EMS director on front lines of response
Doctor highlights work of first responders as they deal with virus crisis
Until two weeks ago, Regional EMS Medical Director Dr. Alvin Wang’s job was mostly behind the scenes.
But as cases of COVID-19 continue to increase locally, he’s been called to stand in front of the camera at daily briefings with elected leaders, as well as other health and safety officials to answer questions from reporters about the developing COVID-19 cases and preparedness tactics in Montgomery County.
“Being a full time emergency medicine physician, I’m used to emergencies in general, but … the rate, and the duration of this one is definitely outside the norm,” he said.
There are 68 positive cases of COVID-19 in Montgomery County as of Friday evening, according to the county’s COVID-19 website. That number multiplied in 13 days from the first two cases reported on March 7.
Wang is not only the face in front of the press and public, he is also the face of support for the county’s first responders. He had previous experience as an emergency medical technician, paramedic and a flight paramedic, and offers support and guidance to the county’s 19 emergency medical services groups.
“They are working tirelessly every single day behind the scenes to take care of everybody else,” he said.
Wang traveled to Montgom
“Being a full time emergency medicine physician, I’m used to emergencies in general, but … the rate, and the duration of this one is definitely outside the norm.”
— Dr. Alvin Wang
ery County and Pittsburgh to work as an EMT while attending Penn State. He was later trained as a paramedic at the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western PA and went to the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school, according to the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s website.
“I live in Montgomery
County, I work in Montgomery County, my family is in Montgomery County,” he said. “I feel a strong sense of obligation to make sure that our county is responding in the best possible way to this public health emergency, and I feel really privileged and honored to be able to contribute to that response.”
In dealing with this virus crisis, paramedics and first responders in the county are equipped with personal protective equipment, which includes a gown, gloves, N95 mask, and eye protection, Wang said. The response is activated as 911 dispatchers ask callers questions regarding symptoms and travel in certain medical situations. This allows first responders to don the appropriate gear when caring for people in need.
Wang noted that COVID-19 is a new disease, and little research has been possible on either the disease or the virus that causes it, named SARSCo-V-2.
“It’s really hard, I think, for our first responders when they don’t have a good sense of how this will play out,” he said.
“So in the midst of this emergency I know our first responders are thinking about their families back at home, and thinking about their safety; our first responders struggle when schools close and daycares close,” he said.
While first responders continue to work on the front lines, area residents have sent kind gestures including messages and food to different stations, Wang said.
“In EMS and in emergency medicine, we are used to rising up to meet challenges,” Wang said. “Our job is to prepare for things that people don’t think we need to prepare for, and I have full confidence in our EMS practitioners to be able to handle it.
“At the same time I think it’s important that they know they have the support from the community and the members of our public that they need to keep on being able to do their jobs.”