USA Health security officer praised for assisting with delivery outside hospital
“We are thrilled to be able to recognize and celebrate this brave and compassionate member of our staff who exemplifies the very best of our mission and values,” said Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP, chief executive officer at Children’s & Women’s Hospital.
By Casandra Andrews
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When Rufus Rasco arrived at work at Children’s & Women’s Hospital for his overnight shift on a recent evening, he likely had no idea he would become an intimate part of a newborn’s birth story.
The security officer, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for eight years, was in the main lobby about 1 a.m. when an SUV pulled up outside. A man rushed in to let them know his wife was having a baby. Rasco asked for a wheelchair and hurried to the car.
What happened next nearly took his breath away. In the front seat, the officer was greeted by the mother and the baby she delivered just moments earlier.
“She asked me what to do, and I said to make sure his airway was clear,” he recalled. The mom moved the baby to her chest and gently covered his back with her hand.
“She patted him on the back, and he started to cry.”
It was a sound that eased Rasco’s quiet fears as they waited for clinical staff to arrive.
“I was so relieved to know he was going to be OK,” the officer said. “I was really glad it was an easy birth without complications.”
A few days later, the mother and her baby were discharged together.
Word spread quickly throughout the hospital – the region’s leader in births – about what happened. The story was also recounted during a morning safety huddle.
“This is a powerful reminder of what makes CW special: teamwork, preparedness, and a deep commitment to patient safety and quality care,” said Rachel Seaman, M.D., who was recently appointed chief medical officer for University Hospital and who also serves as chief quality officer for USA Health, the academic health system for the University of South Alabama.
On June 19, Rasco made his way to the hospital lobby on a sunny morning, this time to be recognized for assisting in the moments after birth and staying calm under pressure. Hospital leaders gathered to shake his hand, present him with a plaque and other gifts, and tell him how grateful they were for what he did.
“We are thrilled to be able to recognize and celebrate this brave and compassionate member of our staff who exemplifies the very best of our mission and values,” said Deborah Browning, MSN, RN, CENP, chief executive officer at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “Our goal is to continuously foster an environment where every team member understands their vital role in the care we provide to patients.”
