Dr. Matt Riester
As Dr. Riester was about to head out of town with his wife to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, Hurricane Helene reached North Carolina.
We’re continuing to shine a light on the incredible Hurricane Helene response of our Mission Health family. Dr. Matt Riester, the emergency department medical director at Mission Hospital, has dedicated himself to serving our patients in the ER for the past five years. One week ago, as he was about to head out of town with his wife to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary, Hurricane Helene reached North Carolina.
When Dr. Riester lost power at his home, he knew he needed to get to the hospital to help. His wife, Alexa, also an ER physician at the hospital, encouraged him to head in. The drive to the ER, typically a quick 30 minutes, turned into a 2-hour journey through downed power lines and fallen trees. That day, our ER faced an extraordinary challenge, caring for over 600 patients, far exceeding our usual volume of 200. Mission Hospital care teams worked together to meet Helene patient care needs with dedication, compassion and strength.
Dr. Riester reflects on how the hospital team came together to fulfill our mission to care for and improve human life, “A lot of the emergency room staff, nurses, the doctors, respiratory therapists and techs, everybody, we're all in the same boat. We all have families. We all have houses. Many people had damage to their houses and a lot of people who were here when it initially hit didn’t leave the hospital for days.”
Our dedicated caregivers not only provided essential care to those in need, but also supported one another. We are also thankful for our broader HCA Healthcare network who rallied to bring vital resources — meals, water, generators, fuel, mini marts, mobile showers and more — to Mission Health hospitals and colleagues.
As Dr. Riester made his way home, he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from emergency response personnel who traveled from across the nation to assist. “I honestly started crying, just knowing everyone from across the country is supporting us,” he shared.
We are immensely proud of our Mission Health caregivers, like Dr. Riester, who show up every day — especially in times of crisis – to support the needs of our patients, our community and each other.