Hello everyone,
It’s understandable that we focus on the bad actors in government and don’t recognize those who truly made a difference.
Deserving of more than a passing mention is Lawrence Tan who recently retired after a 37-year career in emergency medical services in New Castle County.
Tan was the long-time commanding officer of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division, serving through a number of administrations in a county government that isn’t always the most stable place to work for those in supervisory positions.
Along the way, we saw staff shakeups and a few scandals, some amusing, others infuriating.
Through it all, Tan’s steady leadership aided an area that is not always top of mind among government leaders. (We saw that tendency when the Legislature cut state funding for paramedics. Fortunately, the cuts were restored).
Thanks to Tan’s work and the EMT community, many New Castle County residents are still with us today.
New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer noted that under Tan’s leadership the county received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, the first Delaware unit to achieve the distinction.
Other accomplishments:
- Creating our state’s first resuscitation academy which helped to increase cardiac survival rates.
- Serving on numerous national commissions and providing US Congressional testimony on a variety of issues and practices to save lives.
- Creating events that enable patients to meet the paramedics who saved their lives, such as the annual Survivors Reunion.
- Helped to make EMTs part of SWAT teams.
Along the way, Tan fought for adequate staffing while dealing with the equally tough issue of finding people in a labor market that makes demanding and sometimes risky jobs hard to fill.
A big thank you from business and the community at large is very much in order.
Have a great day after an Eagles victory and a Cowboys loss. (Full disclosure. I’m a Packers fan too). – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
