Evolving the
CPR Paradigm
Paramedic Nathan Kline and EMT/
Paramedic Intern Aaron Orozco,
practici ng high- qualit y CPR
technique.
Arnold Thomas
Appointed Assistant
Manager of the
Operations Division
Senator Fuller Visits Hall Critical Care
Transport’s Air Division
by Mark Corum, Director of Media Services
A graduate of the Hall EMT
Academy, Arnold Thomas is a
shining example of how you can
fast-track your EMS career at Hall
Ambulance Service.
Arnold Thomas has been
promoted to the position of
assistant manager of the Operations Division. Hall Ambulance Founder and President
Harvey L. Hall made the announcement during a management staff meeting on April 14.
Thomas started his career in
emergency medical services in
2010, as a graduate of the Hall
Ambulance EMT Academy.
Hall Ambulance sponsored
him through paramedic school
at Bakersfield College in January 2011; and, in March 2014
he began working as a paramedic relief supervisor and
became a full-time supervisor
in late October, 2014.
In his new capacity, Thomas
will oversee matters pertaining
to customer service. In addition, he will spend one day
each week in the Company’s
East Kern response area which
covers Tehachapi, Mojave, Rosamond, California City, and
Boron, providing additional
support to the paramedics,
emergency medical technicians
and paramedic field supervisors
assigned to the area. Q
Page 2 Q May/June 2015
Senator Jean Fuller with Hall Ambulance Founder and President Harvey L. Hall, Hall CCT Manager Myron
Smith, Flight Paramedic John Wiley, EMS Pilot Deverin Karol, Flight Nurse Makenzie Stevens and Hall CCT Clinical
Supervisor Chris Leone, RN.
State Senator Jean Fuller
(SD 16), visited Hall
Critical Care Transport’s
Air Division, located at
Meadows Field Airport
while in her District on
Senator Jean Fuller comments on the space inside Hall Critical Care
Transport’s MedEvac1, which can accommodate a patient and flight crew
consisting of an EMS pilot, flight paramedic, and a flight nurse.
Senator Jean Fuller, takes a look
inside Hall Critical Care Transport's
ground unit, with Hall CCT Manager
Myron Smith.
May 1.
H a l l C C T Ma n a g e r
Myron Smith and Flight
Medic John Wiley provided
the Senator with an overview
of MedEvac1, and discussed
the kinds of critical and
traumatic calls the Hall Air
Flight Team responds to
when time is critical. Q
Hall Ambulance Changes CPR Approach Infusing
Technology with Instantaneous Feedback
by Mark Corum, Director of Media Services
ECG monitor so that paramedics can see
the underlying heart rhythm during CPR,
thereby reducing the duration of pauses in
compression.
Sophisticated software on the cardiac
monitor provides audio and visual cues to
confirm the EMS professional is pressing
onto the sternum at least two inches deep;
delivering compressions at a rate of at least
100/per minute; minimizing interruptions
in CPR to no more than 10 seconds; and,
completely releasing on the upstroke to allow the heart to fill with blood for the next
compression.
What does all of this mean? For the first
time, monitoring of CPR quality has become
a reality, which supports the adage, “if you
don’t measure it, you can’t improve it.” After
Hall CCT Manager Myron Smith narrates a demonstration of the new high-quality CPR
the call, Hall Ambulance’s Quality Assurance
techniques as EMT Everett Sutton delivers the proper rate and depth of compressions during a
Division can download data for post-event
news conference on April 21, 2015.
review, analysis and debriefing. As a result,
the paramedic and EMT’s performance is measurable,
Hall Ambulance Service is putting into practice a new ensuring proficiency in the four critical areas during every
approach, paired with technology, aimed at performing resuscitation attempt.
more effective cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the
As the 9-1-1 paramedic provider for 87% of Kern County,
field—and saving lives.
Hall Ambulance Paramedics and EMTs performed CPR as
To present the new procedures to the community, Hall a part of their treatment on approximately 600 requests for
Ambulance hosted a news conference on April 21 which medical aid in 2014—the potential impact is significant. Q
included presentations from Hall Ambulance Medical Director Ron Ostrom, M.D. and Brian Pank, Zoll Medical’s
Senior Account Manager.
Known as high-quality CPR, paramedics and EMTs will
focus their attention on four critical components that can
greatly improve patient outcome. The guidelines were
initially identified in the 2010 American Heart Association
Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency
Cardiovascular Care.
On-scene of a medical aid call for someone in cardiac
arrest, Hall Paramedics will combine Zoll’s See-Thru CPR CPR goes high-tech incorporating the principles of high-quality CPR into
Technology with a cardiac monitor to track the patient’s a sensor that measures the rate and depth of compressions. Zoll Medical’s
See-thru CPR technology minimizes the need to stop compressions to
heart rhythm, rate, and depth of CPR compressions.
re-assess the patient. The pertinent information is now visible on the
See-Thru CPR filters out compression artifact on the defibrillator’s monitor.
May/June 2015 Q Page 3
Six Honored in Sacramento as Stars of Life
by Mark Corum, Director of Media Services
Six emergency medical services
professionals from Hall Ambulance
Service, Inc. joined with 25 others
from across California to be honored
as Stars of Life at the State Capitol on
March 23, 2015. As emergency medical providers, paramedics and EMTs
seldom take the time to reflect on the
important role they play in caring for
those in need of medical aid. Most are
humble about their efforts, saying they
were just doing their job.
To that end, the California Ambulance Association created the Stars of
Life recognition program to highlight
exemplary performance whether for a
singular act that made the difference
in a positive outcome for a patient or
a lifetime commitment to emergency
Page 4 Q May/June 2015
medical services.
Hall Ambulance Founder
and President
Harvey L. Hall
accompanied
his employees
to Sacramento,
where for two
days, they were
treated as VIPs Senator Jean Fuller shared the stories of each Hall Ambulance Star of Life on
the Senate Floor, and than presented them with Resolutions in appreciation
in an effort to of their dedication. Senator Andy Vidak who represents a portion of Hall
thank them for Ambulance’s service area, supported the recognition.
a job well done.
On the eve of the Stars of Life presen- during a breakfast buffet, followed by
tation, Hall treated his employees to a a legislative briefing. With excitement
private dinner at Mortons Steakhouse. and anticipation building, it was than
Early the next morning, the honorees time for California Ambulance Associahad the opportunity to meet their peers tion’s Chairman Richard Angotti, and
the new executive director,
Ross Elliott, to present the
Stars of Life medals to the
recipients. One by one, their
names were called and their
inspiring stories were read as
they approached the stage to
receive their medal.
Afterwards, the Stars made
their way to the steps of the
Capitol for a commemorative
Six Hall Ambulance EMS professionals joined with 18 others
group photo. For the rest of from across California, to be honored at the Capitol as Stars
the morning and into the of Life. (Rudy Meyers Photography)
afternoon, the Stars followed
presented the stars with Assembly
a busy itinerary where they
had the opportunity to meet with the Certificates of Recognition.
assembly members and senators who
Hall Ambulance Stars of Life:
represent their district.
Hall CCT Manager Myron Smith, for his
To highlight their achievements, dedication to EMS education in Kern County;
Senator Jean Fuller, 16th District;
Hall CCT Flight Nurse Makenzie Stevens, for
recognized the Hall Ambulance Stars overcoming enormous obstacles to realize her
of Life on the floor of the Senate, pre- dream of becoming a flight nurse, after being
involved in an MVA at the age of 17;
senting them with Senate Resolutions.
Lead Emergency Medical Dispatcher Ed
During her presentation, Senator Fuller
Cordova who in 2014 processed 5,157 calls
stated, “The 2015 Stars of Life Award for service, provided EMD instructions to over
recipients have provided their commu- 684 requests for medical aid, dispatched over
nities with a valuable service and have 5,000 calls—while maintaining 100% EMD
demonstrated expertise as first respond- compliance;
Paramedic Relief Supervisor Armando Lazaers helping to keep us safe.”
ro, who despite his own critical injuries began
The day concluded with a reception, providing medical aid to others in a drunkfollowed by the Stars of Life Awards driving related crash in Taft in November 2014;
Dinner at the Embassy Suites Hotel.
EMT Bill Dietz, who assisted a mother with the
Assembly member Freddie Rodriguez, delivery of two newborns after pulling into the
52 District; himself an EMT and ambulance ramp at a Bakersfield-area hospital.
previous CAA Star of Life recipient,
Paramedic Andrew Kiser, is the recipient
of the 2014 President’s Award for Customer
Service. Q
Ross Elliott Named
Executive Director of the
California Ambulance
Association
The name of
the California
Ambulance
A s s o c i a t i o n’s
new executive
d i re c t o r w i l l
be familiar to
those of us
here at home.
Ross Elliott
served ten years Ross Elliott is
applying his
as the director experience as Kern
of emergency County’s EMS
medical services Director to his
new role with the
for Kern County, California Ambulance
seeing the agency Association.
through an
EMS System redesign, and creating
and implementing performance
standards.
Elliott quickly earned respect
after transitioning into the County’s
top EMS spot by enrolling in an
EMT Class so that he could better
understand the demands of Kern’s
EMS system.
For the past year, Elliott served
the Emergency Medical Services
Administrators’ Association of
California (EMSAC) as Executive
Director, where he worked with local
EMS agencies to improve system
performance statewide.
In his new role, Elliott will
oversee day-to-day operations of
the association and lead the CAA’s
policy activities, including its work
in advancing the delivery of excellent
pre-hospital care to the people of
California. Q
Assembly member Rudy Salas welcomed the Hall Ambulance Stars of Life at his office.
May/June 2015 Q Page 5
Hall Ambulance Earns Re-Accreditation from IAED
by Mark Corum, Director of Media Services
Hall Ambulance Founder and President Harvey L. Hall, and Jennifer LaFavor,
manager of the Communications Division, inside of the Company’s state-of-the-art
Communications Center.
Hall Ambulance Service’s Communications Center has earned reaccreditation as an Emergency Medical
Dispatch Center of Excellence, by the
Board of Accreditation of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED)—the highest distinction
in emergency communication services.
Hall Ambulance retains the distinguished honor of being the 154th Emergency Medical Dispatch Accredited
Center in the world and is only one of
two ACE Accredited Dispatch Centers
operating in Kern County.
The presentation was made during the
IAED’s Navigator Conference held the
last week of April in Las Vegas.
Hall Ambulance Service achieved reaccreditation for their continued compliance to the Medical Priority Dispatch
System (MPDS) and the associated “20
Points of Excellence”, which encompasses international practice standards
of excellence for Emergency Medical
Page 6 Q May/June 2015
Dispatch (EMD).
Re-accreditation is a
voluntary accomplishment that demonstrates
an unprecedented dedication to public safety
from not only each communications specialist in
Leadership of the IAED present Hall Ambulance personnel with
the dispatch center but
also on behalf of Hall their ACE Re-Accreditation Certificate during its general session at
Navigator. Pictured from left: Jerry Overton, accreditation board
Ambulance Founder and chair; Ed Cordova, Hall Lead Dispatcher; Jennifer LaFavor, Hall ComPresident Harvey L. Hall. munications Manager; Carol Dean, Hall Reports Analyst; Carlynn
Hall Ambulance’s dis- Page, associate director and Scott Freitag, president.
patch center, known as
munications Center (ECC) that popuOCD (Operational Communications lates on Hall Ambulance’s computerDivision) serves as the nerve center for aided dispatch system.
every request for medical aid throughout
Certified emergency medical dispatch95% of Kern County, which includes ers process each request and assign the
providing emergency medical dispatch call to the closest available ambulance.
for Liberty Ambulance (Ridgecrest,
Every ambulance is equipped with
Kernville, and Lake Isabella).
a mobile gateway terminal that allows
A computer interface captures re- real-time tracking to ensure the closest,
sponse information electronically from most appropriate ambulance is assigned
the County of Kern’s Emergency Com- to each request. Q
by Sonia Reyes, Human Resources Specialist
Happy Birthday
5/01 Patrick Bowen
5/02 Celia Ames
5/03 Jill Harlander
5/06 Nedra Thompson
5/06 Christopher Cook
5/06 Allen Swerdfeger
5/06 Charline Hernandez
5/08 Eric Calderon
5/09 Rafael Orozco
5/09 Cristyl Eller
5/10 Michael Channing
5/11 Hollie Burns
5/11 Christian Magpuri
5/14 Tracy Burnside
5/15 Theo Feliz
5/15 Immanual Holliday
5/15 Jeremy Capps
5/16 Greg Bicera
5/16 Naomie Torres
5/17 Michael Coglianese
5/18 Randy Benson
5/19 Linda Hood
5/20 John Wiley
5/20 Nicolas Vanderhorst
5/22 Shawna Litzinger
5/25 Blaire Wood
5/25 Edward Vega
5/26 Christopher Parks
5/26 Xavier Vactor
5/31 Adam Aase
5/31 Mark Corum
6/02 Adrianna Neal
6/03 Alejandro Castro
6/05 Lori Webby
6/05 Meghan Jones
6/05 Lydia Cruz
6/05 Laura Swank
6/06 Trent Rodriguez
6/07 Corina Orozco
6/08 Debbie Rogers
6/08 Josh Sanders
6/09 Emily Movius
6/10 Dewi Adams
6/10 Robert Wilson
6/11 James Mascola
6/12 Leddy Rodriguez
6/12 Amanda Vargas
6/13 Katie Van Allen
6/16 Ashley Davis
6/18 Luis Ramirez
6/19 John Spooner
6/20 Josh Frazier
6/20 Wendy Gonzalez
6/20 Sarah Walker
6/21 Jenny West
6/21 Jose Luis Hernandez
6/24 Ryan Billings
6/25 Nat Rodriguez
6/25 Jennifer Att
6/25 Matthew Johnson
6/25 Jeff Perkins
6/25 Amanda McLaughlin
6/26 Daniel Dubois
6/26 Kevin McClure
6/27 Matthew Manfra
6/27 Emilio Duran
6/28 Veronica Sanchez
6/30 Sonia Ante
6/30 Carol Dean
6/30 Christy Chacon
Welcome New Employees
3/10 Blaine Cisneros, EMT
3/10 Daniel Montes, EMT
3/10 David Allard, EMT
3/10 Raul Soto, EMT
3/30 Krystal Mascarinas, Administrative Clerical Assistant
3/30 Alexandra Foster, Business Office
3/30 Robert Benskin, Skilled Maintenance
4/06 Chad Fox, Ambulance Detailer
4/14 Katrina Price, RN
4/21 Christian Magpuri, EMT
4/21 Adam Moreno, EMT
4/21 Scott Yadon, EMT
4/21 Patrick Bowen, EMT
4/21 Edlin Zavala, Supply Technician
Display Your Company Pride for a Chance to Win!
75541G1
7DDL754
5UUJ369
6WXE261
Show your Company Pride by
displaying a sticker on your
personal vehicle! If one of
these license plates belong to
you, bring your registration to
Administration and claim your
prize!
May/June 2015 Q Page 7
Providing First Aid for A Mini-City
Called Relay for Life
Publisher
Harvey L. Hall
Editor
Mark Corum
Copy Editor
Sharon Scoggins
Contributors
Mark Corum
Sonia Reyes
Photography
Mark Corum
Dave Taylor
The HallMark is published for the staff,
friends, and family of Hall Ambulance Service,
Inc. Comments, questions, or suggestions
should be directed to Mark Corum, director
of media services at: [email protected].
For 24 years, Hall
Ambulance Service
has provided
around-the-clock
medical coverage
for the biggest Relay
for Life event in the
United States.
Special thanks to
Members of the Hall Ambulance Explorer Post line up to honor cancer
Dave Taylor, James
survivors
at the Relay for Life.
B ra d b u r y, B r u c e
Baker, Celia Ames and the 22 members of the to care for the over 4,000 participants who raised
Hall Ambulance Explorer Post, who stood ready $1,060,923.9. Q
Hall’s Angels Volunteer
for the Great American
Cleanup
Nuttin’ But a Good Time
Several ladies from the Hall Ambulance Business
Office aka Hall’s Angels, volunteered their Saturday
to participate in the Great American Cleanup.
They all had a good time while working to pick up
litter along Bernard Street in northeast Bakersfield.
Hall’s Angels are: Ruby Espinoza, Corina Orozco,
Irene Patino, Blaire Wood, Elva Ramos, Kerrin
Espinoza and Alexandra Foster. Q
Our fearless leader exchanged his signature suits
in favor of an almond costume for the opening of
the Kern County Nut Festival.
Hall Ambulance Paramedic Heather Lee, and
EMT James Bradbury, could not resist grabbing a
picture with Mr. Hall.
Hall Ambulance provided medical standby
coverage for the event that attracted thousands
of people celebrating our local crops of almonds,
pecans, walnuts and pistachios. Q
Established in 1971, Hall Ambulance Service
is the major 9-1-1 paramedic provider for
Kern County, California. The Company
serves the communities of Bakersfield, Arvin,
Lamont, Frazier Park, Tehachapi, Rosamond,
Mojave, California City, Boron, Taft, Shafter
and Wasco.
20 Years of 9-1-1
Paramedic Service to Taft
The Taft City Council honored Hall Ambulance
on 20 years of service, by proclaiming April 8 as
Hall Ambulance Day in Taft.
From left: Mayor Pro Tem Dave Noerr, Council
Member Orchel Krier, Hall Ambulance Founder
and President Harvey L. Hall, Mayor Randy Miller,
Council Member Josh Bryant, and Council Member
Renee Hill. Q
Page 8 Q May/June 2015