Memorial Heroes: Kate Gudiel, Transport Team respiratory therapist
February 5, 2021
Kate Gudiel recently passed her Certification in Neonatal Pediatric Transport (C-NPT), a major accomplishment.
What is your official title?
Transport Team respiratory therapist.
How long have you worked here at Memorial Medical Center?
2 months.
How did you come into this position?
My husband is military and we just recently moved to Fort Bliss. I’ve been a paramedic for almost 20 years and an RRT for 13, so I enjoy responding to emergent calls and the autonomous critical care team dynamic. Transport Team seemed like a perfect fit for me!
What was your motivation for a career in healthcare?
I’ve always wanted to help people and started working as a lifeguard and volunteer firefighter at a very young age. That progressed to paramedic and RT.
What is a typical day like for you?
We work 24-hour shifts and every day is different. Normally, I come in and check the ambulance and all of my equipment to make sure everything is ready to go for when we get activated. Our main job is respond to calls, but when not on calls, I do education, intubation or IV rounds to keep up my skills. I also help staff in the RT department and help the RTs out in the ER, ICU, NICU, PICU and on the floors.
How would you describe your roles and responsibilities?
As a member of the Transport Team, I respond to calls to outside clinics and smaller hospitals (as far as Ruidoso) to pick up neonatal, pediatric and maternal patients. Myself, along with an RN and two EMTs, assess, stabilize and provide critical care during the transport of the patients back to MMC.
Oftentimes, it’s necessary to start IVs, give medications, provide respiratory treatments, high levels of oxygen, CPAP, or intubate and ventilate the patient. Sometimes, we also transport critical neonatal and pediatric patients to El Paso via ground ambulance, or fly with patients to Albuquerque or Phoenix when a higher level of care is needed.
In what areas do you help patients?
I work with patients of all ages to help them breathe better by providing them with respiratory treatments, CPAP intubation and ventilation. I’m particularly specialized with micro-preemies and NICU. On the transport team, we also have an expanded scope of practice to intubate and perform IVs.
What are some of your interests outside of work?
I enjoy hiking, camping and travelling with my husband, 2-year old son and two dogs. I’m a Divemaster & love scuba diving, as well as riding my Harley.
What is your favorite part about working for Memorial Medical Center?
I love the people that I work with, especially the RTs, RNs and EMTs on the Transport Team. I’m honored to be part of such an amazing team!