Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) recently presented a Senate Commendation Award to Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall emergency room nurse Brenda Taylor, who is working to create a stress management debriefing team for local emergency medical service personnel. Senate Commendations are one of the highest honors presented to exceptional New Yorkers who have shown a dedication to, and made lasting contributions within, their communities.
For many emergency responders, Taylor noted, recognizing stress – a key component of their work – as something worthy of management and attention is often stigmatized. Emergency personnel encounter traumatic, or even life-threatening, situations in their day-to-day response activities, yet few in Orange County receive adequate support to manage the emotional toll these situations take.
“Brenda Taylor’s effort to address the stress management and mental health needs of our frontline emergency responders is sorely needed,” said Senator Skoufis. “At a time when ambulance corps in our area are struggling to find new members, the last thing we want to do is push our experienced EMS personnel to their breaking points. Those who care for our communities need and deserve care themselves, and I applaud Brenda’s work to bring this program to fruition.”
Taylor has initiated conversations with healthcare and emergency professionals in surrounding counties to help guide her program’s development. Taylor was also the recipient of the 2021 “Registered Nurse of Excellence” award given by Orange County, the Hudson Valley, and New York State EMS Councils for her effort.