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So far STAT MedEvac Staff has created 152 blog entries.

Five Facts for Children’s Hospital Ambulance’s Fifth Anniversary

  1. The STAT Critical Care Ground Ambulance and the Children’s Hospital Ambulance both began on July 1, 2017
  2. The STAT truck is identified as MedEvac 51 and the CHP unit is MedEvac 61.
  3. The isolette (pictured below) is one of the main pieces of equipment that makes the CHP Ambulance so unique from a typical ambulance.
  4. The medical crew members consist of a registered nurse and respiratory therapist. The team members have extensive critical care experience as well as lengthy training specific to the transport environment. Nearly every medical intervention possible in the intensive care unit is made possible in the transport environment with specialized equipment and highly-trained personnel.
  5. Sometimes, depending on the patient’s medical condition, pediatric critical care and neonatal critical care fellows (Physicians) will travel with the Team.

Five Facts for Children’s Hospital Ambulance’s Fifth Anniversary2022-07-26T00:38:28-04:00

Employee Profile: Christine Tunstall, RN, PHRN, CFRN

Job Title: Sr. Professional Flight Nurse II

How many years at STATMedEvac:  7 years

  • Christine started out as a first responder while in college and eventually took an EMT class while attending Penn State in 1995. She loved it so much that she came back to Pittsburgh and started working EMS full time. She had started her college career as a music major!
  • She became a paramedic in 1998 and started working for McCandless Franklin Park Ambulance – She is still employed in some capacity ever since, for a total of 24 years.
  • Christine is a self-proclaimed crazy cat mom to six beautiful kitties: Noodle, Callie, Gizmo, Jack, Pretzel, and Cheddar!
  • She earned a second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
  • Not only does she love emergency medicine, but Christine also loves the heart, and works at […]
Employee Profile: Christine Tunstall, RN, PHRN, CFRN2022-07-18T07:59:55-04:00

Did you know…. STAT MD is known for for it’s work around the world?

Connie Medred, Communications Manager for STAT MedEvac, talks about the very little known STAT – MD program.  What is that?  If there is an illness on a commercial airline any where in the world on one of 13 different airlines, STAT MedEvac’s STAT MD center is contacted by the flight crew for next steps.. land.. continue.. in-air treatment?

Did you know…. STAT MD is known for for it’s work around the world?2022-07-13T10:39:58-04:00

David LaCovey, Educator & Innovator in Pediatric EMS Assessment & Care

David LaCovey and his wife, Marsha

We’re putting the spotlight on a life changer who has not only made an incredible impact on how EMS treats and assesses pediatric patients in the Pittsburgh area, but around the world, David LaCovey.

LaCovey says he became involved in EMS like many other people of his generation, because of the TV show, Emergency. An experience during Boy Scouts solidified his decision. Two paramedics from his local community, Arlington County, Virginia, helped the scouts earn their first aid merit badges. This was the first time something felt intuitive to him. It made sense and he didn’t have to work at it.

In 1976, he became an EMT, and his parents relocated to Pittsburgh in 1977. He started his EMS career with Tri-Community South EMS in the South Hills as a volunteer. Mary Ann Scott taught him how to […]

David LaCovey, Educator & Innovator in Pediatric EMS Assessment & Care2022-07-12T15:51:08-04:00

STAT’s Internal PTSD Committee with Sarah Anderson & Hollee Russell

As we close out PTSD Awareness Month, we’re highlighting STAT’s internal PTSD committee with Sarah Anderson and Hollee Russell.

Can you tell us a little bit about your backgrounds? How long have you worked with STAT?

Sarah: I’ve worked for STAT for over 15 years. During that time I’ve worked as a Flight Nurse, Outreach Coordinator, and now Regional Medical Manager, but I also spent some time at UPMC Children’s as part of their Pediatric/Neonatal Transport Team.

Hollee:  I have been a nurse for 24 years. I have worked Surgical ICU, Cardiac ICU, and ED. I also worked as a paramedic for 3 years. I have been with STATMedEvac for 19 years.

 

Can you tell us about the beginning of the internal PTSD committee?

Sarah: We began our journey to a formal Peer Support group prior to the pandemic. Originally it was just me, asking for support from STAT to move forward with a more formal […]

STAT’s Internal PTSD Committee with Sarah Anderson & Hollee Russell2022-06-29T02:17:46-04:00

Employee Profiles: Sarah Anderson, Regional Medical Manager

Job Title: Regional Medical Manager

How many years at STATMedEvac:  13 years

  1.  I’m a Mama to one human, Lia (2 years), and one pug, Winston Churchill (14 years).
  2. I love glitter, iced coffee, friends, Disney, and all.of.the.animals.
  3. I’m originally from Lebanon County, PA (small, rural, central PA)
  4. My first job/volunteer opportunity was as a candy striper at a local hospital and I absolutely LOVED it.
  5. The best part of working for STAT MedEvac is the people I’ve met and worked with over the last 13 years both within and outside of STAT.  They’re the absolute best; smart, funny, and genuine.  They really know how to make life fun and I’m just so happy to be a part of this with them.

Employee Profiles: Sarah Anderson, Regional Medical Manager2022-06-17T17:41:09-04:00

Employee Profile: Scott Spencer RN, PHRN, CFRN

Job Title: Sr. Professional Flight Nurse II

How many years at STATMedEvac:  5 years

  • Scott is a proud husband and father to three amazing boys (13, 10, and 6).  He also has a 4-legged child, 2 y/o Zuri, who is their 3rd rescue Great Dane.
  • He brings his violin to work (most days) to practice.  He has been playing for about 5 years now.  Scott has played multiple instruments since age 4.  The band he plays with, Leap of Faith, currently has 3 songs professionally recorded.  You can find them on Spotify and Apple music.  The band is back in the recording studio working on 3 more songs.
  • Scott is currently enrolled at Capella University to complete his BSN.
  • He is based at MedEvac 4 out of Allegheny County Airport.  Scott says “It’s been a great […]
Employee Profile: Scott Spencer RN, PHRN, CFRN2022-07-06T14:19:29-04:00

Employee Profiles: Maggie Zaliponi, Sr. Prof Flight Nurse II & Bill Walls, Professional Flight Paramedic

Meet Maggie Zaliponi, Sr. Prof Flight Nurse II, BSN
Years of service 27, MedEvac 15 Base
  1. Wanted to be a flight nurse since she was 6, after watching a 1976 episode of “Emergency” with a helicopter in it.
  2. Was an Explorer with Lower Valley Ambulance at 14 years old, EMT at age 16 with West Deer EMS. She used to get out of school for ambulance calls.
  3. Her high school senior bio stated “plans to go to nursing school and become a flight nurse “.
  4. Went to West Penn Hospital Nursing school and started in the MICU right after graduation in 1991 and eventually transitioned to the Burn Trauma ICU.
  5. While always working towards her goal of being a flight nurse and was ultimately hired at STAT MedEvac on May 23, […]
Employee Profiles: Maggie Zaliponi, Sr. Prof Flight Nurse II & Bill Walls, Professional Flight Paramedic2022-05-07T01:30:21-04:00

Podcast: Opinions on The EMS Recruitment Retention Issue

Over the last month, we have collected some thoughts on how to fix the current EMS recruitment and retention issues.  Thanks to those who commented on Facebook, Instagram, called the podcast hotline and talked to us live at the EMS West Update at Seven Springs.

Thanks to Greg Porter, Ross/West View EMSA, Jeff Kelly, Medical Rescue Team South, Deb Hoffman, Silver Springs Ambulance Service, Kiley Cribbs, Butler County Community College as well as Mark Hansen, Kurt Dively, George Neat, Ally Marie Ward, and Ben Whitehill who commented on social media or left us a voice mail.

Opinions are not those of CEM/ STAT MedEvac.

Podcast: Opinions on The EMS Recruitment Retention Issue2022-05-02T22:50:08-04:00
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