2022 Hooley Awards Winners Announced at ImageTrend Connect

To recognize those who are serving in a new or innovative way to meet the needs of their organization, including developing programs or solutions to benefit providers, administrators, or the community. 

Winner: Captain Brandon Grinstead, Orange County Fire Authority, Data-Driven Solutions to Transport Decisions in Hypoxic Patients 

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) EMS Staff Captain Paramedic Brandon Grinstead combated the uncertainty of the pandemic with data. As case counts sky-rocketed and available EMS staff plummeted, delivering quality care became more important than ever. The local Base Hospitals and ERCs began to bombard the Agency with complaints about transport decisions of hypoxic patients.  

Utilizing various data points from ImageTrend Elite™, Captain Grinstead identified metrics that would improve patient care within the EMS system. He—along with his Medical Director and team of CQI RNs—developed a mutually agreeable definition of hypoxia and guidelines for the transport of these hypoxic patients. Once this data-driven standard was identified, it was communicated and deployed to field. After initiating the change, it was closely monitored to hold the change. In a two-month period, OCFA went from 52% compliance to 96% with hypoxia transport decisions. 

Finalists: 

• Captain Anthony Maro, Collier EMS Training Department, Collier County EMS, Tracking Social Service Needs in the Community 
• Captain Brandon Grinstead, Orange County Fire Authority, Data-Driven Solutions to Transport Decisions in Hypoxic Patients 
• Chief Frank Simone, North Las Vegas Fire Department, Positive and Proactive Changes through Data

To recognize those that are going above and beyond the call of duty and breaking new ground or serving in a humanitarian way. 

Winner: Peggy Huddleston, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Mass Casualty Patient Log Worksheet and MO Mass Incident Deployment Form Incorporated into ImageTrend Elite 

To better address unfortunate mass casualty incidents, the need arose for a tracking system to assist in the field. A mass casualty worksheet was created in ImageTrend Elite to make it possible for the emergency personnel to document each patient involved in the mass casualty incident with the pertinent information needed for treatment and tracking. This also allows for the ePCR to be synced with the ImageTrend TCD Trauma Patient Registry for the hospital staff to have access to the pre-hospital information. Transmitting the information to ImageTrend Patient Registry™ allows hospitals access to any pre-hospital information that was gathered at the repatriation site or any other mass incident location. 

Finalists: 

• Peggy Huddleston, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Mass Casualty Patient Log Worksheet and MO Mass Incident Deployment Form Incorporated into ImageTrend Elite 
• St. Paul Fire Department, Preventing Firefighter Cancer with a Sauna 
• Nashville Fire Department, Responding to Calls Faster with Mini-Ambulances

Considers how data is being used to further the safety of their community or reach community goals, and acknowledges the fact that data is boundless and can be used in any number of ways for the benefit of society. 

Winner: Timothy Seplaki, New Jersey Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services, Excellence in Innovation Caring for Providers and Patients  

Timothy Seplaki serves the community daily through his work to end the Opioid Epidemic. Throughout his career in EMS and his work at the New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services, Tim noticed many EMS providers do not have the resources or take the time to talk to patients who overdosed about treatment options. After identifying this serious gap in resources and ability to provide treatment options, Tim identified critical partners and, through a collaborative effort, created the Five Minutes to Help program. This is a training that gives important information to EMS providers about ending the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) and teaches them how to connect patients to recovery resources. 

Finalists: 

• Michael Scadden, Idaho Falls Fire Department, TRUSTing a Peer Support Team 
• Timothy Seplaki, New Jersey Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services, Excellence in Innovation Caring for Providers and Patients 
• Michael Poynter, Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, Camp Hero