In recognition of the impact that EMS work has on staff, Dr. Gerry Goldberg is involved in many activities to ensure the health, safety and performance of staff. Dr. Goldberg is available to all staff and their families 24 hours a day seven days-a-week by way of telephone and pager, responding to family, social and emotional concerns. He has also developed and trains a team of peer counselors (The Peer Support Team) who are also available to all staff and their families.

Dr. Goldberg provides a range of interventions such as psychological debriefings after highly emotional incidents (e.g. child deaths, multiple deaths) and he engages in a variety of proactive activities to help prepare staff for such events. For example, he keeps staff mindful of the emotional impact some calls may have on them, what to expect as a normal reaction and what staff can do to avert long term negative consequences to themselves and their families. In doing this he maintains regular contact with employees by means of various communiqués, station visits and ride outs.

Dr. Goldberg can be reached at ggoldbe@toronto.ca.