Memorial Hospital’s Ambulance Services awarded at annual conference

Jasper – Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center’s Ambulance Services department was recently recognized with two awards at the 2013 Indiana Emergency Response Conference (IERC).

The first award, EMS Advance Life Support Provider of the Year (non-fire department based), is awarded to the facility that possesses unique qualities that serve to elevate the standard of professionalism and the quality of patient care throughout the EMS industry. Memorial Hospital’s Ambulance department received this award due to the quick action to bridge its intermediate technicians to the next level, paramedic when EMS announced the Intermediate level of care was being discontinued. The service also provides mutual aid to other services in times of ambulance shortages.

The second award, Paramedic of the Year, was awarded to employee, Marty Jones. The award recipients for the Paramedic of the Year award represents the best the industry has to offer; not only in proficiency, but in professionalism. Marty Jones has been with Memorial Hospital for many years and has advanced along with the service. She began as a Basic EMT and has advanced with each step along with the hospital, even when not mandated to do so. Jones has worked for 15 years without calling in sick. She also works shifts in the emergency department where nurses and staff greatly appreciate her contributions.

Memorial Hospital’s Ambulance Services provides Advanced Life Support pre-hospital care county-wide as a Paramedic level provider. The staff includes eight primary instructors, 17 Basic Life Support instructors, six Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructors, and three Pediatric Advanced Life Support instructors. Suzan Henke serves as the department director.

The IERC Awards Program was established to recognize outstanding achievements and honor those in Indiana’s Public Safety Organizations whose accomplishments rise above the day to day excellence in training, education, and safety.