Acadian honors top medics

Staff report
Acadian Ambulance held its annual luncheon Wednesday to recognize its paramedics and EMTs.
From the 18 finalists nominated by their peers, Paramedic Oliver Quinn and EMT Abby Etheridge have been chosen as the 2015 winners.
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, native Oliver Quinn joined Acadian in 2009, starting as an EMT in the Eunice and Church Point, Louisiana, area, before undergoing the accelerated paramedic program at Acadian’s National EMS Academy. After working as a paramedic and critical care transport paramedic, Quinn served as an Air Med alternate flight paramedic before being assigned to Air Med 1 in Lafayette. He was recently promoted to the position of Acadian Air Med quality improvement coordinator, where he mentors and coaches field personnel, evaluates medical performance and promotes the behavioral safety process. “I never imagined I would be that person up on stage. It’s a reflection to the people who have helped me along the way,” Quinn said.
Rapides Parish native Abby Etheridge represents the Central Louisiana region, covering Rapides, Avoyelles, Evangeline, Allen, Beauregard and Vernon parishes. Etheridge has proven herself to be an outstanding EMT, preceptor and AllSafe driving coach by being dependable and dedicated to Acadian. She is also a graduate of the National EMS Academy and hopes to continue her education by becoming a paramedic.
“From friends and family to partners, supervisors, NEMSA faculty members and preceptors, it really does take a village, a team, a family to make what we do possible,” Etheridge said.
State Sen. Fred Mills Jr., served again this year as master of ceremonies, and Robert O’Neill, team leader of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, was the keynote speaker. A highly trained Navy SEAL, O’Neill led the military’s most elite teams and was involved in more than 400 combat missions in four theaters of war. O’Neill brings a unique expertise to organizations and translates his elite SEAL team training into insights on leadership, decision-making, operating in uncertain environments, and how to become the ‘best of the best.’
Acadian CEO and Chairman Richard Zuschlag thanked the entire Acadian team for remaining dedicated to the company’s mission. “We are successful because of our outstanding medics who put patient care first and excellence ahead of anything else.
“I am also grateful for every one of our 4,000 employee-owners, who work so hard to help the communities we serve,” Zuschlag said.
The luncheon again coincides with National EMS Week, which brings together local communities and medical personnel to publicize safety and honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s “front line.” Acadian Ambulance is an emergency and non-emergency medical transportation provider to Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.EMTs learn the essential skills to help in life-threatening situations.
Paramedics are advanced providers of emergency medical care and are highly educated in topics such as anatomy and physiology, cardiology, medications, and medical procedures.
They build on their EMT education and learn more skills such as administering medications, starting intravenous lines, providing advanced airway management for patients, and learning to resuscitate and support patients with significant problems such as heart attacks and traumas.
Paramedics may work on ambulances, in industrial settings, and on medical flight transport teams. All Acadian EMTs and paramedics are certified by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians upon completion of their training.
Since 1971, Acadian has been committed to providing the highest level of emergency medical care and transportation possible. In the past decade the company has expanded to include a diverse suite of services designed to offer the very best support and education in health, safety, and transportation. Acadian’s six divisions are Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadian Monitoring Services, Air Med, Executive Aircraft Charter Service, National EMS Academy and Safety Management Systems.