Tag: Cataldo Ambulance Service

In 2019, Lilliana Ferguson enrolled in an EMT course for academic credit and to gain patient contact hours. She began her mobile healthcare career at UMass EMS in college before relocating to the Boston area and joining Cataldo Ambulance Service.

Lilliana states that she initially joined the Cataldo team, “because of Cataldo’s good reputation in the Boston area” and the call volume and population diversity for patient contact hours. She adds, “I fell in love with EMS. Every day is different, and you never know what to expect. You get to meet a lot of people and be exposed to their lifestyles.”

Lilliana became a Paramedic in 2021 and has since become extremely adept at managing high-acuity patients. She is always prepared to confidently surmount any complications or barriers to ensure patients always receive exceptional care. Over the course of her EMS career, Lilliana has been a field training officer at both the BLS and ALS levels. Her experience, knowledge, and positive nature makes her a great role model for her peers.

Christopher “Chris” Crowell initially enrolled in an EMT course in college for academic credit and to gain patient contact hours. Soon after, he joined the Atlantic division of Cataldo Ambulance Service, the contracted ambulance provider in his hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts. Chris fell in love with EMS immediately, and notes that “when it’s rewarding, it is extremely rewarding.”

Chris has an innate talent for establishing trust with patients with whom it might be more difficult to build rapport. As a BLS Clinical Field Supervisor, he applies these same skills to effectively manage team members in the field. He leads colleagues with the same empathy and understanding he learned by managing complex patient situations.

Cataldo team members rely on Chris to handle any situation that is thrown at him in a way that is consistent, fair, and reliable. His friendly and outgoing nature helps all team members feel welcomed and supported as he assists them in diffusing difficult situations while ensuring that patient care is never compromised. “Knowing that people rely on me and have confidence in me is what keeps me coming back to work every day,” Chris adds.

Linda joined Cataldo Ambulance Service in 2008 as an EMT and worked her way up to Paramedic. Linda entered EMS unexpectedly, but felt that after her time spent in many other trades, EMS offered her a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of strangers, and she certainly has many times over. Linda shows enormous pride for her work, never settling for anything but superb performance.

Linda always put the patient’s needs first from the moment she is dispatched for the call. She knows that when she punches-in for duty, it is about her job and helping the citizens of the cities we serve. We all know it is our job to care, but sometimes our body language can really speak volumes about how we feel, and patients can read that. Linda’s body language always shows care and concern. She goes right to their side, and offers human-to-human contact that can sometimes be more healing for individuals than any medication we have available.

Linda is a vital member of not just the Cataldo community but the EMS community, and her dedication and respect for the work she does goes above and beyond.

Katherine’s impact in EMS began in 2004 when she graduated from Bunker Hill Community College’s Medical Technician Program. Katherine joined Cataldo in 2015 as both an EMT and a Dispatcher. She has played a vital role as a member of the Cataldo community. Whether on the road or on the phone, Katherine has always stepped up and gone above and beyond for every patient.

In 2018 Katherine was promoted to a Supervisor, where she has stepped up as a leader and has continued to go the extra mile for each and every call. She is an asset, not just to Cataldo Ambulance Service, but to the profession as a whole. Katherine is an extremely committed Dispatcher and Supervisor and she truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and compassion.

Widmac Laterion began his career in mobile healthcare in 2013 when he began working as an EMT at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. While at school, Widmac quickly became a Field Supervisor for the program with an interest in teaching new recruits. Widmac played an instrumental role in restructuring the summer training/field internship program. He earned a degree in Nutrition/Pre-Med in 2017.

Widmac joined Cataldo Ambulance Service in 2014 as an EMT. He soon  transitioned into the role of Field Training Officer. While at Cataldo, Widmac’s passion for teaching others continued to grow, and he began teaching CPR classes. This quickly grew into a leadership role within Cataldo’s On-boarding and Orientation program.

In 2017, Widmac both started a Paramedic school and joined the Army National Guard as a combat medic. In 2018, Widmac received his Paramedic certification and started a dual role at Cataldo as a field medic and educator. Widmac’s long-term goal is to become a physician in the Army.

When not working in EMS, Widmac can be found giving back to his community as part of the Allied Health Academy Program at Everett High School in Everett, MA.

Mary Anselmo began her career at Cataldo Ambulance as a BLS provider 13 years ago and has since worked her way up to becoming a Senior Paramedic.

Cataldo Ambulance is proud to nominate Mary as a 2019 Star of Life for the years of compassionate care she has provided and for always putting the patient first. In addition to being clinically astute, Mary is known for her humility and for always going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure her patients and their family’s comfort and understanding of the situation.

Having worked in a high-volume EMS system for years, Mary has experienced her share of challenging calls. She continually uses these experiences to grow into a better person and healthcare provider. For Mary, every call is an opportunity for growth and learning, and she remains calm under pressure and is an excellent teacher. Mary takes the time with each crew member and student, considering each of their individual needs and strengths.

Mary is an asset not just to Cataldo Ambulance Service, but to the profession as a whole. Mary is an extremely dedicated Paramedic, mother, and wife and she truly deserves this recognition for her dedication and compassion.

Many nominees are recognized for a specific remarkable rescue or event that tests their courage and or professional skills in the field of EMS. The achievement of such recognition in many instances would not be possible without the support of those who work on their team throughout the year performing in many roles of EMS. Jesse is an example of one of those team members, who report for work every day in the organization supporting field personnel who are deserving of such recognition during a specific heroic event. His leadership as a supervisor in communications plays a significant role ensuring that field personnel have the information and resources necessary for a safe response and effective on scene delivery of quality patient care. Of particular note are the contributions and initiatives that are unseen by the public and so important for the success of the company overall with supervision of telecommunicators, EMD, EMDQ, reporting and daily support of the billing office that drives the economic engine of the company. Jesse is a father and husband with core family values. His primary personal interest is with his family. Jesse is a professional fireworks technician and in fact played a role in the 2013 July 4th fireworks display in Boston. He could be considered a jack of all trades with a technical expertise. Jesse is always goal focused and enthusiastic with an intense interest in solving problems. His intense interest often inspires others to perform better both at work and at home. He has made Cataldo Ambulance Service his home since March of 2008. Jesse is the senior supervisor of the Boston Communications Division. A train the trainer for the 911 Sentinel Patriot system, CTO, EMD, EMDQ, Rescue Net data reporting and ePCR billing compliance team. Supervisor Jesse Godin is an exemplary member of the Cataldo team. His recognition is not based on a single specific event. Recognition for his nomination is much more difficult to achieve. It requires contributions and initiatives that support the team overall every day on every shift from the field to dispatch and the overall economic health of the organization. Significant responsibility in the daily operation of the Boston Communications Division, Jesse supervises and assists team members as needed during shifts with technical work in receiving and dispatching emergency calls. He assists with management duties and requests in a wide variety of ways from special projects to on-going day to day reporting and problem solving. It’s important for him to know that the telecommunicators in dispatch are professional, knowledgeable and focused on customer service. This assurance comes from his participation as a CTO and assisting the Training Administrator with the initial 911 equipment training and certification of staff or as a CTO. Quality patient care through EMD is a priority for as well and is a member of the EMDQ quality assurance team. Well known to the compliance and billing office resolving ePCR complications and assisting with completion of calls assuring that revenue flow is available for the tools and equipment that are required in the delivery of quality patient care that the Cataldo organization is known for. In closing I would like to say that Jesse is a great example of someone who has earned the Star of Life through hard work and dedication to his EMS organization from the front end delivery of patient care to the back end behind the scenes.”

Brian is a paramedic for Atlantic Ambulance Service, a division of Cataldo Ambulance Service, based in Peabody, Massachusetts. Brian has organized a city-wide response time improvement effort for school campuses. He is a bright, energetic young professional who takes his commitment to work, workplace, family and community very seriously. Brian ceaselessly communicates with co-workers on ways to improve the performance of the EMS team every time they respond. After experiencing first-hand the delays in access to patients at some school campuses, Brian set about to improve the EMS System’s performance for this special population. In some cases, the difference in “arrival at scene” and “arrival at patient side” times on these sprawling campuses could be as much as five to six minutes. As he began, what he found was a wide variety of procedures among the schools in the city where he works and resides with his wife and two children. He quickly assembled schematics of the schools from public safety databases which included door numbering and descriptions of functional areas of the schools and their associated facilities. He added satellite mapping images to assist responders in navigating their approach to the campuses based on their ultimate destination. This guide will be placed in each of the ambulances serving the City. Brian contacted school department officials, ultimately arranging with the Superintendent to make an “EMS System response 101″ presentation to a citywide meeting of Principals. To that group, he described the potential for improved response and proposed options for training by facility and drill scenarios. That group now has a greater understanding of how their direct action, both in preparation and in individual incidents, can impact the lives of the students in their charge. In addition to the many hours of volunteer time he has already invested, Brian has assured the Superintendent that as he rolls out the city-wide plan to improve the schools’ responses to medical emergencies, Brian will be there to provide the EMS perspective for the staff. Brian is already talking about taking this model as a proposal to each community served by Atlantic Ambulance Service. Based on his energy, creativity and passion for improving care to the children of our communities, we’re sure he will be successful in those efforts as well.”

Tim Chopelas is a mainstay of Cataldo Ambulance Service in Somerville, Massachusetts, sharing his experience with new EMTs and guiding trainees as they learn new roles.

He started work at Cataldo as an EMT Basic then decided to attend the Northeastern University Paramedic program. He has been working as a Paramedic for more than 20 years now.

His people skills were front and center when he held supervisory positions at Lyons Ambulance Service (Cataldo acquired Lyons in September 2017), and he was instrumental in the early stages of developing the Performance Improvement Program at LAS.

Tim was an ALS Field Training Instructor at LAS and takes an active interest in mentoring new medics, giving his experience and insight, while encouraging them to develop their own skills.

Tim is a role model Paramedic. He’s a skilled clinician and a compassionate caregiver, and he is a committed, hardworking staff member, often working overtime shifts.

He is married, has two children, and lives in Danvers.

Sean joined Cataldo Ambulance Service as an EMT in 2011 after stints in marketing, public relations, and teaching.

He put that education background to good use when he became a Field Training Officer. Sean excels as an EMT in the field but also as an educator within our communities. He decided to create a reference guide for the new hires and now hands it out as he works with each new employee.

He took on the role of Lead Field Training Officer with ease, imparting his knowledge and experience to our staff from day one. Sean exhibits a constant drive to help others find success in their health-care career. He stays up to date on the latest research on EMS-related topics and prides himself on delivering that information so it’s relevant for those who are new to the field and experienced staff alike.

Sean consistently volunteers to teach classes, participate in drills, and attend committee meetings. He is regularly active on the Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee, offering suggestions for improvement in all phases of our business.

Besides working full-time as an EMT, Sean owns his own business, Maney Communications. He also loves to spend time with his dogs, taking them for walks or just playing around in the yard.

Deanne graduated from Purdue University in 2009 with a focus in behavioral neuroscience. Deanne’s desire to utilize her degree led her to enroll in EMT school in 2010, and she began her new career with Cataldo Ambulance in 2011. Since then, Deanne’s love for EMS has grown, and she has taken on many roles. Deanne has served as a BLS road crew, an FTO, educator, and facilitator. This diverse experience has helped Deanne become a confident, well-rounded, healthcare provider. Though Deanne has worked in many different roles, she really enjoys being a part of the road crews where she is able to make a difference in her patient’s lives. 

Deanne is a committed EMT, FTO, and team player. Deanne will do what is asked without hesitation and often brings new ideas and suggestions to the forefront. Among other things, Deanne is professional, dedicated, and always willing to go the extra mile to help her team and patients.

Deanne takes each shift seriously and is always on top of her game. Deanne is well respected among her peers and others around her. Patients often will call or write to express how much they appreciate Deanne’s help. Over this past year, Deanne has really stepped up to fill in as a facilitator for many of Cataldo’s educational classes. Deanne creates lasting relationships with those around her and her constant professionalism has helped her to de-escalate a few situations. Deanne continues to offer new ideas and suggestions to bridge the relationship between staff and crew members. Deanne is selfless and works for the best interests of her patients, the company and the EMS industry as a whole.

Andrea began her career in EMS in 2005 as a dispatcher for local Police, Fire, EMS, and Town Services. However, her goal was always to become a Paramedic. Following graduate school, Andrea started her EMS career with a transport company in Woburn, Massachusetts, and completed her Paramedic studies in 2013 with an A.S. in Paramedicine and a certification of NRP. Andrea now proudly serves as a Paramedic for Cataldo/Atlantic Ambulance Service. Born and raised in the City of Newburyport, it has been a lifelong dream for Andrea to serve her community.

Andrea’s passion for teaching began in 2015 when she taught her first class for Cataldo/Atlantic. Since then, she has begun teaching at local colleges and to a local police department, where she instructs the officers on how to properly use Narcan. She has repeatedly stepped forward to be a leader in the community; especially in the education of our citizens. Specifically, Andrea conducts courses on opioid overdoses, and has educated thousands of people within the community on the use of Narcan through live demonstrations, classes, and community outreach on cable access television. Andrea has even marched alongside other community leaders in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to drug overdoses.

Andrea has proven herself to be a true professional who is compassionate, street smart, and has a true heart of gold. She has a genuine concern for the community and the citizens she serves. Being a Paramedic is not just a job for Andrea, but a passion. From her interactions with survivors, family members, and loved ones, Andrea goes far above and beyond her title of Educator. Andrea’s impact within the community is immeasurable and she truly deserves to be nominated for a Star of Life Award.

Pamela is being recognized as a Star of Life for an act above and beyond the call of duty, as someone who risked personal injury to assist a community member in need.

On Thursday, September 17, 2015 at approximately 16:00, Pam was grocery shopping off duty when she heard a page over the store intercom announcing the need for anyone with medical training to run to the bakery area. Without hesitation, Pam responded.

Upon arrival, she found a group of people encircling a male in his late 60s. He was unconscious, unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. Pam immediately took control of the situation. She directed the bystanders to call 911, then began performing CPR for approximately six minutes by herself, before backup arrived to assist. Due to her efforts, the patient is alive today.

Pam jumped right into providing patient care, although her job role is in EMS communications and dispatch. Additionally, she did so when she was recovering from recent abdominal surgery where she had fresh sutures and had been instructed not to perform any rigorous activities at risk of great bodily harm to herself.

This is not the only instance when Pam has gone above and beyond the call of duty. She strives each day to assist 911 callers to the very best of her ability. She aids her fellow co-workers whenever she can, and is always willing to do whatever it takes to better the situation. She is polite, reassuring, ready to learn, and is truly the person you want on the other end of the phone if you need to dial 911 for assistance.

David Franklin is deserving of the American Ambulance Association Star of Life recognition due to his hard work, dedication and leadership as a clinical field supervisor for Cataldo Ambulance. While there are a number of individual calls that represent his exemplary performance as a clinician and leader, the time, commitment and passion he has shown over the past year, a year where a massive Paramedic shortage plagued much of Massachusetts, are the main reasons he deserves this honor. In 2015, Dave was the on-duty supervisor almost every weekend.

Traditionally, Saturday and Sunday are the most difficult shifts to fill and Dave was able to work his magic and kept Cataldo running through some very difficult times. His dedication was apparent, as he would often come in on his days off to assist in filling shifts. He contacted employees and moved staff around to keep our ambulances staffed. Through all of this, he continued to help mentor new supervisors, respond to multiple emergencies during his shifts, assist with ALS transfers, answer hundreds of phone calls, and handle all of the other managerial and supervisory responsibilities. His ability to do all of this, often on very extended shifts, while maintaining a courteous and professional attitude, has earned him the respect and admiration of almost every employee at Cataldo Ambulance. The leaders at Cataldo Ambulance are honored to nominate him for this distinguished award.

Matthew Seely is a Paramedic with Cataldo Ambulance Service. He is a consummate professional in all his interactions with his colleagues and other first responders. He is easy to work with and is always available as a resource to everyone on staff.

During one particularly difficult response, Matt had the lead for medical control for a man entrapped in a piece of machinery. The man’s arm was stuck in a piece of equipment and it was entangled to the point where extraction was extremely difficult
without there being a good chance of loss of life or limb. Due to Matt’s professionalism, leadership, and support of all the first responders, the man’s arm was successfully extricated. This is just one example of the many reasons why Cataldo Ambulance Service selected Matthew Seely as a 2016 American Ambulance Association Star of Life.