All in the family: Mom, son, daughter team up to serve patients in St. Luke’s Elmore operating rooms

It is one thing to have a work environment that would be described as a “family atmosphere.” In the operating rooms at St. Luke’s Elmore, it is literal.

Three members of the West family – mother Jo, son Bradshaw and daughter Laura – work alongside one another at the hospital in Mountain Home.

“I wish we had more just like them,” said Dr. Karen Galvan, a general surgeon.

Jo, 59, is a registered nurse, as is Bradshaw, 36. Laura, 27, is a certified surgical technologist. It’s a unique dynamic in a hospital setting, but the trio makes it work.

“They are all very professional, and they are all very good at what they do,” Dr. Galvan said. “They all have the same kind of calming temperament.”

Jo sets the tone for that professionalism. Her love for her job was no doubt evident in the seven children she raised. They also acquired an appreciation for hard work on the family farm.

“We’ve worked together all of the kids’ lives,” Jo said. “The kids grew up on the farm, so we’ve always worked side by side.”

The Wests don’t work together every hour of every day, but the Elmore operating room might have four or five nurses and two CSTs working on any given day. So, they do end up working together fairly regularly.

“People seem to like it and the staff will have fun with it,” Jo said. “Some of our workers will call it the ‘West Takeover’ or the ‘West Hospital.’”  

Laura said she often calls Jo by name, but sometimes when they’re working together in the OR she’ll rely on what she’s used to and address her as “mom.”

“The doctors that we work with find that amusing,” Laura said.

Bradshaw said he appreciates that the family dynamic can bring a little levity to a hospital setting.

“We find joy in the work,” he said. “So, we try to make work a happy place and I think people notice that.”

But they also take their roles very seriously.

“Since we know each other so well we know how to help each other,” Jo said. “When I need help at work, they know better than anybody how to best help me.

“Laura is a very skilled surgical scrub tech … and Bradshaw is a very resourceful nurse. People come to him for everything. The team relies on him a lot.”

Jo has lived in Mountain Home since 1976, while both Bradshaw and Laura were born and raised in the town of about 16,000. The community ties add another layer to their work at St. Luke’s.

“It’s very beneficial to have people who are deeply rooted in the community working here,” Dr. Galvan said. “I think it’s a win-win for Elmore.”

Added Bradshaw: “We take pride in wanting to better the health of our community and the people we serve here. A lot of times it’s people we’ve grown up with, our friends, our neighbors. … So, it’s great to be able to represent Mountain Home.”

Speaking of pride, Jo gets a lot of satisfaction watching Bradshaw and Laura help others.

“They’re very good and productive humans, so that makes me proud,” Jo said. “I’m able to see how they work and how they take care of other people. … And I learn from them.”

Dr. Galvan has also watched Jo set the tone for Bradshaw and Laura.

“Jo has so much experience and it’s kind of trickled down,” Dr. Galvan said. “She’s kind of a wonderful north star for the family.”

Laura said she often reminds herself to appreciate the chance to work alongside her mother – and her brother.

“I feel like it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with my family,” she said. “For a lot of families, life draws them apart.

“I find it really cool to work with them because it draws us closer together. When you work with someone you get to know them on a different level. … I’m really glad I have this opportunity – and they still inspire me.”