LARGO, Fla. (Dec. 20, 2018) – Nine Sunstar Paramedics employees have been recognized by Pinellas County HCA Hospitals with the annual EMS All-Star awards, which are presented to emergency medical services (EMS) professionals who have demonstrated a commitment to quality patient care and expertise in their field.
Paramedics Matthew Caravona, Dana Shultz and Scott Malcom were recognized for their outstanding professionalism and dedication to exceptional patient care. They act as mentors to fellow employees, while being dedicated to the growth and development of EMS as a profession. Caravona was also recognized for financially assisting a patient by paying his electric bill so the patient wouldn’t suffer from a heart related health issue.
Sunstar Paramedics emergency medical technician (EMT) Michael Cornelius was honored for his extraordinary patient compassion and professionalism with hospital providers and other first responders, and for setting an example as a role model to new employees.
Magdalene Thomas and Casey Lee Black, emergency dispatchers who work in Sunstar Paramedics’ Communications Center, were recognized for assisting emergency callers in a professional and respectful demeanor. Black was also recognized for his role as a medical radio operator, which connects on-duty paramedics to the on-call physicians when they request orders for certain procedures. He also works as the primary dispatch operator, which controls all of the ambulances that are on shift and decides where to place the ambulances within Pinellas County with the help of computer technology
Debra Dunbar, assistant supervisor of Sunstar Paramedics’ basic life support (BLS) program, was also honored for her dedication to the EMS profession. Dunbar oversees 40 employees and assists with the training classes for EMTs who are new to the workforce. She works to ensure all EMTs in the program fully understand their roles and monitors their skills testing. On a daily basis she checks on and assists her crews in the field, and provides essential feedback to help them continually grow in their profession. Dunbar also participates in various Sunstar Paramedics community events.
About Sunstar Paramedics:
Sunstar is the 911 ambulance transport service for all Pinellas County residents, employing 725
local residents, and responding to around 520 calls a day. Highly awarded and accredited, Sunstar utilizes state-of-the-art equipment and software, and (along with parent company PatientCare) is an innovator of the industry’s best practices. Sunstar’s people are heavily involved in Pinellas communities, focusing largely on public safety programs for the public and for schools. Sunstar is also a recipient of the Florida Governor’s Sterling Award, the state’s most prestigious award recognizing “role models for organizational performance excellence.” More info at SunstarEMS.com.