“Extraordinary people, extraordinary service” is the theme being used by North Fulton Regional Hospital during the 34th annual National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, May 20-26. The week-long celebration pays tribute to the exceptional service provided to countless patients every day by EMS workers in their community, often under incredibly challenging circumstances. This national event brings together local communities, medical personnel and hospitals to not only encourage safety, but also to honor the dedication of thousands of people who, as first responders to medical emergencies, dedicate their lives to providing critical, lifesaving services in their communities.
In 2004, there were more than 110 million visits made to emergency departments across the country, and more than 16 million of those patients arrived by ambulance. EMS providers respond to calls for assistance and medical care outside of a hospital or medical office setting, including medical emergencies such as heart attack, stroke and drug overdose, in addition to providing both basic and advanced medical care at the scene of an emergency and en route to a hospital.
“The emergency department is an essential part of our hospital and a critical part of our community,” said Joe Austin, CEO of North Fulton Regional Hospital. “Residents rely on the EMS system and its trained professionals to quickly arrive, assess, treat and transport them safely to the closest ED. I want to thank all of the EMS workers who have made it their life’s work to care for us during our most difficult times.”
“The EMS system is so much more than an ambulance service,” said Joan Birzes, Director of the Emergency Department at North Fulton Regional Hospital. “These individuals have incredible heart and compassion, and we’re proud to take this opportunity to show them how much we appreciate their dedication. They truly are part of the North Fulton Regional Hospital team.”
As part of North Fulton Regional Hospital’s 2007 National EMS Week celebration, the hospital intends to make special appreciation visits to local EMS facilities, provide give away items and host an educational program over lunch in the classrooms of the hospital. National EMS Week is organized and promoted annually by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
North Fulton Regional Hospital (NFRH), part of Tenet Georgia, is a 167-bed, acute-care hospital located on Highway 9, Alpharetta Highway, in Roswell. Opened in 1983, NFRH serves North Fulton and surrounding counties through its team of over 1000 employees, 400 staff physicians and 200 volunteers. NFRH is a state-designated Level II trauma center and provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. The hospital is fully accredited and also is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
To learn more about North Fulton Regional Hospital, visit www.northfultonregional.com or call us at 770-751-2500.