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Archives: Stars

KC Robbins

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

KC Robbins exemplifies servant-leadership by helping her crew members and coworkers meet the demands of the day. As someone who is always looking for new ways to improve and expand protocols, KC is often busy either filling in as a Supervisor and Field Training Officer in McDonough County, Illinois, or training staff in Buchanan County, Iowa, which is home to a new operation she helped to found. Her devotion to her job has taken her to many places across the nation, including New York City and Florida for COVID-19 response support, and Washington, D.C. for the 2021 Inauguration of President Biden, where she served as strike team leader.

KC’s consistent desire to help is reflected in her willingness to travel and serve at operations other than her own, particularly when those operations are severely short-staffed. She has worked many 100-hour weeks providing yearly training sessions for both McDonough County and Buchanan County operations. She also ran a COVID vaccine clinic in Chicago for Pfizer for five to six weeks with little to no assistance or guidance. KC is a self-motivated individual who is driven by her passion to help others in any way she can.

 

Jack Rathgeber

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Jack Rathgeber is dedicated to service, no matter where it takes him, even if it requires traveling by mule to treat a patient who suffered broken ribs and bones in a mountainous area. The situation happened while Jack was on duty as a supervisor and a call came in about a person in the mountains who had suffered trauma and was stuck in a ravine. Volunteers in the area had tried to help the patient but only made matters worse when one of them tripped and landed on the patient’s broken shoulder. Because the crew on staff was a Basic Life Support (BLS) crew, Jack joined the crew members and went to the mountains to find and help the patient. After trying to get a Search and Rescue team to assist, Jack spotted forest personnel riding a mule. Jack explained the situation to the forest worker who let Jack ride the mule as he searched for the patient.

Once he arrived at the patient’s location, Jack was able to give the patient pain medication and help the volunteers get the individual onto a backboard. Jack and the volunteers carried the patient out of the ravine, two miles back to the ambulance. He also made sure the patient was taken to the hospital for further treatment.

 

Nicole Piazza

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Nicole Piazza is being honored for displaying great skill and calm in several pediatric cardiac arrest situations, and for responding to calls even though she was off-duty. In one recent event, Nicole was on her way home when she heard that there was a multiple shooting in Hartford. Even though she was off-duty, Nicole did not hesitate to go to this call, which was in a dangerous and unsafe area. Once there, she contacted the crews involved and provided excellent communication to support the EMS effort. The scene was quite hectic and yet, Nicole remained calm. She was praised for her service that day and for the many other times she showed up to help when she was not on duty.

Nicole also serves as the Chair of her operation’s Risk and Safety Committee—a role she takes very seriously. She is not only passionate about the safety of her patients, but also the safety of her teammates. It is not uncommon for her to stay late to give support to crew members after they have returned from a difficult call.

So, whether she is training a new hire, providing care to her patients, or advocating for her coworkers, Nicole prides herself on being the best that she can be.

 

Cassandra Moreno

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Cassandra is being honored as a Star of Life for her exceptional bravery. Cassandra had been working as an EMT for only nine months when a shooter approached her and her partner, Jacob Dindinger, as they were preparing for a medical call. The man opened fire into the cab of the ambulance, shooting Cassandra in the arm and striking Jacob multiple times.

Despite her own injury and her concern for Jacob’s life, Cassandra bravely and calmly got on the radio and called for help, providing a detailed description of her assailant and an assessment of her and Jacob’s conditions. She then tried to treat Jacob’s wounds until other units arrived. Police were able to find and stop the assailant, but unfortunately, it was only after he had gone on a deadly shooting spree. There are no words that can fully capture the courage Cassandra demonstrated on that terrible day.

 

Daniel MacDowell

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Daniel MacDowell demonstrates a spirit of service for others and an impeccable work ethic. One specific situation where these distinguishing traits were clear was a call that involved a boy who had an allergic reaction to an insect bite. At first, everyone at the scene, including the boy’s family, thought the reaction was mild and did not require an emergency response. However, as Daniel, who was among the first to arrive at the scene, was putting the boy in his family’s car, he noticed that the boy had fainted and his face was starting to swell. Recognizing that anaphylaxis was imminent, Daniel showed courage, medical judgment, and leadership beyond what can be expected from a new EMT, and stopped the family from going to the hospital. He then measured and administered the correct dose of epinephrine per protocol, reversing the symptoms and saving the child’s life.

Once the ambulance arrived on the scene, the boy was found safe and in stable condition. His family members stood by, smiling as tears ran down their faces, forever grateful that the boy was still alive—all thanks to Daniel.

 

Bryanna Johnson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Bryanna Johnson is being honored for her role in extinguishing a fire in an aircraft, pre-flight. Although she suffered burns to her hands, Bryanna’s heroic act helped save both a patient and a Paramedic. The incident happened as the aircraft was preparing to lift from a hospital. Bryanna realized that her partner’s flight suit had caught fire and acted quickly. She pulled her partner from the aircraft, while also protecting the pilot and patient onboard, triaged the situation, and rendered care to her crew member. Bryanna then requested additional ground and air resources for the scene and collaborated with the pilot and hospital staff to ensure everyone was cared for promptly. Her professionalism and focus during this unexpected and chaotic event are hailed as the reason the situation ended well.

Those who know her well say they are not surprised by Bryanna’s cool and collected demeanor in an emergency situation. Her dedication and commitment to the field of air medicine has allowed her to care for more than 750 patients. 

 

Brooke Holoubek

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Brooke Holoubek is being recognized for her diligence and strong work ethic, which she demonstrates daily, regardless of the challenging circumstances she may face. Since the time she joined REACH, Brooke has been a dedicated EMS professional who is constantly seeking ways to polish and improve her service as an advanced neonatal provider at her base. It is not uncommon to see Brooke respond to paged-out neonatal transport requests or requests that were held past the end of her scheduled shift.

Her enthusiasm for her work is also evident in her service to local rural areas, where she provides critical clinical expertise to community hospitals when called upon for neonatal and pediatric transports. Brooke’s humble leadership, willingness to serve, and dedication to and love for her work are just a few of the qualities that make her an exemplary model of excellence.

 

Kimberly Hiner

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Kimberly Hiner is being honored as a Star of Life for her tireless and selfless work on special assignments during the pandemic. Kimberly served alongside the AMR/REMSA’s SOS Team that worked with specialized nursing facilities to train their staff on how to use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the first stages of the pandemic when these facilities were at significant risk. Through this training, Kimberly’s team helped reduce the rate of infection among staff members. Kimberly also went to Northern California for two extended deployments to work at COVID vaccine sites and was a REMSA/AMR COVID Response Strike Team member. Kimberly always puts the safety and welfare of others first, and her extensive knowledge and willingness to train others helped keep many people safe during the pandemic.

Cathy Heikes

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Cathy Heikes is being honored as a Star of life for exhibiting tremendous leadership and attention to care during the pandemic response in New York. Cathy, who spent thirteen years in the U.S. Army as a nurse and served in Operation Desert Storm, used her incredible experience to provide support in aiding virus-related emergencies and evacuations in the greater New York area when the region was experiencing a surge of COVID-19 infections.

Cathy’s compassion, skill, and medical expertise, particularly as they relate to traumatic situations, made her an invaluable presence in New York, which had become known as the epicenter of the American coronavirus in the early part of the outbreak. During her deployment, she responded to and cared for a countless number of patients infected with the virus.

In 2004, then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Cathy to serve on the Southwest Kansas Regional Trauma Council. For fifteen years, Cathy worked with the multidisciplinary council to improve trauma care systems across her home state. 

Also, as the base medical manager for Eagle Med 4, Cathy has trained and mentored countless air medical professionals, developed new practices and protocols and provided exceptional patient care. She believes deeply that she must be willing and capable of doing anything she asks her team to do. 

 

Michael Gibson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Michael Gibson is being honored as a Star of Life for his unquenchable curiosity and desire to invent medical devices that improve patient care and treatment. During the early days of the pandemic, Michael discovered that there was a lack of proper equipment to ventilate patients. So, rather than trying to find an improper fitting oxygen mask or using another oxygen device outside of its intended purpose, he invented a new oxygen mask. This new mask provides oxygen to the patient while also providing negative pressure around the patient’s face that stops the aerosolization of droplets. The new mask basically keeps a patient from infecting others around him. Michael’s invention eventually got the attention of General Motors, which became interested in producing the medical mask. However, once the pandemic began to wane, GM’s interest did too. But that has not stopped Michael from moving forward with his idea. He is currently working on receiving FDA approval for his innovative invention.

In addition to his creative spirit, Michael is known as a selfless steward who loves to share his knowledge with new nurses, Paramedics, and others who work in the field of patient care. He is articulate, self-motivated, and considered by his peers as a leader in medical education.

 

Dubravka Frost

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Dubravka Frost is being honored as a Star of Life for her enthusiasm and her role in establishing her operation’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program. She is considered one of the strongest Paramedics in the Contra Costa operation. In addition to leading the CISM team, Dubravka is a union shop steward, a Field Training Officer, a Preceptor, an acting Supervisor, and is part of the special operations unit. Dubravka is an outstanding role model to her coworkers and enthusiastically teaches new Paramedics and EMTs. She has also earned the respect of her leaders, who look to her to help encourage and empower her teammates in their roles.

As a native of Croatia who moved to the U.S. as a child with her family during a time of national unrest, Dubravka knows firsthand the challenges that come with being an immigrant. The obstacles she has faced have made her stronger and even more determined to serve in a position that would help people in the place she calls home.

Today, Dubravka believes she is living the “American Dream,” and her journey in the EMS industry is part of it. She loves her work as a Paramedic and enjoys sharing her knowledge with her fellow EMS professionals.

 

Jason Dau

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Jason Dau is being honored as a Star of Life for his continual pursuit of excellence and compassion in his service to his community. He loves his community so much that he has dedicated his life to serving it.

Kotzebue, the Alaskan city where Jason was born and raised, is a small northwest arctic borough community that is part of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. The primary health care facility in the area is the Maniilaq Health Center, although the airbase that Jason is assigned to ensures that those in the outlying villages have access not only to the resources offered by Maniilaq but also to the advanced levels of care found in Anchorage at Alaska Native Medical Center. Jason’s work as a Flight Nurse is vital, as he ensures that the people of his community can receive specialized treatment should they require it. Without Jason and his fellow Guardian Flight crew, the critical cases in his secluded region would not have easy access to care.

Jason’s heart for service and care for his team are demonstrated in his extraordinary work ethic. His deep commitment to patient care is rooted and fueled by his inborn love for his own borough community—the only place he has ever called home.

 

Larry Clay

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Larry Clay joined Community Care Ambulance in 2003 as an EMT. He has been providing care since 1997 when he first became an EMT and Fire Fighter. Larry is the quiet strength of his shift—he is ever-ready to assist patients, his coworkers, and the community.

Larry responded from home to a tragic house fire after hearing the call on the radio. He wanted to be present in person to assist at the heartbreaking scene. Afterward, Larry continued to provide emotional support to coworkers and the community during this difficult time.

When Larry is not working, he spends time with his twin boys, Zachary and Christopher. Together they camp, fish, and enjoy the outdoors.

Pete Carlson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Pete Carlson’s dedication to his community, coworkers, and patients is inspiring. Reaching out to others and knowing just how to help them is one of Pete’s unique skills, and his teammates describe him as one of the most supportive colleagues they have ever known. 

Pete began his career in the military, which he says helped him develop a strong work ethic and a passion for EMS. He is a natural teacher and has a gift in his ability to impart his knowledge to new Paramedics. His uplifting spirit creates the perfect atmosphere for learning, and he constantly displays a positive presence in his operation. The Multnomah Operations Manager said Pete has been a major contributor to the Multnomah operations and that he continues to serve his community with a sense of pride, care, and love. He is admired and deeply appreciated by his teammates, leaders, and the patients he serves.

 

James Burn

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

James Burn is being honored as a Star of Life for his compassion and bravery in two cases: one where his own life was at risk and another where others were in danger.

The first incident happened when James coaxed a man who was trying to kill himself back to safety. The man had doused himself with gasoline and anchored himself above a highway overpass before James persuaded him to receive help. And then, about two weeks later, he extricated an incapacitated individual from a vehicle that posed an immediate threat to others on a major freeway. In both cases, James deflected praise to others for the favorable outcomes of those incidents; however, it was James’s courage and actions in both instances that resulted in the positive end results.

James, who has been with AMR since January 2020, had previously served in a law enforcement capacity as a Washington State Trooper. He is a true servant-leader and demonstrates a commitment to his job and community, even when a situation puts his own life at risk. James never wants to take credit for all the good he has done, but would rather give the credit to his teammates. He is a role model and an example of integrity in the workplace.

 

Kyle Brule

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

On April 4, 2021, Kyle Brule valiantly pulled a woman to safety from a burning vehicle. While driving home from work on an interstate, Kyle noticed traffic coming to a stop and drivers pulling off on the shoulder. Kyle then approached the incident and noticed an overturned van that was engulfed in flames. As he approached the vehicle, he saw a patient that was still partially trapped in the van, lying waist down in the vehicle. The patient was burning, screaming, and in obvious distress. No attempts were being made to rescue her, and she was not capable of self-extrication, so Kyle ran up and grabbed the patient by her waistline and pulled her to a safe distance. The patient had suffered third-degree burns to fifty percent of her body and partial or first-degree burns to the rest of her body. Kyle remained with the victim and consoled her on the scene for approximately fifteen minutes until Gwinnett Fire (GDFR) MED 21 arrived.

Additionally, Kyle is a safety advocate for his crews. He provided more than 200 safety coaching sessions in 2021, with a ninety percent effectiveness rating, resulting in a thirty percent reduction in accidents and injuries. 

 

Eric Bradshaw

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Eric Bradshaw saved a patient who had suffered multiple wounds on April 19, 2021. Eric and his engine company responded to a motor vehicle accident in which a patient suffered multiple serious injuries that threatened her survival. The patient was also at risk of having her leg amputated near her hip. By providing fast, life-saving interventions, Eric managed to stabilize the patient and control her bleeding, ultimately transporting her to a trauma center, where she was able to receive further treatment. The patient has since recovered and is able to lead a normal life, including full use of the leg that was initially considered for amputation. This is just one example of Eric’s heroism. He knows the value of working with a team and the importance of staying focused, especially when a life is at stake.

 

Jeffery Boyd

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Jeff Boyd is a positive influence and a mentor to many. Referred to as the “backbone” of Linn County operations, Jeff stresses the importance of his work as there are only five first responders on duty at a time in Linn County. The county has a population of around 10,000 who are spread out over a large rural area and it does not have a hospital. An EMS transport can take more than forty minutes. As Jeff will remind everyone, “acting with urgency is crucial” in such an expansive region.

Jeff’s career path includes the military, where he spent twenty years in the U.S. Air Force as a deployment medic. During the second half of his service, Jeff went to Independent Duty Medical Technicians (IDMT) school and took part in a special response group that conducted surveys in the Pacific region. Based in Guam, the surveys he conducted were associated with a disaster-planning effort that also had him travel to Mongolia.

Jeff retired from the military in July 2007, then joined AMR that August. He describes AMR as an organization that “focuses on people over profit” and that aims to get team members what they need so that they can do their jobs in the most effective way possible.

 

Lance Blythe

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Lance Blythe is being honored as a Star of Life for providing critical care to a four-year-old gunshot victim while also guiding a new nurse during the transport.  The toddler had been shot in the abdomen and had lost a lot of blood. Lance not only performed his duties with calm and precision but also provided leadership and guidance to the nurse, who, along with Lance, had to effectively manage an entire supply of blood and plasma. Once the hospital was selected, Lance instructed the pilot to communicate with the OCC (Operational Control Center) and CENCOM that a surgical team needed to be prepped for the incoming patient. Then, to add another layer of complication, the flight hit a few patches of turbulence caused by extreme winds. Through it all, Lance remained composed, fulfilling his duties and helping others at the same time.

In the end, the transport was a success. Lance’s direction saved the life of a little boy. Lance is a humble hero whose skill, talent, and experience represent the best of EMS.

 

Darla Biggerstaff

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Darla Biggerstaff’s unique ability to handle stressful situations with ease and expert execution has garnered her a reputation for outstanding commitment to service. Darla has two simple rules: “No one dies, no one multiplies,” (a reference to patient and crew safety and how her crew will not become additional patients on her watch) and “No one is allowed to panic unless she does.” As a result, she has managed to win the confidence of her fellow EMS professionals.

Additionally, Darla is a sought-after instructor who is popular among fellow employees and students alike. Her students describe her teaching style as patient, thorough, and straightforward, and her gift of translating book knowledge into practical and real-life scenarios has been praised by many. Darla’s passion for the EMS profession is evident in every aspect of her service, whether it is in the way she invests herself in her students or in her intense and detailed care for patients.

Darla is also a morale booster, who, whether she is on or off-duty, genuinely cares for people. As a result, she is one of the most likable individuals among her teammates. Darla is respected not only by her leaders and peers but also by her patients and students.