When it matters most, our Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team is there for our patients wherever they call home. 

During National EMS Week, we want to thank our trained EMS workers – drivers, EMTs and paramedics – for their unwavering dedication to supporting our mission. 

This year’s theme is “Improving Outcomes, Together,” highlighting the importance of teamwork, workforce well-being, community engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration. 

Our EMS clinicians bring advanced skills and innovative tools as our patients and their loved ones navigate life’s most precious moments.  

“In EMS, we are taught to treat and save our patients,” said Steve Chance, one of our paramedics with Innovative Care Solutions (ICS). He served as a 911 EMT and also worked for private ambulance services. “With hospice patients being DNR-CC, (do not resuscitate-comfort care) we strive to achieve as much comfort care that we can provide for both the patient and family members.” 

Brandon Bragg, a paramedic with Ohio’s Hospice since ICS began, said being able to slow down and get to know patients is one of the great perks of his job. 

“It’s more about taking your time,” he said. “You can really show some compassionate care. You actually sit down with somebody for half an hour. I know it kind of sounds corny. You get to hear their stories. I’ve talked to war heroes. I’ve talked to doctors. I talked to teachers, nurses. You really just get to experience that human life just actually sitting down and getting those connections with the people.” 

Those connections are meaningful for Steve and other members of ICS. 

“Many times, I have developed a very close relationship with the patients and the families, which just does not happen with 911 or private ambulance transports,” he said. “It’s more rewarding beyond how I can say.” 

Tionda Scott, director of transportation, found it easy to describe our EMS. 

“It is an honor to work alongside this team that remains calm in the chaos, shows empathy and compassion when needed the most and their continued unwavering dedication to providing superior care and services to our patients and families,” she said.  

Having our own transport also allows us to provide superior care and superior services in unique ways. Brandon said ICS and our EMTs were able to unite a husband and wife shortly before the husband died.  

According to Brandon, the patient’s wife was bedbound while the patient himself was in an extended-care facility.  

“They had us pick her up to take her to see her husband,” Brandon said. “She came in, we put her face to face with a cot next to his bed. She could barely move her hand [but] she got her hand near him and told him she was here. That man reached out, grabbed her hand, and he held her hand for less than an hour.” 

Prior to his wife arriving, Brandon said the husband didn’t move. 

“But he heard her voice say that she was there and he reached out for her,” Brandon said. “That was amazing to me. Seeing stuff like that is impactful.” 

Meaningful moments like that are emblematic of our mission of Celebrating Life’s Stories^®. 

“The last three years have actually been the highlight of my EMS career,” Steve said, “One of the things I have tried to remind my fellow workers is that working for Ohio’s Hospice is not just a job; working for Hospice is a profession.” 

If you are interested in joining the transport team with Innovative Care Solutions, you can search for open positions at www.OhiosHospice.org/Careers.  

Thank you to all the EMTs, drivers and paramedics that are part of our Mobile Care Unit!