Karen Tate, RN, Linda Springer, OPM Director, Teresa McCarthy, RN

Two Federal Occupational Health (FOH) nurses, Teresa McCarthy, RN and Karen Tate, RN, were working in their health unit at the William Green Federal Building in Philadelphia, when they received an urgent call. An OPM employee who was on a training assignment from Washington DC had collapsed in a conference room and was unresponsive. Within minutes, the nurses arrived, assessed the condition of the employee, initiated CPR, and utilized the AED machine to successfully revive the employee who had suffered cardiac arrest. They skillfully and professionally managed the care of the unresponsive employee while also calming the panicked and distressed witnesses to the event.

To recognize the nurses’ outstanding care, Linda Springer, National Director of Office of Personnel Management (OPM), traveled to Philadelphia to personally thank Teresa and Karen for their efforts in saving the life of one of her employees. Director Springer joined Dr. Mark Delowery, FOH Health and Clinical Services Director, and Karen Kuroda, RN, FOH Clinical Operations Manager, at the health unit on February 27 to personally congratulate and thank them.

Director Springer expressed the benefits of onsite health care for federal employees, and especially how access to AEDs and trained professionals can save lives. Director Springer also noted that as a direct result of the event, OPM has implemented an emergency contact database so that employee family members may quickly be notified in the event of a medical emergency.

FOH is proud of all of our nurses who respond to emergencies like these every day, but especially of Teresa and Karen who in saving a life brought recognition upon themselves, FOH and the value of AEDs from the Director of OPM.