Jul 8, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: July 8, 2008

CONTACT:

Paul Filla, Public Information Officer
 (239) 930-0438 pager

FORMER LEE COUNTY EMS CHIEF PRESENTED STATE EMS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Ft. Myers, Fla.- Recently retired Lee County Emergency Medical Services Chief Chris Hansen was awarded the prestigious Mark Fingeret Emergency Medical Services Administrator of the Year Award. Awarded by the Florida Association of County EMS (FACEMS), this honor recognizes the nearly three decades of leadership and contributions Hansen provided to pre-hospital care in Lee County and throughout Florida. FACEMS board of directors will present the award on July 9 at the Rosen Centre in Orlando.

Hansen began working with the Lee County EMS in 1980 as an EMT and rose through the ranks as a paramedic, training officer and operations manager, becoming chief of EMS in 1997. In 2006, he was named deputy director of Lee County Public Safety and retired in April 2008.

During Hansen's 11-year tenure as chief, the Lee County EMS doubled in size. He was instrumental in adding a second helicopter to county's air ambulance program, allowing EMS to perform more advanced medical procedures and provide a higher service level. Hansen worked tirelessly throughout his career to implement quality improvement processes, including innovative human resource practices, electronic medical records, electronic patient billing and inventory control systems. He has also successfully built strategic partnerships throughout the county's healthcare community, reaching out to first responders, law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals and government agencies.

Hansen served as an executive board member for the Florida Association of County EMS (FACEMS) organization and other EMS advisory council committees. Chris is currently president of Priority Consulting, which provides strategic planning, system analysis, crisis management and executive searches and recruitment for public safety and governmental agencies. Hansen also serves as Vice President of Operations for Priority Marketing, a full-service marketing, advertising, and public relations company in Fort Myers, FL.  Hansen continues to serve the EMS community as chaplain for the Lee County EMS.

Printable Version