American Ambulance Association honors Paul Kock with Stars of Life award
Sioux Falls, S.D. (June, 2019) – Sioux Falls PatientCare EMS paramedic Paul Kock was awarded the American Ambulance Association’s Stars of Life award. The award recognizes ambulance service professionals for outstanding performance and dedication to the emergency medical services (EMS) profession.
“Paul demonstrates outstanding dedication to the Sioux Falls community and serves as a mentor to his peers,” said Michael Bureau, chief operating officer of Sioux Falls PatientCare EMS. “We’re proud that the American Ambulance Association has recognized his contributions to the EMS industry.”
Kock was nominated for his empathy and professionalism. As one example, he responded to an emergency call for a senior citizen who had fallen and was unable to stand. Kock and the PatientCare team arrived quickly and realized that the patient was not injured, but needed assistance in standing. After speaking briefly to the patient, Kock realized he was a veteran and began to talk to him about his time in the United States Air Force, which helped to put the patient at ease during a stressful situation.
Kock is committed to helping others and his community. In addition to working as a paramedic, he volunteers for the Sanford Canton-Inwood Ambulance, where he serves as a volunteer paramedic once a week.
Kock has been working in the EMS field for 30 years. He began his career in 1989 as a volunteer emergency medical technician (EMT) at Canton-Inwood Ambulance. He started taking courses to become a paramedic while he was volunteering as an EMT. He earned his paramedic certification in 1996 and began working as a paramedic for Sioux Falls PatientCare EMS.
Kock was among 100 emergency service personnel recognized during the Stars of Life Celebration in Washington, D.C. on June 24-26.
About PatientCare: Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls PatientCare EMS is the 911 ambulance transport service for the city of Sioux Falls, serving an area of 73 square miles with a population of 183,200 residents. Its 80 employees respond to approximately 40 calls for service per day. PatientCare’s fleet of 10 ambulances are all equipped with new Lifepak 15 ECG devices, Stryker Power Stretchers, Panasonic Tough Book patient care reporting devices, and state-of-the-art dispatching software.