American Medical Response

This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we are celebrating the dedicated professionals who are the calm voice in every emergency. On Wednesday, the GMR Executive Leadership team visited our incredible telecommunicators at our communications center in Phoenix, Arizona. Their work is essential to the care we deliver every day. We are proud to recognize their vital role and thank them for their unwavering commitment to our communities. #OneTeam #NPSTW

Meet Erica Drake, a communications specialist at Lifeguard Ambulance Service in Birmingham, Alabama. With one year and three months of experience, Erica has already made a significant impact in the world of emergency medical services (EMS).   Erica is driven by the opportunity to assist others during their most critical moments. She thrives in the fast-paced nature of EMS communications, where every second counts. Her role not only sharpens her ability to remain calm and composed but also equips her with valuable skills to handle emergencies inside and outside of the communication center.   One of Erica’s most memorable experiences in the field involved dispatching multiple crews to a multi-patient emergency. Through clear communication and real-time updates, she ensured that every responding unit had the necessary information, ultimately helping to coordinate safe and efficient patient transport.   For those considering a career in public safety telecommunications, Erica offers valuable advice: understand the role, develop stress-management skills and remain adaptable. She emphasizes the importance of staying calm under pressure, as quick decision making can directly impact the public.   This #NPSTW, we celebrate Erica and all public safety telecommunicators for their unwavering commitment to keeping communities safe. Thank you for your dedication and service, Erica!   #OneTeam 

Lifeguard Ambulance Service communication shift lead Billy Bridgeman is a respected leader in public safety with nearly four years of dedicated service. Based in Prestonsburg, Kentucky, Billy’s motivation for working in EMS is clear – it’s the people. He draws inspiration from the EMTs and medics who devote their time and energy to serving the community.    Billy’s commitment to effective communication was put to the test during a severe flooding event that required the full evacuation of a nursing home. With more than 40 individuals needing transport and emergency calls coming in rapidly, coordination was critical. Through clear communication and collaboration with Kentucky State Police and rescue agencies, Billy and his team successfully managed both the evacuation and ongoing 911 responses, prioritizing safety every step of the way.  Patience and trustworthiness are the cornerstones of Billy’s work. He believes that a strong telecommunicator must be someone crews can rely on, someone who listens and someone who makes the right decisions under pressure. By building trust with his team, he ensures that every unit is dispatched effectively and supported throughout their shifts.   For those considering a career as a public safety telecommunicator, Billy offers one crucial piece of advice – take the time to care. Caring for the caller and the responder makes all the difference.   Billy’s dedication and leadership serve as a testament to the vital role of EMS communication teams, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most. Thank you, Billy, for all you do! #OneTeam #NPSTW  

For nearly 25 years, Debra “Deb” Cardozo has been a steady and compassionate presence in EMS telecommunications. As a dedicated dispatcher for American Medical Response (AMR), she plays a crucial role in coordinating emergency medical services in Colorado Spring and Pueblo, ensuring that help reaches those who need it most.   Deb’s journey in public service began in healthcare. Her early experiences as a NICU unit secretary and phlebotomist gave her firsthand insight into patient care. In 1997, she pursued EMT training, but when her mother’s health declined, she shifted paths. It was a chance encounter with a former instructor in 2000 that led her to apply for a dispatcher position with AMR. It was a decision that changed her life.   Since then, Deb has been the calm voice in moments of crisis, ensuring seamless coordination between EMS teams and the communities they serve. One of the defining moments of her career came in 2017, during an active shooter incident at an apartment complex. With multiple crews on scene, her precise communication and quick thinking helped keep EMS personnel safe. Her dedication to teamwork and coordination exemplifies the critical role public safety telecommunicators play in emergency responses.   Beyond her role as a dispatcher, Deb is a proud mom to her daughter Chelsea, grandmother of two and a member of the AMR Colorado Honor Guard, a position she has held since 2012. As a member of the Honor Guard, she pays tribute to fallen EMS professionals and represents the value of service and commitment that defines her career.   When asked what keeps her motivated, Deb emphasizes the importance of relationships in EMS. “This field is a family,” she says. “Building and maintaining relationships in EMS are essential to working in this field, and those relationships can be lifelong and serve as a family away from home for so many first responders.” She believes the qualities that are essential for an EMS public safety telecommunicator are patience, empathy, quick thinking, being detail-oriented, empowerment, respect, dedication, knowledgeable, adaptable and consistency. All of these qualities have helped her as a dispatcher to deliver the right care to the right patient, at the right time.   As she approaches her 25-year anniversary at AMR in June 2025, Deb continues to be an invaluable member of the EMS community. Her unwavering dedication, resilience and passion for service makes her a true hero behind the scenes.  This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we recognize and celebrate Deb and all the dispatchers who serve as the critical link between emergencies and lifesaving response. Thank you for your service, Deb!  https://ow.ly/1k7S50VyWMX #OneTeam #EMSforLife #NPSTW 

This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we’re celebrating the incredible professionals behind the scenes who ensure help arrives when it’s needed most.  Meet Artis Walker, a dedicated communications assistant supervisor at Lifecomm Dispatch in Birmingham, Alabama. With more than four years of experience at Lifeguard Ambulance Service, a GMR solution, Artis plays a crucial role in coordinating emergency responses – day and night.   For Artis, helping others is in his DNA. He thrives in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of EMS, where no two days or calls are the same. He enjoys having a sense of purpose, which is the leading force that motivates him in the work he does as an emergency medical dispatcher.   Another aspect he loves most about his job is the teamwork and camaraderie. He works with a great group of telecommunicators every day, and the relationships and bonds they have built go farther than the communication center.   “The individuals I work with not only challenge me to be a better dispatcher but also a better person in life, and I truly appreciate each one of them for that,” states Artis.   One of his most memorable moments where communication played a role in facilitating a positive outcome was during a shift when a fellow dispatcher was handling a cardiac arrest call. While signaling Artis to quickly step in to assist the distraught 911 caller, they were able to provide clear CPR instructions and helped save the life of a teenage girl before emergency crews arrived. He gives credit to the seamless teamwork and communication they established amongst each other, which in return ended up being his first CPR save that day.   For those considering a career in public safety telecommunications, Artis offers this advice: “This is one the most rewarding career opportunities. Go in with an open mind and be ready to work as part of a team, because every day we go in, we rely on each other.”  Artis and his team are the calm voices in the chaos, guiding help where it’s needed most. Thank you, Artis, for your dedication to public safety!  #OneTeam #NPSTW  

Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week! We celebrate and recognize our incredible teams behind the scenes – our GMR family of dispatchers and communication specialists! These dedicated professionals are the first, first responders, working tirelessly to answer calls, coordinate responses and ensure help arrives when it’s needed most. Their calm voices guide our teams in the field and provide reassurance to those on their worst days. To our unseen heroes, thank you for your commitment, compassion and unwavering service. You are the heartbeat of emergency response, and we couldn’t do it without you! 💙 #NPSTW #OneTeam

We are proud to partner with the city of Evansville in launching the 911 Nurse Navigation Program – making Evansville the first emergency medical services (EMS) provider in Indiana to implement this innovative approach. This program represents a major step forward in enhancing emergency response services and ensuring residents receive the right care at the right time. We are eager to see the positive impact this will have for the Evansville community. AMR and Evansville Fire Department joint medical director Dr. Matt Gilbert shares, "By integrating the Nurse Navigation program, we are improving access to care, reducing unnecessary emergency department visits and ambulance transports and enhancing EMS system efficiency. This initiative lowers costs for patients and allows first responders to remain available for true medical emergencies." #Evansville911NurseNavigation #OneTeam https://lnkd.in/gTNr4rY9

This Stress Awareness Month, we want to remind our GMR family that your well-being matters. Through our GMR Life program, we’re committed to providing the education, resources and support you need to navigate stress, build resilience and take care of yourself and your loved ones. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, please check out the resources available through GMR Life – because taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of others. https://ow.ly/bPe250VrUmG #OneTeam #GMRLife

Happy #NationalDoctorsDay! We deeply appreciate all physicians, especially those within the GMR family, for their exceptional commitment to delivering care in our communities.

We are proud to announce that our Lifeguard Ambulance Service - Florence, Alabama team has earned the Alabama State Critical Care certification, the highest level of EMS certification in the state! Lifeguard is one of 14 ground EMS agencies in Alabama and the first in Lauderdale County to earn this distinction. We are thankful to our teams for setting the standard for EMS care and continuing to support our communities with top-tier service. "By earning the State Critical Care certificate, our first responders are able to treat higher acuity conditions in the field, such as severe cardiac events and traumatic injuries," said Patrick Sartain, operations manager for Lifeguard. “Enhancing our capabilities will allow us the opportunity for increased specialized care and positive patient outcomes.” #OneTeam https://lnkd.in/g2fcJ4X7