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  • June 16, 2020 2:18 PM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    Spring/Fall 2020 UpdateConference Update

    The Oklahoma Ambulance Association (OKAMA) hopes that all the EMS providers, vendors and suppliers are finding a way to safely function during these trying times. We are hoping the second half of 2020 brings a healing and return to something that resembles a more normal level of activity in this state. As we look to the future, OKAMA has selected Wednesday, October 14th for our one-day event. We hope to hold both our Conference and STARS of Life celebration on that day and evening, respectively . We understand there are still hurdles to clear and we will be closely monitoring the situation and discussing precautions. The Board of Directors will make a final decision later in the summer but until then, please “Save the Date” and we hope to see you then!

    This event has unfortunately been canceled. It is our hope that the spring of 2021 will be more normal, allowing OKAMA to once again provide a great conference and Stars of Life Banquet. 2020 Stars will be recognized along with the 2021 Stars of Life recipients.


  • January 14, 2019 7:21 AM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    Our hearts were heavy to learn of the passing of Carolyn Barrett, beloved wife of OKAMA emeritus board member Joe Barrett.

    Services will be held at 2:00 pm CT on Wednesday, January 16 at First Baptist Church.

    First Baptist Church
    124  West Evergreen Street
    Durant, OK 74701

    Carolyn's family and friends remain in our thoughts.


  • November 05, 2018 11:53 AM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    It is with very heavy hearts that we share the passing of our friend, colleague, and leader, Steve Williamson.

    H. Stephen Williamson

    Obituary

    H. Stephen Williamson, 68, of Hope, Arkansas, formerly of Tulsa, Oklahoma, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle passed away suddenly on November 3, 2018 at his home.

    Preceded in death by his mother, Evelyn Williamson, father, Hershel Williamson, and first wife, Pat Williamson, Steve is survived by his best friend and wife Rebecca Williamson (Smith); his two adored daughters Jennifer Thomas (Jason) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Ashley Schneeberg (Matt) of Jenks, Oklahoma; his brother, Mark Williamson (Theresa) of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and his five step children, Blake Burruss (Rachel), Krista Sands, Holly Chapman (Joel), Sarah Lyn Smith and Jay Darrin Smith. He was an exceptional grandfather to his beautiful grandchildren and step grandchildren, Asa and Will Thomas, Kate and Ava Schneeberg, Barrett Burruss, Addysion Sands, Brycelyn Wiedel, and Gabe Chapman.  He is also survived by numerous cousins, nephews, a niece, and his aunt, Blanche Wilson.

    H. Stephen Williamson was the president and chief executive officer of Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) since the Authority began operations in 1978, and served for over 39 years. Under Williamson's guidance, EMSA grew into Oklahoma's largest EMS provider and one of the country's most effective ambulance systems, achieving the standing of top 1% of ambulance services nationwide with accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. Due to his visionary leadership and passion for service, EMSA provided outstanding patient care, saving countless lives throughout Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the surrounding counties.  Prior to his tenure at EMSA, he served as administrator of Enid Memorial Hospital.  He was a graduate of the University of Tulsa, earning a B.S. in Finance, as well as a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Oklahoma.  Prior to his death, Steve was the Chief Financial Officer at Pafford EMS, the largest ambulance service provider in Arkansas. 

    Steve was a revered national leader in EMS.  He held numerous national and state leadership positions including President of the American Ambulance Association, President of the Coalition of Advanced Emergency Medical Systems, Governor’s Appointee to the Oklahoma Emergency Response Systems Advisory Council, and President of the Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma Class XX.

    Family will receive those wishing to pay their respects at a lunch and visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at Fletcher Hall (attached to the church).  Services will immediately follow at 1:00 p.m. at Parish of Christ the King Catholic Church, 1520 South Rockford Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120.  Internment at Calvary Cemetery is 9101 South Harvard Ave., Tulsa, OK 74137 .

    In lieu of flowers, donations in Steve’s honor may be made to Bishop Kelly High School, 3905 South Hudson Avenue Tulsa, OK 74135 and the Code Green Campaign, P.O. Box 15365, Spokane Valley, Washington, 99215. Code Green advocates for mental health-, PTSD-, and suicide awareness for EMS.

    Steve touched countless hearts over the course of his extraordinary life. He will be forever loved and missed by all his family, friends, and colleagues.


  • September 04, 2018 12:11 PM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    TO: OKAMA Members

    FROM: Steven L. Athey, Association Coordinator

    SUBJECT: 2019 Dues Increase

    During the April OKAMA Board Meeting the Board of Directors voted to increase dues, for the first time in 10 years. These changes have become necessary to continue to fund the important legislative and educational work the Association provides for the ambulance industry in the state. The following changes and increases will become effective for the 2019 membership year.

    ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP

    • Dues will be calculated by the number of transports your service had for the previous year, July to July.
    • If your company had 100 transports or less your membership is free (no change)
    • If you pay $2,500 or more your company will receive unlimited free attendance at the two OKAMA conferences (no change)
    • If your service transports less than 2000 annual transports your dues are $.50 per transport (no change).
    • If your service transports greater than 2001 annual transports your dues are $.65 per transport plus $.25 per transport for those transports over 6001 transports.
    • Maximum dues are $5,000.00 per state license number.

    ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

    • Dues will be calculated by the number of transports your service had for the previous year, July to July.
    • If your company had 100 transports or less your membership is free (no change)
    • If you pay $2,500 or more your company will receive unlimited free attendance at the two OKAMA conferences (no change)
    • If your service transports less than 2000 annual transports your dues are $.50 per transport (no change).
    • If your service transports greater than 2001 annual transports your dues are $.65 per transport plus $.25 per transport for those transports over 6001 transports.
    • Associate Membership fee for Aeromedical Services is $1,500.00 per year for any Aeromedical service
    • Maximum dues are $5,000.00 per state license number

    CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP

    • Corporate membership is $600.00 per year. (no change)
    • Corporate members, whose line of products or services are expanded (through merger, acquisition, etc) to include additional divisions or product lines will be charged an additional $200 per business or product line.


  • July 03, 2018 10:19 AM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    Happy 4th of July from OKAMA!


  • May 23, 2018 12:15 PM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

    Looking for the session presentations? Visit the Spring Conference page.

    Visit OKAMA Facebook for a few snapshots from today's Spring Conference!

  • May 23, 2018 10:40 AM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)
    It was a pleasure to honor fifteen talented, dedicated EMS professionals at yesterday's 2018 Stars of Life. The following individuals were recognized:

    • Kristen Bias, Muskogee County EMS
    • Casey Dodson, LifeNet EMS
    • Nick Goff, Pafford Medical Services
    • Jayeah Haske (JAY-uh Hasky), Life EMS
    • Brandt Hiler, Muskogee County EMS
    • Brandon Levi Holsapple, Creek County Emergency Ambulance Service
    • John Johnston, EMSStat EMS
    • Brandon Jones, EMSA
    • Megan Jones, EMSStat EMS
    • Kristy A. Lashbrook, Hughes County EMS
    • Jozcelynne Luellen, Bryan County EMS
    • Christopher Cates Miller, Hughes County EMS
    • Erin O’Grady, REACT EMS
    • Tawny Province-Ward, Life EMS
    • Jason Roe, Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service
    Congratulations to the 2018 Oklahoma Stars!


    • April 26, 2018 11:02 AM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

      Erin O’Grady
      Paramedic
      REACT EMS
      Shawnee, Oklahoma

      Erin O’Grady has proudly served as a Paramedic at REACT EMS since April 2012. A Westminster, Colorado native, he competed his EMT-Basic and Paramedic training at Gordon Cooper Technology Center after moving to Shawnee.  REACT has implemented a sole-Paramedic Response unit in a large, remote portion of their response area.  Erin expressed interest and was selected as his primary assignment. 

      Erin is deeply committed to his patients. He finds the most rewarding part of his job to be the opportunity he has, “to care for patients when they are having what may be the worst day they have ever experienced.” This is especially important to Erin as he has elected to work in REACT’s South County unit, which encompasses his own neighborhood. He notes that while it is harder than he imagined to respond to calls for people he personally knows, he values deeply the trust they place in his skills.

      One of Erin’s most memorable moments at REACT took place when he was called to care for an eight-year-old girl who had been stung repeatedly by wasps. The young patient was in full anaphylaxis, with hives and respiratory distress. Erin worked quickly and very effectively to stabilize her breathing and reaction while the transport unit responded from so far away. The young patient was fortunate that Erin was close, knowledgeable and skillful.

      In addition to serving patients with dedication, Erin works to build strong relationships with our partners in the remote area we serve. He has worked to meet with our volunteer fire fighters and others to improve their knowledge and responses to medical emergencies.

      As he looks to the future, Erin plans to continue to build upon REACT’s already-stellar relationship with the public. He will do so through the continuation of our program offering routine health checks for senior citizens, in addition to new and ongoing initiatives to educate citizens about the importance of  CPR and the Stop the Bleed program.

      When not at work, Erin enjoys spending time with his wife, Shantel, a schoolteacher, as well and his children Ewan, Brennen, and Keira.

      With his thoughtful and compassionate dedication, Erin is a leader and role model for his peers and his community. REACT is proud to recognize Erin O’Grady as a 2018 Star of Life.


    • April 23, 2018 4:32 PM | Vanessa Brewington (Administrator)

      Jayeah Haske
      Emergency Medical Dispatcher
      Life EMS
      Enid, OK

      LIFE EMS congratulates Jayeah Haske on her selection as a 2018 Star of Life recipient.

      Jayeah joined the Life EMS Emergency Dispatch Center in 2016, and has since become a vital and integral part of the Life EMS Team. During her last two years at Life EMS, Jayeah has grown into a leadership role in the communications center. She is a Nationally Certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch with the use of ProQA Emergency Medical Dispatch criteria. Jayeah takes her job as an EMD seriously and states that her goal is to return the crews that she dispatches safely to their families after their shift is complete.

      Jayeah comes as a transplant to Oklahoma from her home state of Florida. She says that she "has come enjoy living in Oklahoma and the joy of two different weather seasons in one day, along with a dose of earthquakes.” She and her husband, Michael, manage to balance the demands of her night shifts at Life EMS with their three amazing children ages four, ten, and thirteen.

      Congratulations, Jayeah, on being chosen by your fellow employees to represent Life EMS as a 2018 Star of Life.

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