CoxHealth EMS named Emergency Medical Service of the Year

CoxHealth EMS has been named Emergency Medical Service of the Year by the Missouri Emergency Medical Services Association (MEMSA).

The Emergency Medical Service of the Year award recognizes organizations that have made significant contributions to high quality EMS and whose ongoing efforts that have improved patient outcomes in the pre-hospital, transportation or emergency department phases of care.

“These awards are a recognition of what frontline people are doing for the community,” said MEMSA board member Jason White. White presented the award in a brief ceremony at Cox South on Oct. 7. “This award recognizes the finest Missouri has to offer.”

Several efforts set Cox EMS apart in this year’s judging, including:

• Developing one of the first community paramedic programs in Missouri. White noted that Cox EMS has played a key role in CoxHealth’s COVID-19 response.
• Operating a centralized dispatch center that provides coordinated emergency dispatch.
• Successfully implementing Just Culture, an approach that designs safe systems and holds everyone accountable for patient safety.

MEMSA’s awards are based on community nominations from across Missouri’s more than 200 ambulance services. Honorees are determined through a process identified by MEMSA Board of Directors and the awards chairperson. Nominees are scored in areas ranging from community involvement and support to contributions to local and state EMS.