Spectrum trauma coordinator aims to bring patients comfort

This article is part of Spotlight, a series designed to connect readers to the people serving their community. Participants will include public safety personnel, teachers and school administrators, volunteers and local government employees who are dedicated to helping their friends and neighbors.

BIG RAPIDS — Traumatic events can be life-changing experiences.

Nobody knows that statement to be more true than Jeff Hotsinpiller, which is why he does anything and everything he can to bring comfort to patients.

Hotsinpiller is a trauma coordinator with Spectrum Health Big Rapids and Reed City hospitals where he works in the state-verified Level IV Trauma Center.

“Michigan has decided each facility has to be verified as a trauma center — all the way from a Level I, which is the most intense and critical traumas,” he explained. “That goes down to a Level IV, which is what most rural areas are.”

One of Hotsinpiller’s many roles is to make sure Spectrum Health is providing the most up-to-date and thorough care possible to people with traumatic injuries.

The West Virginia native’s journey to the western Michigan area started two decades ago.

“We had started coming up here to look for property to maybe retire to,” Hotsinpiller recalled his decision to move from Indiana to Michigan with his wife, Patricia. “We just decided, ‘Why wait that long? Let’s just move up here now.’”

“We came up here totally blind and I’ve loved it ever since,” he added.

Hotsinpiller initially worked in the Cadillac area when he arrived to Michigan, but currently resides near Tuston and LeRoy. Since 2002, he’s been a dedicated employee to Spectrum Health.

“I work on a lot on process improvement, different initiatives to improve our trauma services and improve patient outcome,”Hotsinpiller said of his current role.

On top of that, he also teach trauma classes through the Emergency Nurses Association; is a course director for the Trauma Nursing Core Course; and can often be found assisting in the emergency room.

“Sometimes people’s injuries are so severe that somehow they pull through,” he explained. “You think to yourself, ‘I had a little part of that and made a little bit of a difference.’”

“To see that patient come back in or you see them out on the street — that gives you a really warm feeling,” he added. “I was able to help that patient survive another day.”

In the field, Hotsinpiller said he and his coworkers have to continuously prioritize what is most important.

“You may have four things that need to be done right now, but what is the most important thing right now that’s going to be the best for that patient,” he said.

Hotsinpiller said he does find many rewarding aspects to his job, but some days can be more difficult than others. To help decompress from work, Hotsinpiller is an avid hunter and enjoys fly fishing — or any type of fishing for that matter, he said.

Hotsinpiller does have one hidden hobby: trapping.

“I don’t get to do as much as I’d want to, but I try to take a least a week off a year to do that,” he said.

Hotsinpiller has been able to trap various animals all around the state of Michigan, and while he’s had much success, he’s not interested in starting a new career.

“I enjoy getting outside and doing it for the exercise,” he said. “It’s something I enjoy doing and doing for free.”

“Once people find out you trap, you don’t have many problems getting places to trap,” he added.

When he’s not out in the wilderness, Hotsinpiller is a family man and can be found spending time with his wife Patricia, their children and many grandchildren.

Looking to the future, Hotsinpiller said he looks forward continuing to work with his “close-knit bunch” at Big Rapids and Reed City hospitals.

If there is someone you know and would like to see featured in our Spotlight series, email Reporter Catherine Sweeney at Catherine.Sweeney@pioneergroup.com.