| Throughout the course of history, men
and women have been singled out and recognized for their
outstanding contributions to society and the positive
impact they have made on their fellow citizens. These
dedicated few are praised as heroes and honored for
their efforts. Career emergency medicine professionals
know only too well the impact they can have on the lives
of a person in need. This noble profession allows us
to bring compassion and comfort to others at the most
critical of times. It is these efforts and the unique
abilities of pre-hospital care providers throughout
this City that have allowed our Department to be recognized
as the best EMS system in the country. As the ranking
EMS Chief officer in the Department, I take great pride
in the men and women of the EMS Command and members
of the participating voluntary hospitals who, despite
difficult conditions, fulfill the needs of the EMS system
through delivery of prompt and professional pre-hospital
medical care at more than 3000 assignments a day. Currently,
even with the recent demand on our system from heat-related
emergencies and record-high call volume, response time
is at an all-time low and more resources are available
to citizens and visitors of the City of New York than
ever before. We all can stand proud of our accomplishments.
Today, we come together to honor these EMS professionals
who, through their own personal commitment to excellence,
have been singled out for their contributions to society
and the EMS system in which they work. As you read about
their actions in this booklet, you will see these medal
recipients exemplify the highest levels of skill and
dedication to the EMS profession. Through personal sacrifice
and, in some cases, grave danger to their own well-being,
these members have stepped beyond the call of duty and
have employed their skills to accomplish their mission
under great adversity. I have the highest respect for
the job they perform, day in and day out. I take this
occasion to thank every member of the EMS Command as
we congratulate this year’s medal recipients. It
is their efforts that define the paramount concern of
all EMS professionals--patient care above all else!
I am honored to be a part of today’s ceremonies.
As we look forward to the new millennium, please join
me in re-affirming our personal commitment to excellence
and patient care.
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