Kim Godden
Vice President of Legal and Government Relations
Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service (Michigan, Indiana, Illinois)
Region 3 Alternate, American Ambulance Association Board
Elmhurst, IL

Tell us a little about yourself.

I grew up in Barlett, Illinois, a Chicago suburb. I received my BA in History and Political Science from Purdue University and my law degree from DePaul University College of Law.

After graduating from Purdue, I worked for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office while attending law school in the evening. While with the Attorney General’s office, I was an policy analyst/attorney for criminal justice and victims’ rights initiatives. During this time, I reviewed, drafted, and testified on various legislative and regulatory initiatives.

In 2007, I was able to bring this experience to the ambulance industry when I joined Superior. In addition to sitting on the AAA board, I also sit on the boards of the Illinois State Ambulance Association and the Indiana EMS Association. I also participate on the government affairs committee for the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services.

In addition to overseeing government relations and regulatory and compliance matters for Superior, I oversee the legal department which manages litigation, contracts, real estate and employment matters.

I have been married to my husband, Nick, for 16 years and we have two daughters, Hannah (8) and Amelia (6). As for hobbies, kids and work keep me busy, however, when I have a chance, I enjoy running and reading (not at the same time).

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy problem-solving and advocating for such an amazing industry. The ambulance industry is often overlooked and misunderstood. EMS providers are busy caring for patients, therefore, we rarely have time to create awareness and support for our industry – I get to beat the drum for private EMS!

What is your biggest professional challenge?

My biggest challenge is changing the perception that private industry isn’t as good or worthwhile as public agencies. There is a misconception that because a company is for-profit, their goals, mission, and level of compassion differ from those of a public or nonprofit entity. Superior employs over 2000 dedicated, devoted EMS professionals—whether caring for patients, working in dispatch, or managing the back office, our entire team is dedicated to bringing the best care and customer service to our patients.
[quote_right]Superior employs over 2000 dedicated, devoted EMS professionals—whether caring for patients, working in dispatch, or managing the back office, our entire team is dedicated to bringing the best care and customer service to our patients.[/quote_right]

What is your typical day like?

Every day is different due to travel and attendance at various meetings. On a typical day, I try to drop my daughters off at school at 8:30 and I am in the office by 9:15. Usually the day is filled with meetings and conference calls on a myriad of topics, with the constant interruption of emails that need attention and various “walk-ins” for legal consultation. No two days are the same, which I enjoy. I am usually home by 7:00 p.m., and after bedtime stories, I am back on the computer responding to the day’s emails or catching up on reading. My 2016 resolution is to unplug and try to leave work at work, but we all know that EMS is a 24-hour business, so I won’t be 100% successful and it will occasionally follow me home.

How has participation in AAA membership and advocacy helped your organization?

As we know, with advances in healthcare, people are living longer, and there is frequent need to move patients between nursing facilities and hospitals. We have also seen the advent for advanced level care for patients. Most inter-facility transports involve the discharge of a patient back to a nursing facility, or moving a patient from one facility to another for specialized care. Superior and our colleagues who provide these services are an important part of EMS and the overall continuum of care.

Our organization performs a high percentage of inter-facility transports, and being able to advocate and share the perspective of an agency who performs this discipline has been worthwhile not only to Superior, but to the industry as a whole. Being able to discuss with other providers our shared and differing challenges is important as we craft regulations for the future.

I enjoy working with my fellow board members and AAA staff. We don’t always agree, however we respect one another’s opinions and in the end, this leads to better policy and advocacy for our industry.

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