Pictured from Left to right are Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services Deputy Chief John Combes, paramedic Justin Whaley, paramedic Myron Shroepfer, retired EMT Owen Grant, advanced EMT Ivan Miller, paramedic Allan Kotecki and State of Tennessee EMS Regional Consultant Debbie Cox.
Five members of the Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services team received regional awards for exhibiting exceptional professional qualities in their clinical skill set or in actions that have affected the community in a positive way. These awards were given during the 2015 Southeastern Emergency Medical Directors Association Conference held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.
Ivan Miller, AEMT and Justin Whaley, paramedic, were honored with the “Medical Call of the Year” Award; Myron Schroepfer, paramedic and Alan Kotecki, paramedic received “Pediatric Call of the Year” Award; and Owen Grant, retired EMT, received “Lifetime Achievement” Award.
“We have an outstanding team of medical technicians and medics with the Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services,” said Ken Wilkerson, director of HCEMS. “These EMTs and paramedics deserve the recognition of the Southeastern Emergency Medical Services agencies, for their outstanding and professional efforts during traumatic and emergency situations. Our foundation of core principles are leadership, training, mutual respect, customer service and teamwork. As a member agency of SEEMSDA, we are proud of all the regional award winners and especially proud of our HCEMS EMTs and para medics. It is an honor to serve our community as well as Southeastern Tennessee through emergency medical services.”
HCEMS was established in 1988. The Advance Life Support service covers 571 square miles and over 300,000 citizens. The fleet consists of 14 ambulances that respond to over 28,000 emergency calls annually. The agency is divided into three teams, each responsible for a rotational 24-hour on, 48-hour off schedule.
Officials said, "The mission of HCEMS is to provide timely and proactive emergency medical treatment in the form of basic and advanced life support when needed or requested. HCEMS strives to have a positive impact on people’s lives."