DPHHS seeks nominations for Emergency Medical Services awards

Department of Public Health and Human Services officials are requesting nominations for the 2020 Emergency Medical Services awards to be announced later this year.

DPHHS Director Sheila Hogan said the department looks forward to honoring Montana's first responders. "These dedicated Montanans are there for all of us each and every day when help is needed the most," she said. "This is an opportunity for these heroes to be recognized for their life-saving efforts."

DPHHS seeks nominations by the April 10 deadline in the following categories:

EMS Volunteer Provider of the Year. This award honors a Volunteer Emergency Care Provider who is exemplary in his or her quality of patient care and/or dedication to his or her community.

EMS Career Provider of the Year. This award honors a Career Emergency Care Provider who is exemplary in his or her quality of care and/or dedication to his or her community. 

EMS Service of the Year. This award honors a volunteer or paid EMS agency that consistently exhibits dedication to improving patient care through education, injury prevention, community awareness, medical director involvement and cooperation with other emergency service organizations in their community.

911 Dispatcher of the Year. This award is to recognize a 911 dispatcher who has shown exemplary performance of duties as the "first, first responder" in medical emergencies. 

EMS Supporter of the Year. This award honors an individual who has demonstrated exceptional support for an EMS agency or the broader EMS system. This person may be a law enforcement officer, another healthcare provider, a public official or a community member.

Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.montanaEMS.mt.gov.

The awards will be presented on May 20, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Helena as part of EMS Week. The theme for this year's week is EMS Strong: Ready for Today. Preparing for Tomorrow. This is a week dedicated to recognizing the important work and outstanding people involved in EMS.

DPHHS began this awards program in 2015 to honor EMS volunteer and career providers.

"Please consider nominating someone who has impacted your life or someone in your community," Hogan said.

EMS providers include 9-1-1 dispatchers who are the first, first responders, often providing life sustaining directions to bystanders until the ambulance arrives. ECPs, or Emergency Care Providers, respond 24/7 to calls for help, transporting people to emergency departments staffed by caring nurses, physicians and other medical personnel who support efforts to improve emergency care in the field. These individuals also promote health and safety within their communities by teaching classes, hosting safety events and being good neighbors.

For questions about the EMS awards contact Shari Graham of DPHHS at [email protected] `or at 406-444-6098.