McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital Emergency Department – TriHealth

Oxford, Ohio

MHED recognizes that exceptional patient care begins with caring for those who provide it. To support staff well-being and combat burnout, the department introduced a dedicated lunch relief shift from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., creating additional capacity for nurses and support staff to take uninterrupted meal breaks. This investment reinforces a culture where self-care is valued, resilience is encouraged and team members feel supported throughout their shifts. Through collaboration among leaders, charge nurses and frontline staff, the 13-bed ED prioritizes the physical and emotional well-being of caregivers while maintaining safe, high-quality patient care.

To enhance collaboration across the continuum of emergency care, MHED developed an EMS Ride Time initiative that provided emergency department team members with opportunities to ride alongside local EMS crews. This immersive experience deepened understanding of prehospital care, strengthened communication during patient transitions and fostered mutual respect among healthcare professionals. The program reinforces MHED’s commitment to teamwork, learning, and community engagement while supporting safer, more coordinated patient care. The initiative received recognition across the health system as a model for building partnerships and strengthening relationships between hospital and EMS teams.