NO MATTER WHAT time of day it is, the emergency room at Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital is constantly abuzz with activity. Since the acquisition of the hospital by Vanderbilt in 2021, the daily census reveals that the number of people seeking help at the facility has doubled from 34 patients per day to over 60, swelling to over 22,000 patients last year. At a moment’s notice, the staff must be ready to handle emergencies that range from serious infections, severe allergic reactions, broken bones, injuries from accidents, patients in cardiac arrest, and everything in between. Behind each door, minutes flash by like seconds as a person’s life – or that of an entire family – is changed forever.