The Tennessee Ambulance Service Affiliation honored Robbie Tester, senior director of LIFE FORCE, Erlanger Regional Operations Heart and Erlanger Emergency Administration with the John Bond EMS Administrator of the 12 months award at their annual convention Wednesday.

“Over the previous 12 months, we have now seen first-hand how essential sturdy leaders are to healthcare, particularly emergency conditions,” stated Erlanger Chief Government Officer, the Dr William Jackson. “At Erlanger, we’re privileged to have Robbie, a devoted supervisor, who guides our distinctive groups at LIFE FORCE, EROC and Emergency Administration. Its dedication to prioritizing our high quality, security and total operational excellence is unmatched. ”

Mr. Tester obtained the John Bond EMS Administrator of the 12 months award in recognition of his vital contributions to EMS administration. As an worker of Erlanger Well being System for 21 years, Mr. Tester has held a myriad of managerial positions. He presently leads a staff of over 100 individuals in quite a lot of EMS roles and capabilities. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Mr. Tester’s function included a place on the emergency administration staff guiding the well being system, working with group leaders and coordinating with different well being programs to create a unified response targeted on group safety and entry to well being care.

Mr. Tester first joined Erlanger as Chief of Emergency Medical Companies and was chargeable for the EMS floor part of the healthcare system. Following his dream of flying as a paramedic, he utilized for the primary free flight paramedic place in 11 years. He remained on this place full time till he accepted a management function as Director of the Medical Crew. He continued to guide the LIFE FORCE program with growing duties as a LIFE FORCE administrator, then in his present place as Senior Director.

Beneath Mr. Tester’s management, the LIFE FORCE program has cast a powerful partnership with Med-Trans Company, increasing its footprint from two to 6 full-time helicopter bases serving over 60 counties, creating a regional operations middle, new companies similar to essential care response autos, occasion drugs and extra particular operations. As Senior Director of LIFE FORCE Air Medical, EROC and Emergency Administration, his duties embrace oversight of the air medical service, catastrophe response administration each inside and regional, the particular operations staff Erlanger Regional, Occasion Drugs, College of Tennessee Faculty of Drugs at Chattanooga. affiliate professor the place he facilitates and coordinates coaching for the EMS scholarship program and plenty of different prehospital operations.

Mr. Tester not too long ago obtained the Affiliation of Air Medical Companies Transportation Management Excellence Award, recognizing him as a senior transportation chief. Final 12 months, he was nominated within the native Crimson Cross Heroes Awards for his contributions, service and management throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Erlanger’s aerial medical program, LIFE FORCE, has six helicopter bases: Winchester, Tennessee, Sparta, Tennessee, Cleveland, Tennessee, Andrews, North Carolina, Blue Ridge, Georgia and Calhoun, Georgia. The crew consists of a pilot, flight attendant and flight paramedic at every base who present on-site and in-flight intensive care similar to trauma companies, cardiac and mind procedures, superior pediatric care and high-risk labor and supply companies to sufferers within the helicopter. This system help staff additionally consists of communications specialists, aviation and upkeep technicians, and a coaching, outreach and management staff.