2014 National EMS Award Recipients Announced

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NEWS RELEASE
September 16, 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2014 National EMS Award Recipients Announced

Clinton, Miss. — The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians and EMS World announced the recipients of the 2014 National EMS Awards of Excellence. We congratulate the  following recipients and recognize their outstanding achievements and contributions in EMS:

Susan Bailey, NREMT-P, Denham Springs, Louisiana
2014 NAEMT/Nasco Paramedic of the Year Award, sponsored by Nasco

Brandon Pruitt, EMT, Searcy, Arkansas
2014 NAEMT/Braun Industries EMT of the Year Award, sponsored by Braun Industries

Melissa Doak, NREMT-P, Williamsburg, Virginia
2014 NAEMT/Jones & Bartlett Learning Educator of the Year Award, sponsored by Jones & Bartlett Learning

Rice University Emergency Medical Services, Houston, Texas
2014 Impact Volunteer EMS Service of the Year, sponsored by Impact Instrumentation, Inc.

Christian Hospital Emergency Medical Services (CHEMS), St. Louis, Missouri
2014 Dick Ferneau Paid EMS Service of the Year, sponsored by Ferno

Susan Bailey began her career as an EMT in rural Louisiana, also volunteering as a CPR and First Responder instructor until receiving her Paramedic certification and later, Bachelor’s degree (Magna Cum Laude). She worked as a National Registry examiner and was elected to the Louisiana Association of Nationally Registered EMT (LANREMT) Board of Directors. Bailey held positions at East Baton Rouge Parish EMS, earning recognition for educating instructors; bringing pediatric and geriatric education to the state; and hosting at least 20 visiting field interns in her home. Chair of LANREMT’s Educational Conference, Bailey also serves as the LANREMT representative on the NAEMT Affiliate Advisory Council and as the NAEMT State Advocacy Coordinator for Louisiana. "Susan works tirelessly to promote the EMS profession," said LANREMT President Evon Smith, NRP. "She does not ask for money when students stay at her house for weeks at a time, is not compensated for work as the conference chair or legislative liaison. She does all of these things because she loves being a Paramedic and loves the EMS Profession."

Brandon Pruitt has been an EMT with NorthStar EMS in Searcy, Ark., since 2007. He oversees the agency’s Field Training Officer program, supports hazmat efforts, and attends local emergency planning committee meetings. In addition to teaching CPR and First Responder classes, Pruitt is an honor guard and has worked as a hospital Emergency Department technician. Jeffery Steele, M.D. worked with Pruitt at White County Medical Center and commented, "I have never had cause to question Mr. Pruitt's clinical knowledge, judgment or skills… I have worked with him extensively, and I have been impressed with him professionally. Perhaps more importantly, however, is this: Brandon is a good person. He treats his job as a calling." Pruitt is also involved in several community projects that raise awareness and support for charities. He was nominated "without hesitation," said Tonia Hale, NorthStar director of operations. "I believe there is more to being a good EMT than just skills; you also have to give back to communities that you serve."

Melissa Doak is a dedicated EMS instructor, mentor and avid researcher. Her 30-year career began as an EMT, then a Paramedic. Known for her innovation, Doak is an educator at York County Department of Fire and Life Safety, in Yorktown, Va. She teaches NAEMT’s EMS Safety course and promotes EMS practitioner safety. She has presented training at EMS conferences around the
country; contributed content for the National Registry Intermediate Test; and assisted in the development of training materials used around the world. She serves on several committees, including the State of Virginia Office of EMS Symposium Committee, and Protocols, Policies and Procedures Committee of the Peninsulas Emergency Medical Services Council, and has been involved with several projects and organizations. Robert Ditch, EdD, recipient of last year’s educator award said, "Melissa Doak is the finest EMS educator that I have witnessed in my more than 40 years in EMS and 30 years as an EMS instructor and professor; having attended her classes as a student and also witnessing her dynamic instructional skills as an academic peer."

Nominees for the Paramedic and EMT of the Year Awards are scored on how the nominee: provides superior patient care; is an effective advocate for patients and their families; works with peers to foster a positive work environment; demonstrates professionalism in interacting with patients, their families and other medical professionals; and demonstrates a commitment to continuing professional education.

Nominations for the Educator of the Year Award are scored on how the nominee: consistently demonstrates commitment to providing high quality, professional education for EMS practitioners; serves as an outstanding role model for EMS practitioners in the classroom and in the community; effectively mentors EMS students at all stages of their professional development; introduces and incorporates innovative approaches and tools in the classroom, which enhance students' learning experiences; and contributes and participates in the development of education content that expands the body of quality EMS curriculum.

Rice University Emergency Medical Services is an advanced life support first responder organization, serving Rice University since 1996. Staff includes 53 undergraduate volunteers, 20 alumni, 6 volunteer physicians, and 1 staff. In the 2013–14 academic year, Rice EMS responded to 590 campus emergencies; provided 1,968 hours of special event coverage; and offered 39 CPR classes to nearly 500 people, and held 3 EMS certification courses. Their EMS research course awarded more than 1,200 continuing education hours. Rice EMS helps raise awareness of local health resources, and provides information on medical conditions and emergency services. Rice EMS provides all CPR and First Aid classes on campus, and maintains a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) program, run by students who want to maintain the history of the service and help it grow.

Christian Hospital Emergency Medical Services (CHEMS) provides 911 and inter-facility patient transport to the St. Louis area, serving more than 250,000 people and responding to approximately 25,000 calls annually. Its fleet consists of 16 ambulances and two command/triage vehicles staffed by 60 full-time first responders and 40 on-call responders, and seven full-time dispatchers. CHEMS takes a proactive approach to continuing education, offering an array of opportunities for providers to further their education and enhance experience. CHEMS has advanced hospital-based mobile integrated healthcare (MIH) in the community, decreasing emergency department admission of non-emergent patients by 11 percent, and assisting patients to find primary care physicians. In addition, CHEMS focuses public education efforts on teaching children about 911 and emergency situations through its "No Panic Please!" program.

Nominees for the Service of the Year Awards are scored on the following: advances in EMS education and training in the agency; innovations in prehospital care and protocol development implemented by the agency; medical community involvement with the agency; EMS system/program upgrades implemented by the agency; worker safety and well-being programs implemented by the agency; injury- and illness-prevention projects implemented by the agency; and public-education project sponsorships the agency is involved in.

Source: http://www.naemt.org/docs/default-source/media-docs/news-press-releases/2014-national-ems-award-recipients-09-16-14.pdf?sfvrsn=2

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