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All-Hazards Disaster Response Focus
When It Comes to Patient Care,

Check Your Collective Enthusiasm at Century Ambulance Service

BY CAROL NEWMAN
Recently, I went scuba every month. Again, they
diving for the first time. take their jobs seriously, For nearly a decade, Floridians watched hurricane
My son and I headed lives depend on it, but seasons come and go without a threat. Since 2016,
down to Key Largo for they also are building a Florida was affected by Hurricanes Hermine, Matthew,
the day to complete the great culture. This same Irma, Maria, Nate, Michael, and countless wildfires,
Discover Scuba Diving approach can be applied floods, and tornadoes. With a renewed focus on Disaster
course. I must tell you, to patient care. It’s been Preparedness, Century Ambulance formalized a
it was a great day. Not said before, your patients Disaster Response Team to aid local responders during
just because I got to will NEVER be happier all disasters, not just hurricanes. During these disasters,
experience something than the staff who serves healthcare facilities and local fire rescue departments
new with my 18-year- them. Once you get past regularly call on Century to send strike teams of ambu-
old, but because of how qualifications, why lances to aid in healthcare facility evacuations, so they
impressed I was with wouldn’t you look at can focus on other response efforts throughout their Leigh Cowan
the dive operation. The BY JAY JUFFRE how someone fits into jurisdictions.
staff made the day the culture you are trying Century’s Disaster Response Team is comprised of seasoned veterans and emer-
incredible. to create. For example, gency management professionals who have extensive deployment experience and reg-
Although they take instruction and one organization utilizes the Five E’s as ularly respond to statewide mutual aid requests and requests from the Federal
safety very seriously, they balance it part of their process (Enthusiasm, Eye Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The team is led by Leigh Cowan, Century’s
with a contagious, professional energy contact, Ear to ear smile, Engaging and Special Projects Manager, who holds a Master’s in Florida Studies (Emergency
which permeates throughout the entire looking to always Educate). At the end Management), coordinated the State of Florida West Coast Incident Management
organization. This is not by accident. of the day, build your team for long Team from 2016-2018, and is a Florida Emergency Preparedness Association
The owners look for people who know term success, create a culture where Associate Emergency Manager. All team members are vetted through an application
their stuff and are positive people. A both employees and patients want to process to ensure they have the proper Incident Command System training (online
smile is part of their uniform. A person stay because the collective enthusiasm and in-class), relevant experience, and organizational support to ensure the strike
could be the most competent scuba and passion for what they do is conta- team can deliver a premier response to the requesting agency. Additionally, they are
instructor in the country but if they gious. supported by a command center located in Jacksonville, Florida, to coordinate their
can not bring a positive disposition to deployment so they can focus on the mission.
the interview process, forget it. In addi- Jay Juffre is Executive Vice President, The year 2019 promises even more training opportunities and a dedication toward
tion, folks are beating down their door ImageFIRST. For more information on continual improvement by expanding the Century team’s All-Hazard capabilities.
to be employed there. For example, ImageFIRST, call 1-800-932-7472 or visit Century stands ready to respond to any of Florida’s disasters including wildfires,
their unpaid internship program gets www.imagefirst.com. floods, active shooters, tornadoes, and general healthcare facility evacuations.
literally thousands of applications
To learn more about Century’s Disaster Response Team and its capabilities, please email
leigh.cowan@centuryamb.com or call (727) 418-0708.

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8 April 2019 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News