World Class Care — Close to Home
Having an accredited Level II Trauma Center close by when you or someone you love needs care can make a world of difference during an emergency. Jason Fink found that out first-hand. Hit by a car while riding his bike, he got the right care, at the right time, and at the right place at UPMC Williamsport — just two miles from home.
Jason Fink is a busy — and accomplished — businessman. President and CEO of the Williamsport Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, he travels throughout Lycoming County to attend chamber meetings and events. He’s also a husband and father of four. “My home life can be pretty hectic, too,” he says with a laugh.
“My kids always have something going on in the evening, or I have something to do for work,” he explains. “That’s why I fit my exercise in first thing in the morning.”
His daily workout consists of a 40-mile bike ride. “I’ve always been active, doing running or swimming,” says Jason. “But as I get older, I find that cycling is a lot easier — not as much wear and tear on the body.”
It was just before 5 a.m. on a dark morning in January when the accident happened. Riding toward the local bike path, Jason was hit by a car. Thrown from his bike, he landed on his right knee and shattered his kneecap. “I couldn’t stand up or straighten my knee,” he recalls. The driver of the car stopped, called 911, and the ambulance arrived quickly. Within minutes, he was being admitted into the UPMC Williamsport Emergency Department (ED) — just a few miles from his home.
Close to home matters
Injuries like Jason’s are considered traumatic and require immediate specialty care. Fortunately, UPMC Williamsport’s ED had recently been accredited as a Level II trauma center. Within minutes of arriving there, he was being assessed by the trauma team.
In addition to treating his shattered kneecap, the UPMC Williamsport ED team had another medical condition to consider. In 2013, Jason experienced a life-threatening aortic dissection. UPMC Williamsport doctors first had to wean him from his blood thinner medicines before they could proceed with surgery.
“When time is of the essence, there’s something to be said about getting treatment so close to my home,” says Jason. “Medical emergencies and accidents can happen to anyone. Having a Level II trauma center right in Williamsport takes away a lot of the stress and anxiety families have when something happens.”
Steven Johnson, president of UPMC in North Central Pa., agrees. “We now have amazing trauma, ED, paramedic, and critical care teams right here in Williamsport,” he says. A trauma surgeon is onsite 24 hours a day, and a dedicated operating room for trauma patients is equipped with the most advanced tools for delivering emergency care the moment it’s needed.
“Until something like this happens, you don’t think much about needing that level of care,” says Jason. “If we didn’t have all the resources UPMC brought to this community — including high-level trauma care and first-class cancer treatments — a lot of people, including myself, wouldn’t have access to these important services.”
Getting back on his feet — and his bike
Two days after surgery to repair his damaged kneecap, Jason was “back to work and life was going on — just not as easily,” he says. But he has high praise for the trauma team at UPMC Williamsport. “The surgeon and staff were exceptional. They had me up walking and back to running and biking faster than I expected,” he adds.
The physical therapy team also played a crucial role in his recovery. Having access to UPMC outpatient rehab facilities right in Williamsport was very convenient, says Jason. With a traumatic knee injury, it can take months to improve range of motion and build up muscle strength. His physical therapist, Steven, was “phenomenal,” he says.
“Thanks to him, I’ve regained a lot of my mobility. And I’m still gaining bend in the knee. Steven charted the course for me to get back on the bike, and I’m very thankful for the work he did,” says Jason.
