ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. — Two Missouri paramedics received an award for their advocacy and assistance to ensure a patient with diabetes had access to healthy meals and food assistance.
St. Charles County Ambulance District (SCAAD) paramedics, Sarah McCarthy and Dave Goldstein, earned the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce 2015 Recognition of Service Excellence Award.
“Seeing two of our paramedics receive a standing ovation from a crowd of 150 leaders in our community was a proud moment,” said SCCAD Chief Taz Meyer.
Staring into a patient’s empty refrigerator and sparse pantry McCarthy and Goldstein knew the call they were on would be a little different than the normal. They had responded to call to the home for a woman with a low blood sugar level.
The experienced paramedics had already treated the patient, avoiding a trip to the hospital. While there, they also offered to make her a snack to help prevent her sugar level from dipping low again. Upon entering the kitchen, they found virtually no food. After some conversation, they learned the woman was struggling and unable to buy healthy food.
McCarthy and Goldstein immediately went to the grocery store, and with their own money, filled the woman’s shelves and refrigerator with supplies to make healthy meals for several days. They then worked to find long-term resources for the patient, connecting her with Meals on Wheels and other services to provide assistance.
“Working to arrange a long-term solution was relatively easy thanks to the fact that our district has a strong relationship with the senior centers, which operate the Meals on Wheels program,” Goldstein said. “Because we offer safety presentations, blood pressure checks and other services at these facilities frequently, we knew who to contact to get the ball rolling.”
Paramedics and other first responders are often called upon to serve in roles far removed from patient care.
“Dave and Sarah’s deft response to this situation was admirable, but not unexpected,” Meyer said. “Each has displayed strong patient advocacy skills in the past, and will no doubt continue working to link those in need with the services they require.”
In recognition of their immediate treatment actions and follow-up advocacy, the paramedics were selected among a field of nominees for the Chamber’s Recognition of Service Excellence award.