FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2013

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 Excellence in EMS Awards in recognition of National EMS Week. Marking its 23rd year, the EMS program honors outstanding Florida EMS organizations and individuals who make a positive impact throughout the state.

"The EMS program annually recognizes the outstanding efforts of Florida's men and women who serve their communities by saving lives through excellence in emergency medical services," said John C. Bixler, EMS Program Administrator. "We congratulate all of these recipients on this distinct honor as we recognize their significant contributions to EMS in Florida."

The awards ceremony will be held in mid-July in conjunction with the State EMS Advisory Council meetings and the 39th Annual Clinical Conference on Emergency Medical Services of the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC), which sponsors the awards.

The 2013 EMS Award winners are:

EMS Provider of the Year: Sunrise Fire Rescue
This award honors an EMS service that demonstrated a leadership role in EMS through achievement in the 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.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) of the Year: Roy W. Coosey, EMT, Sunstar Paramedics
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 the EMS community and profession.

Paramedic of the Year: Marie D. Patterson, Paramedic, AirHeart
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.

EMS Nurse of the Year: Ryan B. Dale, Paramedic, R.N., Florida Hospital EMS
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.

Larry S. Jordan EMS Hall of Fame: Richard Slevinski, M.D., FACEP
This award honors an individual for lifetime achievement in the field of emergency medical services.

Marilyn Crook EMS Pioneer: James Howard, R.N., B.S.N, PMD, Posthumously
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 has successfully implemented a program or initiative that supports the fulfillment of the Florida EMS Strategic Plan.

Friend to EMS: Perry D. Revlett, MA, ATC, LAT
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.

EMS Injury Prevention: Captain Sally Davis, Paramedic, Leon County Emergency Medical Services (LCEMS)
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, etc.

Raymond H. Alexander, MD, EMS Medical Director of the Year: Steven R. Newman, M.D., FACEP
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.

911 Public Safety Telecommunicator of the Year: Robert E. Lanoue, Paramedic, Sunstar Paramedics
This award honors a dispatcher for outstanding effort in processing a Florida medical emergency call.

EMS Educator of the Year: Mike Flanagan, Florida EMS Educators
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.

Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC): Daniel J. Griffin, Florida EMS Educators
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.

Video of the Year: North Naples Fire Department, Golden Gate Fire Department
Honors a video by an individual or organization that best depicts this year's EMS Week Theme, EMS: One Mission. One Team."

Photo of the Year: North Naples Fire Department, Golden Gate Fire Department
Honors a photograph by an individual or organization that best depicts this year's EMS Week Theme, "EMS: One Mission. One Team".

EMS Disaster Preparedness & Response: Bradley J. Elias, M.D., Air Methods
This award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in developing response plans, made significant contributions to help prepare Florida for health and medical responses to significant emergencies or disasters, and has demonstrated leadership and initiative in the areas of emergency medical preparedness, education and response.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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