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Archives: Stars

Bruce Hagen

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Over Bruce Hagen’s distinguished 35-year career in EMS he has earned countless certifications, including mountain and wilderness rescue. This depth of experience, coupled with his leadership and clinical skills, are exactly the traits needed in an individual tasked with coordinating an EMS response during one of the nation’s worst firestorms.

At about 9:30 p.m. on October 8, 2017, calls came in over 911 Fire/EMS dispatch channels reporting one or more spot fires in the hills above the City of Napa. After contacting the CAL Fire Incident Commander (IC), Bruce, the Field Supervisor on duty at the time and already half way through his shift, assumed the role of radio liaison to manage EMS radio communications between the PSAP (dispatch center) and the Fire IC.

A report then came in that up to 45 people were trapped in homes along Atlas Peak Road and could not evacuate. With no fire resources available, Bruce requested the help of the CHP H32 helicopter to assist the AMR Operations Manager and multiple AMR ALS ambulance units with the rescue evacuations. The AMR crews, along with Sheriff’s Deputies, then went door to door to evacuate residents.

As the fire progressed, Bruce and the Fire IC became surrounded by fire, and were forced to evacuate themselves. As Bruce was pulling out of a parking lot, he observed a woman running to flee the area. The woman was struck by a wind-blown road sign that knocked her to the ground. Bruce placed the woman in the back of his supervisor vehicle then drove her to safety.

Bruce continued to work, without a break, until about 3:00 p.m. when he was relieved by another supervisor. After a short rest period, Bruce returned to work and completed additional shifts during the response phase of the disaster, which lasted for two weeks. Bruce worked with fire agencies at a field command post and staging areas, and directed incoming EMS resources, including mutual aid strike teams, to various assignments.

Jamie Georgi

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

As Hurricane Harvey worsened, AMR Houston committed to relocate dozens of patients from one hospital to another. Jamie volunteered to serve as AMR’s liaison at the receiving hospital. Over several hours, AMR evacuated 88 patients to safety and Jamie was hailed for beautifully overseeing this operation.

As the storm raged, a hospital asked AMR to return a discharged patient to his home. Two crews tried but were unable to reach the hospital. Jamie decided to give it “one last shot” and enlisted a crew partner. In darkness, heavy rain, and high winds, they made their way through less-flooded back roads to make the transport happen.

Jamie worked day and night, staying positive and frequently checking on the well-being of the crews. Many in the area had lost everything. When Jamie’s leadership told him to go home and rest, he went home but he didn’t rest. Instead, Jamie assembled a cooking team which provided four days of fresh meals to the numerous AMR personnel working in Houston, deployed from several states.

Jamie’s selflessness during Hurricane Harvey shows why he is known for total commitment to his calling.

With typical modesty, Jamie says everything he does is part of a team effort.

 

Eric Forsythe

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

On the afternoon of January 29, 2018, Eric, a 15-year veteran, was running some errands while off-duty. After turning off a local Interstate, Eric noticed a teenage boy on the overpass standing on top of the Jersey barrier staring at the freeway below.

That’s when Eric’s instincts kicked in. Eric pulled his car over and cautiously approached the young man. Eric used all his training and experience to persuade the young boy not to jump. After some careful negotiation, Eric was able to gain the boy’s trust and convinced the boy to step away from the edge. When the police arrived, Eric learned the boy had been reported missing for the last 24-36 hours.

The Chief of the Lakewood Police Department presented Eric with their Life Saving Award for his heroic actions on this day. Eric is truly a caregiver willing to go above and beyond for the community he serves, and is a perfect example of what it means to be a Star of Life.

 

Joshua Epperson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Josh is being honored as a Star of Life for his continued commitment to public service, as well as his bravery and dedication as an EMT.

Josh has the skills, mindset, and tenacity to handle emergency scenarios that require the ability to make quick decisions. His actions proved this when he assisted a fellow AMR ambulance crew after he noticed them stopped on the Interstate. The crew was on a 911 call with a distressed patient who became violent and combative in route to the hospital. Josh acted quickly to aid the crew and assisted in controlling the situation until police arrived. Josh’s actions helped to prevent any further injury to the crew and patient.

Josh has been with AMR working within the DC 911 system since it began two years prior, joining to get more fast-paced emergency experience. Josh is one who enjoys his work and continues every day to pursue his career in public safety.

 

Brett Dragun

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Brett Dragun was among the first wave of initial responders to the Route 91 shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017.

Brett loaded an ambulance full of patients and sent them to the hospital. After the initial transport, he took a supervisory role and began collaborating with fire command. Brett assisted with getting transport units to anyone that needed them, and ensured a proper response from AMR.

As the night transitioned into morning, Brett did not stop working on the incident. He began checking on crew members and making sure they were holding up alright. Brett also spent time with anyone that wanted to talk about what they had experienced in the days that followed.

In his more than eight years of service with AMR, Brett is known as an encourager, mentor, and consummate professional. He has also served on four disaster deployments where he remains the same caring individual. Brett encourages EMTs to further their education, volunteer their time for the disaster response team, or even read to elementary school students. Brett’s peers know that he is someone they can always rely on.

 

Stacy Dockery

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Stacy Dockery was attending the Route 91 festival in Las Vegas when gunfire began to rain down upon her. Her instincts kicked in immediately: she shielded her best friend, then went to work assisting victims on the ground.

Stacy assisted other off-duty medical personnel with bleeding control, triage, and loading patients into whatever vehicles they could find. As the incident continued to unfold, she knew that this was an extreme situation, and that she would be needed throughout the night. Stacy placed her friend in safety, then sped towards the station. She donned her uniform, complete with cowboy boots, jumped on a unit, and went to work running 911 calls. She responded to calls into the night until the situation had calmed some.

She was later featured in a New York Times video when a reporter captured her caring for a patient in the concert venue.

In Stacy’s nearly ten years with MedicWest, she has proven herself to be a dedicated CCT medic who can be relied upon to answer the call of duty.

 

See Stacy from behind at the 0:36–0:38 mark of this New York Times video.

Callen Daquioag

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Callen Daquiaog is a hero and teacher among heroes. However, being the humble man that he is, he would never admit it.

On October 1, 2017, he was one of the many that responded to the Route 91 shooting. He made life-saving decisions in the face of danger. At the time, no one knew when the shooting would stop, where the shooters were, or the reason they were targeting the music festival. Conflicting reports about the origin of the shots meant no scene was safe. When Callen responded to the East side of the venue, he came to Duke Ellington Way and faced the carnage head-on. He assisted two off duty EMTs, themselves shot, to load victims into his unit. He made the decision, with a full ambulance, to head to the trauma center. His military upbringing told him this was an extremely dangerous situation, but he stayed calm and treated the critical patients in his ambulance. He dropped them off quickly, hoping he would see the two EMTs again.

Callen returned to his ambulance, and once again headed toward the concert venue. He was sent to the command post where they staged for some time before reporting to a nearby smaller hospital where busloads of patients were being taken. He helped the ER triage and re-prioritize transfers out, taking six victims to an outlying hospital. 

Callen’s judgement was credited by physicians and nurses, who confirmed that his decisions saved many lives. In his almost four years at MedicWest, he is known as “the calm” amidst the chaos. He can always be counted on to help, whether by responding to an event like Route 91 or teaching a new EMT. Callen was honored for valor by the agency that employs the two wounded EMTs. He designed a patch for the event, and donated the proceeds to the victims fund.

Callen Daquiaog is a true hero.

Dr. Michael Barnum

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Dr. Michael Barnum is well known in the Las Vegas EMS community. In addition to his role as the assistant Emergency Room Director for Valley Hospital, he is the Medical Director for AMR Las Vegas.

Whether teaching new Paramedics at our training center, lecturing medical students, mentoring EMS students in the ER, or coordinating with Paramedics bringing patients into his hospital, Dr. Barnum is the “go-to guy” for all things EMS. Dr. Barnum maintains multiple certifications ranging from Swift Water Rescue and Vertical Rescue to Firefighter and Paramedic. He is also an Eagle Scout and a pilot.

On the night of the Route 91 shooting, Dr. Barnum rushed into work in his EMS capacity to help care for patients and reduce the burden on Las Vegas’s overstressed system. He loaded multiple patients on a bus with a fellow AMR Critical Care Paramedic, then rushed to the hospital. His actions not only made a difference on scene, but also positively impacted the receiving hospitals and trauma centers.

As with other Stars, Dr. Barnum does not consider himself a hero: instead, he was doing what needed to be done.

 

Karis Arce

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Unlike many students working their way through college, Karis did not push the easy button when it came time to choose a job. Not only did she decide to become an EMT while attending school, she also chose to work in AMR’s San Francisco operation, one of the busiest EMS systems in the state.

On July 11, 2017, at around 8:30 p.m., Karis was completing paperwork inside the ambulance while parked outside a local Emergency Room. Suddenly, Karis observed a woman approaching quickly carrying a one-year-old child. The boy had choked on a piece of cantaloupe, and was not moving or talking. His lips had begun to turn blue.

Karis’s training immediately kicked in. She jumped into action, moving first to back blows, then chest thrusts, and finally to finger sweeps, which ultimately dislodged the fruit. The child immediately took a deep breath, started crying, and regained his color. Karis said it was the most beautiful cry she had ever heard.

Nicole Androski

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

On May 18, 2017, Nicky and her partner, Thomas Hlava, came to stop at a traffic light. In front of them was what Nicky describes as a “very good-looking Corvette.” As the light turned green, the Corvette started moving forward, and then quickly stopped for no apparent reason. As they were about to pass, Nicky noticed another driver frantically pointing at the Corvette and making a choking sign.

Nicky immediately placed the ambulance in park and approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, where she observed the driver slumped to the side and not moving. The vehicle started to move forward, and Nicky sprinted after it. The Corvette was still moving forward at about 5 mph when Nicky finally caught up to the car. She could hear fast gasping respirations coming from the driver, but the door was locked. Luckily, the window was down, and Nicky leaned through it to activate the emergency brake, stopping the vehicle.

At this point, she tried to rouse the patient, but he remained unresponsive. Nicky attempted to locate the inside door handle but couldn’t find it. At last, she was able to lower the passenger side window to climb into the vehicle and turn off the engine.

Nicky then performed a pulse check on the driver, which revealed no pulse. She began chest compressions from the passenger seat. With the assistance of her partner and an off-duty Rural Metro Paramedic, a monitor was attached which identified the patient was experiencing ventricular fibrillation. It took two shocks, but the patient’s heart converted, and he attained a return of spontaneous circulation. An IV was placed and fluids administered, and the patient resumed breathing on his own.

Nicky later learned that she saved Dr. James Mankowski, a retired US Navy Veteran and Doctor of Physics.

Alexander Anderson

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

When Alexander Anderson heard about the catastrophic Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) in Las Vegas on October 1, he immediately reported to the station, knowing he’d be needed. Alex was assigned to a decompression unit with Dr. Michael Barnum, then they raced into action to began providing care. With his advanced skills as a Critical Care Paramedic, he was able to make a difference in many patient outcomes. As the night unfolded, neither man knew how long they would be needed to run busloads of patients to the hospitals.

Because of his tenure and outstanding record of service, his coworkers as well as hospital staff wish for Alex to be the responding Paramedic, should they ever need emergency medical care. Alex is extremely caring and always goes the extra mile for his patients.

Alex has also helped develop many Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities for the local operations teams. He is an integral participant in the updating of protocols for advanced response techniques like using a bus to treat and transport folks from mass causality incidents. Always humble, Alex does not consider himself a hero.

 

Robert Aberle

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

In the early morning of August 5, 2017, Robert and his partner were dispatched to a male patient that had fallen into a river while rappelling at Frustration Falls, a very remote area of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The patient was reported to still be in the water with a compound leg fracture. Rescuers initially estimated that it would take 6–10 hours to get the injured man out of the canyon because of the sheer length of rope required. However, due to the remote location, difficult terrain, and an inability to communicate by phone or radio, the rescue estimate ballooned to 24 hours.

Robert hiked miles to locate the patient. Once on scene, Robert then began treating his injuries, administering medications, and working to keep the patient warm and comfortable. With no ability to communicate due to the remote location, Robert stayed with the patient until a Black Hawk helicopter could be activated to extract them the next morning.

For 17 of Robert’s 19-year career in EMS, he has been proud to participate in the Reach and Treat team. Robert is also an Ultra Runner and a personal trainer, and has recently started training the patient that he saved that day.

In recognition of his bravery and dedication, we are proud to call Robert Aberle a 2018 Star of Life.

 

Robert Kelter, MSW, ACSW

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

After retiring from his first career as the Chief of Social Work and Chaplain Service at a VA Hospital, Bob Kelter didn’t move down South to enjoy the warm weather. Instead, he decided to go back to school to get the necessary training to become a Paramedic. Bob remains active in a number of areas in the community where he lives, including volunteering at his local EMS agency and Fire Department. He also works part-time as a Paramedic at Baraboo District EMS, and as a clinician for the Good Neighbor Clinic in Prairie du Sac and with the Columbia/Sauk Counties Critical Incident Stress Management team.

Bob arrives at each shift with a smile on his face, ready to positively impact the patients that he treats. He is well-liked and respected by his co-workers, and he has excellent patient care skills. Bob has also taken a special interest in the Community EMS / Paramedic program that was recently approved by the State of Wisconsin. He has arranged and attended a number of meetings to garner support of the program within the community,  and has been proactive in advocating for the implementation of this new program.

For these reasons, Baraboo District Ambulance is proud to call Bob Kelter a Star of Life.

Chelsea Punty

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Chelsea Punty began her EMS career as a chair car driver with LifeLine in 2015. She then quickly and enthusiastically achieved certification as an EMT in 2016. Since then, she has provided superior patient care on every shift and with every patient. She is a role model to her peers in the quality of care she provides and her positive attitude. She understands that treating a patient in their most vulnerable moments is an honor, and not one to be taken lightly.

Chelsea is one of our top Field Training Officers. She educates to the best of her ability, and continuously supports her peers past their training time with care, compassion, and a drive to see all in the EMS field succeed.

In Chelsea’s spare time, her family comes first and is of utmost importance. She is the primary caretaker of her father, who is struggling with end stage renal failure, diabetes, and blindness. She channels this personal experience to help understand how her patients may feel, and to advocate for them when necessary. Chelsea truly knows the importance of compassion and high quality care. She never allows her personal family situation to negatively affect her role as an EMT, but instead uses these experiences to enhance her ability as a provider.

Chelsea was instrumental in helping organize response to a multiple casualty incident at one of our hospitals in 2017. She is not afraid to be challenged, and takes charge gracefully. She knows and demonstrates the importance of communication and teamwork.

Chelsea is a Star of Life because of her commitment to her serving her community, patients and family. She is active in community outreach and was involved in making sure that our toy drive and food drive were a success. She leads by example and motivates others to be the best they can be.

 

 

Dan Krant

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Dan Krant joined LifeLine as an EMT in 2015. While he began his EMS career with an inquisitive outlook and an interest in the medical field, he always believed he would end up in law enforcement. Over the course of the last few years, Dan discovered that EMS is his passion. Because of this, he has grown as a provider and leader within our company and industry.

Dan is an enthusiastic and passionate Field Training Officer, and greatly enjoys helping hone our new EMTs into the best providers they can be. He welcomes the challenges faced when training and leading his peers. Additionally, his commitment to quality patient care has resulted in his selection as one of LifeLine’s Base Managers.

While many would shy away from difficult or challenging patient interactions, Dan finds joy in problem-solving. He likes when he can successfully calm patients, put someone’s mind at ease, or otherwise positively impact outcomes. Dan maintains singular focus on his patients, and how can he serve them the best as a provider. He also simply enjoys meeting all different types of people.

Dan also understands the value of work-life balance, and encourages others to enjoy life outside of EMS. He uses his personal time to explore the outdoors by camping and hiking.

Dan Krant perfectly embodies the characteristics of a Star of Life because he works diligently to help his patients, peers, friends, and family. Dan is ever-willing to take on more responsibility to benefit others. For these reasons, Lifeline is proud to call Dan a 2018 Star.

Jeffrey Collins

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Although Jeff Collins only joined Superior of Indiana just over a year ago, he has achieved so much in this relatively short time. Jeff brought 29 years of EMS experience and knowledge with him to Superior, and that, along with his enthusiasm and commitment, has added greatly to our service.

His wide-ranging experience has stood him in good stead over the past year, and Jeff has developed the Indiana Division by leaps and bounds. He has overseen the implementation of primary 911 service for five cities, including 10 ALS Ambulances and an Emergency Response Vehicle. On top of that, the number of EMTs and Paramedics has increased by 100 percent and the call volume by 80 percent.

Jeff has introduced great employee retention projects to keep our trained staff with Superior and implemented a critical incident stress management (CISM) program. He also launched a Service Excellence Award.

Jeff always takes the time to go out and meet with his employees and to listen to them and their concerns and suggestions.

We are grateful for Jeff’s dedication, leadership, expertise, and never-ending vision of where we can go to next.

Monte Mathews

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Monte has had a big impact on both his community and the patients he serves as well as his fellow EMS professionals during his 14-year career as a Paramedic. He has served communities in both Iowa and South Dakota as a Paramedic and firefighter, finally working for Sioux Falls.

As a veteran Paramedic, Monte put his experience and knowledge to good use by shaping the lives and careers of future EMS professionals through his adjunct work for The School of EMS, his management of continuing education, the time he spent as a field training officer, and his encouragement and skill as an instructor for certification courses.

His leadership has been crucial in his work as an operations supervisor. Monte recently worked on the team tapped to oversee implementation of a new and complex computer-aided dispatch system. He was responsible for making sure the mobile terminals used by crews for patient reports worked well and efficiently.

Monte is a trusted and integral member of the Paramedics Plus family. Both our community and our service have benefited hugely from Monte’s exceptional dedication to them. We are honored to nominate him as a Star of Life.

Damian Gonzales

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Damian’s ability to influence, innovate, engage, develop, and lead the crews who have direct patient contact makes a tremendous difference in the lives of those patients and the community that Sunstar serves.

As a clinical services coordinator, Damian’s areas of responsibility include managing our field training officer (FTO) program, clinical data analysis, and clinical education for the new EMTs and Paramedics working with Sunstar.

When Damian was promoted from a field clinician to a coordinator, he immediately became interested in data-driven improvement. While he excels in analyzing and adjusting work procedures for maximum efficiency, he also understands that appropriate change comes from meaningful reflection. Damian has been able to quantify, communicate, and elevate the quality of our patient satisfaction and engagement, clinical measures such as scene times, and many other crew-centered measures.

A primary example of Damian’s leadership that’s had immediate impact on the EMS culture is the FTO report card. This is a report of clinician-centered data and feedback that is specific to each FTO, preceptor, assistant supervisor, and mentor within the program. The information is sent back to the crews, helping to show them a clearer path for improvement and a higher quality of care.

The personalized feedback includes their safety measures on driving, clinical documentation scores, QI/operational standings, accolades, and patient engagement scores. This data-centered feedback allows the crews to see where they rank among their peers and gives them a more direct personal connection to Sunstar and its mission in the community.

The FTO report card is just one of the many initiatives that Damian has brought to the forefront. His data-analysis system supports the company’s crews and helps us strive for the everyday excellence at the core of our mission.

 

Lyle Stoll

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Lyle has dedicated more than 36 years of service to the community through his work with HealthEast Medical Transportation.

In fact, you could say Lyle is a pillar of HealthEast. He has been an active participant and leader through many changes in the company, community, and profession, all while holding onto and preserving the history and values that remain the foundation of HealthEast.

As a Paramedic, Lyle takes an active role in the development of our EMS profession, our service, and our new field clinicians. As a field preceptor, he shares his experiences, consistently demonstrates professionalism, and collaborates with leadership. Most importantly, Lyle centers our team. He mentors our EMTs, Paramedics, and leaders and maintains focus on what is most important—quality compassionate care.

Lyle has remained on the cutting edge of paramedicine, embracing new developments in the field. But one thing has not changed during his long career: Lyle’s dedication to the many patients he has served over the years. He often comments, “I have dedicated my life to the care of the sick and injured,” and this comes from the heart.  You can see the truth in the statement shining through in  his pleasant demeanor and the compassion he shows not only to his patients but to his coworkers as well.

His performance has been recognized by his peers with the HealthEast “One of Our Best” awards.

He states that his personal goal, inspired by his father, is to be the best Paramedic that he can be, and by his own estimate, he’s got about four more years left in his career to achieve that.

Lyle loves spending time with his family, and he values their special place in his life. “God, family, then self,” he often quotes from one of his favorite books, I am Third, by Gale Sayers.

Sharon Taulbert

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Sharon started at MEDIC in 2014, and she has continuously worked to improve not only her department but the agency. She is an active EMT with Mint Hill, and she has led several work groups designed to improve employee well-being, most recently one on providing resources for employees outside of the Employee Assistance Program.

Sharon has also worked to implement a new HR system that will allow employees to make changes to benefits at their convenience instead of filling out paper forms. She has also served on several agency work groups as a subject-matter expert.

The staff who work directly for Sharon say that one of her finest attributes is that she leads by example. She is available for them and every staff member of the agency, and she is widely regarded as being a person you can truly count on. When someone has an issue, she will take the time to listen and help him or her resolve their problem, whether or not she is busy with other duties.

Sharon is also known for teaching in an encouraging manner while making sure that her employees have the resources they need. According to one MEDIC employee, “She has been one of the most influential and exceptional managers.”