

	THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HONORS OUTSTANDING EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2008 Excellence in EMS Awards in recognition of National EMS Week. This marks the 18th year the Bureau of EMS has honored outstanding Florida EMS organizations and individuals who make a positive impact on local EMS throughout the state. The 2008 statewide EMS awards are sponsored by the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center. “The Bureau of EMS is honored to recognize the outstanding efforts of Florida's men and women who serve their community, saving lives, with excellence in emergency medical services,” said Lisa Walker, State Awards Coordinator for the Bureau of EMS. “Congratulations to these recipients for their significant contributions to EMS in Florida. We thank everyone for their participation in this program and encourage you to recognize all of the outstanding individuals and organizations in your area during EMS Week.” Awards will be presented at 5:30p.m. on July 9 at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando in conjunction with the State EMS Advisory Council meetings and the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center’s 34th Annual Clinical Conference on Emergency Medical Services. The 2008 Award winners are: EMS Provider of the Year: This award honors an EMS service which assumed a leadership role in EMS by achievement in areas of quality assurance/improvement, patient care, public access, medical control, disaster preparedness, public education and/or training in Florida. The winner must successfully implement a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan. Winner: Lake-Sumter Emergency Medical Services Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year: This award honors an EMT whose job responsibility is direct patient care and who has demonstrated independent initiative in the areas of quality assurance/improvement, patient care, public access, medical control, disaster preparedness, public education and/or training, and support, involvement and dedication to their EMS community and profession. Winner: Jodi Coffee, EMT, Sunstar Emergency Medical Services Paramedic of the Year: This award honors a paramedic whose job responsibility is direct patient care and who has demonstrated independent initiative in the areas of quality assurance/improvement, patient care, public access, medical control, disaster preparedness, public education and/or training, and support, involvement and dedication to their EMS community and profession. Winner: Mike Scott, EMT-P, Seminole County Fire Department EMS Nurse of the Year: This award honors a nurse who has assumed a leadership role in EMS and has demonstrated independent initiative in one or more of the following areas: education, clinical care, community service, or disaster management. Winner: Debbie Vass, RN, EMT-P, Sunstar Emergency Medical Services Larry S. Jordan EMS Hall of Fame: This award honors an individual for lifetime achievement in the field of emergency medical services. Winner: Chief Daniel R. Azzariti, New Port Richey Fire Department Marilyn Crook EMS Pioneer: This award honors an individual for their efforts to advance the EMS profession through their visionary leadership, innovation, promotion of best practices by building internal and external partnerships, and successful implementation of a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan. Winner: Chief Charles E. Moreland, Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department Friend to EMS: This award honors an individual or organization that is not employed with an EMS agency but has successfully enhanced EMS through their partnership or promotion of EMS activities such as preparedness, injury prevention, or other initiatives outlined in the Florida EMS Strategic Plan. Winner: Robin Butler, Seminole County Government Traffic Engineering EMS Injury Prevention: This award honors an EMS professional who has demonstrated outstanding initiative and promoted best practices to prevent injuries, in at least one area of injury prevention, such as motor vehicle safety, drowning, falls, burn prevention, and others. Winner: Charlene Cobb, Sunstar Emergency Medical Services Raymond H. Alexander, MD, EMS Medical Director of the Year: This award honors a physician who serves as a medical director for a Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support or Air Service. The winner must demonstrate excellence in the areas of quality assurance/improvement and medical control, in addition to the promotion and utilization of new medical trends and technologies. Winner: Catherine Carrubba, MD, MPH, Aeromed at Tampa General Hospital EMS Dispatcher of the Year: This award honors a dispatcher for outstanding effort in processing a Florida medical emergency call. Winner: Terry Hansen, Indian River County Sheriff's Office EMS Educator of the Year: This award honors an EMS instructor or course coordinator who has made a positive contribution to EMS education in Florida and has successfully implemented a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan. Winner: Daniel J. Griffin, Florida Association of EMS Educators Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC): Honors a health care professional or organization for outstanding achievement in the care of ill or injured children (18 years of age or younger) in at least one of these areas: education, clinical care, community service or disaster management. The winner must successfully implement a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan. Winner: Julie Bacon, RN, EMSC Advisory Committee Photo of the Year: Honors a photograph by an individual or organization that best depicts this year’s EMS Week Theme, “EMS: Your Life Is Our Mission.” Winner: Miami-Dade Fire Rescue EMS Memorial: Dedicated to those in Florida EMS who lost their lives. 2008 Inductees: Lieutenant Rafael Vazquez, Paramedic Palm Beach County Fire Rescue May 1, 1965 – March 3, 2008 Alexis Lopez-Lima, EMT, Firefighter City of Miami Fire Rescue April 30, 1974 – May 6, 2008 DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people in Florida. For more information about the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, visit www.fl-ems.com. To partner in the event, contact Wesley Houtz at the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center at 1-800-766-6335, ext. 12 or whoutz@emlrc.org.