Liberty Regional Medical Center’s commitment to quality service was reinforced recently when the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians recognized the hospital’s Emergency Medical Services director, Jim Turner, for his 20 years as a registered EMT.
William Brown Jr., the registry’s executive director, praised Turner for progressing enough with the evolving field to stay on the list.
“It is a rare achievement that an EMT maintains 20 years of continual national registration,” Brown said in a press release.
To stay on the national registry, EMTs must meet educational requirements and take a recertification exam every two years.
Turner said he was surprised when he received his award letter and certificate in the mail.
“I didn’t know the registry recognized people that had that many years in,” he said.
Simply out of an interest to meeting needs, Turner started out as an EMT in Rabun County for four years and a LifeStar flight medic in Savannah for 10 years.
He has been at LRMC since 1997.
Turner said supervising the EMS staff and its 700-plus monthly emergency calls is a different kind of experience than working in an ambulance, but he likes managing the department.
“I like looking out for my employees,” he said. “I think that brings a lot of joy – just trying to make things better for them. I love (my job). I really wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
LRMC spokesperson Rene’ Harwell said Turner’s recognition reflects well on the entire hospital.
“Our community is blessed to have an individual of his qualifications on our staff,” she said.
William Brown Jr., the registry’s executive director, praised Turner for progressing enough with the evolving field to stay on the list.
“It is a rare achievement that an EMT maintains 20 years of continual national registration,” Brown said in a press release.
To stay on the national registry, EMTs must meet educational requirements and take a recertification exam every two years.
Turner said he was surprised when he received his award letter and certificate in the mail.
“I didn’t know the registry recognized people that had that many years in,” he said.
Simply out of an interest to meeting needs, Turner started out as an EMT in Rabun County for four years and a LifeStar flight medic in Savannah for 10 years.
He has been at LRMC since 1997.
Turner said supervising the EMS staff and its 700-plus monthly emergency calls is a different kind of experience than working in an ambulance, but he likes managing the department.
“I like looking out for my employees,” he said. “I think that brings a lot of joy – just trying to make things better for them. I love (my job). I really wouldn’t want to do anything else.”
LRMC spokesperson Rene’ Harwell said Turner’s recognition reflects well on the entire hospital.
“Our community is blessed to have an individual of his qualifications on our staff,” she said.