The mission of the EMS 10 Innovators in EMS program is simple but powerful: Find some of the best innovators in the EMS industry and alert the EMS community to their achievements of the previous year to help providers and patients in the future. The EMS 10 Innovators in EMS program, jointly sponsored by Physio-Control and JEMS, has gained in popularity of the five years since it was introduced to the EMS community. The reason is simple: EMS leaders want to hear about the programs that other EMS leaders and innovators have developed and implemented that are making a true difference in education, operation, prevention or clinical practice.
The selection committee chose this year’s honorees after careful review of their hard work, dedication and selfless efforts in 2011. Most importantly, the candidates were all nominated by their peers and providers who recognized the true value of their work and contributions to EMS.
We profile each honoree in this special supplement to JEMS to not only inform and educate you on their innovative work in EMS, but also to encourage you to ride on the wave of their innovations, use them to better develop your EMS system and inspire you and your colleagues to think outside the box, take some calculated risks and innovate in an area of EMS that you feel could make a difference for patients, EMS systems or your prehospital colleagues.
A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P, is editor-in-chief of JEMS. Contact him via e-mail at a.j.heightman@elsevier.com.