LYNCHBURG — When the worst happens, quick thinking and instinctual actions from first responders can be the difference-maker in a citizen’s life. On Thursday, Ascension St. Thomas Hospital awarded three local first responders – Metro Moore County EMS Critical Care paramedics Rheannon Gagnon and Zach Means, along with Advance EMT Jackie Burton with their EMS Hero Award.
Each year, the health system honors first responders around the state whose quick thinking saves lives. St Thomas’s Director of EMS & ED Outreach Shannon Morphis travelled to Moore County to present the award.
“Thank you Metro Moore County EMS for your outstanding and compassionate care. You are a true example of always being patient advocates,” she said. “It is my pleasure to award your team the Ascension Saint Thomas EMS Hero Award.”
Shannon noted that without the interventions and assessments done for this patient, the outcome could have been very different.
Local Public Safety Director Jason Deal also had high praise for his team.
“We continue to challenge our teams to be the best patient advocates they can be. With limited healthcare resources in our county, our EMS reponders not only fill their role as AEMT, Paramedic, and Critical Care Paramedics, they also wear the hat as a medical case worker treating all their patients like their own personal family,” he said.
“Being able to recognize when a patient is having a myocardial infarction based on EKG rhythm and patient presentation, allows the crews to help the patient make appropriate destination decisions and get the patient to the right place for the right kind of care, especially when minutes count.” •
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