Hamilton Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) recently received awards for going above and beyond the call of duty in patient care and contributing to the enhancement of emergency medical care. The awards were presented at the 2018 Northwest Georgia EMS/Region 1 awards banquet held at the Clarence Brown Convention Center in Cartersville.
Award recipients included: Chris Downey (paramedic), Danny Hall Memorial Medic of the Year; Scott Radeker (director), Dr. James H. Creel, Jr. Emergency Medical Services Pioneer Award; Aaron Gaddis (paramedic), Chris Cline (paramedic) and Lee Duman (captain), David Loftin Pediatric Call of the Year.
Additionally, six other HEMS employees were nominated for awards. They included: Paul Frierson (paramedic), Mandy Forbes (emergency medical technician) and Ed Cuthbert (captain), Richard Gray MD Excellence in Trauma Care Award; Scott Lewis (paramedic) and Kelly Joyce (emergency medical technician), Tommy Gaylor Medical Call of the Year; and Kerry Howell (emergency medical technician), Region 1 EMT of the Year.
Downey was nominated for going above and beyond the call of duty in patient care. He has received several awards, including the Hero Award presented by the American Red Cross, Vocational Award presented by the Dalton Rotary Club, and the Professional Development Award and Cardiac Arrest Life Saver Award, both presented by HEMS.
“Chris is always willing to work overtime, hold over for shifts and stay late when needed,” said Wendy Saylors, HEMS captain. “He is always trying to ensure that competent and compassionate care is provided to those in need.”
During Radeker’s EMS career, he has been a paramedic, flight paramedic, and has managed multiple EMS agencies in the area. He has been at HEMS since 2014.
“Scott’s vast experience in financial management, process improvement, safety, team implementation and board/council memberships has allowed Hamilton Emergency Medical Services to improve in ways that were previously unheard of,” said Sandy McKenzie, COO. “EMS has been able to improve patient care in every facet of pre-hospital care.”
Radeker has served on multiple EMS boards, councils and committees. His experience includes: deputy director, Georgia Department of Community Health at the State Office of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma, 2009-10; Catoosa County Appointee, Region 1 EMS Council NW Georgia, since 2009; vice-chair, Regional Trauma Advisory Committee NW GA, 2011-14; chair, Regional Trauma Advisory Committee, since 2014; Region 1 EMS Advisory Committee; and Region 1 EMS Medical Directors Advisory Committee.
“Scott has dedicated his entire career to the enhancement of EMS to provide the highest quality patient care,” McKenzie said. “He works endlessly to improve EMS by way of community engagement, education, finances, protocols, practice standards, safety, team building and unit cohesion.”
Gaddis, Cline and Duman’s nomination for the David Loftin Pediatric Call of the Year was based on quality patient care and positive patient outcome on a call. The crew had responded to an ATV accident involving a child. The crew provided rapid and effective treatment in spite of a language barrier that had to be overcome.
“This crew provided excellent patient care,” said Randy Goodwin, lieutenant. “The child had serious injuries, but to our knowledge did make a full recovery.”
Saylors said she’s proud to work with great, skilled and dedicated people who serve at HEMS.
Photo: From left are Ed Cuthbert, Scott Lewis, Paul Frierson, Chris Cline, Aaron Gaddis, Chris Downey, Lee Duman, Scott Radeker, Mandy Forbes, Kelly Joyce and Kerry Howell.