas, generally intensive care units (ICUs), to the many diagnostic areas of our hospital. While we are with each patient, we become the patient’s “ICU nurse” and we are part of the diagnostic team, ensuring the safety of the patient.

One day, our team received a request for an “unusual” transport from the trauma/burn unit. An older couple, Mr and Mrs L, had been victims of a house fire, possibly caused by a furnace explosion. The wife had died, and the husband had severe injuries and was being treated at our...

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