Ada County Paramedics Receives 'Health Care Hero' Award

(Boise, ID) - Ada County Paramedics as a whole and two individual Paramedics were honored during the Idaho Business Review's inaugural 'Health Care Heroes' recognition program. IBR hosted an awards breakfast this morning at The Grove Hotel to announce the winners. The weekly business journal recognized Ada County Paramedics with a 'Health Care Hero' Award in the Advancements in Health Care Hero category.

The Advancement in Health Care Hero award highlighted advancements Ada County Paramedics made in cardiac care this year, in conjunction with Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, and St. Luke's Meridian Medical Center.

Our partnership with these hospitals led to the ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) protocol. When someone calls 9-1-1 for heart attack symptoms such as chest pain, he or she enters a well-planned process designed to reduce the time to myocardial reperfusion (increasing blood flow to the heart through catheterization). Our role in the process has a significant and direct impact on the patient's care even after the patient arrives in the emergency room.

"We have been working with St. Luke's and Saint Alphonsus in a concentrated effort to improve cardiac care in Ada County," said Director Troy Hagen. "Our role is important and we take it very seriously."

This nomination also addressed our Emergency Preparedness activities and our highly regarded set of Standing Written Orders, which define the care we provide patients.

Also, Ada County Paramedics was a finalist in the Community Outreach Hero category, highlighting our injury prevention activities, specifically our involvement with the Every 15 Minutes program. This high-intensity, two day drunk driving prevention program for high schools includes a mock collision in which students are seriously injured and killed. Because of this and similar education programs, the U.S. statistic has improved from one fatality every 15 to one fatality every 30 minutes.

Our department devotes significant resources to the Every 15 Minutes planning committee year-round and to each event.

Two individual Paramedics were finalists in the Emergency Hero category. Dexter Hunt has been a Paramedic for 35 years and with Ada County Paramedics for the past 25 of those years. He breaks the mold when it comes to the average career span of in paramedicine, which is know for high burn-out rates and rarely sees a 10-year Paramedic. He has served as a Field Training Officer, Assistant Supervisor, and Supervisor. Hunt is a prolific teacher and lecturer and has turned hundreds of EMTs into fine Paramedics.

"What brings me the most joy in EMS is teaching, precepting, and mentoring others," said Hunt.

Also, Hunt has made his mark in the EMS field in the United States and Canada, serving as a consultant to large and well-known EMS agencies, and special events including the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Paramedic Supervisor Mark Niemeyer was a finalist in the same Emergency Hero category. Mark is known for his advocacy of field crews, successful grant seeking abilities, and leadership. During his 15-year EMS career, 11 have been spent serving the citizens of Ada County as a Paramedic, Field Training Officer, Assistant Supervisor, and Supervisor.

Niemeyer said, "I find joy seeing my colleagues succeed and helping new Paramedics shape their careers."

Niemeyer was selected as Supervisor of the Year this year by the Paramedics and EMTs he supervises.

"Both Dexter and Mark are shining examples of the quality people we have working in our department. Their colleagues and I see the high caliber of emergency medicine they provide to patients every day. Business community recognition of their commitment to saving lives is a great honor. I am extremely proud to have both of them on our team," said Hagen.

The Health Care Heroes program was designed to honor health care industry volunteers, professionals, and organizations that have made a significant difference in the state's health care industry.

Award nominations were sent in over the summer with official judging occurring in August. The Idaho Business Review is profiling the Ada County Paramedics, Dexter Hunt, and Mark Niemeyer in its September 25 issue.