The 2026 AIMHI Excellence in Public Information or Education Award recognizes organizations that create innovative programs which improve health, educate communities and demonstrate measurable outcomes. This year’s recipient, the Medic Keep the Beat Foundation, earned national recognition for a groundbreaking fall-prevention initiative that is helping older adults remain independent, reducing repeat 911 calls and preventing avoidable hospital admissions. The award celebrates programs that move EMS beyond emergency response into proactive, community-based healthcare.
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Jimmy Pierson, president and COO of Medic Ambulance; and Angeline Pierson, occupational therapist with the Medic Keep the Beat Foundation, to explore the award-winning program in depth. The discussion covers everything from home safety assessments and occupational therapy interventions, to public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, EMS workforce innovation and why prevention may be one of the greatest opportunities facing EMS today.
Key quotes
“You’ve taken the frequency out of a faller.” — Rob Lawrence
“We don’t want healthier transports; we want a healthier community.” — Jimmy Pierson
“This isn’t a business model; it’s a community model.” — Jimmy Pierson
“We want to keep people safe and independent in their own homes.” — Angeline Pierson
“With this program they can stay at home instead of moving into a skilled nursing facility.” — Angeline Pierson
“The key is finding partners who see you as a partner; not as a subcontractor.” — Jimmy Pierson
“The Australian paramedics became part of our family; they weren’t temporary staff.” — Jimmy Pierson
Additional resources
- Awards – AIMHI
- Medic Keep the Beat Foundation
- Fall prevention: EMS patient education tips after the lift assist
- Fall hazard reduction and emergency alerting
- Geriatric slips, trips and falls: 3 assessment considerations
- 9 fall prevention tips for EMS providers to share
Episode timeline
01:00 – Meet Jimmy and Angeline Pierson
02:00 – Inside the award-winning fall prevention program
06:45 – How patients enter the program
08:30 – Why preventing falls starts inside the home
12:30 – Measuring outcomes and demonstrating return on investment
15:00 – Funding, grants and building community partnerships
17:00 – Public-private partnerships with California fire departments
22:00 – Sonoma County Fire and collaborative EMS delivery
28:00 – Workforce rebuilding after COVID-19
31:30 – Recruiting Australian paramedics and creating a sustainable workforce
34:30 – Final reflections on prevention, partnerships and the future of EMS
Rate and review the EMS One-Stop podcast
Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the EMS One-Stop team at editor@EMS1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback.
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and RSS feed.
