PatientCare Archives - American Ambulance Association

NBC | Covid package, federal program offer lifeline and herald change for ambulances services

Written by AAA Staff on March 18, 2021. Posted in Legislative, News, Press.

March 18, 2021, 3:54 PM EDT

Features Empress EMS and REMSA!

By Phil McCausland
During the height of the pandemic, a quiet financial crisis was brewing for ambulance companies.

As hospitals became overwhelmed and patients begged not to be taken to crowded emergency rooms for fear of potential infection, paramedics and emergency medical technicians began treating patients where they met them — outside homes, alongside roadways, in parking lots.

The trouble is that ambulance companies are only paid to transport people, not for treating them.

Now, an aid package in the American Rescue Plan and a new federal health care program could provide a financial lifeline for ambulance companies and herald a permanent shift in emergency medicine as a whole.

The attempt to reimburse ambulance companies began with a bill introduced by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., but the legislation was ultimately rolled into the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill. Cortez Masto voted for the plan, and Cassidy did not.

“Our first responders have gone above and beyond in caring for patients during the pandemic, and it’s just wrong that ambulance companies weren’t getting paid unless they took patients to the hospital,” Cortez Masto said.

FirstWatch | The Promise, Potential, and Possible Pitfalls of ET3

Written by AAA Staff on December 28, 2020. Posted in Regulatory, Webinars.

Firstwatch Webinar on January 22 at Noon ET | Powered by Prodigy EMS

The ET3 program starts in earnest on January 1, 2021. This program has been a long time in the making, which COVID only prolonged.

In this installment of Conversations That Matter, guest facilitator Rob Lawrence explores the path to going live with ET3 with Matt Zavadsky (MedStar Mobile Healthcare, Fort Worth, Texas) and Hanan Cohen (Empress EMS, New York). You’ll learn about what they hope to achieve with their ET3 programs, how they’re measuring quality and success, and the potential for program expansion. They’ll also share their views on whether the new administration in Washington might support continuation or expansion of Treatment in Place and other initiatives that have been implemented as a result of the pandemic.

Guest Host – Rob Lawrence, MCMI

Rob has part-time roles as Director of Strategic Implementation for Pro EMS of Cambridge, Mass. and the Executive Director of the California Ambulance Association. Rob is also the Principal of Robert Lawrence Consulting. Rob served as the California COO with Paramedics Plus after nine years as the COO of the Richmond Ambulance Authority. Prior to that, he was the COO for Suffolk as part of the East of England Ambulance Service. He is a graduate of the UK’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, serving for 23 years as a Medical Support Officer. Rob is the Communications Committee Chair of the American Ambulance Association, a member of the EMS World Advisory Board, and an accomplished writer, broadcaster and international speaker.

Matt Zavadsky, MS-HSA, NREMT

Matt Zavadsky is the Chief Strategic Integration Officer at MedStar Mobile Healthcare. Matt has 41 years of EMS experience and has helped guide the implementation and financial sustainability of numerous innovative programs with healthcare partners. Matt is also the President of the National Association of EMTs and chairs their EMS 3.0 committee. He is the co-author of the book “Mobile Integrated Healthcare – Approach to Implementation” published by Jones & Bartlett Publishing. He has a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, with a Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Data Management and is a member of the EMS World Advisory Board.

Hanan Cohen

Hanan is the Director of Business Development and Community Paramedicine at Empress EMS. He is a paramedic and community paramedic with 30 years experience in EMS and Hospital Administration. His major focus is on new program design to provide collaborative community health programs with hospitals in Westchester County, New York, and New York City. Through his efforts, Empress EMS launched community paramedic programs for two local hospitals in White Plains and the Bronx. These treat in place programs primarily focus on reducing readmission of high-risk patients with chronic disease to the hospital and preventing the use of the emergency room for non-emergency issues.
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JEMS | How Empress EMS (NY) Responded to COVID-19 in the Pandemic’s Epicenter

Written by AAA Staff on October 2, 2020. Posted in News, Operations, Patient Care, Press.

From JEMS on October 2, 2020 | By Hanan Cohen

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic created extraordinary new challenges for the emergency medical services (EMS) industry. Frequently shifting state and federal guidance and emerging information about the novel virus has required EMS agencies to be even more nimble in delivering care.

This is true for Empress EMS, a PatientCare EMS Solutions company, which serves New Rochelle, New York – the first epicenter of America’s COVID-19 pandemic. Empress first began monitoring for COVID-19 on February 15, 2020, as it recognized the New York City area’s high risk for the virus.

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NBC | ‘End of life as we know it’

Written by AAA Staff on July 28, 2020. Posted in News, Press.

From Yahoo / NBC News on July 27, 2020

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in New York, emergency medical services Capt. AJ Briones’ teams were fielding nearly 700 calls a day, tending to numerous patients going into cardiac arrest, many others needing intubations and seeing more deaths than they ever intended to see.

“We didn’t know that would be the end of life as we know it,” Briones, 32, who works for Empress Emergency Medical Services in Yonkers, Westchester County, said. “It literally shut down the whole world.”

Now with cases down in the state, his EMS teams can sometimes catch their breath for a moment. But with cases rising rapidly around the country, Briones reflected on the virus’ devastating toll, how far New York has come and his concerns about a possible second wave in the state.

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Bloomberg Radio | Hanan Cohen on Treatment In Place

Written by AAA Staff on July 2, 2020. Posted in Digest State News, News, Patient Care, Press, Regulatory.

Thank you to Hanan Cohen of Empress EMS / PatientCare EMS Solutions for this enlightening discussion about EMS treatment in place on Bloomberg Radio.

Listen Now
(EMS portion begins at 54:12)

Stat | Treatment in Place

Written by AAA Staff on June 29, 2020. Posted in Medicare, News, Press.

From Stat on June 29, 2020 by Hanan Cohen of Empress EMS and Patient Care EMS Solutions

Medicare shouldn’t make ground ambulance services take a financial hit for providing at-home care

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began sweeping across the U.S., ambulance crews have been treating some patients at home rather than risking a hospital surge — and aren’t getting paid for it. At a time when ambulance services are on the frontlines of care, not just transport, Medicare is treating ambulances like expensive taxicabs.

Treating people in place — at the scene of a medical emergency, which can include the home, a long-term care facility, or other location — has become the expected standard of care, especially during the pandemic. Some states even mandate it. But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees Medicare payments, refuses to pay companies for the cost of providing medically necessary health care services if the patient is not transported to a hospital or other designated destination.

As a result, ground ambulance organizations that are fighting the Covid-19 pandemic on the frontlines by treating people with everything from low blood sugar to dehydration are taking a massive financial hit. And it’s coming at the worst time.

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40 Under 40: Jeremy Tinter (Sunstar Paramedics – Largo, FL)

Written by AAA Staff on February 9, 2020. Posted in 40 Under 40.

40 Under 40 nominees were selected based on their contributions to the American Ambulance Association, their employer, state ambulance association, other professional associations, and/or the EMS profession.
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Jeremy Tinter
Director of Clinical Services
Sunstar Paramedics
Largo, FL

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LinkedIn
Nominated by: John Peterson (Sunstar Paramedics – Largo, FL)

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Biography:

Jeremy Tinter is Patientcare Logistics Solutions’ Director of Clinical Services for the Pinellas County Florida Operation. Jeremy served as the Clinical Services Coordinator for Sunstar Paramedics from June 2015 to June 2016 and held various positions ranging from Field Training Officer, Critical Care Paramedic, and Assistant Supervisor over the past 10 years. Jeremy’s emergency medical services career has not only been in clinical care but also focused on education and training. Jeremy holds many instructor ratings ranging from AHA to NAEMT, leads the simulation lab for Pinellas County, and has been responsible for the successful clearing of clinicians to the field. A certified Paramedic in the state of Florida, Jeremy has also served as an adjunct, non-credit faculty/CME Instructor at St. Petersburg College and has taught continuing education classes through the Pinellas County Authority CME Program to EMTs, Paramedics, and Nurses.

Jeremy was the proud recipient of the 2016 American Ambulance Association’s “Star of Life” award.

Jeremy is a native of Florida and a longtime resident of Pinellas County. Jeremy earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida (USF) and is a graduate of the EMS Leadership Academy, class of 2016. Jeremy is currently working on his Master degree at USF.

In his free time, Jeremy plays classical guitar, jogs, enjoys photography, and going to the movies.

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Reason for Nomination:

In just a few years as Director, Jeremy Tinter has made significant process changes and improvements that have streamlined the hiring and training processes at Sunstar. Under his leadership, the Clinical Services Department was recognized at the state level as Educator of the Year for the State of Florida in 2017. Jeremy’s department was also recognized on the national level by the American Ambulance Association as an AMBY award winner that same year.

Jeremy has shared his best practices with other EMS providers by being published in JEMS. Jeremy has also been a guest speaker at the American Ambulance Association’s annual conference as well as at the Midwest EMS Expo.

Jeremy serves as volunteer on the board of directors at 211 Tampa Bay and is a graduate of the Leadership Pinellas program class of 2019. Jeremy definitely deserves to be recognized as one of the 40 under 40 to watch in EMS.

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View all of the 2020 Mobile Healthcare 40 Under 40 Honorees

2019 AMBY Award Winners Announced

Written by AAA Staff on October 15, 2019. Posted in AMBY, Annual Conference & Tradeshow, Events, Marketing & PR, News, Press, Professional Standards.

The American Ambulance Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2019 AMBY Awards. The AMBYs highlight excellence in EMS and the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that epitomize mobile healthcare. The mission of the awards is to showcase creativity and innovation in the ambulance industry by fostering a culture of collaboration, cooperation, and a passion for excellence in patient care. This year’s awards will be presented at the Annual Conference & Trade Show Awards Reception on November 5 in Nashville. Please join us in congratulating our 2019 winners!

Clinical Outcome Program

Medic Ambulance Service Inc.
CPR Initiative

Community Impact Program

Advanced Medical Transport
CPR Race to the Top

American Medical Response (Manchester/Nashua, NH)
Safe Station Project

Sunstar Paramedics
Health & Safety Fair

Employee Programs

American Medical Response (Buffalo, NY)
Recruitment/Training Program

Northstar EMS, Inc
Medical Director Engagement Through Technology

Public Relations Campaign

Acadian Ambulance Service
Hometown Hero Initiative

Mecklenburg EMS Agency
Bystander CPR Initiative With Pulsepoint

Once again, join us in celebrating the 2019 winners! Learn more about the AMBYs.

Empress Ambulance Service, PatientCare Logistics Solutions Team to Deliver Critical Ambulance and Healthcare Logistics Services in Greater New York

Written by AAA Staff on April 24, 2019. Posted in News.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Stephen Brown, Cookerly PR 404-419-9224 stephen@cookerly.com

Empress Ambulance Service, PatientCare Logistics Solutions Team to Deliver Critical Ambulance and Healthcare Logistics Services in Greater New York

Leading EMS provider in the Tri-State Region to leverage PatientCare’s nationwide scale and resources to extend customer service tradition more than three decades strong

Tyler, Texas and Yonkers, New York (April 18, 2019) – PatientCare Logistics Solutions (PatientCare), a leading provider of ground-based 911 emergency ambulance and other critical healthcare logistics services, has teamed with Empress Ambulance Service (Empress) in Yonkers, NY, to further support the growing needs of the Tri-State Region.

Empress provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services with advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) services to municipalities and hospital systems across New York’s Westchester County. Additionally, Empress operates significant ambulance services in the Bronx and Manhattan boroughs, giving the organization a strong overall footprint in Greater New York.

Empress, owned and operated for more than 30 years by the Minerva family, is managed today by brothers Mike, Dan and Matt Minerva, as well as long-time colleague Jim O’Connor. These experienced ambulance industry operators will continue to serve their established communities on a full-time basis with Empress and will leverage additional capital and technology resources available through PatientCare to expand critical ambulance services and mobile healthcare programs throughout its service area.

“We have worked very hard over many years to expand our services and infrastructure to best serve our patients,” said Empress President Mike Minerva. “In partnering with PatientCare, we are embarking on the natural next phase of our journey to become an even stronger leader in not only our existing geographies, but also in adjacent regions. Empress will continue to attract the best and brightest EMS providers, and we will use advanced technology and data to support our healthcare delivery solutions to our partner hospitals and communities.”

PatientCare plans to support Empress with best-in-class technology and resources to enhance financial back office, human resources and other critical functions. Empress, which will continue to go to market under its current brand and operate from its Yonkers location, represents more than 500 employees who transport approximately 125,000 patients per year.

“We recognize the high-quality service that Empress provides to its clients, and we are thrilled to partner with such a well-established, successful operator in the attractive Tri-State market,” said Herman Schwarz, CEO of PatientCare. “A key component of our growth plan is to partner with healthcare logistics providers like Empress which offer diverse, high-quality services to their communities and can serve as a regional foundation for future growth. We look forward to working closely with the Minerva family to advance the Empress reach and to further develop hyper-regional and national healthcare logistics platforms.”

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano applauded the partnership: “Yonkers is the fourth largest city in New York State, and our residents demand exceptional medical care. Empress has been a trusted partner to our city for many years. I would like to congratulate the Minerva Family, the dedicated employees of Empress and PatientCare on this new partnership. I am confident the residents of Yonkers will continue to receive the highest level of 911 ambulance service in the region.”

Empress represents a significant expansion of PatientCare’s portfolio of EMS operations in a variety of geographies, from Florida’s most densely populated county to growing Midwest cities.

About PatientCare Logistics Solutions

PatientCare Logistics Solutions is a leading provider of ground-based 911 emergency ambulance services and other critical healthcare logistics solutions. Headquartered in Tyler, Texas, the company operates growing partnerships with representative customers in Florida, Texas, Indiana, California, South Dakota, Mississippi and New York. PatientCare is responsible for transporting more than 350,000 patients annually and is committed to providing compassionate quality care and service built around the needs of the patients and communities in which it serves.

About Empress EMS

Since its inception in 1985, Empress has made a firm commitment to the development of emergency medical services and quality after care transportation in New York State. Empress has concentrated its efforts towards providing state-of-the-art patient care in a personal and compassionate manner. A personal approach to doing business has proven to be successful as evidenced by a reputation that is unparalleled in the region. Empress is based in the City of Yonkers, New York and provides 911 emergency medical response to Yonkers with additional mutual aid response to neighboring communities. Additionally, Empress has emergency and non-emergency response contracts throughout Westchester County with districts, hospitals, correctional institutions and private care facilities.

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Tag: PatientCare

NBC | Covid package, federal program offer lifeline and herald change for ambulances services