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Using data to influence the delivery of exceptional service to the community

Florida continues its commitment to providing quality Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for its citizens and visitors, services that are founded on the principles of quality improvement, ensuring that an optimal, uniform and standard of prehospital emergency medical care is available to everyone in Florida.

To make this commitment a reality, the Florida Prehospital EMS Tracking and Reporting System (EMSTARS) program was created. This program provides for the collection of incident level data from EMS agencies and subsequent analysis for benchmarking and identifying quality improvement initiatives. This program has been implemented with the guidance of the EMS Advisory Council Data Committee who has defined and maintains a Data Dictionary ensuring the standardized collection of EMS incident data into the state repository providing project oversight and steering.

Additional information about Florida’s Prehospital EMS Tracking and Reporting System is available in this EMSTARS Basic Facts document.

Spotlight - 2010 Excellence in EMS Awards

The Florida Department of Health (DOH), Bureau of EMS announced the recipients of the 2010 Excellence in EMS Awards during National EMS Week (May 16-22). This marks 20 years the Bureau of EMS has honored outstanding Florida EMS organizations and individuals who make a positive impact on local EMS throughout the state.

Congratulations to the following recipients for their significant contributions to EMS in Florida:

• Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Dave Selbach, Sunstar Paramedics
• Paramedic: Stephen Suarez, Leon County EMS
• Dispatcher: Carrie Allard, Orange County Fire Rescue
• EMS Disaster Prepardness & Response: Lou Romig, M.D., FAAP, FACEP
• EMS Provider: Leon County EMS
• EMS Education: Jane Bedford, Nature Coast EMS
• EMS for Children: Phyllis Hendry, M.D., University of Florida, Health Science Center - Jacksonville
• Injury Prevention: Captain Deanna Chapman, Lake Sumter EMS
• Larry S. Jordan EMS Hall of Fame: Revis Robert "Robby" Brown, Jr., Posthumously
• Raymond H. Alexander EMS Medical Direction: Bradley J. Elias, M.D., Air Methods
• Marilyn Crook EMS Pioneer Award: Tom Quillin, Leon County EMS
• EMS Nursing: John Price, R.N., EMT-P, Air Methods
• Photo and/or Video: Nature Coast EMS
• Friend to EMS: Robert W. Ashley, Putnam County

If you have a story to tell, or something or someone to Spotlight, please contact Stephanie Daugherty at the Bureau of EMS, Data Unit.