St. Francis ER manager completes federal disaster response training

MOORESVILLE, Ind. – Nathan Lowder, R.N., interim manager of the St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville Emergency Department, recently completed training at the Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Lowder participated in exercises conducted at the CDP’s Noble Training Facility in Aniston, Ala. It is the nation’s only hospital dedicated to the training hospital and healthcare professionals in disaster preparedness and response.

Lowder’s experience, in fact, came in handy on his way to training one day. He is credited for rescuing an elderly couple from an overturned car and provided medical care to them until emergency responders arrived.

A certified emergency nurse expert who has worked at St. Francis since 1997, Lowder is involved with the District 5 Hospital Committee, Morgan County Emergency Medical Services Association, and is a firefighter/emergency medical technician with the Morgantown and Washington Township fire departments.

Lowder also is a clinical instructor for the Indiana University School of Nursing.

The year-old Emergency Department at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville is far exceeding the predicted number of patients using its services. More than 31,300 patients have visited the ED in its first year of operation – nearly twice what was originally projected.