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A message from the Alaska Office of EMS Manager, Todd McDowell
In this issue of EMS Vitals I’d like to take the opportunity to recognize the members of the recently demobilized Alaska Council on EMS Implementation Task Force (ITF). The ITF was established in the fall of 2018 with its first meeting on November 15, 2018 and their final meeting held on March 26, 2021. The ITF was established to tackle the formidable task of implementing the scope of practice enacted in the 2019 Alaska EMS regulations. During this time, they worked collaboratively on creating the educational foundation of Alaska’s EMS system assuring access to educational materials that included the development of hundreds of pages of learning objectives, curriculum, and videos (in- person and distance learning modules) for all instructors to use. The impact of these contributions to our EMS system will be felt for years to come.
A wise man once told me that people come together for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. The Alaska EMS system in the last 2 years has come together in a way that has not been seen in over a decade. This was not by accident, or by chance, but was made possible in large part because of the ACEMS Implementation Task Force. The task force worked collaboratively with the State Training Committee, Medical Direction Committee, EMS for Children Advisory Committee, and EMS Regions to assure all stakeholders had a voice. The resulting educational materials developed has and will continue to serve all of Alaska’s EMS educators, regions, agencies, and ultimately impacting our patients through improved provider access to training, knowledge and expertise. Each person’s gracious giving of their unique talents, experience, and passion for EMS resulted in thousands of hours of work being done collaboratively is truly a rare display of sacrifice. Their actions inspired excitement in our EMS system among providers, administrators, and regions. The work they accomplished inspired others to believe that positive change was coming to Alaska’s EMS system. What the system has witnessed these past 2 years is nothing short of amazing.
I am both honored and humbled to have worked alongside such a motivated group of individuals. As the remaining work of the ITF has been transferred to the newly formed ACEMS Special Projects Committee their reason and season has come to an end. However, I have no doubt that the relationships and comradely developed and the positive impacts created in the EMS system will last a lifetime. What has been accomplished in such a short period of time for system wide changes is a true testament to what we as an EMS system can do when we support, work collaboratively, and move forward together. Please join the Office of EMS staff, the State EMS Medical Director, Mike Levy, and me in expressing our deepest gratitude to the following ITF members.
(Names in bold indicate membership for the full duration of the task force.)
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Julie Anderson, RN, MICP
Ritchie Berndt, MICP
Jenny Brown, MICP
Suzy Coronel, MICP
David Daniell, MICP
Harrison Deveer, MICP
Lezelda Fiebig, MICP
Joe Gerace, AEMT
David Harbour, MICP
Rick Hines, MICP
Beth Hubbard
Robert Janik, MICP
Jerry Kiffer, MICP
Chris Lau
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Joe Livengood, MD
Breanna Love, MICP
Lori Marsh, MICP
Tom Meyer, MICP
Kevin Nelson, MICP
Andrew Pantiskas, MICP
Timothy Peterson, MD
Mio Rhein, MICP
Lori Richmond, MICP
David Rockney, MICP
Ryon Turley, EMT 2
Wilma Vinton, MICP
Dane Wallace, MICP
Gene Wiseman, MICP
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