Pat Delameter Saluted for 40+ Years of Hospital Service

Margaretville Fire Department Chief Nelson Delameter and Margaretville Hospital Paramedic Supervisor Pat Delameter. Photo by Brian Sweeney.

MARGARETVILLE — Pat Delameter, who has worked at the Margaretville Hospital campus for more than 40 years, officially marked her last day on the job on January 31.
In a surprise tribute, more than 35 First Responders waited outside the hospital Friday afternoon to offer a salute and well wishes for a colleague who many of them have worked side-by-side with for decades. The special sendoff was planned by Pat's husband, Nelson, the Margaretville Fire Chief.
"That was just amazing.  I can't believe all those folks who stood out there in the cold rain for me! I was very, very moved by that," Pat related, in response to the warm greeting she received when leaving the hospital on her final day of work.
While she has worn several hats over the years, Pat is best known for her tenure as Paramedic Supervisor for the hospital's Emergency Medical Services Department.
She began her affiliation with Margaretville Hospital in the summer of 1977, working as a unit secretary. Pat stayed in that post until February 1981 and soon returned to duties at the campus when she joined the ambulance squad in May 1981 as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician.  After Charlene Neer Bode stepped down, Pat was hired as the EMS Supervisor, which was also a response position, in September 1988.

Multi-tasking

During this period, Pat also performed radiology transcription and also served as an EMT and CPR instructor. In the early 1990s, Pat was asked to take on Emergency Management for the hospital, in addition to her duties overseeing the ambulance Department’s operations.
Reflecting on her lengthy career, Pat said the biggest change in the EMS Department has been the transition from a volunteer agency to a paid agency. With her retirement official, Pat said there will only be one on-call First Responder on the squad, with the others being full paid staff.

Strong personnel

"I think we have been blessed with some longevity within the personnel who serve here.  Over the years people have come and gone, and some have come back," Pat remarked.
Along with new faces on the squad, Pat said the evolution of some of the equipment utilized by ambulance personnel has undergone considerable change. She noted that some of the advancements allow a higher level of care for patients, while other equipment upgrades have resulted in improved ergonomics for the providers. 
Pat feels that regulatory changes are making ambulance staffing duties more challenging, especially for the volunteer sector.
"I truly admire those volunteer agencies that continue to serve despite the challenges they face.
While EMS has also become a career for some, in all aspects, there are just not enough certified people to fill the need," she explained.
The necessity for adequate staffing has become more acute, Pat noted, as call volume has increased by about 40 percent over historical figures. She pointed out that, for many years the Margaretville EMS averaged around 500 calls annually. In recent years, partly due to increased transfers, that number has been significantly higher. She said the squad responded to more than 700 calls in 2024.
Looking back over her career Pat emphasized that, since inception, community service has always a priority. She holds deep respect for those in her field and noted how she enjoyed looking at the old records from when the ambulance agency at Margaretville Hospital was started in 1967. Even though she's retired, Pat said she had hoped to maintain an on-call position with the EMS but has been unable to reach an agreement with the hospital.
As for how she intends to spend her days in retirement, Pat says those details are still being developed. "I have some options. Of course, camping season will be here fairly soon," she laughed.
Although she's leaving her longtime position, Pat said she'll take with her many fond recollections and enduring friendships.
"I am very grateful for the working relationships built over the years as these were people you knew you could count on when needed.  There are so many memories of interactions with patients and families that I hold dearly as that's what it was about. 
 "I feel honored and blessed for all the experiences, relations and memories over the years.  It has been particularly special to share this experience with our son," she concluded.
On hand to make Pat's sendoff extra special were members of the fire departments from Margaretville Halcottsville, Arkville, Fleischmanns, Arena, and Roxbury, as well as EMS members from Margaretville, Andes, and Roxbury. Middletown Supervisor Glen Faulkner was also on hand to thank Pat for her long career of dedicated community service.

Thanks to Brian Sweeney and the Catskill Chronicle for permission to run this article.