Thank you to the dozens of AAA member ambulance services who answered the call to serve in New York City’s time of need. This Facebook video from fellow member FDNY shows the final deployed medics heading home.
Thank you to the many member organizations who answered the call to serve in the New York and New Jersey #COVID19 response. Your service will not be forgotten! #SupportEMS #AlwaysOpen #NotJustaRide
Posted by American Ambulance Association on Thursday, May 28, 2020
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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Nominated by: Jeff Collins
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Celia “Cece” Cuevas was born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana. Cece got into EMS for many reasons but the number one reason has to do with an old co-worker Andre. When Cece was 10 years old, she was shot three times in a drive by shooting as an innocent by stander. Cece was in and out of consciousness before a medic picked her up and carried her to an ambulance. This medic’s name was Andre. Andre took care of Cece on the ambulance and at the hospital, making sure that she was well taken care of. Andre saved Cece’s life and she grew up wanting to be just like him. When Cece was old enough, she went to EMT school and was even able to work side by side Andre. Cece is the skilled medic she is today thanks to Andre’s help and inspiration.
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Cece is an amazing person and a major asset to the management team at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance. Cece is very warm and out going. Cece completes each task that is given to her and is constantly striving to be the best health care provider possible. Cece has over come many challenges in her life and is well deserving to be recognized as one of the American Ambulance Association’s 40 Under 40 Honorees.
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View all of the 2020 Mobile Healthcare 40 Under 40 Honorees
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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LinkedIn
Nominated by: Kim Godden (AAA Board of Directors, Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service – Elmhurst, IL)
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As the General Manager, Chase has been instrumental in reshaping the culture of EMS at Superior Ambulance. Chase’s view on safety as not a part time commitment, but a true full time commitment has helped reduced accidents by 40%. Chase sits on Superior’s retention committee, Field Training Officer and training committee, and policy and procedures committee. Chase is also a part of Superior’s Special Event team which provides EMS for events happening all over the Chicago Land area, and is a member of the Ebola transport team.
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Chase is being nominated for this honor for many reasons that cannot be fully expressed in such few words. Chase started in EMS with our company as a para-transit driver and also worked as a dispatcher and EMT before being chosen as a General Manager overseeing several stations, including one of our largest stations located in Chicago. Chase oversees 248 employees and through his positive attitude and understanding of every aspect of EMS, he is able to make sure staff is customer focused and patient driven. Chase also assists with our company’s recruitment and retention efforts and is always the first one (even when it involves coming into work while on vacation) to participate with important government relations meetings and ambulance ride-along events which help not only our company but the EMS industry overall.
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View all of the 2020 Mobile Healthcare 40 Under 40 Honorees
Congratulations to the AAA members who received Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) accreditation or reaccreditation in November and December!
This week, AAA members were once again on Capitol Hill meeting with members of Congress. AAA Government Affairs Committee Chair, Jamie Pafford-Gresham of Pafford EMS, met with entire Congressional Arkansas delegation. While on the Hill, Jamie also met with members from Oklahoma and Mississippi. AAA Board Member, Kim Godden (Superior Air-Ground Ambulance), Payment Reform Committee Chair, Asbel Montes (Acadian Ambulance Service), and AMR VP Federal Reimbursement & Regulatory Affairs, Deb Gault were also on the Hill for meetings this week. Collectively the group met with over twenty Congressional offices this week. Thank you to all of our members for their hard work fighting for permanent Medicare relief. We appreciate you taking the time to visit Washington and meet with your representatives.
Pafford EMS CEO, Jamie Pafford-Gresham, and Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas
Pafford EMS CEO, Jamie Pafford-Gresham, and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas
Have you met recently with a Member of Congress? Are you interested in getting involved with the AAA’s advocacy efforts? If so, email Aidan Camas at acamas@ambulance.org!
AAA Board Member and Chair of the AAA’s new Non-Emergency Task Force, Kim Godden, Vice President of Legal & Government Relations at Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc., recently had the opportunity to meet with new Vice President, Mike Pence. Kim worked with the Vice President during his time as Governor of Indiana and used this meeting to remind the Vice President of issues facing ambulance services around the country. Kim was also able to relay to Vice President Pence how important permanent Medicare relief is for ambulance services around the country. Thank you, Kim, for all of your hard work on the AAA’s advocacy efforts!
Superior Air-Ground Ambulance Service, Inc. President/CEO, David Hill III, Vice President, Mike Pence,
and Superior VP of Legal & Government Relations
Have you met recently with a Member of Congress? Are you interested in getting involved with the AAA’s advocacy efforts? If so, email Aidan Camas at acamas@ambulance.org!
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
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).
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!
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]
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.
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.
Explore AAA membership, or learn more about our advocacy for ambulance services across the country.