WAUWATOSA - When lives hang in the balance and the most critical patients need help, there is only one level one adult trauma center in Wisconsin: the Froedtert and Medical College emergency room.

It's what they handle on a daily basis.

Santos Dustano was rushed in the trauma room as paramedics filled in the assembled doctors, nurses and staff on his situation.

"This is Santos. 37-year-old male. He was pinned between a fork lift and a car."

The trauma team, including senior resident Jon Van Heukelom sprang into action.

"Sir, what we're going to do is roll you onto your side."

Shift flow coordinator and registered nurse Lanna Zobel reassured Dustano.

"We're not going to drop you. We're going to turn you and take a look at your back, OK?"

Doctors tried to find the source of Dustano's excruciating pain.

"Does this shoulder hurt?" Van Heukelom said.

"Yes," Santos said, moaning.

"He has tenderness and deformity in his left shoulder," Van Heukelom said.

There were X rays, blood work, EKG and CAT scans. The trauma team raced to diagnose the extent of Dustanos' crush injuries.

As leaders of the trauma team leaned into a monitor, the X rays told the story: no internal injuries...nothing life threatening. There are two broken ribs, a broken collar bone and pain...lots of pain.

Doctor Chris Decker is the head of clinical services in the ER and he has worked thousands of traumas.

"Your senses come forward. Everything is bright and vibrant and you're really trying to get all the information that you can," Decker said. "That can be stressful, tiring and rewarding all at the same time."

TODAY'S TMJ4 visited Froedtert on a Monday. It's typically the busiest day of the week.

"I Stat machine is down so turnaround time for I Stats is going to be very lengthy."

Lanna Zobel is the shift flow coordinator. Her job is part traffic cop, part air traffic controller in the ER.

"It's fun. It's frustrating. It's aggravating. It's emotional stress, but I don't think I would do any other type of nursing," Zobel said.

Doctor Jon Van Heukelom is chekcing on Jacob Turner who has come into the ER with a severe asthma attack.

"Your asthma has been acting up for how long now?" Van Heukelom said.

"Two weeks ago I had a really bad asthma attack and flu like symptoms," Turner said.

"Does it feel like your normal asthma exacerbations?" Van Heukelom said.

"No," Turner said.

"How does this feel different?" Van Heukelom said.

"It's unbearable," Turner said.

Dr. Decker comes in to check things out.

"You sound kind of froggy. Is that part of the illness?" Dr. Decker said.

"Huh?" Turner said.

Decker and Van Heukelom discover that a viral infection is irritating Turner's asthma. He's given medication and sent home.

We witness doctors and nurses dealing with punishing chest pain, pneumonia and a variety of aches and pains. As our shift progresses the ER gets busier and busier. The workload increases and the pace quickens.

Ninety minutes later the ER is slammed.

Administrators shut down to all non trauma ambulance traffic, and with two other area ERs already closed, it will be difficult for ambulances to find somewhere to take patients.

Zobel says it's a reality that repeats itself weekly.

"We've got 12, 13 waiting out front. Six people to even be seen out at the front triage desk. Two in the trauma room. We've got a full arena. I've got no place really to put any more patients," Zobel said.

Our shift ends, but the life saving work continues.

Zobel say it's rewarding and overwhelming.

"By the end of the week you don't have much left to give, and it can definitely take a toll on friendships, families, relationships. Because you give everything you have at work," Zobel said.