LARGO, Fla. (October 21, 2015) – Pinellas County HCA Hospitals have recognized four Sunstar Paramedics employees with its annual EMS All-Star Team award, which is presented to emergency medical services professionals who have demonstrated a commitment to quality patient care and expertise in their field.

Emergency medical technicians Desiree DiRisio and Timothy Hintze and paramedics Nick Rea and Richard Romanek received the All-Star award in early October. Each was nominated by his or her supervisor.

“We are very proud that HCA Hospitals has chosen to recognize our employees again,” said Mark Postma, chief operating officer of Sunstar Paramedics. “These four individuals are a great example of Sunstar’s employees’ dedication to the community and to providing excellent patient care.”

DiRisio and Romanek have a long history of providing compassionate care and going beyond their job duties to make a difference in patients’ lives. Recently, a patient told them that his backpack had been damaged during a previous trip to the hospital. Knowing that it was a valued possession, DiRisio and Romanek used their own money to buy the patient a new backpack and delivered it to him at his nursing facility. This grateful patient is one of many who have benefited by DiRisio and Romanek’s compassion.

Hintze and Rea respond to a high volume of difficult emergency calls, such as pediatric and critical patients. Despite these challenging daily experiences, Hintze and Rea maintain positive attitudes towards their patients and co-workers. They are known to be flexible and willing to help their fellow Sunstar employees, regardless of how difficult their shift has been. Their hard work and commitment to excellence sets an example for the Sunstar team.