Tag: Texas

Spotlight: Mark Postma

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Spotlight.

Mark Postma
Vice President, Paramedics Plus
President-Elect, AAA Board
Chair, Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)
Largo, Florida, USA

Can you please tell us a little about yourself? How did you come to work in EMS?

I grew up in a small town outside Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and obtained my EMT license at age 16. I became a paramedic in 1984 and began working in Davenport, Iowa at MEDIC EMS. After working there for 20 years and becoming Executive Director, I began at SUNSTAR Paramedics in 2004. I am the COO for SUNSTAR and Vice President of Paramedics Plus operations (Sioux Falls, Fort Wayne, and Oakland).

I have been married 31 years to my great wife, Lisa. I have two children: Delaney, a registered nurse at Florida Hospital in Orlando; and my son, Parker, a sophomore at the University of Florida. My hobbies are basketball, boating, and IndyCar Racing.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It is very diverse. As the Vice President, I really oversee daily operations and have great people who work for me. They are local and report out how things are going, daily achievements and challenges.

Paramedics Plus/ETMC is a great organization and is focused on providing great care over financial constraints. I work for a great boss, Ron Schwartz, who fully understands the industry and its daily challenges. We are both from the Midwest and work together on issues.

What is your biggest professional challenge?

Sometimes it is just a challenge wearing my CAAS Chairman hat, AAA hat, SUNSTAR hat and Paramedics Plus hat. Everyday you have to decide which issues need to be the priority. Just glad I own an iPad and have a great staff!

What is your typical day like?

I wake up at 0500 eveyday and read emails and try to read at least 2 newspapers. After that, I run 2-5 miles depending on my schedule. The only days I take off are travel days.

After getting to work or on an airplane, it is interacting with staff until our daily PULSE meetings. Most afternoons are teleconferences from all of our operations or AAA meetings.

I go to lunch with my staff every day whether I am in Pinellas or one of the other operations. Evenings are usually laid back, but the weekends are boating and basketball. I am usually in bed at 9:00 pm!

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

I have been very involved with the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) as the representative for the AAA for the past 20 years. I am currently the Chairman of the Board and have enjoyed the AAA/CAAS relationship.

Transitioning to the AAA President will have its challenges as it is a huge responsibility. The AAA represents EMS in America, and I would like to see members embrace our organization as the “”go to”” organizations for challenges in our industry.

The AAA membership and advocacy is immeasurable in how it helps our organization every day!

Spotlight: Asbel Montes

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Spotlight.

Asbel Montes
Vice President, Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc
Lafayette, Louisiana, USA
Follow Asbel on Twitter at @asbelmontes
Asbel’s LinkedIn

Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in San Bernardino, CA and lived there until I was five. My dad was in the Air Force. When I was five, he felt the call to become a pastor in North Carolina and was discharged from the Air Force.

I am married and have one daughter who is fifteen years old.

I have played the piano since I was eight years old and used to be the music minister for my dad and my brother-in-law, until my career became too demanding to do both.

I am an avid read of non-fiction and fiction. I enjoy a great political or legal thriller.

How did you come to work in the industry? How long have you been involved?

I started in the ambulance industry at the age of 21. I answered an ad in the newspaper for an account manager position for an ambulance billing company in North Carolina. I have been in the revenue cycle space for almost 19 years.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy the people I work with at Acadian. Acadian Ambulance Service has a culture where the employees truly care about the success of the company. This culture is prevalent throughout the organization from senior leadership to front-line staff.

What is your biggest professional challenge?

My biggest challenge is the federal and state regulations that continue to negatively impact our industry from Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance companies. This has a downstream effect on increasing our cost per claim due to the excessive administrative burden, as well as reducing our revenue per transport.

What is your typical day like?

My day starts at 4:45 am. I like to meditate and read for about an hour before getting to the office by 7:00 am. My day is packed with meetings and typically culminates with me leaving the office around 6:00 pm.

I travel extensively between Austin, Baton Rouge, and Washington, DC.

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

The American Ambulance Association has been beneficial in helping to create a united front in the ambulance industry for important initiatives on Capitol hill.

Spotlight: Macara Trusty

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Spotlight.

Macara Trusty
Clinical Education & QA/QI Manager/Professional Development Manager
MedStar Mobile Healthcare
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in a small Texas town, called Farmersville, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas. I spent my free time herding cattle and hauling hay. I have been married for 17 years and have two teenage daughters. We spend our family time camping, fishing, hiking, rock climbing, and watching movies.

How did you come to work in EMS?

I came to work in EMS after a car accident in 1989 that almost killed my grandfather and resulted in my having a broken back and many other internal injuries. The small town in which I lived had only one ambulance, staffed by volunteers. There were a total of seven critical patients (including myself) on the scene, and we had to wait up to 30 minutes for the next ambulance to arrive. Having been raised in a family of public servants, I had previously considered becoming a nurse like my grandmother, but quickly changed my plan after the accident.

In 1994, I enrolled in the local EMT program. I had every intention of working in the town to give back for what the town and its people had done for us. However, I also quickly realized that working in such a small town, where everyone knew everyone else, may not be such a good idea. I began working in Dallas instead, then joined MedStar in 1997. I have been involved in EMS for 21 years now. Although I can’t honestly say I’ve loved every minute of it, I can say that this job has taught me so much and made me a better person. I wouldn’t trade that for anything!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

The best part of my job is helping people accomplish goals they have set for themselves! As a Paramedic, I would say “I love helping patients”. In my current role, I help EMTs and Paramedics become better EMTs and Paramedics. I help civilians accomplish the goal of becoming an EMT or First Responder. I help our leadership team become better leaders. I’m still helping people, but the reach seems greater in this position. It’s NOT “one patient at a time”. I work with an awesome team and it’s heartwarming to see everyone pull together to accomplish a goal, or to help others accomplish their goals.

What is your biggest professional challenge?

My biggest professional challenge is balancing the needs of the entire organization with training and education and encouraging others to explore alternative delivery methods for the education they want to provide, without having a traditional classroom session. Convincing some that it’s okay to embrace technology, provide education and convenience for your employees (and you too!), and show the “millennial employees” that you can understand their communication style can be quite a challenge some times.

What is your typical day like?

What is a typical day? Do those even exist? My typical day starts with the end of the day before. I look to see what classes we have scheduled for the following day, to see if we need to reconfigure classrooms, rearrange table & chairs, etc. When I arrive, I meet briefly with my team to find out what everyone has planned for the day, what challenges we may encounter, what meetings are on the agenda, and to get feedback from other meetings. Every day is different, so some days I will teach, other days are full of meetings with various departments, and some days I spend catching up on emails, building classes, etc.

How has participation in AAA helped your organization?

The education and thought sharing is extremely helpful. The ideas shared by the visionaries involved in AAA help make our profession stronger, both locally and nationally.

Health Affairs shows “frequent flier” needs taper over time

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Patient Care.

Last week, Health Affairs published a study on the so-called “super utilizers” of the healthcare system, those who are in and out of emergency rooms with such frequency that their need for readmission is nearly assured.

The researchers found that these folks have an intense need that tapers off over time. Of the 1,682 identified as such, just 28 percent fell into the category after 12 months. Baseline spending decreased from $113,522 per capita to $47,017 the following year when they were enrolled in a program to help them stay on top of their health. The study, performed by the medical center Denver Health, analyzed nearly 5,000 patients and found that 3 percent were accounting for 30 percent of adult charges between May 1, 2011 and April 30, 2013.

Read the full article in the Dallas/Fort Worth Healthcare Daily.

Acadian Ambulance High School Champions Livonia

Acadian’s High School Champions Program Leads the Way

Written by Amanda Riordan on . Posted in Community, Human Resources, Service, Spotlight, Training.

Founded in 1971 in with just eight staff and two vehicles, Acadian Ambulance has grown over the years to more than 4000 employees with a fleet of 400 ground ambulances, helicopters, fixed-wing airplanes, and van and bus transports. Their territory has expanded from Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, to stations spanning large swaths of Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

How does such a large and varied service feed their talent pipeline? In addition to many other strategies, Acadian is leading the industry in its efforts to engage young adults in EMS through its High School Champions program, a division of their National EMS Academy.

Porter Taylor, Acadian's Director of Operations
Porter Taylor, Acadian’s Director of Operations

To learn more about the ins-and-outs of the program, AAA caught up with Porter Taylor, Acadian’s Director of Operations. Taylor has been in EMS for 29 years, since he joined Acadian Ambulance as a college sophomore. “I love making a difference in people’s lives. When I was working on a unit it was the patient, and now, almost 30 years later, it is the employees that I love helping.”

Establishing High School Champions was not a linear path. Initially, Acadian would send medics to career fairs and school functions to introduce the field and promote its National EMS Academy (NEMSA) as an opportunity after graduation. “There are a lot of technical grants out there, and a critical staffing need for EMS in general. We wanted to create an avenue for educating students about the benefits of becoming EMTs to support our staffing needs long term,” said Taylor.

Although these medic visits were effective, Acadian wanted to expand the fledgling program’s scope and reach. He began visiting area high schools and meeting with school boards and directors more than a year ago to build relationships and explore opportunities. The partnerships he built added another facet to the High School Champion initiative wherein Acadian continues to promote NEMSA, coupled with an effort to get the schools to incorporate an EMT program as an elective prior to graduation. “[I wanted] to introduce them to our company and our support of this technical career path. My goal was to let the teachers and technical program directors know that Acadian has jobs for their students upon the successful completion of the program. Once students turn 18, Acadian will be able to offer them a rewarding  position with good pay and benefits and with continuing education opportunities.”

Acadian Operations Manager Justin Cox was instrumental in the implementation at Livonia High School, a recent addition to the program. In concert with his professional know-how, Cox had a personal connection to the school—his thirteen year old daughter attends Livonia.

Collaborating with the administration, Acadian now works with schools like Livonia to introduce EMS career paths at the end of high school, a time when students are making key choices about their futures. Students can start the EMT training program as an elective prior to graduation and take the national certification exam upon turning 18. Students spend 2-3 hours 3 days a week, during their junior and senior years preparing. “It is a joy to work on this program,” said Taylor, “It is a privilege to help young people make a career choice that is full of rewards.”

Does your service have a great program that is making a difference in your area? Let us know in the comments section below, or email ariordan@ambulance.org.

CMS Extends Ambulance Enrollment Moratoria

Written by Brian Werfel on . Posted in Medicaid, Medicare.

On July 25, 2015, CMS issued a notice extending the temporary moratorium for enrollment of new ambulance suppliers in the Texas counties of Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller, as well as in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties of Bucks, Delaware, Montgomery (Pennsylvania), Burlington, Camden and Gloucester (New Jersey). This notice will appear in the Federal Register on July 28, 2015.

MedStar Helps Reunite Baby, Mom After Tragic Crash

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Community, News, Press.

(Details and video courtesy of Fox 4 News and Medstar.)

On June 25, Sergeant Colby Bozo and his wife Kristen were driving home when their vehicle was struck by a stolen car being pursued in a police chase. Sadly, Colby Bozo was killed on impact, and Kristen, then 37 weeks pregnant, was very seriously injured and required an emergency caesarian section.

AAA member MedStar Mobile Healthcare, in coordination with John Peter Smith Hospital, and Cook Children’s Hospital surprised Kristen by arranging for her to see her newborn baby for the first time. Staff took a detour to Cook Children’s Hospital during mom’s ambulance transfer from JPS in Fort Worth to Baylor Rehabilitation Center in Dallas.

George Church, a MedStar Operations Supervisor who helped coordinate the reunion, said at the time, “I’ve been in EMS a long time, and there are very few moments that get to me any more—this one got to me.”

Great job, MedStar, JPS, and Cooks Children’s!

Video from Fox4News.com

Supporters of Kristen and the baby are invited to donate at a Fund.ly page.

aaa conference

Spotlight: Matt Zavadsky

Written by Amanda Riordan on . Posted in Spotlight.

Matt Zavadsky
Fort Worth, TX, USA
Public Affairs Director, MedStar Mobile Healthcare

Tell us a little about yourself, please.

Originally from Connecticut and have lived in Lincoln, NE; Augusta, GA; Orlando & Daytona Beach, FL; Lacrosse, WI and now Fort Worth in the Republic of Texas since 2008. Married to my best friend, Tessa, and we each have grown children, and one grandchild (so far!). Aside from doing what I love at work, Tessa and I are avid Harley Davidson Riders (“it’s not a motorcycle, it’s a lifestyle”). We also do a lot of volunteer work with the North Texas Patriot Guard Riders and the Fort Worth Police Code Blue Citizen’s on Patrol program. I’m also a licensed amateur radio operator and certified storm spotter working with the Tarrant County (TX) Radio Amateur’s in Emergency Service (RACES) program.

How did you come to work in the industry? How long have you been involved?

My dad died suddenly in 1979. The hometown Trumbull, Connecticut volunteer ambulance crew that came to help him so impressed me that I signed up to volunteer the week he died. I started as a “driver” at age 17 and was originally trained in a High-Top Cadillac ambulance (the best unit I ever worked in!).

aaa emt membershipWhat do you enjoy most about your job?

Two things. First, making a difference! Whether you are an EMT, Paramedic, EMD, billing specialist, maintenance tech, logistics tech, scheduler, whatever—what we do MATTERS in people’s lives. Second, is the innovation occurring in the healthcare system, and the role the ambulance industry is now playing in the healthcare system every day, literally! The ability for us to define and redefine our profession’s future is an incredible in the environment we are in today!

What is your biggest professional challenge?

Keeping up with the rapid pace of change in the healthcare environment AND helping others see the future. There are a handful of leaders in our profession who can truly see the opportunity that lies ahead of us and are daring enough to take the risk to do something totally different. At the same time, helping our own folks, the people who really matter at the patient contact level, understand how important they are to our future as an industry.

What is your typical day like?

Up at 3:10 a.m., workout with Tessa at the MedStar gym, in the office by 6:00 a.m. to get more done before 8:00 a.m. than I’ll get done the rest of the day. Run from meeting to meeting to community events, in between try to get projects done until I leave for home at 6ish to finish up emails in the evening…

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

The education and communication is invaluable. The daily happenings updates, the education at events like the Annual Conference and Tradeshow, combined with the collaborative work with committees for things like government affairs, professional standards and reimbursement reform is invaluable. The ideas shared by visionary entrepreneurs that do this work every day helps make our profession stronger, both locally and nationally.

Community Paramedicine’s Growth Hindered by Reimbursement Issues

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

From Politico’s “Reimbursement issues block paramedics from expanded role“—

Despite the track record of [community paramedicine] initiatives in places like Nevada and Texas, where paramedics are providing in-home care, coordinating patient services and saving millions in the process, Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans still won’t reimburse for such work. The program successes to date are only beginning to change that…

Nationwide, the impact from reducing ambulance calls and demands on ERs while freeing up doctors could be huge. A 2013 study in Health Affairs estimated that more flexible reimbursement for paramedicine approaches could save Medicare $283 million to $560 million annually and similar sums for private insurers.

AAA Members Named to NEMSAC

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

On May 12, 2015, two AAA member leaders were appointed to the  National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC) by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. NEMSAC advises the Department of Transportation and the Federal Interagency Committee on critical EMS issues.

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