Bureau of EMS Annual Awards

Annually the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, presents awards in several categories. These awards are presented at the New York State EMS Conference, Vital Signs each year.

New York State EMS Annual Awards Rules and Regulations

Applications for individual or team achievement awards shall be based on a pattern of activities that have culminated in a significant improvement of Emergency Medical Services in the community. Applications for individual or team heroism shall be based on a single unusual event that was beyond ordinary duty. All nominees, in both achievement and heroism categories, must be affiliated with a NYS EMS agency. Agencies must possess a current and valid ID code as an ambulance service or first response service. Individuals must be credentialed to practice within NY State.

In order to be considered, each application must be clearly and completely documented to include time, place and description of event including names of all involved. All patient references must be HIPPA compliant. Applications for a pattern of activities must include details of activities, dates and descriptions of the individual's impact on the EMS community. Applications recognizing a single event must be based on that event occurring in the previous calendar year.

All applications for the New York State EMS Annual Awards must be submitted by the region using the application below or in essay format. The preferred method of submission is PDF format and emailed to valerie.ozga@health.ny.gov. Essay's may not to exceed 1,000 words. All essay submissions must be in an electronic format using a 12 point New Times Roman font; double spaced with 1 inch margins. Supplemental attachments also in PDF format will be accepted. All materials submitted will become the property of the State of New York and cannot be returned and may be used in subsequent public announcements.

Each application for an award will ONLY be considered in one category. Applications submitted for more than one category will be automatically rejected. There are ten categories of awards; only one application may be submitted to the State by an EMS Region in each of the ten categories. All nominations submitted must be signed by the Regional EMS Council Chair and postmarked or e-mailed no later than July 1 of each year to be considered by the NYS DOH, Bureau of EMS and the Public Information, Education and Relations Committee.

The PIER Committee, assisting the NYS DOH, Bureau of EMS, will select a single candidate in each category who will be recognized at the Annual New York State EMS Conference, Vital Signs.

Awards are presented as follows:

Basic Life Support Provider of the Year

Criteria:

Contributions by an individual to the community as a Certified First Responder (CFR) or as an EMT-Basic (EMT-B). For dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment.

Eligibility:

NYS certified CFR or EMT-B

Advanced Life Support Provider of the Year

Criteria:

Contributions by an individual to the community as an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate (EMT-I),EMT-Critical Care Technician (EMT-CC) or Paramedic (EMT-P). For dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment.

Eligibility:

NYS certified EMT-I, EMT-CC, EMT-P.

EMS Agency of the Year

Criteria:

Any agency which strives for consistency in EMS excellence and exhibits exemplary performance when providing or supporting prehospital emergency medical care.

Eligibility:

NYS EMS agency that includes, but is not limited to, an ambulance service, ALSFR or BLSFR participating in their local EMS System.

Youth Provider of the Year

Criteria:

Contributions by an individual to the community as a certified first responder (CFR) or First Aid certified. For dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS community.

Eligibility:

NYS certified CFR or First Aid certified and affiliated with a first response agency (fire, EMS, police).

Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award

Criteria:

Longevity, innovation/dedication, responsibility, executive and management skills in establishing, maintaining, promoting or expanding EMS organizations, agencies, committees at the community and/or state level.

Eligibility:

EMS Agency leader; local, county, regional, state EMS leader; medical/nursing/or career EMS leader.

EMS Educator of Excellence

Criteria:

Individual who through outstanding teaching, educational administration/coordination, publication or research has significantly improved prehospital services at the local, county, regional or state level.

Eligibility:

EMS educator or equivalent.

EMS Communications Specialist of the Year

Criteria:

Contributions to the EMS community as a call receiving operator, dispatcher or call taker. Dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, or special skill or insight to prehospital communications.

Eligibility:

Employee or volunteer with an organized dispatch center in New York State.

Registered Nurse of Excellence

Criteria:

Contributions to the EMS community as a NYS Registered Professional Nurse. Dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the prehospital environment.

Eligibility:

NYS licensed registered nurse serving the EMS System.

Physician of Excellence

Criteria:

Contributions to the EMS community as a physician. Dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, special skill or insight in the prehospital environment.

Eligibility:

NYS licensed physician serving an EMS system

Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety

Criteria:

The service must have implemented a practice or made a significant contribution that enhances the focus on the delivery of EMS in the community.

The practice should lead to a measurable and sustained improvement in EMS provider safety, patient care quality and effectiveness, or efficiency of EMS Response or resource deployment.

The application must include a program description, the methodology used to achieve change, a description of the outcomes and lessons learned that provide insight in to what it takes to accomplish and sustain a successful change.

(Two honorable mention awards will also be selected.)

Eligibility:

Applicant is a NYS based EMS service or individual provider.

Commissioner of Health's Award of Excellence in EMS Activities*

Criteria:

Exceptional contribution to EMS activities by an individual in any way.

Eligibility:

May be nominated for any other award in the same year. Need not be nominated by a regional council. This award may not be given every year. The Commissioner of Health will determine the process of selection.

*Selection for this award will be made by the Commissioner. Nominations are welcome. Must be postmarked by July 1. Please send nominations to: