Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed Saturday, May 2, 2020 as Healthcare Heroes Day in Maryland. Across the state hospitals, fire departments, EMS agencies and communication centers, to name a few are honoring those that accept the challenge everyday to help those in need.
“I have never seen anything like this in my career,” Emergency Services Director James Pyles said. “Clinicians working side-by-side for hours in hospitals, our pre-hospital clinicians working hand in hand with emergency department staff to ensure patients are treated appropriately. With these troubling and challenging times, it makes me proud to be the director of such an amazing team.”
The COVID-19 crisis has shed new light on the importance of healthcare systems across the county, according to Pyles.
“This isn’t limited to just hospitals and long-term care facilities. It also relates to all the EMTs and paramedics that are responding to emergencies, using extra protection to safely treat and transport the sick and ill,” Pyles said.
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles,” the late Christopher Reeve said, a quote recited by Pyles.
“Heroes are truly what we have in our Joint Communications Center, EMS Division, at the Cumberland Fire Department, volunteer fire and EMS departments, staff at UPMC-Western Maryland, the Allegany County Health Department and our other allied agencies that regularly support emergency services,” Pyles said