2019 Colorado EMS Awards

Presented at the 2109 Colorado State EMS Conference on November 9, by the EMS Association of Colorado and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment─Health Facilities and EMS Division, with additional awards from Flight for Life Colorado and Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Robert Marlin ALS EMS Professional of the Year

Ryan Daugherty views emergency medical services as his passion and that shows in his patient care and respect for co-workers. He is the director of Alamosa Ambulance Service but wears numerous hats throughout the San Luis Valley Health System and the San Luis Valley in general. Ryan is the Co-Chair of the San Luis Valley RMD Committee and is Vice-Chair of the San Luis Valley RETAC. He is actively involved with the EMS program at Trinidad State Junior College, the San Luis Valley Healthcare Coalition, and the San Luis Valley All Hazard Region. Ryan has strongly promoted safety events within the San Luis Valley and helped to restructure and organize the SLV RETAC to regain its focus on emergency and trauma care. Ryan helped lead the agencies in  Jon Montano, SLV RETAC Coordinator, stated that Ryan “has always been available to help and advise, regardless of what the circumstances have been. He has never let us down”

EMS Ambulance Service of the Year

Crested Butte FPD was nominated for this award by Police Chief Michael Reily.  He states in his nomination “……a new culture has been created that has resulted in increased levels of care, compassion and involvement by our members.  Never has this system functioned this well and the level of professionalism is insurmountable.”  These comments were strongly supported by a husband and wife who experienced this new culture firsthand.  As Chris Phillips was recognizing that he was likely experiencing a heart attack, his wife Natalie was frantically calling 911.  They both stated that from the initial call through the arrival of local law enforcement (who’s also an EMT) and the Crested Butte ambulance staff, they both felt the compassion and professionalism provided by the crew members.  Natalie noted how efficient the crew was and that everyone felt calm due to their excellent clinical care and personal demeanor.  This case has an excellent outcome and helps to demonstrate the excellent care and elevated service provided by Crested Butte FPD.

EMS Executive of the Year

Kirby Clock, Delta County Ambulance District

Kirby Clock assumed the directorship of the Delta County Ambulance District in 2011. At that time, the service was experiencing significant financial challenges and morale within the agency was low. Kirby worked within that difficult budget to bring morale up with his leadership by actions approach. He gained the respect of the staff, district board, and community. No special district in Delta County had ever been able to pass a mill levy increase but through Kirby’s leadership and education, DCAD was able to demonstrate to the community value of the service and the need to support that service financially. DCAD is now financially sustainable and the staffing is benefiting from those efforts. Kirby also takes his responsibility to support his staff and their education very seriously. He is always willing to advise his staff on personal goals and their efforts to advance in the industry. DCAD is recognized as a leader in clinical care also with the addition of critical care services. Kirby is also the treasurer of the Western RETAC and was instrumental in bringing the RETAC to the current respected position it holds today within the community.

EMS Dispatchers of the Year

Mikeal McDaniel and Debra Cardozo, American Medical Response

 On July 31, 2019 at 20:52 a 911 call was received of a possible shooting at 3838 Village Road South. Mike dispatched two ALS units initially along with the on-duty paramedic supervisor. At this time these two units and the supervisor were moved to a secondary channel monitored by Deb. Shortly after, at 21:05, both units aired there were active shots and they were taking fire; both crews were forced to shelter in place, with one EMT hiding underneath her ambulance. Mike immediately sent two additional ALS units to the staging for the scene.

Deb maintained radio contact with both crews taking fire, keeping law enforcement and the fire department advised of their status and the status of the two patients they had. Deb also maintained constant contact with the on-duty supervisor; who requested a third ALS unit be sent for a total of 5 ALS ambulances on scene. When one unit which had taken fire ended up transporting both patients with the two crews initially on the scene, Deb continued to track their status all the way to the hospital. Deb continued to maintain contact with all five units as well as the on-duty supervisor until the conclusion of the incident at 02:11.

Throughout this entire incident, Mike continued dispatching the primary channel, dispatching routine emergency calls that were still coming in. Even though he had five ALS units dedicated to the shooting, Mike still ensured every 911 call received within the City and County received an ALS ambulance in a timely fashion. Additionally, he was supporting Deb by sending her additional resources and helping with status tracking of the units on scene of the shooting along with fielding calls from AMR management not directly involved with the incident; allowing Deb to concentrate on her five ambulances only. Mike and Deb worked as a single, cohesive team to ensure the citizens of El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs received help for any medical emergencies during a time when their own crews were actively being shot at; something that no EMS dispatcher would have expected to happen at the time. Their communication with Colorado Springs Police and Fire dispatchers allowed for vital information from the crews to be relayed to law enforcement; including suspect information and locations.

EMS Region of the Year

Central Mountains RETAC

Over the last several years Central Mountains RETAC has flourished under the guidance of Anne Montera. The Central Mountains RETAC believes in its mission to promote and sustain exceptional healthcare, education, and prevention programs for the providers, citizens, and visitors of our region. Under Anne’s tenure, the Central Mountains RETAC has lived up to that mission. As the Executive Director, Anne established a team with Kim Greene as the Prevention Specialist and Mikaela Greene as the Communication Specialist.

With her team by her side, the Central Mountains RETAC worked to increase communication and participation amongst members, raise awareness of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and promote injury prevention throughout the region. In 2014, Anne developed a regional prevention needs assessment that is now conducted every five years to assess community needs when it comes to preventing injuries. In addition, Annand Kim developed regional data collection through seatbelt observation use at the local high schools. The region's Teen Seat Belt Challenge is going into its 9th year and has seen an increase in seat belt use amongst the high schools since the inception of the challenge in 2012. On top of that, the Central Mountains RETAC prevention program has also worked to increase helmet use, prevent older adult falls, and traffic safety. The Central Mountains RETAC has also become a leader in regional information and education. In 2017, Anne developed a Trauma Nurse retreat alongside Northwest RETAC, which was attended by over 35 Trauma Nurse Coordinators, Trauma Registrars, and Trauma Doctors from around the State at this year's Retreat. Anne has also been instrumental in bringing compelling and relevant speakers to the annual Central Mountains and Northwest RETAC Regional Medical Director Conference for EMS agencies in the region. Both events allow rural areas to receive the education that is not only easily accessible but is also tailored to their needs.

Through Anne’s vision, the Central Mountains RETAC has established the mindset that collaboration, education, and prevention is an essential component to the EMS and trauma systems. Anne stepped down from her position in June of this year, and the Central Mountains RETAC and the Executive Board wanted to take the time to recognize her and all that she has done for the region. The Central Mountains RETAC will continue the path Anne has created.

BLS EMS Professional of the Year

Nathan Smith

On June 24th Nate was off duty, driving home after visiting friends and running errands on his day off. If you know anything about Nate, you know that he hates downtime and would always prefer to be on an ambulance serving his community with his brothers and sisters in EMS. Sitting at a stoplight just blocks from home he saw a commotion ahead of him, cars braking and swerving, dust flying, something soar through the air and land in the ditch next to the road. I was on the phone with him at the time and his training and his passion for helping instantly kicked in. He told me as he approached the scene that he saw a man in need of help and had to go. That man was Spc. Christian Ward of the US Army stationed at Fort Carson. Nate jumped into action immediately doing all he could to stabilize Christian (Chris as his family has since asked us to call him), calling 911 and working feverishly to save the young man until co-works at AMR could reach the scene and get Chris to the hospital. Nate's efforts in conjunction with those of the crew on the AMR ambulance that night allowed Chris to reach the hospital where surgeons continued to fight for his life. The actions taken by all allowed Chris's family time to get to his bedside from Ohio to say their final goodbyes before he was taken off life support. While Christian Ward ultimately did not survive, the actions taken by Nate Smith, off duty EMT, did allow for numerous others to live by the gracious donation of organs from Chris. This young man so touched my husband that he spent countless hours with the ward family and attended the funeral as an honored guest of both the family and the military. This is just one of many such stories I could tell you about the bravery and the dedication Poems that my husband, my hero, Nate Smith lives and breathes every day of his life—Erin Smith.

EMS RN of the Year

Nancy Bartkowiak, Saint Thomas More Hospital

Nancy is the Trauma Coordinator for Saint Thomas More Hospital in Canon City. Nancy is known or her dedication to patient care and her community. Nancy has, on multiple occasions come in to help the ER, because she lives close by. When our small ER is overwhelmed with patients Nancy has come in to help where needed. Nancy coordinated that last trauma review and presented a program that had no deficiencies. Her presentation was very professional, and well receipted from the evaluators. Nancy has helped for the past 3 years with the AMR Fremont County Safety jam. This annual event could not be as successful without the help and dedication of Nancy. Nancy is a long member of the Fremont County EMS council, and the Board of Directors of the Southern Colorado RETAC.

Dr. Gerald Gordon EMS Instructor of the Year

Kimberly Whitten-Chung, Pikes Peak Community College

Kimberly Whitten-Chung has worked tirelessly to elevate the level of EMS education at Pikes Peak Community College. During her tenure as the director, PPCC has grown to include AEMT, Critical Care Paramedic, Community Paramedic (one of the first in the state) as well as the first Bachelors of Applied Sciences in Emergency Services. PPCC was one of the firsts programs to fully embrace simulation training and has recently opened a 69,000 square foot simulation center which promotes training across the paramedic, nursing, and other healthcare fields to ensure quality continuum of care. Kim is currently developing the first bachelor’s degree in Advanced Paramedicine as well as both RN to paramedic and paramedic to RN bridges. These will be in place within the year. One of the current students at PPCC stated “Kim doesn’t just teach she educates and invests into her students’ lives by making certain that they are getting the best possible education. She is the driving force that wants each one of her students to be successful in this career and to provide support along the way.

Dr. Valentin E. Wohlauer Award for Physician Excellence in EMS

Dr. Maria Mandt, Children's Hospital Colorado

Dr. Maria Mandt started her career in healthcare as an EMT. This certainly gives her a unique perspective on the entire spectrum of emergency care and helps to guide her as a medical director. Dr. Mandt has held numerous positions on governor-appointed committees representing her pediatric patients. She is an active member of the Denver Metro Medical Directors group where she helps to direct strong evidence-based protocols for pediatric patients. Dr. Mandt has led initiatives to develop Pediatric Stroke Alert Programs, implementation of supraglottic airways for peds, and developed the first of its kind pediatric field guide to reducing medication errors. She is consulted frequently around the state for input to ensure this population is getting the best care possible. Dr. Mandt is a true champion for providing appropriate EMS guidelines for a very vulnerable population.

EMSAC Life Honor Membership

Tom Candlin

We have not the time or space here to list Tom Candlin’s contributions to EMS, as his reach is so widespread; and we are all aware of them. In addition to being a stellar individual contributor, Tom has also led the regional EMS system from positions such as St. Anthony Hospital educator and the Foothills RETAC board chair. Most impressively, and as an example to us all, he led the charge while also in the fight of his life with MS. He is a testament to the resilience and capability of EMS professionals. He will not only be missed but is not replaceable by one person. For these reasons, and many more, he deserves our recognition. As Tom transitions from his role at SAH into retirement, I think we should honor the tremendous contributions he has made to our profession. There is no better or more time-appropriate nominee.

President’s Award

Senate President Leroy Garcia, Paramedic

EMSAC President Scott Sholes says, “It is my distinct honor to present the 2019 EMSAC President’s Award to Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia in appreciation for his leadership, support and commitment to the advancement of EMS in Colorado.” As a paramedic himself, Senator Garcia understands the challenges we face in keeping our communities safe and healthy, as well as the complexity of our role as an increasingly vital part of the overall healthcare system.  During his tenure in both the Colorado House of Representatives and the Colorado Senate, he has worked tirelessly to make certain we have laws supporting us to be safe, effective and funded to do our jobs.

President Garcia has also worked in emergency medical services for nearly 18 years, serving the Pueblo community as a paramedic with American Medical Response, as well as an EMS educator at Pueblo Community College.  As someone who personally understands the physical, mental and emotional demands on EMS providers, President Garcia carried and passed several pieces of legislation to support each of us in EMS. Examples of successful legislation just for this year only include Peer Assistance for Emergency Medical Providers, Dependent Tuition Assistance, and Emergency Medical Service Provider Licensing.

Although advocacy has always been one of the three tiers of the EMSAC mission, the level of our direct involvement has increased dramatically over the past decade, with astonishing results. Those successes are not possible without the support we get from our lawmakers. This year it is my privilege to recognize and someone who is perhaps our sturdiest and most successful EMS advocate. - EMSAC President Scott Sholes

C.J. Shanaberger Award for Lifetime Achievement in EMS

James Robinson, Denver Health Paramedic Division

Chief James Robinson has served not only the citizens of the City and County of Denver but the community of EMS providers in the region, state and nation through his steadfast leadership and his commitment to furthering the profession of Emer­gency Medical Services. James has been the long­time co-chair and driving force behind the North Central Region EMS Subcommittee for incident operations and was integral in the development of the regional active assailant response program for EMS. He worked to secure the funding to purchase more than 1700 sets of ballistic equipment for first responders across the region. He has written more grants and secured more dollars than it would take to cover his entire career’s wages all in the name of moving the EMS community in Colorado forward.

His commitment doesn’t stop at the state line. James is a founding member and past president of the International Association of EMS Chiefs and frequent­ly serves as an EMS expert on federal committees and in meetings with various federal agencies. He is one of those rare individuals in EMS who not only crit­ically evaluates and improves the local system with which they are directly in­volved but also has a grander vision that looks to define and expand what EMS could be on a national level.

Chief Robinson served as a member of the Committee on Military Trauma Care’s Learning Health System and Its Translation to the Civilian Sector which published the landmark articles National Trauma Care System: Integrating Mil­itary and Civilian Trauma Systems to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths After In­jury sponsored by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine.

We cannot envision a member of our community that better embodies the collaborative passion of excellence that Carol J. Shanaberger embodied during her storied career. As James always says, “the world is run by those who show up.” Not only has James continually shown up over the last 25 years, but he has done so with professionalism, grace, and genuine care for EMS professionals of all flavors, and for this, he deserves our thanks.

Flight for Life Award for Excellence in Safety

Jackie Pike, Red, White & Blue F.P.D

Jackie is an incredible leader in our community in terms of safety. She coordinates and manages not only our prevention department but also extra activities such as the annual bike rodeos. Our bike rodeos are conducted at all the schools in the district with each year's bar set higher and higher. She spends endless hours of her own time to give the children the basics in safely riding a bicycle. This includes different set-ups for terrain riding, bike rules and advanced skills like slow speed bike control.

She also prepares, organizes and leads our open house gathering where over 600 citizens in our community visit us for approximately 15 different displays and children ·s functions, food and entertainment. This is the district's biggest local gathering for our citizens, and she manages to make it better year after year. This "Open House" gathering involves safety aspects from wildfire to poison control and Jackie makes it relevant for each of our younger participants.

Jackie is also instrumental in, and a leader for, the district's car seat program, seat belt program and Town of Breckenridge wildland mitigation inspection program. Her selflessness to the district and the children of the district is remarkable.

EMSAC’s Legislators of the Year

Senator Rachel Zenzinger and Representative Larry Liston

 These awards and EMSAC's recognition of these two legislators are long overdue as their significant support for EMS back in 2017 has continued to pay off, year after year, through steady increases in Medicaid funding for EMS.  According to EMSAC lobbyist Chris Howes, “2017 was a banner year for both EMSAC and EMS in Colorado as a whole which was all due to the efforts of Liston and Zenzinger!” 

In 2017 Representative Liston contacted EMSAC representatives and our lobbyist to tell us about the availability of additional funding, which he felt EMS could use.  Working collaboratively with Representative Liston, we decided that the additional funds would be best used as a base Medicaid payment increase for EMS. 

During the Joint Budget Committee process Representative Liston introduced the “Liston Amendment” requesting a nine percent Medicaid increase for EMS.  Knowing that his efforts wouldn’t be successful if he didn’t have a like sponsor in the senate, he charged EMSAC to find a Senate sponsor. We found, literally at the last minute, Senator Zenzinger and she introduced the “Zenzinger Amendment” to the budget bill in the Senate.  Together both Representative Liston and Senator Zenzinger worked with the EMSAC lobbying team to gain support from members in the House and Senate and others, including the Department of Healthcare Policy and Finance, the state Medicaid payer. The two amendments passed. Their and our efforts paid off as EMS ultimately received an 18% base Medicaid payment increase that year after the federal match and has been paying off ever since with subsequent increases

Because of their exceptional support EMS across the State is in a better place as their efforts, dedication and hard work brought EMS received additional year-to-year increases, and ultimately the Medicaid Supplemental Reimbursement Program, which has proven to be a significant boost to public EMS funding. 

Francis Mildred Roth Women in EMS Award

Audrey Jennings, Grand County EMS

Captain Audrey Jennings embodies the description given as criteria for this award. Ms. Jennings started her career in medicine as a nurse and spent most of her nursing time in the NICU caring for the very young not, only with great skill and knowledge but with tremendous compassion demonstrating one of the key characteristics that would also guide her EMS career. She soon became a paramedic in order to care for patients in need of that same compassion in the midst of an emergency. She continues to do so. Along with caring for patients, Captain Jennings serves Grand County EMS as an outstanding educator teaching any subject needed, with emphasis on OB, GYN, NRP, EMT-B, PEPP. In 2010 Audrey received the Dr. Gerald Gordon Instructor of the Year recognizing her abilities as an instructor. She helped to pioneer the high school EMT program that, teamed with St. Anthony’s EMS Academy, allows high school seniors to take an EMT class. This class, entering the 15th year, has allowed high school seniors the opportunity to grow real-life job skills while being introduced to the medical field as a profession. Many of these students work in the EMS profession now (some with Grand County) while others have found other tracks into the medical profession. Even those who have chosen not to follow a medical career have proclaimed the importance of this opportunity to their success in life. She served as a mother to some and mentor to all of those young adults as they traveled this path in their lives. To state that Captain Jennings is involved in all aspects of EMS at Grand County is not an understatement.

In addition to occasional patient care, she leads the CQI process and every PCR goes under close examination and review for protocol compliance and patient care standards. She then coordinates any resulting actions that may be necessary. Captain Jennings works closely with our physician advisors to develop, write, and review protocols and reports to the CDPHE on all waivered procedures.  She is the Infection Control Officer for GCEMS as well as coordinating the Immunization Program. Audrey orders all supplies and medications necessary to operate the services and is the single source for ordering and monitoring narcotic medications. She coordinates all of our education-related grants and most of the outside training opportunities that come in. If that were not enough Captain Jennings also oversees the Administrative Division of GCEMS. This includes billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and many other administrative duties. She is likely the most pivotal part of the Command Staff at Grand County EMS.

Children’s Hospital Colorado Award for Commitment to Pediatric Emergency Care

Southern Colorado Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council

Children’s Hospital Colorado is proud to award its 2019 Commitment to Pediatric Emergency Care Award to the men and women of the Southern Colorado RETAC. Led by Brandon Chambers and Dr. Kevin Weber, the Southern Colorado RETAC includes 5 counties that cover large urban cities and expansive rural areas. It’s a diverse geographic area with over 15 transport agencies, yet all these organizations manage to work well together with the focus of providing strong emergency care to their patients.

Children’s Hospital Colorado has been honored to work with Brandon, Dr. Weber and all these organizations over the past handful of years. They have always been eager for collaboration and to find ways to improve their pediatric prehospital care. They have all worked very hard to streamline many individual organization protocols into evidence-based regional protocols that truly serve their diverse agencies. The SCREATC has also placed a great focus on education. Much of this is internal yet they also often bring in content experts from outside of their region ensuring diverse perspectives and unique opportunities.

Many of the SCRETAC agencies have reached out over the years to create clinical contracts with Children’s Hospital Colorado so that their staff may spend time in our busy pediatric EDs and get valuable hands-on experience caring for children. This creative outreach on their part has also brought about enhanced pediatric protocols, new pieces of pediatric-specific equipment and annual high fidelity peds simulation. It has been an incredibly positive collaboration and our outreach teams have always found their agencies to be humble and focused on what’s right for the patient.

Gold Honor for Saving Life

Eric Gille, Denver Health Paramedic Division

On the morning of 28 October 2018, the Denver Health Paramedic Division responded to a report of shots fired with victims potential­ly outside a residence and/or in a nearby alley. Paramedic FTO (now Lieutenant) Eric Gilles and his trainee responded emergent to the scene and made contact with a patient, standing on the corner near the address, who had been shot. The crew loaded the patient into their ambulance and began tending to the patient’s injuries while DPD officers continued to secure the scene and look for the suspect.

Shortly after getting the patient in the ambulance, a series of gunshots were fired from the vicinity of the victim’s house, striking an officer. Reports of an “officer hit,” then “officer down” were aired multiple times over the police radio channel. Hearing this, Paramedic Gilles immediately requested a second ambulance emergent and advised his partner to continue patient care. Gilles then ran, without cover or concealment, and without knowing if the threat had been neutralized, to where the DPD Officer was hit and presumably pinned down. The distance from the ambulance to the officer was approximately 75 yards from the ambulance and approximately 40 yards from the closest point of cover. Arriving at the officer’s location, Gilles found a DPD Officer lying next to his cruiser with a gunshot wound to the left shin and a tourniquet partially in place by the Officer or one of his covering part­ners. Gilles applied a new tourniquet and then reported being “pinned down” for several minutes with DPD and DFD personnel.

Several minutes passed until another DPD cruiser could be brought up to the location for cover and retrieval to the second ambulance’s location. The injured officer was then immediately transferred to that ambulance and transported to the DHMC ED. Paramedic Gilles then returned to his ambulance where his partner was caring for the initial patient and proceeded to transport the patient. These truly selfless actions car­ried out by Paramedic Gilles reflect great credit upon Lieutenant Gilles, the EMS community in Colorado and the Denver Health Paramedic Division.

EMSAC’s Citizen Rescuer Award for Valor

Sean and Korina Moye, Brendan Fox, Ivy Moody, Cody Boss