Silver Cross EMS Trains the First Responders Who Can Bring Life into the World, or Preserve It

If you or a loved one has needed the services of emergency medical personnel in Will County, there is a good chance they were trained through the EMS System at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. 

For nearly 50 years, Silver Cross has served as the Resource Hospital for the Silver Cross Emergency Medical Services System (formerly known as Will/Grundy EMS). 

“We are the mothership to the system,” said Brian Baudek, Education Program Director/Assistant Manager of Silver Cross EMS. 

Paramedics, EMTs, first responders and dispatchers rely on Silver Cross for primary and continuing education, quality assurance and administrative support so they’re well-prepared to respond to any and all emergencies. 

The Silver Cross EMS System is a network of more than 2,000 specially trained personnel within 34 fire departments, ambulance services, industrial responder agencies, and dispatch centers, and four associate hospitals, all committed to the coordination of quality pre-hospital patient care. 

And they take that training very seriously, Baudek said. 

“Every paramedic needs to recertify with 100 continuing education hours every four years,” said Baudek, who also serves as a lieutenant with the Joliet Fire Department. 

“And we make sure those certifications don’t lapse, and actually, are accomplished before their deadlines.” 

Paramedics earn toward their 100 hours of continuing education in part through monthly online testing offered through Silver Cross’ EMS System. 

Knowing how busy – and often shorthanded – agencies are with EMTs, Silver Cross offers not only the online continuing education, but will come out to a department whenever possible to demonstrate a new piece of equipment or a new procedure. 

A Long Way in 45 Years

There have been many changes in emergency response procedures since the System’s inception in 1975, which at that time consisted of only six emergency personnel from Homer Fire Protection District, said Marilyn Zanelli, EMS System Operations Coordinator. 

“Before I was hired, I remember hearing stories of patients being treated and transported in station wagon-style ambulances that would double as a hearse,” said Zanelli, who will celebrate 35 years with the team in March. “They had no room to move and so little equipment.” 

“Now, they are basically an emergency room on wheels, with advanced cardiac life support and breathing equipment, IVs and monitors in constant communication with the emergency rooms they’re heading to,” Baudek said. 

Silver Cross EMS is there with the paramedics in the system every step of the way, even during the emergencies. 

“They can call us anytime for a question on a medication or a procedure,” Baudek said. “We are there for them.” 

Silver Cross EMS personnel also help paramedics responding to emergencies determine which hospitals patients should be transported to, based, in part, on the severity of their injuries. 

“Sometimes, the closest hospital may be St. Joe’s,” Baudek said. “But St. Joe’s may say they just got two gunshot victims and can take only one of the responder’s victims. So, we help find the next closest hospital to treat them. It’s part of triage at the scene.” 

“Dr. Dave” Mikolajczak, Medical Director for the Silver Cross EMS program, will get a call in the middle of the night. 

“There are emergency nurses and doctors in the emergency rooms who can help them,” Dr. Mikolajczak said. “But every now and then, they have a special case where things aren’t going the way they thought they would, and they need a little extra help. My cell phone is on all night.” 

As EMS Medical Director, Dr. Mikolajczak oversees training programs, revising topics for testing and education as new issues come up. Paramedics in the program also administer medications under his oversight. 

The Horror of COVID-19

As if the normal stress of the job weren’t enough, Baudek said COVID-19, especially in the early days of the pandemic, burned lasting images he and other first-responders never will forget. 

“I have never seen so much death,” Baudek said, still shaken at the memories. “On calls, we would wear N95 masks and face shields, but for a while, they had only scrubs for us to wear. At the end of our shift, we would take those off so they could be washed separately and shower. 

“There were paramedics who caught COVID-19, and while they recovered, some still are feeling the long-term effects. 

“My wife is a nurse, so when I came home, we were able to talk to each other about it. 

“I never want to see that again.” 

A Popular Program

Baudek said Silver Cross EMS soon will add another agency, growing their team to 35 agencies. 

“They hear about the quality of our education, the professionalism and the teamwork we have. We have partners from Crete-Monee to Plainfield.” 

Cheryl Hansen, EMS Coordinator for the Plainfield Fire Protection District, said she has worked with the system all of her 39 years there. 

“They provide excellent guidance and education,” she said, especially as the Plainfield district has grown throughout those years. 

“If we ask, they’ll come out to do CEs in person, when seeing a procedure first-hand helps so much.” 

They’ve done that and much more said Kim Gramlich, EMS Coordinator for 29 years for the Wilmington Fire Protection District. 

“We called them for support when we had a pediatric cardiac patient,” Gramlich said. “It was pretty 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. We know we can approach them any time if we need anything.” 

Dr. Mikolajczak said they know that despite all the training they receive, there are certain cases that will trigger emotional responses for the EMTs, especially those involving trauma to young children. 

“We know it can be tough. But we have a great team here to help them through it.” 

In It Together

Dr. Mikolajczak noted there is a shortage of paramedics, likely because of the rigorous training, “and knowing you might one day be delivering a baby, and the next, dealing with a car crash. It’s a lot to handle. 

“But it’s a great career. Very rewarding.” 

Lockport Fire Chief John O’Connor encourages those interested to take the Silver Cross paramedic training. 

“I did it myself 25 or so years ago. I think Dr. Dave was there then, too!” said O’Connor, who’s known Baudek for 35 years. 

“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. 

“During COVID, when things were bad enough, we had hospitals on bypass because they were full for one reason or another. Silver Cross EMS helped us find hospitals for our patients.” 

O’Connor said the staff also is amazing, including Zanelli, Program Administrative Director Jill Pateros and EMS Manager Lori Chiappetta. 

Zanelli said Chiappetta and Pateros have created an EMS education program she believes is second to none. 

But Baudek and the agency representatives say the cheery-voiced Zanelli – who is in charge of making sure all the licenses for the personnel and ambulances are up to date – holds the program together, making sure everyone has their licensure materials well before their deadlines. 

That kind of attention and professionalism is important, O’Connor said. 

“They make you feel like we’re all in this together.” 

“It’s a whole team,” Zanelli said. “A wheel can’t run with just one rung. We are all in this together.”