MedFlight "Touching Base" "TOUCHING BASE": A Blog by MedFlight. MEDCARE, OUTREACH & TRAINING, WHAT'S NEW? August 27, 2021 Meet MedFlight and MedCare’s Medical Directors (L to R) Dr. Brad Raetzke and Dr. Ashley Larrimore, Medical Directors for MedFlight and MedCare Ambulance. MedFlight and MedCare Ambulance are proud to introduce our Medical Directors, Dr. Brad Raetzke and Dr. Ashley Larrimore, who were appointed following the retirement of longterm Medical Director Dr. Howard Werman. Both physicians have served at MedFlight and MedCare Ambulance for years, working with our clinicians and leadership to enhance operations and clinical care. Both Dr. Raetzke and Dr. Larrimore recently sat down for an interview, sharing their thoughts on the future of MedFlight and MedCare. Dr. Ashley Larrimore What made you decide to become a physician? I have always wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember, so there is no one thing that made me want to pursue that path. I love helping people and solving problems, and being a doctor lets me do both. It’s always intellectually stimulating, and I always feel like I am making a difference, even on the really hard days. What have you enjoyed most about working with MedFlight? I really love the people. Its a such a smart, interesting, engaged group from the leadership to the partners. I’m constantly challenged with clinical scenarios, questions and ideas that force me to learn and adapt every day which makes for a really interesting and dynamic workplace. What have you enjoyed most about working with MedCare? It’s been fun to work with such a variety of people. We have some partners who have been with MedCare and in EMS for a long time and some who are new to EMS. I’ve loved seeing the people who have been with the company for a while grow into team leaders and mentor our newer clinicians, watching their skillset grow as a result. What do you envision for the future of both organizations? EMS is really rapidly changing, especially in the past five years… We are being challenged to take care of more complex patients. We plan to combine MedCare and MedFlight in terms of protocol and training, and we’ll continue to constantly train with our clinical partners so we can continue to provide the best care in the industry. Any message you would like to pass along to clinicians? Don’t ever get complacent. We are really fortunate to be trusted with caring for people who are at their most vulnerable. Make sure you are always at the top of your game and constantly challenging yourself to learn more and be better. Biggest lesson you learned from MedFlight’s retired Medical Director, Dr. Werman. I learned to genuinely listen to what people have to say and to treat everyone with respect. Being in a leadership role, it’s important to listen to what others are saying about what goes on in their day-to-day, their concerns, and also how you are doing as a leader. I think people are so much more open that way, and I learn so much that way. Tell us about yourself. I’ve been married to my awesome husband for four years now, and we have a really funny two year old son… plus baby #2 on the way in January! To be honest, EMS IS my hobby and I just got lucky enough that I get paid to do it. I also enjoy working out, cooking and traveling when we’re safely able to. Dr. Brad Raetzke What made you decide to become a physician? Watching the show “ER” as a teenager opened my eyes into medicine. I enjoyed the blend of helping others and my enjoyment of science. I gained experience during College as an EMT and realized I really did like the practice of medicine. Going through medical school, I enjoyed all subjects, but realized I most enjoyed the acute presentation of diseases and not long term management, which is why I chose Emergency Medicine as a specialty! What have you enjoyed most about working with MedFlight? I enjoy working with some extremely talented clinicians in the mission of trying to transport patients who are often times the “sickest of the sick”. Our partners are always open to having fun during training but are laser focused on safety and clinical excellence. What have you enjoyed most about working with MedCare? Some of my most memorable moments at MedCare are working side by side with our crews at Rock on the Range concerts and US Soccer Games. I enjoy learning about the passion that people have for the organization and to improving the way we deliver care to our patients. I love hearing about the unique runs and circumstances our partners encounter and the great ways they are able to solve the problems! What do you envision for the future of both organizations? There are a lot of changes going on! I am looking forward to getting through some of these bigger changes and seeing how well the two organizations can work together to solve patient transport issues as an “A to Z” solution for our hospitals. I always enjoy thinking outside the box and looking at innovative ways that we can deliver care differently – and better – than we are doing now. The talents of both organizations will allow us to to great things! Any message you would like to pass along to clinicians? I sincerely appreciate all that you have done over these challenging past several years with the amount of changes that we have had to go through regarding the pandemic and changing healthcare landscape. I encourage all of you to find a good balance between work and home and to never stop learning and trying to be a better clinician. Please let me know how I can help at any time! Biggest lesson you learned from Dr. Werman. Dr. Werman has been a great mentor to me. He has taught me a ton over the past 16 years that I have known him… everything from being a resident, to research, to being a role model as an EMS Physician. I am truly grateful for what he has done and wouldn’t be in this position without him. Probably the most important thing I have learned from him is to never start a clinical shift without a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Tell us about yourself. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family with a wife, four children, and a variety of pets at home. We enjoy traveling to national parks, camping and backpacking. My wife and I are both private pilots and enjoy flying in our free time! Share this: TwitterFacebook Loading... Related MedFlight Acquires 100% of MedCare Ambulance March 9, 2020 In "PRESS RELEASES" Meet MedCare Ambulance’s Vice President of EMS. June 1, 2020 In "OUTREACH & TRAINING" MedFlight: 20 Years and Counting! 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