Clarinda EMS
I would like to nominate Clarinda EMS in Clarinda
Iowa for IEMSA EMS Career Service of the Year. For over 20 years
Clarinda EMS has provided care to patients throughout Clarinda
and the surrounding area. The members of Clarinda EMS have
developed a close working relationship with other area EMS
providers which translates into improved patient care. The
members of Clarinda EMS are dedicated to advancing their
knowledge and many have obtained certification as Critical Care
Paramedics. In addition to this the staff of Clarinda EMS
embraces the opportunity to gain further knowledge by attending
various conferences and bringing what they learn back to better
the crew. The hard work and dedication of the members of
Clarinda EMS make programs such as Home for the Holidays and the
new Community Paramedicine program successful.
Since 1993 Clarinda EMS has offered the chance for bed ridden
family members to be transported from local nursing homes to
family events during the Thanksgiving to Christmas holiday
season. This program is offered free of charge and often the
crew members that participate in transporting these individuals
volunteer their time. My family was able to take advantage of
this program and have my father present for the last Christmas
before he passed away. Programs offered by Clarinda EMS such as
the Home for the Holidays provide a great service to the area
and help to build a stronger connection between the public and
those that work for Clarinda EMS.
Recently Clarinda EMS and Clarinda Regional Health Center
started a Community Paramedic program. This collaboration
provides a follow up visit with patients who were recently
released from the hospital and ensures that they understand
their discharge information and medications. The program has
already been successful as the trained EMS providers were able
to prevent medication errors by the patient that may have
resulted in harm to the patient or unnecessary readmission to
the hospital. Clarinda EMS and its members have shown time and
again that they are dedicated to the community that they serve.
Whether it be through the development of programs such as Home
for the Holidays or advancing training and technology the
members of Clarinda EMS always have the best interest of the
patient at heart. Clarinda EMS is able to provide the highest
quality patient care, it is for this reason as well as those
listed above that I am nominating Clarinda EMS for Career EMS
Service of the Year.