Paramedics respond to emergencies, from someone having a heart attack in their home to multi-vehicle accidents. Working in emergency medical services requires skill, intelligence, and empathy. It can be one of the most stressful yet rewarding healthcare professions. Amy Roseland understands the stress and reward that goes along with being an emergency medical service professional. Amy is a paramedic for Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center, serving the communities of Canton and Lennox, she is also this weeks SDAHO Healthcare Hero. The SDAHO Healthcare hero campaign is designed to recognize and celebrate healthcare heroes across South Dakota.”
Amy began her career in healthcare 27 years ago with Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center starting off in maintenance and then became a nursing assistant. It was not until 2012, where she advanced her career and became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). She then worked her way to an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and today she is a full-time Paramedic. “To be honest, it’s a wonderful system to work in and I am so thankful for all the resources we have here.” One of Sanford’s values is Calling, which is defined as, demonstrating enthusiasm for those we serve, our vocation, and it is the organizations mission. “This fits with Amy’s passion for the Sanford organization. She often puts her life on hold to serve the Canton or Lennox communities because she does not want a call to go unanswered.” – Scott Larson, President & CEO Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center
Amy grew up just across the South Dakota border, in Iowa and moved to the Rushmore state in high school and has called it home ever since. Amy was introduced to the healthcare industry at a young age. “My mom was a nurse and an EMT. I watched how much she loved what she did, and I always knew I wanted to do something in healthcare.” Amy says she appreciates the variety of tasks her job brings, and she enjoys working with different patients every day, but what she really appreciates about South Dakota’s healthcare system is for personal reasons. “My son was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2019 and spent 38 days in Sanford Health. He moved home just 6 weeks prior to his diagnosis from out of state and I am so thankful that he had such amazing care here in South Dakota, he is doing well today!”
It has become harder to staff EMS positions. To help fill that need, Amy stepped up and serves as the EMS Educator for the Patient Care, the EMS School, the Sanford Health School of EMS, and the State EMS Association. “Amy has a passion for helping others and demonstrates her enthusiasm through educating others. She knows that many services and communities are struggling to cover their services and she wants to be able to instill the same passion that she has into others so that the profession can thrive again.” – Scott Larson, President & CEO Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center.
COVID-19 hit the area that Amy serves hard, which put a big strain on EMS services. “We had an increase in calls and patients were much sicker than normal. It was hard to lose so many of our patients that we knew and loved.” Even during the difficult times, Amy says the whole system came together and made things safe and efficient for both the patients and staff. “Even in the midst of a pandemic, Amy averaged 271.5 hours of service per month from March 2020 through March of 2021, just with the Sanford Canton-Inwood Ambulance.” – Scott Larson, President & CEO Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center.
Amy admits the last year and a half have been hard for everyone, but she learned early in her career to lean on her colleagues who are more like family. “We see a lot of really hard things when we are out on calls. When I had my first rough call one of my coworkers who was on vacation called me to see if I was doing ok. It showed me that no matter how bad things are, I always have people behind me to make sure I’m doing okay.” Those who work with Amy say the community also respects and appreciates Amy for the work she does. “I recall numerous times while on calls with Amy, people called her by name and were so appreciative they were under her care. Amy is a true asset to the Sanford Canton-Inwood Ambulance Service and the surrounding communities.” – Scott Larson, President & CEO Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center.
When asked how she feels about being called a healthcare hero, Amy says she has a hard time considering herself a hero. “I did my job just like any other day. Was it hard? Yes, but it is what I signed up for and there are so many people deserving of the title hero.”
Amy, congratulations on being SDAHO’s Healthcare Hero and thank you for all you do!
If you know someone that is a healthcare hero and would like to nominate them, visit us online and nominate them today. https://sdaho.org/heroes/
#SDhealthcarehero
