Cal-Ore Life Flight is proud to announce that long-time employee Steve Stevenson has recently acquired the new status of fully certified EMT Paramedic. Stevenson gained his new status by successfully completing a two year paramedic course with the Oregon Health Division. This involved commuting to the Medford area to attend school while still engaged in full time work as an EMT Intermediate at Cal-Ore.

This new certification level expands Stevenson's scope of practice to include a much broader range of procedures such as: endotracheal intubation; central venous line; chest decompression; surgical airway; intraosseous line; cardiac pacing; and the administering of a wide variety of medications for traumas, fractures, and critical cardiac care.

With the addition of Stevenson's certification, Cal-Ore now has 12 practicing Paramedics, 12 EMT Intermediates, and 8 EMT Basics.

According to company manager, Joe Gregorio, "We congratulate Steve on his new certification. It took hard work, dedication, and a self-sacrificing commitment to achieve this new status. This will not only greatly benefit our local communities but also assist our company as well, as we continue to strive in providing prompt, efficient, and quality emergency medical services."

Cal-Ore Life Flight is proud to announce that recently, Cal-Ore medics Stacy Hopkins and Clifford Bennet successfully completed the EMT Intermediate Course with the Oregon Health Division. Stacy and Clifford had previously been EMT basics.

The higher certification expands their scope of practice by allowing them to handle various additional procedures as follows: Start and maintain intravenous lines (I.V.'s), administer additional specific medications such as cardiac arrest medication and diabetic I.V. medications; intubate patients in respiratory distress; perform cardiac monitoring and defibrillation; and perform additional patient assessment skills.