While most of Bluffton shuts down after midnight, one important community service never closes.

It’s Bluffton Hospital’s Emergency Room.

Its traditional busy times are from 3 to 11 p.m., but the door is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

While many reading this story may have used the ER – even at some odd hours – here’s some details most persons in the hospital service area may not realize.

The Icon learned more about the ER’s services in a discussion with Dr. Greg Arnette, M.D., ER medical director; Nicki Keuneke, RN, director of hospital operations; and Heidi Nuhfer, RN, ER department clinical supervisor.

Bluffton Hospital ER staff includes eight physicians and 11 nurses. The eight-bed ER has one physician, one technician and one nurse on duty around the clock.

In a 12-month period up to 6,000 persons visit the ER for necessary medical assistance. They come from Bluffton, Putnam County, Lima and Findlay.

Why? One reason, of course, is location. Another is turn-around time.

“Our ER turn-around time is quicker than other area hospitals,’ says Dr. Greg Arnette, M.D., adding that Bluffton’s ER turn-around time is far above the national average.

Most patients come to the ER for complaints including chest pain, strokes, earaches, fever, lacerations and broken bones. Ages of those patients range from newborns to octogenarians and older.

When Icon viewers see an EMS ambulance in Bluffton from outside the community that ambulance is probably heading to the Bluffton ER.

Among EMS units that frequent Bluffton Hospital include Appleseed (Arlington), Ada, Columbus Grove, Hanco (Findlay), and Putnam County, in addition to Bluffton’s EMS.

Heidi Nuhfer said that the ER will receive a call from an in-coming EMS unit and depending upon the patient’s need, will have a medical staff waiting on the ambulance.

“We maintain a great relationship with Bluffton EMS and police,” she added, concerning advance alerts on in-coming patients.

Concerning ER walk-ins, Dr. Arnette said, “ Often the patient’s problem is urgent or its perception is urgent.”

What’s his bedside manner with children? Dr. Arnette says, “ I introduce myself and talk directly to the child. I want to understand them at their own level.”

Nicki Keuneke, who manages hospital staff including OB, medical-surgical, provider clinics and the ER says, “We (the staff) all work together. In our ER we are ready for any thing, any time.”

The discussion moved from handling ER patients to some health precautions any one can take, especially during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday period.

This is a time when families come together from across the country. Often those visitors bring different set of germs with them, says Dr. Arnette.

Bluffton ER department’s simple directives to stay healthy at this time of year:
1 – Wash your hands
2 – Cough into your elbow, not your hand
3 – Use hand sanitizer
4 – Use disposable tissues
5 – Stay warm and drink lots of fluids

PHOTO: In a set-up but familiar ER scene, Dr. Greg Arnette checks on patient Austin Guyton, assisted by Matt Moser, ER nurse.