A local nurse practitioner got to witness COVID-19 up close first hand. Deana Stefko, a nurse practitioner with HSHS Medical Group in Taylorville was given a 24-hour notice that she was being deployed to New York and New Jersey.
Stefko, who is a Captain in the Air Force Reserves, was stationed in New York for the past 15 years. She was one of about 120 reservists who spent 5 weeks caring for COVID patients. Stefko said it was quite the experience.
Stefko says that first she went to the Javits Center and then was sent to local hospitals afterward.
working as a bedside nurse Stefko says they had plenty of PPE and she felt safe following protocols set by the military.
Stefko also thanked her time being in health care in the military and that it made her excited to be able to help our own people and she thanked the community for honoring them every day at 7 AM with clapping and screaming for health care workers.
