CLINTON, Miss. — The NAEMT announced the recipients of the 2015 National EMS Awards of Excellence. The awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions in emergency, mobile and military health care. They will be presented Wednesday, September 16 in Las Vegas at the NAEMT’s General Membership Meeting and Awards Presentation, and on September 17 at the EMS World Expo opening ceremony.
Here are the 2015 recipients:
Brandy Rice, Paramedic, Arkansas City, Kansas
2015 NAEMT/Nasco Paramedic of the Year, sponsored by Nasco
Brandy Rice has worked 10 years as a full-time firefighter/paramedic for the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department and part-time as an ER Tech for South Central Kansas Medical Center. She teaches several EMS and community CPR classes, implemented a Vial of Life program, and is involved in many other organizations that benefit the safety and health of members in her community. She also planned and coordinated the activities for EMS Week in May with local businesses. Rice was nominated by Jeri Smith, EMS director of the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department, who said, “Brandy is a true ‘caretaker’ of the people of Arkansas City, Kansas: she goes above and beyond the call of duty. She often stays after an EMS call to help people with special needs. When a wheel chair bound woman returned home after an emergency hospital run with Brandy, she found her dishes clean, her grass mowed, new cordless phones installed, and a longer string attached to the ceiling fan she had been unable to reach before.” Rice is a role model for ensuring that the needs of patients and their family are met, and has earned the respect of her colleagues.
Glen Anderson, EMT, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
2015 NAEMT/Braun Industries EMT of the Year, sponsored by Braun Industries
Glen Anderson, deputy chief of the Bridgewater State University Police Department, is recognized for launching the university’s EMS program. He deployed an automatic external defibrillator (AED) program, and initiated CPR and First Responder training in his community. Awarded in 2011 for saving the life of a community member, Anderson has trained more than 1,000 people in CPR and first aid, some of which were sponsored by the program to become an EMT. He also introduced Naloxone, a.k.a. Narcan, to help university law enforcement officers combat the rise of Heroin overdoses. Anderson was instrumental in policy development as it relates to mental health issues, and is a strong supporter of programs addressing these issues, serving as an active member of the University’s CARE team.
Matthew Wolkenbreit, Paramedic, Colrain, Massachusetts
2015 NAEMT/Jones & Bartlett Learning EMS Educator of the Year, sponsored by Jones & Bartlett Learning
Matthew Wolkenbreit is chief instructor and executive director of Community911 Training, Inc., director of training and education at Colrain Volunteer Ambulance Association, Inc. (CVAA), and president of Franklin County Emergency Medical Services Committee. A dedicated EMS instructor, he teaches a variety of life saving and trauma care programs, as well as National Core Competency EMS Programs. He also teaches community programs, such as Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Chokesaver training for the food service industry, and other programs to educate and mentor EMS practitioners. Wolkenbreit initiated several educational opportunities for volunteer agencies. Gary Ponce, CEO and director of CVAA said, “Little did I know that he would not only change what had been happening locally, but would take us on a journey of redefining the who, what, where, when and why’s of EMS training and much more as Massachusetts dived into the NREMT certification and NCCR training as one of the pilot states.” Wolkenbreit is credited with providing clear information, guidance and structured planning to help volunteer agencies serve their communities effectively.
John Crowley, U.S. Navy Fleet Marine Force Corpsman (ret.), Hilliard, Ohio
2015 NAEMT/North American Rescue Military Medic of the Year, sponsored by North American Rescue
Navy Corpsman John Crowley served as Hospitalman (medic) in the Fleet Marine Force, a duty he was specially trained for to work with infantry Marines deployed to combat zones. His medical preparation and dedication was crucial to the well being of the platoon, saving the lives of many Marines and foreign military allies while being injured himself and in spite of regular combat attacks. First Lieutenant Deven Revel said, “He ignored his own wounds to apply tourniquets to two Marines who had both lost legs, and treat his squad leader and interpreter who had suffered substantial wounds. His calmness under pressure and quick thinking were astonishing given his condition.” In 2012, Crowley was awarded the esteemed Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement and the Purple Heart for wounds received in action during his deployment to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.Crowley also helped local villagers assess minor medical conditions and instructed Afghan National Army soldiers in basic trauma care.
Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond, Virginia
2015 Dick Ferneau Paid EMS Service of the Year, sponsored by Ferno
The Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) provides 9-1-1 services to the City of Richmond, Va., and non-emergency patient transport and critical care services within the Commonwealth of Virginia. RAA responds to over 60,000 calls for service annually with 42,000 patients transported to hospital. It is a 501c3, not-for-profit agency and has a staff of 240 full- and part-time EMTs and paramedics, as well as a communication center operated by 16 full-time system status controllers. Additionally RAA employs its own maintenance, logistics, billing, IT and reimbursement functions. RAA has run a number of very successful public health and injury prevention programs such as the successful “Rider Alert” motorcycle safety program that places identity cards inside riders helmets. This program, now a global collaboration, has issued over 1 million cards to riders around the world. RAA is also part of the USAF Pararescueman training “pipeline” and delivers clinical placement training to trainee PJs. It also provides fellowship placements for Central and South American-based trauma surgeons as part of the Pan American Trauma Society, where an overview of the EMS role in a busy trauma system is explained and demonstrated over two-week attachments where the surgeon is totally immersed into prehospital clinical operations.
Calvert Advanced Life Support, Prince Frederick, Maryland
2015 Volunteer EMS Service of the Year, sponsored by ZOLL
Calvert Advanced Life Support is the sole advanced life support asset providing 100% volunteer emergency medical services to the citizens of Calvert County, Md. Calvert is one of nine departments providing fire, rescue and EMS to the community through the tiered response in partnership with seven departments providing basic life support and transport units. The department responds to 5,000 calls for service a year and consists of approximately 72 advanced-level EMS providers and 60 basic life support members. Training is key to Calvert’s operations with an on-site training space and simulation laboratory available to members 24/7. The agency also has a Paramedic Early Intervention Program (PEIP) that places ALS gear on every BLS unit in the county, thus enabling paramedics to respond from any fire station on the ambulance and instantly upgrade the transport unit to the level of ALS. Calvert ALS participates in countywide and mandated online safety training courses and has a designated infection control officer.