Program Receives 2021 National Safety in EMS Award

The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) have selected the program as the recipient of the 2021 Safety in EMS Award. Sponsored by Horton Emergency Vehicles, the award was established to recognize an organization that has significantly contributed to advancing EMS practitioner and/or patient safety.

“It is such an honor to be nationally recognized for our commitment to safety,” said Clinton Burley, president and CEO of HealthTeam Critical Care Transport. “Our Safety Department works tirelessly to give our team members the resources needed to keep themselves and our patients safe because that is what matters most.”

HealthTeam Critical Care Transport has implemented and successfully executed many strategies to support an EMS Culture of Safety. These initiatives include:

• Establishing an internal, full-time safety department focusing solely on the day-to-day development, implementation, and oversight of safety-related initiatives.
• In-house emergency vehicle operator training within six months of an employee’s hire date for those with previous EVOC training to reduce the risk of motor vehicle collisions.
• Fleet-wide use of video telematics in all ambulances to protect employees from potential liability in events that occurred through no fault of their actions.
• Daily pre-shift fatigue assessments, pre-transport risk assessments for long-distance transports, pre-shift crew rest requirements, and maximum duty length limits.
• Having all EMS personnel complete the NAEMT EMS Safety Course within six months of hire and biennially afterward.

In October, the Safety in EMS Award will officially be presented to the organization during NAEMT’s General Membership Meeting being held at the EMS World Expo in Atlanta, Georgia.