Wisconsin-based company ranked on list at No. 2897

Recently, Inc. magazine released their 36th annual Inc. 5000 list, the nation’s most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.  Aladtec, Inc. moved up 20 spots, moving from No. 2917 last year to No. 2897 this year. The company ranked No. 3197 in 2015. Only one in five businesses on the list achieve the accolade of appearing on the list three times.

The annual list highlights the most successful independent small businesses based on growth. Previous companies who are now household names first appeared as honorees on Inc. 5000 - including Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many others. Ranking number one this year is San Francisco based Skillz - a popular mobile-gaming platform.

Aladtec was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in River Falls, Wisconsin. They provide online employee scheduling and workforce management software solutions to over 1,900 organizations primarily within the Public Safety Sector.  Nearly 120,000 people use the system and a half-billion hours have been scheduled using Aladtec.

"We are extremely honored to be on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row,” states Aladtec Founder, and President, David Feyereisen.  “But we don't seek growth just for the sake of growth. We strive to provide the hometown heroes in Public Safety with the finest workforce management solution money can buy, at a price any department can afford. Our staff is dedicated to that goal and our continued growth is a result of that dedication.”

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin is pleased to announce the 2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life.  Each person was nominated by their local ambulance service, and will be presented with Stars of Life recognition and honors for their dedication and commitment.  The Stars of Life celebration is the most rewarding and exciting Wisconsin event in our field and is modeled after the American Ambulance Association's National Stars of Life.

2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life Honorees

Tami Aerts nominated by County Rescue Services

Chris Cuddy nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Christopher Dallas nominated by Valders Ambulance

Patrick Donoghue nominated by Bell Ambulance

Elizabeth Ferger-Olsen nominated by Paratech Ambulance Service

Angela Gonzalez nominated by Palmyra Public Safety Department

Jon Hagen nominated by Flight For Life

Paul Harrison nominated by Ryan Brothers Ambulance

Steve Hensley nominated by Tri-State Ambulance

Amanda Holtz nominated by Orange Cross Ambulance

Ryan Janus nominated by Bell Ambulance

Bob Kelter nominated by Baraboo EMS

David Krueger nominated by Grant EMS

Mary LaPorte nominated by Riverside Fire District 

Dr. Suzanne Martens nominated by Valders Ambulance

Lori McConochie nominated by Cambria Community Ambulance Service

David Mike nominated by Paratech Ambulance

Tyler Miller nominated by Tri-State Ambulance

Kenny Monteith nominated by Tri-State Regional Ambulance

Dan Morth nominated by Ellsworth Area Ambulance

Tom Pasch nominated by Ryan Brothers Ambulance

Brian Randall nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Russell Schafer nominated by Lodi Area EMS

Jeri Schiffman nominated by Tri-State Regional Ambulance

Sandra Steenweg nominated by Pickerel Rescue Squad

Bob Sternhagen (posthumous) nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Benjamin Waldera nominated by Divine Savior Healthcare EMS

Robert Whitton nominated by Paratech Ambulance Service

Mark Willer nominated by Baraboo EMS

The 2017 event will be the tenth time PAAW has proudly presented the Wisconsin Stars of Life program.  This special event recognizes and honors the dedication of ambulance service professionals - people that stand out in every area of our field.

Schedule of Events

2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees will be recognized at a series of events, to include a welcome reception, banquet dinner and awards program during the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference, Thursday, September 21, Green Bay, and sometime in October or November at the State Capitol, Madison.

One person from the group of 2017 honorees will be selected and advance to represent Wisconsin.  This individual will be recognized at the National Stars of Life program in Washington, D.C., June 11 to 13, 2018.  PAAW will provide a $750 travel voucher, and the American Ambulance Association Foundation will provide a grant for hotel and event registration fees for the Star, Star's guest, and host (employer).

>> Click for more on Wisconsin Stars of Life.

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was recorded live on August 8. 

Dana Sechler, EMS Director at Baraboo District Ambulance and PAAW Board of Director member, testified on August 2 during a public hearing before the legislative Assembly's Committee on Health at the State Capitol, Madison.

The public hearing regarded the three bills noted below.

Assembly Bill 310 relating to funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation.  >> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 311 relating to upgrading service levels for ambulances in rural areas.  >> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 356 relating to licensure or certificate renewal for certain emergency medical services personnel and ambulance service providers.  >> Click for Bill history.

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.

Wisconsin Stars of Life

Twenty-seven emergency medical practitioners were nominated by their local ambulance service to receive Wisconsin Stars of Life honors.  The nomination period closed August 1.

The class of 2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees will have their names announced during the live EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast on Tuesday, August 8 starting at 9:00 a.m.  To listen live, dial-in using 646-929-1081, or on any internet connected device at http://tobtr.com/10188847.

Honorees will be recognized at a series of events beginning with a dinner and awards banquet on September 21 in Green Bay.

Wisconsin Stars of Life has been proudly produced by the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin since 2006.  >> Click for more information on the Wisconsin Stars of Life program.

On Wednesday, August 2, the Assembly's Committee on Health will hold a public hearing on three EMS bills outlined below.  The public hearing is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. in room 328 Northwest at the State Capitol, Madison.  >> Click for meeting agenda.

Assembly Bill 310 relating to funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation. 
>> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 311 relating to upgrading service levels for ambulances in rural areas.  >> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 356 relating to licensure or certificate renewal for certain emergency medical services personnel and ambulance service providers.  >> Click for Bill history.

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast Archive

Our most popular podcast ever just reached 2,500 downloads!

>> Click for on-demand download and listen now!

On Monday, May 4, 2015, PAAW completed a special EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast with guests Dr. Eugene Nagel, Randolph Mantooth and Nancy McFarland. 

The 60-minute program was dedicated to discussing the start of Paramedic systems, those responsible for its rise in the 1960's and 70's, the determination and vision it took, and based on their experiences how they see the industry evolving into Community Paramedicine!

Eugene Nagel is a retired anesthesiologist. He was an innovative pioneer who served as medical director for the City of Miami Fire Department's rescue operation from 1964 to 1974. During those 10 years, Dr. Nagel developed the first paramedic program utilizing telemetry and voice medical control.  The biophone or “orange box” was a familiar piece of equipment on the TV show EMERENCY!  The TV show’s unit now resides on display at the Smithsonian Institute. 

Randolph Mantooth is an actor, producer and speaker. Widely known for his role as Paramedic John Gage in the TV series EMERGENCY! -- the show that transformed America's perception and approach to emergency medical care in the 1970s and introduced millions to the word "paramedic" for the first time. Mr. Mantooth is a popular speaker at Fire and EMS events, and an advocate for firefighter health and safety.  His website is www.RandolphMantooth.com.

Nancy McFarland is a retired LA County Fire Museum board director and Chair of the Pioneers of Paramedicine Committee. Ms. McFarland was instrumental in uniting the four doctors credited with starting the first (fire-based) paramedic programs in the United States in the late 1960s for taped interviews and a Lifetime Achievement Awards Gala in May of 2010.  The Pioneers of Paramedicine website and video is located at >> http://pioneersofparamedicine.com/

>> Click for on-demand download and listen now!

EMS Live in Wisconsin is broadcast live on the phone and via the internet the second and fourth Tuesday every month starting at 9:00 a.m. and typically running 30 minutes. 

Don't miss a beat of the action - listen to EMS Live in Wisconsin.

Standby for Tones Blog

It’s hot, and she’s not dressed for it. Sweatshirt and sweatpants, tee shirt and socks with laced up tennies. She’s currently sitting in the rear of a squad car, guzzling on a bottle of Sprite that is sweating only slightly less than she is.

Passersby found her, she was down on the ground and it was pretty clear she’d fallen. Someone helped her up, but then she fell again. So they called it in, the nice officer who responded scoped out the clothing situation and her speech, and activated EMS non-emergent. Now we’re here, and I lead my student across the street from our parking spot towards the black and white. My partner updates MedComm that we are on location, and brings up the rear. On this initial evaluation we’ve got the cardiac monitor. The bag is feet away should we need anything.

The lady was assisted out of her sweatshirt by the officer prior to our arrival. Pink and white camouflage, it’s more at home in a rural environment than here in the city but I guess you never know where people hail from originally. Little bits of home from all over converge in any metropolis, and you get what you get. The only constant is that the kaleidoscope keeps moving, the bits and pieces keep on tumbling.

>> Click to read more of the story...

"Standby for Tones" is a blog written by Crystal Wallin, a La Crosse paramedic.  Her stories, written from real life events, bring to light the human experience in having an EMS career and work life. 

>> Click to read Crystal's blog.

The Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin will be hosting its 30th annual conference in Green Bay, September 20 to 22. The conference is specifically designed for Service Directors, Medical Directors and Training Centers.

The program will start at 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning September 20 with initial individual and provider introductions.  Thursday and Friday will continue on with excellent presentations that will have everyone talking all year long.  The conference agenda and list of topics and presenters will be made available sometime in  August.

For more information or to register, click here or go to PSOW.org.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided guidance on certain drugs that can be used beyond the manufacturer's labeled expiration date. At this time, the drugs listed below can be used during the shortage or while available. Per the FDA, to ensure patient safety, these products should have been—and should continue to be—stored as per labeled conditions.  >> Click for FDA information on drug shortage.

The medications included in this expiration date waiver include the following drugs manufactured by Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company:

• Epinephrine Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 10 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4921-34)

• Dextrose 50% Injection, USP, 50 mL ABBOJECT Syringe (NDC 0409-4902-34)

• Atropine Sulfate Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 10 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4911-34)

• Atropine Sulfate Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 5 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4910-34

The Wisconsin EMS Office recommends practitioners work with their local medical director to determine the most appropriate response to these drug shortages. In addition, the Department of Health Services and Department of Transportation (DOT) discussed these shortages and the DOT ambulance inspector will not cite for these identified expired medications. However, all other expired medication dates will be subject to DOT enforcement action.  EMS services will not be required to submit drug shortage protocols but will need to follow FDA recommendations.

The memo issued on this will be in effect until December 31, 2017.  >> Click to read memo 17-04.

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was recorded on Tuesday, June 27.   Program guests from the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, included Director Christine Westrich, Dr. Colella and EMS Division Director Ken Sternig.

Wisconsin is not immune from the national opioid epidemic and spike in deaths related to overdoses.  According to the Wisconsin Opioid Task Force, opioid-related overdose deaths more than tripled in Wisconsin from 194 deaths in 2003 to 622 deaths in 2014.  >> Report:  Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse

EMS is on the front-line in responding to these calls in both urban and rural areas of the state.

>> Wisconsin Naloxone/Narcan Rebate Program

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.