By EMS1 Staff
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — American Medical Response has appointed a 20-year veteran emergency medical services physician and educator to its newly created role of Chief Medical Officer.
Edward Racht, M.D, will join AMR in September having previously served as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer for Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Atlanta.
“This role is meant to be one of senior level strategic guidance, coordination of research, collaboration both internally and externally in the medical community, critical thinking of our medical care and ultimately stewardship on behalf of our physicians, caregivers and patients as well as stakeholders,” AMR President Mark Bruning said. “I am truly pleased to welcome a physician leader of Ed’s caliber to the AMR family.”
Dr. Racht has been in the field for more than 20 years, with AMR describing him as a widely recognized leader and frequent keynote speaker.
He received his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Medical College of Virginia.
Dr. Racht has served as the Medical Director of the Austin/Travis County, Texas, Emergency Medical Services System, Co-Medical Director of the Richmond, Va., Ambulance Authority and in multiple career and volunteer EMS organizations in Texas and Virginia.
“Ed’s significant and valuable experience in EMS and research, coupled with the invaluable health system experience he gained in his time with Piedmont Newnan in Georgia, uniquely positions him to leverage his talents along with that of our own existing physician and clinical leaders to further our efforts to be a recognized clinical leader in our industry,” Bruning said.
He added that Dr. Racht’s return to EMS is not only a benefit to AMR, but to the EMS industry.
“By bringing in someone of Ed’s caliber into a Chief Medical Officer role, it further reinforces our commitment to continue to ensure that patient centered care and caregiver focus remain at the forefront of all of our discussions and strategies,” Bruning said. “To say that we are pleased would be an understatement, but we also know that we have much work before us in this time of change and opportunity as our health care system evolves over the coming months and years.