50 Years of Exceptional Pre-Hospital Care

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, ambulances were a far cry from what they are today. Patients were transported in repurposed station wagons, panel vans or hearses – the only vehicles big enough to carry a patient on a stretcher. Their contents: a simple first aid kit. 

CPR was nearly impossible to perform in such tight quarters so lifesaving care “in the field” took a backseat; the real priority was getting to the nearest hospital!  

But that all changed in 1973 when the national Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Act established 300 EMS systems around the country, with a focus on formal first responder training, EMS radio communications and effective ambulance design. 

Silver Cross Hospital immediately aspired to form its own EMS System. In May 1975, the dream was realized when the Illinois Department of Public Health approved the Will/Grundy EMS System as the 10^th in Illinois, with Silver Cross Hospital as its Resource Hospital. (The name was changed to Silver Cross EMS in 2012.) 

While the System started with only one Fire Department, six EMS personnel, and three associate hospitals, today, Silver Cross EMS consists of 34 fire departments, ambulance services, and dispatch centers. Region 7, which Silver Cross is part of, includes five associate hospitals, and 2,000+ actively licensed personnel, providers, and state-of-the-art EMS vehicles. In all, the system consists of Paramedics, EMTs, Pre-Hospital RN’s, Emergency Communication RN’s, Emergency Medical Responders, Lead Instructors and Emergency Medical Dispatchers responding to emergencies in our communities 24/7. 

“When the system began in 1975, emergency medicine was in its infancy,” explains Dr. David Mikolajczak, Medical Director of Silver Cross EMS. “As we've grown and matured, we've also changed the care we can provide. Early paramedics had minimal amounts of equipment; today, there are advanced cardiac monitors, defibrillators, cardiac medications and other resuscitation measures in place.” 

Joliet Fire Department Chief Jeff Carey, a 1996 graduate of the Silver Cross paramedic program, originally set his sights on a firefighting career. But that changed when he saw the positive impact of EMS providers on people suffering life-threatening health emergencies. 

“In the fire service, EMS is so much a part of what we do,” he explained. “I was assigned to Ambulance 5, and it was our busiest ambulance at the time. We started running so many calls, and you see the effect you have on people’s lives. I ended up staying on the ambulance my entire career until I was promoted to lieutenant.” 

Today, every EMS professional and firefighter in the Joliet Fire Department is a paramedic, the highest level of pre-hospital providers, and the majority were trained by Silver Cross EMS. “It's been almost 30 years, and the stuff we did as a medic then and the stuff they're doing now, is so much more advanced. That’s why you see medics being used more and more in hospital settings and in clinical settings, because their scope of practice has broadened.” 

Silver Cross as a Resource Hospital

Silver Cross EMS provides vital support services for EMS providers 24/7, answering questions about medications, procedures, and destination decisions based on the severity of a patient’s condition. 

Dr. Mikolajczak often fields these calls – even in the middle of the night. “There are emergency nurses and doctors in the emergency rooms who can help,” said Dr. Mikolajczak. “But sometimes, they’re faced with a case that’s not going as expected and need a little extra support. My cell phone is on all night.” 

As the resource hospital for Silver Cross EMS, Silver Cross Hospital offers not only online continuing education but also on-site training whenever possible to demonstrate new equipment or procedures. And no matter which hospital an ambulance may be transporting to, Silver Cross EMS is calling the shots! 

Lockport Fire Chief John O’Connor, a 25-year graduate of Silver Cross EMS, added, “The Silver Cross EMS System is one of the best in the state. The education they provide is top-notch, and they are there to help whenever you need it.” 

Kim Gramlich, EMS Coordinator for the Wilmington Fire Protection District, echoed that. “We called them for support when we had a pediatric cardiac patient,” she said. “It was emotional, and they knew that. They called us afterward and asked how we were doing and if we needed any further support. That makes a crew feel appreciated.” 

Dr. Mikolajczak noted that certain calls—especially those involving children—can be emotionally difficult for responders, even with the best training. “We have a great team here to help them through it,” he said. 

Chief O’Connor also praised the EMS staff, including Marilyn Zanelli, EMS System Operations Coordinator; Program Administrative Director Jill Pateros, RN; and EMS Manager and Paramedic Program Dean of Students Lori Chiappetta, RN. “They make you feel like we’re all in this together,” O’Connor added. 

Since its inception, Silver Cross Hospital has been the initial training course location for more than 3,000 Paramedics, EMTs, Intermediates, pre-hospital RNs, emergency communications RNs and emergency medical dispatchers. 

Chances are, if you or a loved one needs an ambulance, the prehospital providers who arrive at your home have been trained by Silver Cross EMS, and Silver Cross as the resource hospital is overseeing every step of your care, until you arrive at the hospital. 

“EMS providers make a difference every day,” Chiappetta added. “Just ask the people whose lives they’ve saved. 

For more information, visit silvercrossems.com