News

Patrick Ring
Paramedic
Worcester EMS

Paramedic Ring has been a Worcester EMS paramedic for five years. During his time at WEMS, he has grown tremendously as a clinician and provider. He excels as a Field Training Officer and was recently selected to join the WEMS Tactical EMS group in support of the Massachusetts State Police. Paramedic Ring has been an EMS ambassador for our region while riding in the Fallen Angels Memorial Bike Ride. Most importantly, he is a dedicated and compassionate provider always seeking ways to hone his craft and improve his care. Paramedic Ring continues to make us proud every day and we are proud to have him as one of our 2021 Stars of Life.

Ronald Gigliotti
EMS Lieutenant
Worcester EMS

EMS Lt. Gigliotti is a decades-long EMS provider and a twenty-year veteran at Worcester EMS. His passion for patient care and caring for our providers is his outstanding attribute. He continually looks for ways to make things better for our patients and providers. He has been one of the driving forces on research around assaults on EMS providers and is a published author on EMS peer support and stress. Lt. Gigliotti is always there to lend a hand to help, a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. He exemplifies the role of an EMS mentor. He knows and writes the science without losing the hands-on touch of a caring provider. We are grateful for all that Lt. Gigliotti does for us and the patients we serve.

Ross Griffin
EMT & Field Training Officer
Armstrong Ambulance

EMT/Field Training Officer, Ross Griffin, has been working at Armstrong for over 5 years. Ross initially took an EMT course as part of his college curriculum for UMASS Lowell where he graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. Ross always knew he wanted to help people by interacting with them directly, and EMS was the perfect opportunity to gain experience with emergency responses.

As having a medical emergency or an ambulance transport is often a scary and confusing time for patients and family, Ross always provides a calm and competent environment to help put them at ease, provide stellar medical care and connect them with resources and help they need. Ross always explains every step along the way for treatments & transfers in order to help patients feel engaged and connected. Ross’ documentation is always detailed and complete as to promote good continuity of patient care as well as help with the billing process. When patients are settled at their destination, Ross always wishes them well and leaves them with encouragement to feel better or heal quickly. Ross always applies the “golden rule” when caring for his patients as if they were his own family members.

As Ross became a more senior EMT, he started noticing areas where he could assist new EMTs. Wanting to help educate and support his colleagues, Ross became a Field Training Officer where he helps train EMTS to provide the highest level of care and compassion while improving their clinical and operational skills. Their successes are Ross’ successes.

One of Ross’ colleagues said this about him: “I have worked with Ross for the past year. In that time, Ross has shown incredible commitment towards his duties as a FTO. His patience and attention to detail has prepared many EMTs for the road ahead. He always takes time to explain how to do every aspect of the job to new EMTs whether the call is a routine transfer or a trauma alert. I was especially impressed at how Ross went the extra mile during the pandemic in ensuring that all third riders were staying safe by teaching them proper techniques for donning and doffing PPE. Ross also took it upon himself to work at both COVID testing and vaccination sites. Ross’s commitment to the betterment of the next generation of EMS coupled with his skilled patient care is truly remarkable”.

Armstrong Ambulance is proud to name Ross as our 2021 Star of Life!

Shaun Churchill
Paramedic & Base Supervisor
Armstrong Ambulance

Paramedic Shaun Churchill started his EMS career in 1991. Throughout the years, Shaun worked BLS in Lawrence before he became a medic in 1995. Once a medic, Shaun worked in the north shore area for several years prior to becoming a Field Supervisor and eventually a Director of Operations for an EMS system in that region. Shaun has been a paramedic with Armstrong since 2018, and through his field shifts and work as a Base Supervisor, makes incredible impacts in one of Armstrong’s busiest 911 systems.

One particular call which highlights Shaun’s incredible clinical skill and intense scene management happened on Thursday, August 6th, 2020. Shaun was working in Saugus, MA when he was dispatched to assist with the transport of a psychologically impaired male.

As the ambulance was staged away from the scene, the Police requested the presence of the fire department to assist with gaining entry to the residence. Immediately upon forced entry, firefighters and police officers were met with a hostile male wielding a large knife and acting erratically. As the three officers attempted to restrain the suspect with minimal use of force, they were stabbed by the male, causing potentially life- threatening injuries to all of them. Within minutes, the patient compartment of Saugus Ambulance 2 was transitioned into a mobile emergency room. Using his training and experience, Shaun was able to reassess, further treat, obtain vital signs and stabilize all three police officer victims until additional ambulances arrived. Furthermore, Shaun was able to adequately triage the victims and provide a brief report to assist ambulance staff prior to transport of the patients. Subsequently, all three stabbing victims were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital along with a fourth officer for an evaluation.

All of the officers involved eventually were discharged from Mass General Hospital with positive clinical outcomes. These outcomes can be directly connected to the high level of clinical ability, acute skill set and the utmost professionalism exhibited by Shaun. Shaun is the epitome of a dedicated Paramedic who constantly utilizes incredible skill and judgement to benefit so many within our community.

When not on duty, Shaun enjoys hiking, kayaking spending time with his kids, cooking and photography.

Armstrong Ambulance is proud to call Shaun Churchill our 2021 Star of Life!

Lana Poirier
Paramedic
Trinity EMS

Lana Poirier started at Trinity EMS in September of 2019. She began her time with Trinity EMS as an advanced EMT and quickly obtained her paramedic license. Since then, she is always striving to better herself clinically and operationally whether it’s reviewing protocols with her peers or trying to learn more about the ICS system with the supervisors. Lana is also a strong employee advocate for Trinity always taking the time to encourage and teach new EMT’s and fellow new paramedics, treating her peers as family. Since joining Trinity, Lana has been an awesome addition to the Trinity Family and is top of the list when recruiting new EMT or Paramedics to come join our team.

One of her peers said, “Lana is a dedicated provider to every patient she encounters and we are lucky to have her!”.

Another said, “Lana provides excellent patient care and strives hard to be kind and better herself and fellow employees.”

Shawn Hunter, EMT-B
Education Manager
Trinity EMS

Shawn Hunter has been an EMT-B with Trinity EMS since 2016. Quickly moving up the ranks, Shawn became the Education Manager for Trinity in 2018. Shawn works tirelessly for Trinity, getting involved in all facets of the Operations and IT department. Shawn is the lead on many new projects within Trinity, including most recently, Trinity’s efforts in battling the COVID 19 pandemic. Shawn was the point person for all things COVID, making enormous sacrifices on keeping up with the ever changing (sometimes daily) regulations in EMS and informing the entire Trinity Family. Shawn followed up with all employees who had potential exposure as well as the contact tracing. He also leapt into the COVID 19 mobile testing sites and later the COVID 19 vaccination sites. Shawn continually goes above and beyond his day to day efforts to help all members of the Trinity family. One employee said, “Shawn has showed professionalism and displayed the highest quality of care to patients, employee and employee’s families during this pandemic”. Another said, “I’ve worked with Shawn for years and he is always looking for ways to improve the lives of those around him - whether work related or helping someone through a touch call they may have had.”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirement. Currently, interstates and freeways in Massachusetts utilize a sequential exit numbering method. MassDOT has committed to the implementation of mile-based with construction scheduled to begin late in the Summer of 2020. Download a flyer or read more at www.newmassexits.com.

Thank you to all member organizations who voted in the MAA elections. Your new board is:

• Dennis Cataldo
• John Chemaly
• Bill Mergendahl
• Patrick S. Tyler

Nominations are now open for the MAA Board of Directors. Nominations will be accepted until midnight on December 13, 2019.

Each company may make one nomination for a board member.

Voting will begin on December 14, 2019 and will end on December 31^st at 11:59 p.m.

ALL NOMINATIONS ARE TO BE EMAILED TO GENERAL COUNSEL AT ccifra@cgdllaw.com. 

The Massachusetts Department of Paid Family & Medical Leave has posted an announcement regarding the three month delay for the Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) employer contributions. 

It was announced earlier this week that the Governor, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House signed an agreement to delay the employer contributions that were supposed to start on July 1, 2019 until October 1, 2019. 

In the announcement they confirmed that there is a corresponding three month delay for an employer’s requirement to provide each employee with a Paid Family Medical Leave Notice.  Also, the announcement confirmed that the Department will increase the employer contribution rate from .63% to .75% of employee wages in order to ensure the delayed funding does not impact the ability to pay benefits starting next year. 

The announcement also stated that the final regulations will be posted to their website by June 17, 2019. 

Thank you to Scott Moore, Esq of Moore EMS Consulting for providing this update.