Freeman Salutes Emergency Responders During EMS Week

Joplin, Mo – “When emergencies happen, time is a critical factor, and first responders’ actions are the first link in a team effort to deliver lifesaving care,” says Hilary Riley, Freeman Health System Emergency/Trauma Director.

First responders often deliver lifesaving treatment in the field, and we salute them during National Emergency Medical Services week, May 17 – 23. This week, we recognize the efforts of our Freeman Ambulance Service of McDonald County with crews in Anderson and Noel, Newton County Ambulance staff, MedFlight air ambulance crew and local certified emergency medical technicians who care for patients en route to our hospitals.

“We are really just an extension of the hospital as a whole and bring the hospital to you,” says Mike Ross, Freeman Director of Ambulance Services. “We are able to provide services similar to what the emergency room would provide for patients having heart attacks, strokes, those in automobile accidents and other.”

This year marks the 46th Annual National EMS Week, an observance that started in 1974 as a partnership between National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

“This EMS week is a tougher time than normal, considering the pandemic, but it’s a challenge we can meet and will continue to meet any new challenges that come our way,” Ross says.

The medical professionals we honor this week are the people on medicine’s front line. Each day of EMS Week has a theme:

• Monday – EMS Education Day
• Tuesday – Safety Tuesday
• Wednesday – EMS for Children Day
• Thursday – Save-A-Life Day (CPR and Stop the Bleed)
• Friday – EMS Recognition Day

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Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2019, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers.  U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2019.  With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.