Shore Medical Center Names Emergency Department Health Unit Coordinator Deborah Oatman its August Employee of the Month

Shore Medical Center recently named Emergency Department Health Unit Coordinator/Tele Tech Deborah Oatman of Egg Harbor Township its August Employee of the Month for consistently delivering outstanding service and exemplifying the organization's mission, vision, and values.

Oatman began working at Shore Medical Center in 2002 as a registrar in the Emergency Department, and in 2011 she transferred into the role of health unit coordinator. In March 2020 - just before COVID - Oatman transitioned into her current role as a night shift HUC/telemetry technician. In these roles, she supports the Emergency Department by managing patient flow and communication while monitoring patient cardiac rhythms to ensure timely, coordinated, and safe patient care.

Sherri Richmond, MSN, RN, Administrative Director of the Emergency Department, Pediatric Care Center and Respiratory Therapy, says Oatman is referred to as the calming force of the emergency department.

"Deborah is kind, compassionate and a cheerleader who can lighten any mood. She senses when the team needs extra support after a difficult situation and will reach out to the manager to ensure that happens," Richmond says. "She goes the extra mile to support her colleagues, and is a fierce patient and family advocate. She always finds a way to get them anything they need to assist them during their stay in the ED."

Oatman's compassion is also evident in her enthusiasm for assisting people in need outside the hospital, especially unhoused individuals. She has been active in many outreach projects through the Emergency Department, including donating to food banks, supplying clothing and toiletries for people in need, and educating community members about flu vaccination.