Region C Coalition Coordinator Brittany Holcomb awarded the Joe Lane Cox Excellence in EMS Award
The purpose of the Joe Lane Cox Excellence in EMS Award is to recognize a worthy individual who is not employed in EMS, but has, like Joe Lane Cox, unselfishly donated their time and efforts to continue the improvement of EMS in Georgia’s EMS Regions as well as at the state and/or national levels.
Brittany Holcomb has been the biggest advocate for EMS in the communities her agency serves. She is constantly going out of her way to include EMS in every aspect of her job and to any benefit of the community. EMS is included in decisions for the Region C Coalition and EMS is included in area drills and public education for adults as well as in school programs. Her main goal is to have the community comfortable with EMS and to educate the public on the capabilities of an EMS service. In doing so, the fear of calling 911 for an emergency becomes less of an anxiety to the person in need. She further supports EMS by looking for grant opportunities to support the mission of responding to the community. From needed equipment to supplies to educational materials, she always comes through for the betterment of EMS and the community.
Atrium Health Floyd EMS- Georgia Emergency Medical Service of the Year Award
This award is presented to a currently licensed Georgia Emergency Medical Service, which exemplifies outstanding professionalism on the local, regional, and state levels, as well as service to the community it serves.
Atrium Health Floyd EMS has been serving NW GA for over a half century with a history of providing exceptional care. Founded in 1966, this service is one of Georgia’s longest serving EMS providers and a vital extension of Georgia’s very first Trauma Center. With over 180 teammates consisting of Paramedics, EMTs, telecommunicators, mechanics, support staff and leadership, the bottom-up leadership culture of the organization is recognized across multiple states. Over 600 hours of community service and community benefit has been logged during 2023 by teammates who have graciously served the NW GA and NE AL communities through health fairs, educational programs, event coverage, support of athletic events and programs to benefit the health of communities served. This service provides 911 services for nearly 80% of total 911 call volume in Floyd County, serves as the sole 911 provider for Chattooga County, as well as Cherokee County Alabama, which borders Floyd, Chattooga and Polk Counties. Providing fifteen 911 response ambulances and three first response vehicles throughout the service area, they average a nine-minute response time in all 911 service areas combined. A specialized custom designed NICU ambulance and team facilitate emergent transfers from area hospitals to their Level 3 Neonatal ICU. Non- emergency transport services are also provided daily in seven counties through 6 wheelchair vans, 2 ambulatory vans, 2 stretcher vans and 8 licensed ambulances assigned to NET services. Some licensed ambulances are ALS staffed and serve as back up 911 response, as needed, throughout the service area. Also, this service provides an Education Center where ongoing EMT-R, EMT, AEMT and Paramedic education classes are offered as well as offering tactical medicine support to the Georgia State Patrol SWAT as well as local law enforcement agencies.