HEALTH CARE
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Omicron variant an unknown for Bexar County’s COVID cases BY EDMOND ORTIZ OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022
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Local ambulance company ramps up recruiting BY TRICIA SCHWENNESEN Natalie Gage-Avila was working two jobs, one as a barista and the other as a server, while also trying to go to school, again.
With the latest omicron variant, uncertainty remained about how the COVID-19 pandemic would continue to play out through 2022. In early January, the local positivity rate reached 27.3% with the highly contagious omicron variant accounting for 90-100% of new cases prompting the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to upgrade its community risk level to “severe.” COVID-19 by the numbers* New cases in 24 hours: 4,363 Hospitalized: 533 Total cases: 355,732 ICU Patients: 116 New deaths: 0 Patients on ventilators: 47 Total deaths: 4,977 *DATA AS OF JAN. 4 SOURCE: SAN ANTONIO METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER COVID-19 hotline Call: 311, select Option 8 Email: COVID-19@sanantonio.gov Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-noon
“I was struggling to stay in school,” the 22-year-old said. “I was just trying to gure out what I wanted to do, and nothing was sticking. I actually hated everything.” And then a near fatal tragedy struck close to home. Gage- Avila had to call 911, and when the ambulance arrived she watched as the crew worked to save her loved one. It is the moment that changed her life. That ambulance crew saved her family member, and it is the moment that has kept her committed to succeeding in an accelerated emergency medical technician program put on by Acadian Ambulance Services and the National EMS Academy. Gage-Avila is part of the second class put on by the two organizations as a way to shore up a local shortage of EMT professionals, but a shortage is also being felt nationwide. According to a report by the Texas Department of State Health Services, in 2019, there were some 31,418 EMS professionals who worked on ambulances, or about 46% of those certi ed as medics, compared to 20,776 EMS profes- sionals in 2021, or a little more than 27%. At the same time, call volumes continue to climb. “There is a national EMS workforce shortage, and the pandemic has made it even worse,” said Butch Oberho , director of governmental a airs at Acadian Ambulance Services. There is a need for EMTs, paramedics and even van drivers, he said, but mostly in the more rural areas of Bexar County including Emergency Services District 3 and across the north side of San Antonio. Oberho said the shortage has been fueled by a lack of productive recruiting, the e ects of the COVID-19 pandemic, losing quali ed emergency services professionals to other elds such as the oil and gas and hospitals, and other barriers such as cost or a candidate who to attend the program. The state Legislature is also helping. After the third spe- cial session the governor signed o on Senate Bill 8, which allocated $21.7 million to emergency medical services. Oberho said the funds will be used to promote the eld as well as to recruit and fund training programs that
Students in the second accelerated EMT course practice life- saving skills on dummies. (Courtesy Acadian Ambulance Services)
AMBULANCE CALLS
2021 *
130.2
+26.78%
2020
102.7
+2.8%
2019
99.9
Average number of calls per month
SOURCE: ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICES COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER *AS OF NOVEMBER
prioritize rural and underserved areas. The seven-week accelerated course is a good option for a lot of people, he said, although candidates are in class from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Acadian pays for the course plus $11 per hour and health care and dental bene ts. Once the student passes the national certi cation test, they have a job with Acadian. Gage-Avila said the program has been perfect for her. “The fact that it’s accelerated, I wanted to get this done quickly,” she said. “And the ridealongs, and the instructor, she never hesitated to answer any of my questions, even if it was dumb.” For information or to apply, visit https://nationalemsacademy.com/programs/ accelerated-emt-program-san-antonio
Judson ISD o ers free COVID-19 screenings
School district o cials continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 and its variants, and o er free COVID-19 screenings to students and sta . Screenings take place from 3-5 p.m. Mondays at the following schools: Judson and Metzger middle schools, and Veterans Memorial and Wagner high schools. Registration is required. www.judsonisd.org
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION • JANUARY 2022
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