departments

Sunstar Paramedics is widely recognized for operating one of the best dispatch centers in the world.  There are only a handful of emergency dispatch centers globally that have earned the highly acclaimed Accredited Center of Excellence Award from the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch, and Sunstar Paramedics just happens to be one.

What makes Sunstar so unique is that experienced EMTs and Paramedics staff our call center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. These highly skilled professionals can be counted on to provide expert step-by-step critical care instructions to ensure patients receive the highest level of care “over the phone” even before an ambulance arrives.

Our call center team also has access to the most advanced technologies available today. Through our Automatic Vehicle Locator system, we are able to track our ambulances in real time. This allows us to dispatch the nearest Paramedic team to any emergency situation. That effort is further aided by our electronic Geographic Information System, which analyzes and interprets vast amounts of data to help us predict which areas of the county have the greatest potential for needing an emergency response team.

This is why you may sometimes see an ambulance parked at your grocery store or neighborhood shopping center. When an emergency strikes, we know every second counts. Sunstar uses this highly sophisticated computer modeling data to help us determine where exactly to position our ambulances across the county to provide the fastest emergency response times each and every day.

When critically ill patients must be transported from one facility to another, our Critical Care Transport (CCT) program is there to provide continuous intensive care during transit.

Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), critically ill patients must receive the same high level of care and monitoring during a transport that they were receiving during their hospital stay. In the past, this has placed the burden on the referring facility to send their own staff with the ambulance to provide this continuous higher level of patient care, which often left the facility short staffed.

Sunstar’s CCT program offers a better approach.

With our Critical Care Transport program, patients receive the highly-skilled care they require and facilities stay fully staffed. All patients benefit as a result.

We have a critical care ambulance on call 24 hours a day, every day. The ambulance is located mid-county to minimize travel time to any dispatch location. The critical care ambulance is staffed by:

• A critical care experienced, state licensed, county certified nurse with a minimum of three years CCU/ ICU/ ER experience;
• A critical care trained, state and county certified Paramedic with a minimum of three years experience; and
• A specially trained county certified EMT.

Each member of the team has also completed additional, specialized training in treating obstetrics, pediatrics and neonates.

Sunstar’s Critical Care Transport program is one of only a few ground teams in the nation that utilizes a dual provider nurse/ medic configuration. Our skilled, experienced nurses are essential to our commitment to providing the best care to our patients. We have been providing critical care transports since 1992, and complete more than 1,250 CCT transports every year.

Certifications

We are proud partners of the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), International Board of Specialty Certification (IBSC), Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), American Academy of Pediatrics, National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), The American Heart Association (AHA), Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association (ASTNA) and Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). We support these leading organizations by maintaining the following certifications for our clinical staff:

All of our Critical Care Nurses and Paramedics hold AHA Basic Life Support, AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support , NAEMT Emergency Pediatric Care, Neonatal Resuscitation Program, NAEMT Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, and Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC) and/or Transport Professional Advanced Trauma Course (TPTAC).

Our Critical Care Nurses must also hold the Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification upon hire and obtain an advanced certification through the BCEN within two years of employment, either the Certified Transport Registered Nurse (CTRN), or the Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN).

Our Critical Care Paramedics obtain an advanced certification through the IBSC either the Critical Care Paramedic-Certified (CCP-C) or Flight Paramedic-Certified (FP-C) within two years of hire.

We are committed to quality patient care through best practices and evidence based medicine which are obtained through these organizations and their certifications.

Accreditation

Sunstar’s CCT system is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation on Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), which sets standards for levels of training and certification of critical care providers.

EMTs, Paramedics, and Nurses

Sunstar’s EMTs, Paramedics and nurses are skilled professionals who provide high-quality emergency care to every patient we serve. From applying a splint to a broken finger to administering advanced life support, you can count on our emergency professionals to provide expert, compassionate care. And because our EMTs, Paramedics and nurses must regularly complete rigorous continuing educational requirements, the care our patients receive is always in line with the medical community’s most up-to-date protocols and best practices.

Ambulances

Our ambulances are always fully stocked with the equipment and supplies necessary to provide the highest level of care.  Sunstar’s ALS ambulances contain advanced procedure equipment, heart monitors, medications and other supplies necessary to provide lifesaving emergency care to those we serve.

Server-linked laptops in each ambulance relay vital information about a patient’s condition to the hospital during transit. A heart monitor reading, for example, will appear in real time at the destination hospital before the patient does. This allows doctors and nurses at the hospital to prepare for the patient’s arrival while also helping to ensure that patients receive a consistently high level of care.

A team of skilled mechanics also works full time to maintain, service and repair our ambulances keeping our fleet in top condition. Sunstar’s ambulances are replaced, on average, every five years to ensure that they have the best technology and equipment to care for patients.

Our Ties to the Pinellas County Community

• All of our EMTs and Paramedics receive their Continuing Medical Education (CME) through our Education Department in partnership with the Pinellas County Office of the Medical Director (OMD) .
• We work closely with All Children’s Hospital to provide world-class care to infants and children. For more information about our partnership with All Children’s Hospital, click here.
• Our Materials Management department supplies the entire Pinellas County first responder system with vital lifesaving materials and equipment. You can find more information about Materials Management here.

Our ambulances are a critical component of our service. They must be up-to-date, and they must always be in good repair. To be absolutely sure that our ambulances are always ready to serve the Pinellas County community, Sunstar employs a staff of one part-time and seven full-time mechanics.

Our mechanics complete all maintenance and repair on our fleet, allowing us to be sure of the highest possible quality of work on our ambulances. As a result, our units are safe, reliable and available to meet both normal and extraordinary demands.

We work hard to determine the best ways to care for our ambulances so that they can help care for our patients. To determine the best interval for oil changes, for example, we contracted with a vehicle performance research company to run ambulances on a track for extended periods. The results determined that a 5,000-mile oil change interval was appropriate. To exceed these requirements, Sunstar EMS performs the service every 4,000 miles.

Have you ever wondered how an ambulance gets stocked with everything it needs, or how EMTs and Paramedics always manage to have exactly the right supplies for every emergency?

At Sunstar, the answer is our outstanding Materials Management Department. Tasked with restocking the disposable supplies and equipment on every ambulance, the committed Materials Management staff enables Sunstar’s EMTs, Paramedics, and nurses to provide the best possible care to Pinellas County’s residents and visitors.

How Does Materials Management Work?

We use a “speed loader” system to make sure that supplies and equipment are always correctly stocked and replaced on each ambulance. Essential supplies geared for specific emergencies are heat sealed in plastic and strategically placed into specific compartments inside the ambulance. When the ambulance returns from a call, if the seal of a supply pack is broken, the entire package is immediately replaced with a complete set of new and sterile supplies. The unused items are inventoried and repackaged accordingly for later use. If a supply container’s seal is not broken, it quickly signals to our team that the items do not need to be replaced.

It’s a simple and elegant solution to the supply problems that sometimes occurred when ambulance teams had to rely solely on memory when have to quickly decide which items in an ambulance to restock. Our system is so efficient that people from around the nation visit to see how we do it.

In addition to properly restocking the ambulances, we wash them at the end of each shift and check to make sure that they are in good operating condition. We also retrieve and clean backboards and related equipment from local hospitals so that they can be rapidly returned to the system.

As part of our contract with Pinellas County, our Materials Management Department manages EMS supply distribution for the entire county first responder system. We take our responsibility to purchase, store, and distribute advanced life support equipment seriously.

Honor Guard

You may have seen the Sunstar Honor Guard at parades or sporting events around Tampa Bay, marching in unison with their rifles and flags, the silver buttons on their uniforms shining in the Florida sun. Or you may have seen them on a solemn occasion as they present the American flag to honor a fallen hero. Honor Guard members go above and beyond their regular duties to serve our community with dignity and respect.

Sunstar’s Honor Guard trains twice monthly to perfect its marching, rifle handling, and flag-bearing skills. Because of the sensitive nature of the Honor Guard’s duties at funerals, members must also train properly to escort a hero’s family members, approach a casket, and fold the flag presented to the family. This training is in addition to guard members’ regular duties as lifesaving paramedics and EMTs.

If you want the Sunstar Honor Guard to participate in your next community event, please contact Stephanie Calvert at scalvert@sunstarems.com or 727-582-2090 for more information.

All Children’s Hospital & Perinatal Transports

Sunstar loves infants and children and wants to see them grow into happy, healthy adults. To help reach that goal, Sunstar provides All Children’s Hospital with EMTs, and also services the hospital’s emergency vehicles.

When a mother with a high-risk pregnancy requires emergency transport to a hospital that can meet her intensive needs, our Critical Care Transport Team is there to ensure that she reaches the hospital safely. Bayfront, Pinellas County’s primary neonatal receiving facility, expertly attends to the specialized medical needs of high-risk pregnancies. After the baby is born, All Children’s Hospital is next door to provide the best medical care for the newborn.

Mental Health Transports

We believe that every person deserves to be treated with dignity. That’s why we do so with compassion and respect when Sunstar transports patients to mental health facilities for treatment or evaluation. Transport is available 24 hours a day and is a part of our agreement with Pinellas County to provide the highest standard of care for our community.

Special Operations

EMS Agencies need to be prepared for when disasters strike. But it is even more critical for them to be well-coordinated with other agencies and have set plans, resources, and personnel in place.

In 2016, Sunstar Paramedics created a new Special Operations Division, as well as a new Special Operations Supervisor position, which focuses on the planning and response for small to medium-scale events like concerts, triathlons, civil disturbances, and large-scale events such as mass casualty incidents, natural or human-made disasters and EMS/Fire incidents involving dangerous life or health environments.

Andre (Andy) Wilkinson was appointed Special Operations Supervisor on September 11th, 2023. Andy has been with Sunstar Paramedics for 19 years. He brings over 28 years of experience to the position dating back to 1995. His career has spanned three major metropolitan areas: Boston, Honolulu, and, more recently, Tampa Bay. During this time, he gained experience in varying types of special events, disaster preparedness, and operations. He joined Sunstar Paramedics in May of 2005 and has worked as a Paramedic, FTO, Field Operations Supervisor, and Communications Supervisor.

Sunstar was the first EMS agency in Florida to place not just one but three Ambulance Buses in service. These Ambulance Buses can transport up to twelve patients per bus. Each Ambulance Bus is deployed with a well-trained Special Operations Team of two Paramedics, two EMTs, and an EMS supervisor, providing disaster response capabilities to the State of Florida and the Tampa Bay area, which includes Pinellas, Pasco, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Polk counties.

Regarding natural disasters such as hurricanes, the Special Operations Team is an All-Hazards Response Team that federal agencies, the State of Florida, or the Florida Ambulance Association may request. The mission request could be for 9-1-1 response, search & rescue, facility/hospital evacuation, or extended operations to assist counties with heavy devastation from a natural disaster. Typically, Sunstar will either deploy a Strike Team of ambulances or a Task Force of ambulances and Special Operations vehicles, depending on the request and type of disaster.

When planning for a Special Event, Sunstar offers full medical support, which includes ALS 1st responder services, transport, medical tents, special rescue Kubota’s (off-road capabilities, trails, and beaches), and mass casualty planning. This includes major event venues like The Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto BlueJays Spring Training. The Special Operations Supervisor also completes an IAP (incident action plan) for all medium and large-scale events, shared with Pinellas County EMS & Fire Administration, Pinellas County Regional 9-1-1, local fire departments, and law enforcement.

Educating Our Community

Sunstar Paramedics’ Training Center offers a variety of AHA and NAEMT courses to not only meet the educational needs of our healthcare providers, but to the citizens of the Tampa Bay area as well. As active clinicians in the field, all of Sunstar’s instructors are on the front lines and cutting edge of allied health education. All of our instructors are highly experienced and credentialed to teach the most up to date information.

Our Clinical Services Department was very honored to receive the State of Florida’s EMS Educator of the Year Award for 2017.

Knowledge to Save Lives

At Sunstar, we understand the importance of training and education to maintain the quality of service that we provide. Our EMTs and Paramedics complete 30 hours of continuing medical education per year, including classes in advanced cardiac life support, pediatrics and international trauma life support. In these courses, our staff members learn the newest skills and protocols, as well as refresh and strengthen their basics. Additionally, our EMTs and Paramedics can choose to pursue Critical Care Transport Training or Communication Center Continuing Education.  Our Critical Care Program provides employees a career option in EMS that is different from working on conventional ambulances. By becoming a member of our CCT team, our employees advance their knowledge and scope of practice. Click here for more information on Critical Care Transports. System Status Controllers (SSCs) receive Continuing Dispatch Education (CDE) every other month under the direction of the Communications Training Officer. The training is provided in both a classroom and self-study format. Our CDEs meet the criteria of the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch for EMD re-certification. Click here for more about our SSCs.

Continuing Medical Education

As part of our commitment to education, we play an important role in the Pinellas County Continuing Medical Education (CME) Steering Committee. Using data collected from Quality Assurance Reviews, audits of Patient Care Reports, and changes in emergency medical services and other medical protocols that require new training, the committee works with the Pinellas County Medical Director to improve the quality of CME for Pinellas County EMS providers. The committee also develops educational programs as required by the state of Florida and Pinellas County in order for our staff to attain or retain certifications such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

Educational Partnership

Sunstar and SPC are working together to prepare the next generation of EMTs and Paramedics. Students in SPC’s EMT and Paramedic programs ride with our teams in order to gain field experience before graduation, which means that graduates are better prepared for their lifesaving futures.

Quality Assurance

Sunstar follows a comprehensive quantity assurance program which integrates directly with our education and training programs. We review calls for adherence to medical standards, track and trend data and provide direct feedback to our clinicians. This allows us to measure our medical performance over time, respond to recognized tendencies and chart educational pathways for the future.