EMS Reflections

Caring for Our Communities through the Pandemic

In 1974, President Gerald Ford authorized National EMS Week (May 16-22) to celebrate EMS practitioners and the important work they do in our nation's communities.

This year's theme is This Is EMS: Caring for Our Communities. To observe the week, we caught up with some members of our AtlantiCare team and asked them to reflect on what their work meant during the past year.

Nancy Raniszewski, MICP

What has working in EMS through the pandemic meant to you?

Working in EMS this past year was quite different and unlike any other in my 30 + years. The focus of PPE (personal protective equipment) reaffirmed the importance of protection and the seriousness of the pandemic. I was uncertain for a period of time, wondering if I would become affected by COVID, bring it home to my family or pass it onto to a colleague or patient.

What did working at the Atlantic County COVID-19 Vaccination Megasite mean to you?

My experience working the megasite has been rewarding in that I have the ability to care for people from the community in a much different manner than through the 911 EMS response, and this truly helped with slowing the spread of the pandemic. It was an experience in teamwork with other AtlantiCare staff, FEMA representatives, the NJ Air National Guard personnel and others that I’ll always remember.

Tell us something notable you experienced or received from a member of the community this year.

One of the FEMA representatives gave me a challenge coin that clearly described the mission of the megasite: pandemic response and medical care through vaccination. I have this small token on display in my home, where I will frequently reflect upon the positive and meaningful impact the megasite and AtlantiCare have had on our community.

Cindy Moriarity, EMT

What has working in EMS through the pandemic meant to you?

This year in EMS has been a very trying year for many reasons. It was a challenge to communicate with patients with the equipment we had to wear. It showed that those of us in the healthcare field were able to adapt and overcome the many fears that arose in this last year.

What did working at the Atlantic County COVID-19 Vaccination Megasite mean to you?

I love working at the megasite. Many people from different organizations came together for the same mission to help people. We grew as a family and met many new people for one cause. I feel very proud to be a part of this mission.

Tell us something notable you experienced or received from a member of the community this year.

There are many great stories from the megasite, so it is hard to focus on just one. In general, many people were concerned and frightened about getting this new vaccine, but the show of people that came out to receive the vaccine was so humbling. Everyone had the same reason: to be able to get back to normal and protect themselves and family members from getting sick. It was an honor to be able to comfort people and be able to calm them down with just a conversation.

Dawn Lee, RN/MICN, SCT Manager

What has working in EMS through the pandemic meant to you?

Being active in EMS over the past year with the pandemic has been both challenging and rewarding. Having the fear of contracting the virus, as well as being the voice of reason for the patients and their families that were sick and could not be together was stressful, to say the least. By assuring families that we would take the best care of their loved ones and keep them posted with any changes in condition, we helped them have some sense of control when they could not be with their loved ones.

What did working at the Atlantic County COVID-19 Vaccination Megasite mean to you?

It was an honor to be involved with such a dedicated group of people, all of whom had the same mission in sight. We wanted to help as many people regain control of their health and their livelihood. Experiencing people coming in for a vaccine and being so thankful was something that I will never forget.

Tell us something notable you experienced or received from a member of the community this year.

Working at the megasite, I had a middle-aged woman come to my station for her second vaccine. She was sitting at my station and before I could prepare her vaccine, she began to cry. I thought she was nervous about receiving an injection. I asked her what was wrong and she proceeded to tell me that this entire experience has made her look at life and the importance of family and friends more than anything. She was so humbled and thankful for the staff that was working so hard to get this community healthy and strong once again. She grabbed my hand, looked at me and with a tearful face, told me that I was making a difference, and just being there that day to administer her vaccine was the most amazing thing that I could do for her. It made me realize that even though we are in the EMS field and we all tend to put on the strong faces and just do the job, what we do each and every day, no matter how little we feel it is, makes an enormous impact on the people’s lives that we touch.

I am truly blessed to be a part of the AtlantiCare EMS Department and watch the miracles and accomplishments that are made every day!