Caregility - Frontline Medical Hero of the Year

Company: Caregility, Eatontown, NJ
Entry Submitted By: Agency Ten22
Company Description: Caregility is a clinical collaboration and communications company moving the access point of care closer to the patient. The Caregility Platform is a HIPAA-compliant, purpose-built telehealth ecosystem that provides secure, reliable two-way audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Nomination Category: COVID-19 Response Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Frontline Medical Hero of the Year

Nomination Title: EMS Worker Battles COVID-19 in the Field and at Home

Bernard Robinson, Regional Director at Northwell Health’s Center for Emergency Medical Services, contracted COVID-19 in March of 2020 while working on healthcare's frontline. Northwell was using its expansive network of hospitals, including one hospital at the epicenter of the pandemic in Queens, to triage patients in an effort to load-balance to reduce stress on regional emergency departments. At its height, Bernard's team was transporting 75 to 100 patients each day, frequently entering the homes of the infected. In late March, after working an overnight shift, Bernard began to display symptoms. After suffering dangerously low blood oxygen levels and on the brink of needing intubation, he was admitted to North Shore Hospital where he was formally diagnosed with COVID-19. Bernard spent five days in the hospital, where he participated in a clinical trial that eventually resulted in his recovery.

After his formal discharge on Easter morning, Bernard spent just a week and a half reflecting on his experience and regaining his energy before he decided to rejoin his EMS brothers and sisters in the COVID response. As Bernard put it, "We geared up and did what we had to do as EMS professionals. If hospital workers are the front line, we in EMS are the special forces that venture behind enemy lines into uncontrolled environments to retrieve and rescue the sick. As a leader, I couldn’t ask my staff to enter into a situation that I wasn’t willing to enter myself. I’m proud of staff at Northwell'sCenter for EMS who have helped thousands of people throughout this crisis and risk exposure with every call.

Among the many heroes of this situation, I’m honored to be back working alongside each and every one of them."Bernard's work is a true testament to his grit and determination to continue serving the community. His efforts were acknowledgedby Northwell's telehealth partner, Caregility, with Bernard's name displayed on the passenger side of the car driven by Kurt Buschin the 2020 NASCAR Playoffs. Bernardis truly deserving of this award.

The accompanying embedded video, "Bernard Robinson: A View from the Frontlines," features Bernard's personal testimonial of his experience working to battle, and ultimate contracting, COVID-19 while serving his duties as an EMS worker for Northwell Health. The accompanying link features news coverage of Bernard being honored by Northwell telehealth provider Caregility for his efforts on healthcare's frontline during the pandemic.