Heroes Among Us
Mandy Searcy quietly saves lives during the COVID pandemic .
By SONDRA BARR
Quiet heroes are toiling behind the scenes in times like these . As an unprecedented pandemic rages across the globe , the afflicted and their families are finding solace in the efforts of countless unsung medical professionals . COVID has proven to be a test , beyond just that of negative or positive ; it ’ s also a measure of the extent of human compassion , particularly when it comes to frontline healthcare workers , doctors , and nurses . And , while there ’ s no denying that the medical community has stepped up to the plate in the fight against COVID , there are extraordinary standouts whose passion to serve truly sets them apart .
As the patients of Bent Tree Family Physicians attest , certified medical assistant Mandy Searcy belongs in that rarefied group . The praise bestowed upon Searcy also comes from the medical professionals she works with daily .
“ Quiet management of COVID behind the scenes is what this story is . Most of the COVID care and most of the people who are reassured — and many that were saved — was from Mandy ’ s direct intervention ,” explains Dr . Guy Culpepper , founder of Bent Tree Family Physicians . With 16 providers and dozens of employees , Bent Tree ’ s legacy providing exceptional care is well documented in the area .
“ To me , Mandy represents all those office nurses across the country who ’ re quietly saving lives ,” says Culpepper , who ’ s been in family medicine for 33 years . For the past 18 years , he ’ s witnessed Mandy ’ s dedication to her job , which has only intensified in the face of COVID . In early March of last year , when whisperings of a deadly virus rapidly evolved into full blown headline news , Culpepper and the staff at Bent Tree realized COVID would be an enormous local concern . At the time , some Bent Tree patients were already exhibiting signs that would soon be recognized as signature COVID symptoms .
“ Mandy took testing on as her mantle ,” explains Culpepper . Between the two of them , they researched COVID tests , including how to perform them , where to purchase them , and the labs best qualified to analyze the tests .
While some members of the Bent Tree team were understandably uneasy about swabbing patients for the test , Searcy was unfazed and volunteered to take on testing efforts .
“ Those early weeks , we saw a lot of sick patients before we knew how serious it is ,” says Searcy . “ Some would be so sick they ’ d literally be laying in their back seat with their spouse driving them .”
26 • MARCH / APRIL 2021