Fire-Service Based EMS Awards Presented at 28th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner
The Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) and Masimo honored two fire departments for best practices and innovative solutions in the delivery of emergency medical services with the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Award. The award presentation took place on May 5th in Washington, DC. Masimo is proud to be a co-sponsor of this award.
- The Olathe Fire Department in Olathe, Kansas, established the Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) team to provide better treatment in the field for patients. With the support of local government, community partners, and the Olathe Medical Center, the MIH team reduced the number of patient transports to emergency rooms, monitored the progress of these patients, and scheduled follow-up visits for evaluation and continued treatment.
- Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue (KVFR) in Kittitas, Washington, implemented new programs that are reducing demand for emergency services while providing better care and treatment for its citizens. KVFR has launched a community paramedicine program to provide alternative medical care options to alleviate pressure on the 911 system and improve patient outcomes. They conduct educational programs for students, law enforcement, and other community members that address the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. In addition, KVFR has developed a new fee structure and an educational program to address a rising call volume for non-injury lift assistance requests at assisted living facilities.
“CFSI takes great pride in co-sponsoring the Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Awards with Masimo,” said Dr. William F. Jenaway, Ph.D., President of CFSI. “Through this awards program, we are able to recognize innovations in the delivery of emergency medical services throughout the nation. The recipients of the 2016 award – Kittitas Valley (WA) Fire and Rescue Department and the Olathe (KS) Fire Department – certainly demonstrated themselves worthy of this recognition by developing new programs to enhance their delivery of emergency medical services. Congratulations to both departments.”
“Firefighters and emergency services personnel are our heroes. They put their lives on the line for us every day and we want to make sure they have the technology and community support they need to keep them safe and help them better care for the citizens they protect,” said Joe Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo. “Masimo is honored to co-sponsor this awards program with CFSI and to recognize these two departments for their innovative achievements.”
Approximately 1,600 fire and emergency services leaders attended the 28th Annual National Fire and Emergency Services Dinner to pay tribute to the dedication and commitment of the nation's fire and emergency services providers. Hosted by CFSI, the annual dinner benefits the mission of the nonprofit policy organization, which is designed to educate members of Congress about fire and life safety issues. This year’s guest speaker was the Honorable Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
The Excellence in Fire Service-Based EMS Awards Program was established in 2010 to recognize volunteer, career, and combination fire departments for excellence in and enhancements to the delivery of emergency medical services. By showcasing their best practices, the awards program provides ideas for other fire departments to consider implementing as they seek to improve their fire service-based EMS systems.
Source & Image Credit: Masimo