Fifteen years ago, 23 young Utah men left their homes and families for Daniel Freeman Hospital in Los Angeles where they began writing a new chapter in Utah's emergency medical history.
Utah's paramedic ranks have since greatly increased.The state is now served by seven paramedic services, 26 units and 270 paramedics - many of whom handle 20 calls during a 24-hour shift.
A few of these emergency medical service professionals "who stand above the crowd" were honored last week at a special ceremony at Cottonwood Hospital Medical Center.
The award recipients were nominated by their peers and were recommended by a committee consisting of representatives from the Utah Chapter of Emergency Physicians, the Utah Emergency Nurses' Association, the Utah Fire Chiefs' Association, the Utah Paramedic Association, the Utah Association of EMTS and the Utah Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers.
"Today, nationwide, the biggest problem you hear about regarding emergency medical services is the problem of manpower burnout and turnover," Dr. Harry Gibbons, executive director of the Salt Lake City-County Medical Association, told the gathering. "Nationwide, the average number of years a paramedic is willing to serve in the field is approximately six years."
However, Gibbons Monday introduced paramedics - members of Utah's original group - who significantly skew those averages. Of the original 23 men who went to California, 13 or 56 percent of the original class are still certified in the state; 30 percent are operating as field paramedics.
Those attending the ceremony were presented certificates.
Other award winners were announced by Dr. J. Brett Lazar, director of the Division of Community Health Services, Utah Department of Health. They included:
-Emergency Medical Dispatchers of the Year:
- Audrey Frost, Davis County Sheriff's Office, who assisted in the development of the enhanced 911 project.
- Colby Heddleston, supervisor, Valley Emergency Communications Center, who organized the center's fire and EMS sector.
-Emergency Medical Technician-First Responder of the Year: Tammy Graham, Wallsburg, who leaves her radio scanner on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
-Rural Emergency Medical Technician of the Year: Mike Zamantakis, assistant chief, Helper City Fire Department, who proposed the idea of an EMT rescue truck manned by Helper Fire Department.
-Urban Emergency Medical Technician: Scott Hauert, EMT for Gold Cross Ambulance, who has increased the membership roles of the Utah Association of EMTS by 200 percent.
-Emergency Medical Technician Instructor of the Year: Ladean Jensen, EMT on the Draper ambulance, training coordinator for the Utah Emergency Medical Training Council, and assistant coordinator of the EMT program and the University of Utah.
-Paramedic of the Year: Roger Barnson, of the Salt Lake City Fire Department, who has trained EMTS for 15 years.
-Emergency Nurse of the Year: Suzanne Corsalini Day, registered nurse in the emergency department of LDS Hospital since 1980, and Utah State trauma nurse coordinator.
-Emergency Physician of the Year: Dr. Keith Hooker, who worked closely with the Provo and Orem Fire Departments, and is currently emergency department director at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.
-Teamwork Award for the Video Shop Shooting: Salt Lake County Fire Department paramedics Rand Andrus and Clint C. Petersen; Salt Lake County Fire Department firefighter/EMTS Gail E. Paxton, Ronald N. Russell, Rhomas R. McGill, Douglas F. Robison; Gold Cross Ambulance EMTS Shawn M. Irvine, Cory L. Huffman, Timothy R. Parker and Donald Rael; and Life Flight personnel Ronda Brooks, Marc C. West and pilot Ron Bachman.
-Outstanding Performance in a Specific Incidence by a Trained Citizen: Robert Brown, who helped save his mother's life.
-Outstanding Performance by a Dispatcher in a Specific Incidence: Jerilyn Maughan, a certified emergency medical dispatcher in Weber County, who assisted a hysterical women save the life of her drowning child.
-Outstanding Performance by EMTS in a Specific Incident: Wasatch County Ambulance Crew who saved the life of a stabbing victim.
-Outstanding Performance by Paramedics in a Specific Incident: Salt Lake County Fire Department paramedics George Painter and Jim Hadden who saved the life of a 43-year-old man who had suffered a massive embolism.