OU Health releases support medical services in OKC Thunder Champion Parade
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahoma OU Health's system has released its partnered efforts with the 2025 NBA Champions Oklahoma City Thunder deploying over 100 physicians, nurse and healthcare professionals assisting with healthcare needs during the historic championship parade.
OU Health Medical Support Service Highlights:
- Served 940 patients
- 100+ health professionals onsite
- Two (2) first-aid tents
- Five (5) cooling stations
- Five (5) cooling buses
- Administering 75 liters of IV fluid to approximately 75 patients
- Distributing 50,000 OU Health cooling towels with support of Thunder and partners help
According to OU Health leadership, the approach is proactive regarding large-scale events and its unique capability as the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the state. "Being Oklahoma’s flagship academic healthcare system and only Level 1 Trauma Center, we have infrastructure, abilities and advancements not available elsewhere in the state," said Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of OU Health. "We take our duty to serve the state and the community very seriously. It's not what we do. It's who we are."
Throughout the Thunder parade OU Health's team established first-aid stations, cooling tents, and cooling buses preventing emergency room visits and instead delivering immediate care to parade attendees on the spot.
Nicole Hodge, BSN, R.N., CEN, TCRN, manager of the Trauma Emergency Department at OU Health, coordinated much of the onsite response and said, “the day was hot, but our OU Health response went smoothly. It was mostly heat exhaustion. We had a couple of low blood sugar incidents and some minor injuries that we treated with splints and wound care. But for the most part, it was heat exhaustion."
"We planned comprehensively to ensure that if any event occurred, we anticipated it," said Dr. Lofgren. "This successful response reflects OU Health's infrastructure capabilities and commitment to serving as Oklahoma's safety net for both routine and emergency medical needs."
OU Health's officials say the historic event was not just a clinical operational endeavor, but OU Health’s overall commitment to the community, said Jennifer Schultz Kouandjio, MBA, chief marketing and growth officer for OU Health.
"The outpouring of support from city and state partners for our team in the planning and day of parade is a testament to the strength of our people and the trust we've earned as Oklahoma's flagship academic health system. We love the OKC Thunder players and entire Thunder organization. It was an honor and privilege to stand alongside them as they made history,” she said.
For more information, visit OUHealth.com.