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Archives: Stars

Matthew Kohl

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Matthew Kohl’s supervisors recognize him as an ultra-professional Paramedic who has rapidly risen through the ranks. In 2016, he was at the EMT level. He became AMR Evansville’s first-ever EMT-level Field Training Officer as that role had previously been reserved only for Paramedics. By 2020, he was graduating from Paramedic school, with a degree, in the middle of a pandemic, as the overall college Outstanding Graduate. Throughout his meteoric career, he has shown deft skill in trauma care, exemplified by his actions in January of this year.

Matthew responded to a scene where a nine-year-old child had been hit by a motor vehicle. The patient had multiple injuries and was in extreme pain. The scene time was only six minutes. Care during patient contact included spinal motion restriction, oxygen, IV access, and appropriate pediatric analgesia as well as patient monitoring. The time from dispatch to arrival at the Level II trauma center was 15 minutes.

Matthew’s patient care was lauded as “perfect” upon review by the trauma center, and the patient is recovering after multiple surgeries.

Fidencio Hernandez

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Fidencio Hernandez enjoys building relationships between AMR and his community by organizing local, healthcare-oriented workshops and events.

Throughout his EMS career, Fidencio has demonstrated a dedication to public health efforts through his outreach and engagement efforts. He has collaborated with the local Latino community by providing educational seminars including Stop the Bleed as well as events about public access to and use of the nasal spray Narcan. His efforts have led to the enhancement of local participation in the learning of critical lifesaving skills.

Fidencio has also brought important community health information to members of both English- and Spanish-speaking communities. He has accomplished this by providing bilingual education to ensure the greatest number of community members can benefit.

Additionally, in his role as Field Training Officer, his years of experience and endless positivity provide an excellent learning environment for new hires. He is called upon to impart his knowledge often to offset staffing shortages, preparing new EMTs for their vitally important role in the community.

Andy Hardy

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Commitment to patient care and service are just a couple of reasons why William “Andy” Hardy has received local, state, and national awards.

As a paramedic since 2014 with AMR, Andy strives to provide the highest standard of patient care and goes above and beyond to ensure his patients receive the medical attention they need while treating them with the utmost respect. He also draws upon his experience to bring valuable ideas to the attention of AMR leaders, providing insight on how to improve operational excellence and patient experiences. He also acts as a mentor for his fellow team members while constantly striving to add to his own skills and capabilities, as well. Andy is a role model for every employee and leads by example.

As a lifelong resident of McMinn County, Andy has dedicated his life to local emergency services. From starting as a volunteer firefighter to obtaining his EMT and Paramedic licenses, he has spent thousands of hours of personal time bettering his community, including volunteering with the McMinn County Rescue Squad and Helen Ross McNabb Foster Center.

Kelly Hamill

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Kelly Hamill is being honored for her impressive ability to pivot the focus of her care and successfully utilize her training on a new lifesaving technology for infants.

Kelly’s dedication and flexibility were recently demonstrated when she and her partner were dispatched to a rural hospital for what they thought was a call for a mobile EMS response for an adult female transport. However, they ended up providing care and resuscitating a baby as well.

Kelly and her partner, Dakota Shadwell, worked together to stabilize both the mother and the baby, who was born prematurely at 27 weeks’ gestation and weighed only two pounds. They utilized Bubble CPAP technology designed specifically for such small and fragile patients. Their skillful employment of this new advanced system allowed the baby to go from a distressed respiratory condition to a stable one.

The pair then continued to treat the baby, increasing blood glucose, attempting UVC, and obtaining peripheral IV access. They stayed with the baby until a ground pediatric specialty team arrived, then transported the mother by air to another regional hospital.

Karina Galvez-Martinez

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

For Karina Galvez-Martinez’s North Las Vegas supervisors, she truly embodies the EMS mission of providing care to the world at a moment’s notice. Karina, who began her career as an EMT, is now a Paramedic. Her ever-increasing skills have prepared her to intervene in medical situations even while off duty.

Such was the case earlier this year when Karina was at home at about 4:30 a.m. That is when her neighbor’s husband knocked on her door for medical assistance. Karina rushed over to the house and found the neighbor’s wife not breathing and incapacitated. Finding the patient pulseless, Karina immediately started manual chest compressions, taking critical actions as the first link in the chain of patient survival.

She continued her vigorous efforts while 911 was called. Responding AMR teams were able to take over and the patient’s pulse was restored before arrival at the local hospital. There is no doubt that Karina’s actions saved her neighbor’s life.

Sean Fuller

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Demonstrating that EMS, at times, requires more than medical skill to save lives, Sean Fuller is being honored for his actions when dispatched to a suicide attempt. Fuller’s supervisors highlighted the humanity that Sean brought to a situation that is often tense and difficult for patients and first responders alike.

By coincidence, Sean recognized the emotionally fragile patient’s home as formerly belonging to the family of one of his childhood friends. While providing medical treatment, he helped the patient stabilize with stories of the times he had spent there, which had proved to be a blessing in Sean’s life. By the end of the transport, the patient was not only calm, but was laughing along with Sean, when mere minutes before the patient had been holding a suicide note and threatening to harm themselves.

Upon arrival at the hospital, staff determined that restraints were no longer needed. They were then able to provide continued care in a de-escalated environment, which was better for everyone.

Marlon Flanders

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Marlon Flanders embodies EMS excellence through his hard work, perseverance, and passion.

Marlon joined GMR Trinidad and Tobago in September 2013. Since then, he has been an inspiring force among his teammates. His leaders describe him as a dedicated EMS professional who is always willing to mentor new teammates as well as current ones.

A role model to many, Marlon possesses an attitude of leadership, constantly seeking ways to share his knowledge and experience. He is always ready to help others grow and develop their own EMS skills, as well as to improve the quality of care given to his patients. It was no surprise to his team when he promoted to the supervisory team in 2016.

Marlon’s commitment to providing excellent emergent care is a true reflection of his enthusiasm for serving his community on this dual-island Caribbean nation.

Richard Fikes

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

In early October 2022, Rick Fikes and his partner responded to a call that a person at a group home was choking while eating a meal.

Upon arriving at the scene, a firefighter with the local department was already visualizing the patient’s airway. The firefighter told Rick the patient’s airway was full of pasta and that he could not clear it. Rick verified the patient’s airway could not be cleared, then performed a surgical cricothyrotomy on the patient. This quick thinking and clinical skill resulted in him achieving temporary return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The patient was an organ donor, so the procedure performed by Fikes ultimately saved many lives.

Rick was commended by everyone in the emergency department, including the physician, for performing this intricate surgical procedure in the field.

Victoria England

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Victoria England is proud to specialize in providing care to neonatal and pediatric patients. Her love for her job is what led her to volunteer to lead the effort to help the youngest of patients receive the best care possible during Hurricane Ian.

Described by her leaders as an “integral source of knowledge and experience for all clinicians in the Northern California bases,” Victoria strives for excellence in her career, never shying away from a challenge. While she has focused her attention on serving neonatal and pediatric patients, she decided to increase her span of care when she moved from REACH 3 in Concord to REACH 17 in Mather. Here, she now cares for patients of all ages and levels of acuity.

Victoria always maintains a positive attitude and continuously demonstrates a passion for helping her organization in any capacity necessary.

Zachary Dayton

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Zach Dayton provided immediate medical intervention for a woman and her newborn baby who was born in a car at a parking lot. His resuscitation efforts and quick thinking ultimately saved the baby’s life.

On an afternoon in late April 2022, when Zach was walking his gurney out to the ambulance bay in Mesa, Zach noticed a frantic woman pounding on the glass doors of the ambulance entrance to Banner Gateway Emergency Department.

When he approached the woman, she led him to another woman in a nearby parking lot who was giving birth in a car. Zach immediately cared for the young mother and performed CPR on the newborn before rushing to the staff at the hospital, informing them of the mother and baby’s condition.

As a result, the mother and baby received the medical care they needed and were released a short time later, both in healthy condition, thanks primarily to Zach’s quick action.

Preston Crotwell

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Preston Crotwell is being honored for his leadership and service at a mass shooting incident that happened last April at the Mississippi Mudbug Festival. Preston and his partner were at the weekend event, serving as standby EMS, when gunshots rang out at the fairgrounds. Preston, a former Marine Corps rifleman, quickly took charge, collaborating with law enforcement while tending to the injured. One person was killed and at least six more were shot that day.

Preston, who served as the lead for managing the mass casualty incident, collaborated with his partner in performing all the roles of EMS command. They ensured swift and effective patient triage and treatment and led some mobile EMS interventions as well.

A well-spoken EMS professional who is highly adaptable, especially in stressful situations, Preston is a dedicated first responder who puts others first. He is an inspiration to his teammates and leaders.

Ian Carroll

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Ian Carroll is being honored for his bravery and skill in two separate situations—one involving a patient whose vehicle fell into a river and another involving a patient injured in a mining truck accident.

The first incident happened when Ian was off duty, sitting in his car at an intersection. That is when he saw another vehicle run through that same intersection and into the nearby river. Ian quickly left his car, jumped into the river, and pulled the driver out of the sinking vehicle and onto the shore. He then stabilized the patient as more help arrived.

In the other situation, Ian entered a crashed haul vehicle and administered blood products to an injured driver whose leg was bleeding profusely. While fire personnel worked to extricate the individual from the truck, Ian realized more blood was needed, so he called for another AEL aircraft to deliver additional supplies. That decision was a critical factor in helping save both the patient’s leg and life.

Cynthia Betts

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

With more than 35 years of healthcare service—25 of them at EagleMed—Cindy Betts is known for her compassion, knowledge, skill, and unwavering commitment to patient care.

Cindy’s dedication is evident in her ability to manage both the rotor and fixed-wing bases in Wichita as well as perform her full-time flight shifts. Also, in addition to serving with her EagleMed colleagues, Cindy works at Wesley Medical Center, the Wichita Level I trauma center. During the pandemic, Cindy not only managed both bases when they were facing staffing shortages and high-volume flights but also did so while working extra hours in the Medical Center’s COVID-19 ICU.

Cindy is unstoppable. Her commitment to serve, even when she is working multiple shifts, is remarkable. She is a mentor to new hires and has helped guide dozens of flight nurses and medics for decades with her knowledge and understanding of clinical care.

Jack Asbury

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Jack Asbury III is the recipient of countless awards and recognitions for the many lives of cardiac arrest patients that he has saved, as well as for his superb patient care.

Jack’s kind and respectful demeanor ensures that he is well-liked by his co-workers, leaders, and members of his local Florida community.

Through his nonprofit, Masked Miracles, Jack visits and encourages ill, bullied, and hospice-bound children.

On one occasion, Jack traveled to Connecticut and partnered with one of AMR’s operations there, meeting with a child who had experienced a terrible situation that made the news. This was just another example of Jack’s commitment to caring for some of our nation’s youngest patients even after his formal EMS work is complete.

Jack is a shining example of a dedicated EMS professional who cares greatly about his patients and community.

Michael Arquette

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Michael Arquette exhibited heroic leadership in response to the horrific mass shooting that took place in May 2022, at a local supermarket in Buffalo’s East Side neighborhood.

When informed of the shooting, Michael responded without hesitation. He quickly and expertly coordinated with police while triaging all the victims at the scene. He also protected other EMS providers from having to witness the tragedy, only involving them when it was an absolute necessity. Even after more help arrived, Michael insisted on staying at the scene to ensure that the crews onsite had the emotional and medical support they needed. Sadly, the massacre left ten people dead, and three others injured.

The courage and servant leadership Michael embodied that day are representative of the many reasons he is highly respected among team members and fellow supervisors at AMR Western New York.

Jacob Ambach

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Jacob Ambach saved the lives of five patients who suffered cardiac arrests last year. If it were not for Jacob’s collaboration with the local teams that were at the scenes of those incidents, the patients likely would not have survived.

In addition, Jacob has assumed leadership over his local operation’s Special Pathogen Transport team, which works directly with the Region 10 Special Pathogen Treatment Center. The team serves as the primary transport crew for all the Special Pathogens patients coming into the region. This includes helping care for the first COVID-19 patients diagnosed in the State of Washington.

A resolute EMS professional, Jacob believes many of the issues faced by the communities he serves can be solved through education and good communication. He is living proof of this principle given the obstacles he has overcome in his own life, including learning disabilities.

In every challenge he faces, Jacob remains steadfast, never allowing his setbacks to slow him down from becoming a trustworthy and accomplished Paramedic.

Danny Abalama

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Danny Abalama is a gifted pilot with a talent for flying in difficult and remote areas throughout his home state of Alaska. As someone who grew up in a village himself, Danny is committed to providing the best care possible to hard-to-reach areas.

In one instance, Danny landed an aircraft in the middle of the night in a small rural region with only the community’s off-road vehicle lights to illuminate the runway. In another occurrence, Danny “hand-flew” an aircraft on a flight from Kotzebue to Kobuk, just above the Arctic Circle, when the aircraft’s autopilot malfunctioned. Despite the demands of that flight, Danny was described as “cool as a cucumber.” He never flinched or faltered.

Danny is always willing to help other pilots on his base. He supports his colleagues so they can be ready in the event they must serve as single pilots without a full instrument panel.

Humble, kind, soft-spoken, and funny, Danny Abalama is a true leader.

Timothy Sanders

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Timothy Sanders has served Baptist Ambulance, part of the Priority Ambulance family, since 2018. He has more than 29 years of experience in EMS. Timothy has diverse experience in multiple states and has served as a Field Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Shift Supervisor, County Operations Manager, Flight Paramedic, and Educator.

Timothy currently serves as a Shift Lead with Baptist Ambulance Service in Mississippi. He actively teaches many EMS educational courses. Timothy believes education and continuing training are keys to an exceptional EMS provider.

Tim’s depth of field experience and passion for education recently resulted in his selection to develop and present “EMS & Trauma – Past, Present, Future” at a Regional Trauma Conference in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Phoenix Alexa Reisner

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Phoenix Alexa Reisner started at Trans Am Ambulance Services, part of the Priority Ambulance family of companies, as a Call Taker/Dispatcher in 2014 and became an EMT in September 2022. Her bright disposition and inquisitive nature liven up any shift she is a part of.

Growing up with two parents in the healthcare industry, specifically in ambulance care, Phoenix has developed a strong passion for patient care and medicine. Since she was young, Phoenix dreamed of pursuing a career as a doctor. She has a Bachelor of Science in neurology with a minor in education from Harpur College of Arts and Science in Binghamton, NY, where she also made the dean’s list during her studies. Phoenix is pursuing a Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine at the New York Institute of Technology. This field focuses on preventative medicine and how each system of the body functions together. She has passed the first level of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination and is currently earning hands-on experience at the local hospitals around New York City. When school goes on break, she returns to Trans Am to pick up shifts as an EMT.

Even with such a busy schedule studying medicine, Phoenix’s commitment to people’s well-being does not stop in hospital rounds. She volunteers at her local food shelter and is a Rock Steady Boxing program team member, which helps individuals with Parkinson’s disease manage their symptoms through exercise. Whenever she returns home, she participates in Olean’s Alzheimer’s Walk to aid the research on this disease. She also makes regular donations to the EMS Leadership of Tomorrow program with each paycheck received.

Phoenix has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to patient care, medicine, and her community. She will surely inspire others to strive for the same commitment to the welfare of others.

Richard Nye

Written by Aaron Director on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Richard “Rick” Nye, BS, NREMTP, has been with Shoals Ambulance, part of the Priority Ambulance family, since 2022. He completed his Paramedic training in 2016. During his career, Richard has served in the field and educational roles in multiple states.

Rick currently serves as a Paramedic with Shoals Ambulance, where, in addition to continuing to provide patient care in the field, he also contributes to the organization in several other ways. Rick participates in new hire orientation, teaching specialty courses, and providing clinical coaching and mentoring to new and existing employees. He also conducts quality assurance initiatives, including regular equipment and medication audits and chart reviews.

Rick is driven by his desire to contribute to the greater good, bringing much value to the organization and the industry.