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Finding EXTRAordinary in the Ordinary

Sherri Bakland, NP-C is a practicing emergency medicine APC at Erlanger Health East Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Reason for Visit:
A patient initially assessed as moderately ill rapidly deteriorated into a high-acuity emergency requiring immediate, complex interventions.

Patient Outcome:
The patient received timely, coordinated, and attentive care from the entire emergency department team. Despite aggressive interventions including transfusions, airway management, monitoring, and supportive measures, the patient’s complex underlying conditions ultimately overwhelmed their body. Throughout the event, the emergency department maintained organized, timely care, ensuring the best possible support for all patients and the patient’s family.

Sherri Bakland, NP-C, in black scrubs with a stethoscope, smiling in a hospital hallway Sherri Bakland, NP-C, in black scrubs with a stethoscope, smiling in a hospital hallway

EXTRAordinary Care

During a busy morning shift, Sherri Bakland, NP-C demonstrated exceptional clinical judgment and situational awareness. She recognized the severity of the patient’s condition and escalated care immediately, allowing the team to initiate rapid interventions.

While the critically ill patient received focused attention, Sherri Bakland, NP-C intentionally stepped into the operational gap. She assessed new patients, entered orders on behalf of the team, monitored results, and ensured that all patients’ needs were met without delay.  These steady, behind-the-scenes actions, which she considers routine, created the stability and bandwidth the team needed to perform at their highest level.

She also prioritized compassionate communication, providing updates and comfort to the patient’s family during an emotionally challenging situation.

When asked about her contributions, Sherri said “I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary in this situation… I just did my best to help my team and the patients to the best of my ability.”

It is precisely this mindset, stepping in, holding steady, and supporting others without seeking recognition, that allows extraordinary care to happen.

This case demonstrates how one clinician’s dependable, intentional actions can elevate the entire team, enabling extraordinary performance even in the most complex and high-pressure situations.

“In high-pressure environments, excellence depends on trust and shared responsibility. Sherri’s actions exemplify how one clinician’s steady leadership can elevate an entire department and empower extraordinary performance.”

James Patrick Capes, MD

Regional Vice President

Hospital Partner

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Erlanger Health East Hospital, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, offers a welcoming, patient-centered environment with spacious patient and visitor areas and a wooded walking trail across the campus. The hospital features a cardiac catheterization suite, modern operating rooms, expanded physician offices, and a 58-bed patient tower including a 6-bed ICU. With 22 emergency department beds serving approximately 32,000 patients annually, Erlanger Health East focuses on improving wellness at every stage of life, providing high-quality, compassionate care.