Charles P. Burnell, M.D., has been named lead medical director of Acadian Companies. As medical director, Dr. Burnell will lead Acadian’s team of nationally registered EMT-basics and EMT-paramedics while continuing to steward Acadian’s patient care and utilization of cutting-edge technology.
Dr. Burnell, a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Medicine, is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine. He spent the last 13 years at Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he is the emergency department director.
Dr. Burnell has worked closely with Acadian over the past 16 years, including during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina where he served as the director of air transports of patients from the Superdome. “I’ve been involved with multiple ambulance companies throughout my career,” said Dr. Burnell, “but from a medical delivery of care standpoint, Acadian has conveyed a solid clinical group of people throughout our interactions over the years. I have always been impressed with how professional and polished Acadian medics are and the passion they embody during their transports in the field.”
“Dr. Burnell is an excellent choice for this position,” said Acadian CEO Richard Zuschlag. “He has been a trusted partner in the past and his combined experience, training, and leadership skills will help Acadian continue to ensure the highest level of patient care.”
Dr. Burnell’s responsibilities will be to review on-scene medical procedures and procedures between medics and emergency room physicians. He will oversee training and continuing education programs at the National EMS Academy, as well as Acadian’s wellness and quality enhancement programs. Dr. Burnell will serve as lead over other associate medical directors across Acadian’s service areas, which span three states.
“You can tell that these medics enjoy their jobs and are proud to work for Acadian,” said Dr. Burnell. “I look forward to joining a company that has seen such growth and progress. Together, I know we can continue to grow and provide our patients with the highest level of care possible.”
Acadian Ambulance Service, one of the many companies that make up the family of Acadian Companies, is one of only 137 nationally accredited ambulance services in the world. Established in Louisiana in 1971, Acadian provides innovative emergency and non-emergency medical services to hundreds of metropolitan and rural communities in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Employee owned, Acadian has earned the ambulance industry’s highest gold-standard seal of approval from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services.