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Author: AAA Staff

2025 American Ambulance Association Board of Directors Announced

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, Elections.

The American Ambulance Association (AAA) is pleased to announce its 2025 Board of Directors. These experienced mobile healthcare leaders bring passionate commitment to shaping the future of EMS policy. 

2024 Election Results: Board

Newly elected and re-elected board members will begin their terms on January 1, 2025. 

Wayne Jurecki, President-Elect
Wayne Jurecki is the Vice President/COO at Bell Ambulance, Inc. He will serve a two-year term.

Tom Fennell, Treasurer
Tom Fennell is the Regulatory Officer at Mayo Clinic Ambulance. He will serve a two-year term.

Allyson Pharr, Secretary
Allyson Pharr is the Chief Legal Officer and EVP Governmental Affairs at Acadian Ambulance. She will serve a two-year term.

Richard Raymond, Region 1 Director
Richard Raymond is the President & CEO at Armstrong Ambulance Service. He will serve a three-year term.

Terence Ramotar, Region 2 Director
Terence Ramotar is Director of Government Affairs, Southeast Region at Global Medical Response. He will serve a three-year term.

Chris Anderson, Region 3 Director
Chris Anderson is the Director of Operations at Bell Ambulance, Inc. He will serve a three-year term.

Michelle Anderson, Region 4 Director
Michelle Anderson is the Director of Administration at Lakes Region EMS. She will serve a three-year term.

Angie McLain-Johnson, Region 4 Director
Angie. McLain-Johnson is the VP of Revenue Integrity at Pafford Medical Services. She will serve for two years to complete the remainder of a term vacated by the election of a regional director to the executive committee.

Ron Quaranto, Region 4 Director
Ron Quaranto is Regional Vice President at Acadian Ambulance overseeing its South-Central, Central, and North Texas operations. He will serve for one year to complete the remainder of a term vacated by the election of a regional director to the executive committee.

Brenda Staffan, Region 5 Director
Brenda Staffan is the Chief Government Affairs & Public Policy Officer at Priority OnDemand, LLC. She will serve a three-year term. 

2025 Full Board

Following the recent completion of the 2024 election, the full 2025 board will be composed of the following individuals.

  • President Jamie Pafford-Gresham of Pafford EMS
  • President-Elect Wayne Jurecki of Bell Ambulance, Inc.
  • Secretary Allyson Pharr of Acadian Ambulance
  • Immediate Past President Randy Strozyk of Global Medical Response
  • Treasurer Tom Fennell of Mayo Clinic Ambulance
  • Director, Region 1 Mike Addario of Global Medical Response
  • Director, Region 1 Dennis Cataldo of Cataldo Ambulance Service
  • Director, Region 1 Rich Raymond of Armstrong Ambulance
  • Director, Region 2 Chuck Kearns of Mercy Ambulance Service, Inc.
  • Director, Region 2 Terence Ramotar of Global Medical Response
  • Director, Region 2 Mike Thomas of Jan-Care Ambulance
  • Director, Region 3 Chris Anderson of Bell Ambulance, Inc.
  • Director, Region 3 Tom Tornstrom of Gundersen Tri-State Ambulance
  • Director, Region 3 Kyle Wolber of Superior Air Ground Ambulance Service, Inc.
  • Director, Region 4 Angie McLain-Johnson of Pafford EMS
  • Director, Region 4 Michelle Anderson of Lakes Region EMS
  • Director, Region 4 Ron Quaranto of Acadian Ambulance
  • Director, Region 5 JD Fuiten of Metro West Ambulance
  • Director, Region 5 Brenda Staffan of Priority
  • Director, Region 5 Jimmy Pierson of Medic Ambulance
  • Medical Director Gerad Troutman, MD, MBA, FACEP, FAEMS of Global Medical Response

2024 Election Results: Ethics Committee

Members elected to the Ethics Committee include 

  • Gibson McCullagh (Region 1), 
  • Christopher Dell (Region 2), 
  • Mike Pieroni (Region 3), 
  • Dennis Rowe (Region 3), 
  • Johna Easley (Region 4), 
  • Ailyn Risch (Region 5), and 
  • Krista Cuthbert (Region 5). 

AAA looks forward to continued service to our members and the EMS profession in the new year.

About the American Ambulance Association

The American Ambulance Association safeguards the future of mobile healthcare through advocacy, leadership, and education. AAA advances sustainable EMS policy, empowering our members to serve their communities with high-quality on-demand healthcare. For more than 40 years, we have proudly represented those who care for people first. 

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Register now: NEMSAC November Meeting

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

EMS News

Time to Register: NEMSAC Meeting

November 6-7, 2024
The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) will host a hybrid meeting on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 1:00 pm ET, and Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 12:00 pm ET. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting virtually or in person and offer public comment.

Location: Hotel Washington, 515 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

Due to limited space, virtual attendance is encouraged

NEMSAC meets throughout the year to deliberate on specific policy issues affecting EMS systems across the nation. NEMSAC members provide counsel and recommendations to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

 

Register Now

Agenda Highlights:

  • Updates from OEMS and FICEMS Chairperson
  • NRSS and Post-Crash Care update
  • Reports on advisories in progress from the Subcommittees on:
    • Adaptability & Innovation
    • Equitable Patient Care
    • Preparedness & Education
    • Professional Safety
    • Sustainability & Efficiency
    • Integration & Technology
  • Guest Presentations (Day 1 & 2)
    • Behavioral Health in EMS with John R. Niemiec (IAFF)
    • Applications for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare with Stephen J. Konya, III (ASTP, formerly ONC)
    • Updates from the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) with Jose Cabanas, MD, MPH, FACEP, FAEMS
    • Updates from the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) with Arthur Hsieh, MA, NRP
    • Updates from the American Ambulance Association (AAA) with President, Randy Strozyk

Registrants who wish to address the Council during the public comment periods can submit comments in writing to NHTSA.NEMSAC@dot.gov by October 31, 2024. Questions and comments for the Council may also be presented during the meeting using the live chat feature.

We are committed to providing equal access to this event for all participants. People with disabilities can submit an accommodation request, and people with limited English proficiency can submit a language access request. Please submit any request to Clary Mole by phone at (202) 868-3275 or by email to Clary.Mole@dot.gov no later than October 31, 2024. A sign language interpreter and closed captioning services are available, through the Zoom virtual meeting platform, but only upon request.

Sign up to receive the latest news from the Office of EMS, including webinars, newsletters and industry updates.

Contact Us

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

CDC | Emergency Medical Services (EMS): A Look at Disparities in Funding and Outcomes

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

CDC | Emergency Medical Services (EMS): A Look at Disparities in Funding and Outcomes

“Limited EMS funding may affect nationwide EMS quality. The scarcity of nationwide EMS data makes studying disparities challenging; however, studies have found disparities in EMS services based on geography (urbanicity), income, sex, and race.123 Using data from California’s local EMS agency reports, we conducted a limited case study that illustrates geographic disparities in EMS revenue, spending, and cardiovascular (CV)-related quality indicators.”

 

Read the full article>>

NEMSAC | Applications Open

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Government Affairs, Regulatory.

National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council; Solicitation of Applications

NHTSA is soliciting applications for appointment to the DOT’s NEMSAC. The purpose of NEMSAC is to serve as a nationally recognized council of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to DOT. Through NHTSA, NEMSAC’s advice is provided to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS). Deadline: November 1, 2024

Learn More or Apply>>

InvestigateTV | Dire delays at hospital ERs create long waits for ambulance crews

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations, Patient Care, Regulatory, Uncategorized.

On Hold: Dire delays at hospital ERs create long waits for ambulance crews, put patients at risk

National data shows delayed EMS crews frequently wait an hour or more before returning to service

“To look at the scope and severity of wall times nationwide, InvestigateTV obtained data from the National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS), a program run through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the University of Utah that provides a standardized method of recording and reporting information about 911 calls involving EMS.

The data, which local EMS agencies report to their respective states that in turn submit it to the national database, documents all aspects of the call, including if the ambulance crew experienced any kind of delay.”

Read the full article>>

CAAS Panel of Commissioners Seeks New Business Representative

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations, Patient Care.

CAAS - Driven to a Higher Standard
 

CAAS Panel of Commissioners Seeks New Business Representative

At the end of 2024, the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services will be replacing its business representative on the CAAS Panel of Commissioners due to the completion of term limits. Joe Penner has served expertly in this position for the past six years, and as panel chair for the past two of those years.

CAAS is now soliciting applications from qualified and experienced EMS business representatives to fill the upcoming three-year term, beginning in January of 2025.

Applicants must have at least ten years of experience in EMS with at least five years at the level of manager or above and a bachelor’s degree. Desirable candidates should possess industry awareness, systematic thinking and a national or international perspective. Having worked at a CAAS accredited agency, being a CAAS reviewer or familiarity with the CAAS Standards is also desired.

Applications will be accepted now until September 10, 2024.

Please email Marcie McGlynn at CAAS headquarters for further details on qualifications and the application process.
 

Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)

1926 Waukegan Road, Suite 300
Glenview, Illinois 60025-1770

Phone: (847) 657-6828 Fax: (847) 657-6825
E-mail: CAAS Staff Website: www.caas.org

 

EMS.gov | Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Employee Wellness, Regulatory.

EMS News

Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies

Don’t Miss this Virtual Symposium, August 2, 2024
The EMS community is increasingly tasked with responding to behavioral health emergencies. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the emergence of dedicated behavioral health response teams have enhanced support for those in crisis, but also present unique challenges in building impactful, sustainable collaborations.

Hosted by Coalition Psychiatric Emergencies, APHA Medical Care Section, National Association of EMS Physicians and American College of Emergency Physicians, join your EMS colleagues for this important virtual symposium to help your EMS agency prepare for behavioral health emergencies.

Responding to Behavioral Health Emergencies
August 2, 2024
10 am – 4 pm ET

Register Here

This free symposium will examine the call, the response and the destination for behavioral health emergencies and explore lessons learned regarding 988 and dedicated behavioral health response teams.

Key Topics Include:

  • 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Learn how it supports those in crisis, including what help is available and how the EMS community can promote 988 for accessing care.
  • Behavioral Health Response Teams: Discover their success factors and differences from traditional EMS responses.
  • De-escalation Techniques: Understand the process of managing behavioral health crises and removing individuals from the scene.
  • Emergency Room Treatment: Explore treatment options, barriers to care, and assessments for ER versus dedicated behavioral health facilities.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to help your agency prepare for behavioral health emergencies.

Sign up to receive the latest news from the Office of EMS, including webinars, newsletters and industry updates.

Contact Us

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

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