Tag: EMSA

Paramedic Zachary (Zach) Zeiler was nominated for Stars of Life by EMT Ashlynn Gregory. Zach has worked at EMSA in the Eastern Division for three years.

“Even on high stress calls, Zach stays focused on the best way to provide patient care and advocacy. He is always diligent in practicing teamwork as a partner and with other agencies. I have never met a Paramedic more adamant about holding himself accountable,” Gregory wrote in her nomination.

EMSA Field Operations Supervisor David Yales said, “Zach is always eager to help out. He is well-liked and respected by the team. He remains positive. He’s always happy to assist and teach newer team members. He’s coachable and honest.”

Zach never flinches when asked to help and often helps without being asked. He is a team-first medic every EMS service would be lucky to have.

Zach spends his time away from EMSA with his fiance, Madelyn.

EMSA Advantage Instructor Michael Wilson was nominated as a Star of Life by Western Division Clinical Services Manager David Gooshaw. Michael has worked at EMSA in the Western Division since 2016.

“Michael’s focus is taking individuals who have no EMS experience and mentoring them through an EMT certification course. Mike takes his time and gives 100% to each one of the students. He makes himself available to them 24/7 during and after the course is completed. Michael also serves the community by working several street shifts on an ambulance on his weekends off,” Gooshaw said in his nomination.

Michael’s Supervisor, Tina Mathes, EMSA Director of Clinical Services, noted that even after students have left Michael’s classroom he continues to stay connected to them as a coach and a mentor. Day and night, he ensures they know he is their advocate at EMSA as long as they’re a member of the team.

Michael helped launch EMSA’s in-house EMT School, EMSA Advantage – and has helped set the bar high for his students. This successful program has helped our operations in Oklahoma City make positive strides many thought would be impossible in the last year and a half.

In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with his beloved family.

Patient Business Services Prebilling Supervisor Sharrie Barnes was nominated by EMSA Verifier Lori Yanez. Sharrie has worked at EMSA since 2014. “I enjoy working with my team to overcome obstacles and improve processes to make our department more effective. EMSA has always made me feel appreciated,” says Sharrie.

“At the beginning of 2022, our ENTIRE management team left our department, abruptly, with no warning. It was pretty scary but Sharrie stepped up and took control and kept us all encouraged throughout the process. We fell behind, as some of our team members left us as well, but Sharrie advocated for our department to get the help we needed, and as of today we are back on track for our department’s goals of executing the billing cycle. I am so proud of her and thankful for leadership throughout this process,” Yanez said in her nomination.

Sharrie’s Supervisor, Sonia Coleman, EMSA Director of Revenue Cycle Management, said that Sharrie is always an advocate for patients and works tirelessly to make sure they are taken care of after their transport to the hospital. When not working at EMSA, Sharrie enjoys spending time with her family.

No matter the hour—or day of week—Kim McDorman is ready to respond when technology issues arise. Kim has earned a reputation as “Ms. Fix-It” during her nine years at EMSA. Whether it’s a desktop computer that’s stopped working, a tablet used for documentation that’s not charging, or a mobile data terminal that’s not synching, Kim has a knack for getting to the underlying cause of any IT issue. If solving the problem requires coming in to the office during her off-hours, Kim does so without complaint.

Kim is an intensely curious person. If Kim doesn’t know how something works, she does her research and finds out. She’s also quick to share information with others, in the hope of helping prevent future IT problems from occurring in the first place.

Kim has a wonderful sense of humor and unique way of making all team members feel important. Kim treats frontline EMTs and Paramedics with the same respect and consideration she affords to organizational leaders. Kim is a customer service star and integral part of the EMSA team.

Professional, reliable, and community-focused are the qualities that best exemplify EMSA Paramedic Chase Coates. Chase was nominated multiple times this year, and the same descriptors—leader, teacher and role model—came up repeatedly in the nominations. He is well-liked and deeply respected by his peers and supervisors.

Chase joined EMSA in July 2010 while he was completing his zoology degree at the University of Oklahoma. He had intended to become a physician, but fell in love with pre-hospital medicine and the EMS industry. In January 2013, Chase was promoted from EMT-Intermediate to Paramedic. He is a founding member of EMSA’s Community Ambassadors program and, as such, conducts dozens of presentations each year at schools, has organized clothing drives for the homeless, and represents EMSA at various public events. Chase also is a Field Training Officer and serves on both the honor guard and tactical EMS teams.

When Michael Williams tells his colleagues that he knows how they feel, he isn’t joking. During a 14-year tenure at EMSA, Michael has held nearly every job there is. He joined EMSA as a vehicle supply technician and quickly worked his way into a tech supervisor role. Other roles he’s filled include EMT and field training officer, materials manager, paramedic, emergency medical dispatcher and, most recently, assistant field operations supervisor. Michael says that wearing so many different hats has given him a unique perspective on the business of EMS, but that “above all else, at the end of the day, we’re all here to take good care of sick and hurt people.”

In August 2015, Michael, his partner, and first responders resuscitated a man who went into cardiac arrest at a flea market. Doctors at the receiving hospital publicly praised the care Michael gave his patient and used the case to highlight the importance of bystander CPR and quality medical care.