Information Technology Solutions
Richmond Ambulance Authority
2012
ANNUAL
REPORT
ABOUT RAA
Our Mission
The mission of the Richmond Ambulance Authority is to provide the patients it serves, and
the residents of Richmond, with emergency
and non-emergency ambulance service by
practicing clinical excellence with superb response time performance while maintaining
its commitment to economic efficiency and
minimal tax subsidization.
ACCREDITED BY:
RAA is one of only 16 EMS
systems in the U.S. that has
received accreditation from
both the National Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS)
and the National Academies
of Emergency Dispatch
Our History
(NAED). These accreditations are the “gold standard”
for ambulance services, certifying a distinction for quality
patient care and ambulance
operations.
In 1991, the Virginia General Assembly created
the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA).
Shortly thereafter, the City of Richmond
granted RAA a franchise to provide Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) to the City of Richmond. From that moment on, Richmond has
had an EMS system that places the patient first
and guarantees its performance to the city’s
residents and visitors.
Even with one of the highest call volumes per
capita in the United States, RAA’s emergency
response times are among the fastest in the
nation. With an ambulance on the scene of life
threatening emergencies in less than 8 minutes and 59 seconds on more than 90 percent
of all responses, RAA has gained a national and
international reputation as a premier, high performing EMS system.
This is World-Class EMS.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REPORT
The Board of Directors is proud of another successful year for the Richmond Ambulance Authority. With over two decades of success, RAA has earned a world-class EMS reputation and
2012 proved to be no different.
2012 BOARD of
DIRECTORS
Terone B. Green, Chairman
Stacy Williams, D.O., Vice
Chairperson
In early 2012, RAA was awarded the Patriot Award by the Employer Support of the Guard and
Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense (DoD) organization established to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve members and their civilian employers. In May, RAA
received the Virginia Health Innovators (VHI) Award in the category, “Patient Care: 1 – 250
Employees.” The VHI awards recognize Virginia organizations that have developed innovative
ways to improve healthcare quality and efficiency. The Authority ended the year having won
five Old Dominion EMS Alliance (ODEMSA) regional awards as follows:




J. Stephen Lord, Treasurer
Joseph P. McMenamin,
M.D., J.D., Secretary
Keith Barron
Joseph Boatwright, III, M.D.
C. Michael DeCamps
Councilman E. Martin Jewell
Byron C. Marshall

RAA - Outstanding Contribution to EMS Health and Safety
Chip Decker, CEO - Award for Excellence in EMS
Daniel Linkins, Training Coordinator - Outstanding EMS Pre-Hospital Educator
Solomon Luckett, Clinical Research Manager - Nurse with Outstanding Contribution to EMS
Danny Garrison, Director of Communications - Outstanding EMS Telecommunications Dispatcher
RAA’s commitment to the Richmond community continued in 2012 with another successful
year of the “Great Days of CPR,” campaign - hands-only cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
classes offered to the public, free of charge, which covers the basics of this invaluable lifesaving skill. In addition, RAA’s participation in programs such as the Mayor’s Youth Academy,
Partnership for the Future and the fellowship program with Virginia Union University all help
to provide our community’s youth with a platform for opportunity to explore rewarding careers in healthcare.
Elizabeth Matish
Jeffrey Odell
Throughout 2012, RAA continued its “tradition” of hosting visitors both near and far as they
traveled to Richmond to learn more about RAA, our operation and its success. Visitors from as
close as northern Virginia and as far as Taiwan were welcomed to the Authority and received a
detailed overview of all aspects of our high performance EMS system.
November 18, 2012 marked RAA’s 5th anniversary as a self-operated ambulance service, having severed ties with the operations contractor. The contractor was deemed in breach of contract for not meeting stringent response time compliance standards. Today, RAA is consistently performing at its highest level in its 21-year history.
RAA’s successes and accomplishments in 2012 are the direct result of hard work, dedication
and the support of all those involved. This includes oversight and direction from the RAA
Board, leadership from our CEO, Chip Decker, and the entire RAA senior leadership team, and
the support from Richmond City Council and City Administration. It is the ongoing effort and
dedication of the RAA staff that are directly responsible for making it all happen each and
every day.
We look forward to making more success stories in 2013 and beyond!
—The 2012 Richmond Ambulance Authority Board of Directors
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MEDICAL DIRECTOR’S REPORT
from Dr. Joseph Ornato
We are extremely proud of several major accomplishments and best practices in Richmond
Ambulance Authority’s (RAA) clinical program this past year:
1) The National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Anticonvulsant Medications Prior to Arrival
Trial, known as RAMPART, conducted in Richmond and 16 other cities was published
in the New England Journal of Medicine (the top medical journal in the United States).
The study proved that Midazolam, a drug given intramuscularly (IM) by an autoinjector, is as effective in stopping ongoing seizures as Lorazepam, a drug given intravenously (IV). These results represent a major advance that will change the standard
of care for treating seizure patients since it is difficult and time-consuming for healthcare providers to start an intravenous line in a patient whose body is shaking violently.
2) The Clinical Services Committee is incredibly active working with the RAA clinical leadership and medical director to assess the scientific literature on an ongoing basis and
to put in place cutting-edge, evidence-based protocols that afford our patients the
very latest, proven treatments. The process used to make clinical change at RAA is
clearly a best practice nationally.
3) Our comprehensive safety program, patterned after commercial aviation practices, is
also being heralded as a best practice nationally. An article describing the program
was published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), the premier publication serving the pre-hospital EMS community, in June 2012. Rob Lawrence and Captain Brian Hupp just published an article in the January edition of EMS World on the
“self-reporting” element of our safety program.
In summary, we continue to offer our patients a better chance to survive serious illness and
injury than ever before in a cutting-edge, clinically safe environment!
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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT
from Chip Decker
2012 was another strong year for the Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) as we continued
to deliver clinical excellence to the City of Richmond while maintaining some of the fastest response times in the industry. Our 2012 emergency call volume increased by more than 10 percent since we took over operations five years ago. Nonetheless, our dedicated Operations
staff rose to the occasion and consistently exceeded stringent response time standards, arriving on scene to life-threatening emergencies within eight minutes and 59 seconds 96 percent
of the time. This equates to an average response time of five minutes and 44 seconds. We
responded to over 57,000 calls for service, resulting in more than 43,000 transports.
A culture of safety and public awareness continued to be a key focus in 2012. RAA unveiled its
hip-hop Public Service Announcement (PSA), “Crossing Alert,” which was launched as part of a
national safety campaign. The campaign was targeted at distracted pedestrians and drivers in
an effort to reduce the growing number of pedestrians and cyclists hit by cars while crossing
the street. The video was a great success, receiving widespread media coverage and playing at
the opening reception of a national, highly attended EMS conference. The Rider Alert program
was launched in 2011 by RAA and Bon Secours Virginia Health System, in partnership with Motorcycle Virginia, Inc. to help save the lives of injured motorcyclists. The program continues to
receive a great deal of attention and in 2012, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) awarded the program safety grant funding. In addition, the program received the 2012
Governor’s Transportation Safety Award. RAA staff worked closely with our Operational Medical Director, Dr. Joseph Ornato, and co-authored an article on our culture of safety, which was
published in the June issue of the Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS).
The Authority was recognized by the ODEMSA having received numerous regional awards in
2012, with our Director of Communications Danny Garrison taking home the Governor’s EMS
Award for Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Medical Services Telecommunication.
RAA’s Chief Operating Officer Rob Lawrence secured an EMS10 award, sponsored by JEMS,
recognizing 10 individuals who have contributed to EMS in an exceptional and innovative way.
In 2012, we continued to host a variety of healthcare professionals interested in learning more
about our operation and success. Members of the Pan American Trauma Society, made up of
surgeons from Columbia, Mexico and Brazil, were greeted to discuss the EMS components for
the implementation of a trauma system. RAA, in partnership with HCA Virginia, hosted individuals enrolled in the University of New Mexico’s EMS Academy Paramedic Pararescue Program. RAA provided clinical training rotations to airmen in pursuit of becoming Air Force
Pararesumen. RAA also hosted members of the United Kingdom’s South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECamb) leadership team and their Board Chairman who traveled “across the
pond” to learn about the implementation of a “make-ready” system in support of System
Status Management (SSM) and overall high-performance EMS in the United States.
RAA continues to uphold our reputation, both nationally and internationally, for our consistent
level of service, use of cutting-edge technology and data analyses, research initiatives for the
improvement of patient outcomes, and impactful public education programs. It took a team
effort to make 2012 the success that it was, which includes the leadership and direction of our
Board of Directors, the clinical expertise of Dr. Joseph Ornato, and the hard work and dedication of all the RAA employees. Together, we can all be very proud of our accomplishments in
2012 as we focus our efforts on another successful year in 2013.
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The Making of
CROSSING ALERT
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
n
ert o
g Al tter!
n
i
s
ros d Twi
ow C
an
Foll ebook
Fac
Music Video Shoot
This year, RAA received a
FEMA grant in the amount of
$5,000 and used it to create
a hip-hop song and music
video
entitled
“Crossing
Alert” aimed at distracted
pedestrians and drivers to
reduce
the
ever
growing
number of pedestrians and
cyclists hit by cars while
crossing the street.
A pedestrian is hit by a vehicle once every three or four
days in Richmond, and incidents
involving
distracted
drivers and pedestrians are
on the rise throughout the
U.S.
This
public
nouncement
cameo
service
an-
featured
appearance
a
from
Richmond Mayor Dwight C.
EMS World Expo featured the video at its keynote introduction
Jones, and was written by
our own Sean Burton, and
featured some of our staff as
background dancers.
Click Here to Watch
the Video!
“American Automobile Association (AAA) salutes Richmond Ambulance Authority for their continued and strong outreach efforts as a member of the transportation safety advocacy community. We have all seen the alarming videos, most often on YouTube, of folks walking off of the
edge of train platforms onto live train tracks, into barriers or fountains, down steps and even
worse into oncoming traffic, thus using YouTube to reach out to the same audience is a positive
way to convey this important message.” — Martha Mitchell Meade, manager of Public and
Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic
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RAA NEWS
Through the Year
January

New Years Eve continues to be the busiest night of
the year
Dr. Joseph Boatwright joins RAA Board of Directors
RAA crews worked with the Secret Service during the
visits President Obama made to Richmond


February




First international visitors of the year visit RAA
Received a visit from Superior Ambulance Service of
Chicago
Daniel Linkins and Caitrin Conroy joined RPD for a K9
medic course to learn how to assist police dogs who
may require treatment in the line of duty
RAA produced its first film of the year for EMS World
Magazine; an informational video on our
solar panel project starring Fleet Manager,
Dan Fellows
March





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Chief Operating Officer Rob Lawrence named as a
Top 10 EMS innovator by JEMS Magazine for the
Rider Alert program
EMD Dwayne Callis received national recognition
from Next Generation 911
The Swedish Motorcycle Club models their own
motorcycle safety program after Rider Alert
Virginia Union University research program concluded with presentations to the RAA Board on
clinical research topics
Broke ground on the very popular RAA Garden
RAA NEWS
Through the Year
April

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
and appreciation of our EMD team
EMT Chris Wooten gifted RAA with the flag he carried during his tour in Afghanistan
Chief Wayne Harbour and EMD Carolyn Lecik were
cast as husband and wife for a CPR Public Service
Announcement
Received a Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grant from
the Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Medical Services to purchase a bundle of
safety equipment, including an “Ambu Ramp”



May


EMS WEEK 2012 — pancake breakfasts, BBQ
lunches, and ice cream socials were enjoyed by all
National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and
Rider Alert delivered demonstrations and information at Virginia safety events from Virginia Beach to
Harrisonburg.
June






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RAA awarded the Virginia Healthcare Innovators
Award
Rider Alert received the Governor’s Transportation Safety Award
RAA sweeps 5 of the 7 categories in the ODEMSA
regional awards
Seven-page spread in JEMS Magazine feature
RAA’s Culture of Safety
Great Day of CPR event
Cardiac Arrest Survivor Keith Chapman meets the
crews that contributed to his “chain of survival”
RAA NEWS
Through the Year
July

International visitors from the UK, Ireland, Columbia,
and Ecuador spend time within our system
Gov. Bob McDonnell presents the 200,000th Rider
Alert Card overseas to the UK Ambulance Motorcycle
Club
Dance lessons, lyric writing, and preparation for the
music video shoot


August




Found the beat with our
Crossing Alert PSA, and the
skills of RAA’s own singer/
lyricist, Sean Burton
Participated in National Night
Out 2012
9/11 Author & FDNY Medic
Steve Kanarian dropped in to visit with
RAA staff
Rider Alert receives a DMV Traffic Safety
Grant to provide signature cards to every
rider trainee in Virginia
September



9
Day of Remembrance for September 11
Delivered a “hands only” CPR class to the crowds
at City Hall on September 11
Surgeons from Chile and Paramedics from Columbia visited RAA in partnership with the Pan American Trauma Society
RAA NEWS
Through the Year
October

RAA welcomed USAF Para Rescuemen as they worked
in the field to complete the preception clinical phase
of their paramedic course
The Great American Shake Out provided an opportunity for a RAA earthquake exercise
RAA receives a social media upgrade to the existing
Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as creating
new LinkedIn and Google+ pages


November




RAA preps for Super-Storm Sandy response, but she
(thankfully) misses Richmond
5th Anniversary of RAA as a self-operated EMS
organization
Communications Director Danny Garrison was
awarded the Governors EMS Award for Outstanding
Telecommunications Dispatcher
Crossing Alert PSA was featured as the keynote introduction at the EMS World Expo
December



Lauren Menzies was promoted to Lieutenant
RAA participated in the efforts to collect Christmas cards and well wishes for terminally-ill
Nathan Norman
RAA monitored Santa’s travels via NORAD radar
and made sure there was no need to deliver
EMS—Emergency Medicine to Santa!
All in all, another superb year of award-winning, world-class EMS delivery,
innovation, and clinical excellence!
10
OUR PERFORMANCE
2012 RAA SYSTEM DEMAND
O U R C O MM U N I T Y
Richmond — Central Virginia
Emergency
NonEmergency
Total
Responses
48,256
8,791
57,047
Transports
34,110
9,139
43,249
Size: 62.5 square miles
Population: 204,149
2012 RESPONSE
T I ME S T A N D A R D S
Priority 1 — 94.45%
8 minutes, 59 seconds
Priority 2 — 97.91%
12 minutes, 59 seconds
Priority 3 — 98.56%
29 minutes, 59 seconds
Priority 4 — 94.42%
59 minutes, 59 seconds
Priority 5 — 93.02%
19 minutes, 59 seconds
Priority 6 — 94.26%
14 minutes, 59 seconds
PRIORITY 1
C O MP L I A N C E
Zone 1 — 96.57%
Zone 2 — 96.05%
Zone 3 — 93.21%
Zone 4 — 93.03%
ALL Responses — 94.69%
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FLEET COMPOSITION
2 0 1 2 MI L E S D R I V E N
105,665 — Emergency
802,165—Non-Emergency
————————————907,830 Miles Total
The equivalent Of:
- 36 laps around the earth!

13 Ford E-450 6.8L Gasoline type III ALS Excellance Ambulances equipped with
solar panels

13 Ford E-450 Diesel 6.0L type III ALS Excellance Ambulances

3 Ford E-450 Diesel 7.3L type III ALS Excellance Ambulances

2 Ford E-350 6.8L Gasoline type II BLS AEV Ambulances

1 E-350 Diesel 7.3L type II BLS AEV Ambulance

1 International Diesel DT466 4400 Critical Care Excellance Ambulance

1 Ford E-250 Utility Vehicle

2 Ford Expedition 5.4L Gasoline Supervisor vehicles

1 Ford F-250 Diesel 6.0L Supervisor Vehicle

2 Chevy Tahoe 5.8L Gasoline Administrative Vehicles

1 Ford Expedition 5.4L Gasoline Administrative Vehicle

1 Ford F-150 5.0L Gasoline Resource Vehicle

1 Mass Casualty Response Trailer
- 3 one-way trips to the moon!
12
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Great Days of CPR
2012 C OM M U NI T Y
EVEN T S
41 Events
146.5 Hours
173,770 Participants
Health & Safety Day at
the Children's Hospital
National Night Out
13
RAA VISITORS
2012 was another full year of visitors as RAA was
once again a major stop on the “EMS World Tour”.
We were delighted to host visitors from as far
away as Taiwan to the west and the UK to the
east. Most of our 2012 visitors hailed from Central and South America. A little known fact — VCU
is the home of the Pan-American Trauma Society
(PTS) which coordinates fellowships, research and
intellectual exchanges among trauma systems
from Canada to Argentina. As esteemed surgeons
and their staff visit VCU, a day is spent at RAA
learning about the key elements of a world class
EMS system. PTS members have realized a world-class trauma system requires a world-class
EMS system to “feed it”. RAA is proud to be a part of the program and in 2012 welcomed teams
from:
 Cali and Bogota, Columbia
 Quenca, Ecuador
 Santiago, Chile
 Sao Paulo, Brazil
 Mexico City, Mexico
As an organization known for its operational efficiency, RAA also hosted an
international MBA class from Taiwan. Students heard, then saw, how our
management team uses data and systems to monitor every aspect of performance as we deliver excellent and consistent patient care. Our logistic
support services came under the international spotlight as a group from the
UK’s South East Coast Ambulance Service headed for Richmond to view our
“make-ready” stocking, washing and decontamination operations.
14
STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
Fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011
15
STATEMENTS OF REVENUES, EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
Fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011
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Information Technology Solutions
Richmond Ambulance Authority
2400 Hermitage Road
Richmond, Virginia 23220
P: (804) 254-1150
F: (804) 254-1103
WWW.RAAEMS.ORG
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