Brookfield Fire Department paramedics have come a long way in the last 10 years thanks to the work of Judy Larsen.
Larsen, who trained more than 100 paramedics since, retired from her position as EMS coordinator last month.
Deputy Fire Chief Collin Curtis said it was Larsen's initial efforts in 1992 on the Brookfield EMS Committee that paved the way for the city's transition to a full paramedic program in 1996.
"By getting all the systems up and running in the paramedic unit, all the personnel in the fire department are trained to the basic level, so all the people on the engines on most calls are available to help. They're very knowledgeable, and a huge benefit to the community," Larsen said.
Before the transition, Brookfield had just one paramedic unit. Today, all three of Brookfield's firehouses have EMT units, making for much quicker response time throughout the city.
"Before, if they were already on a call, the service would not be available to a second person that calls," Larsen said.
Larsen fell into paramedic training while working as a nurse in 1973. At the time, city police departments ran EMS. Larsen helped transition Milwaukee County's EMS system to the fire department, pioneering the paramedic system used today.
"When I worked originally as a nurse it was very discouraging to see patients brought in in very poor condition because (EMTs) didn't have the training and equipment available," she said. "You always had in the back of your mind, 'we can do this better.'"
Larsen said she can't believe how far paramedic programs have come in three decades: An emergency room extension that stabilizes patients before transporting them.
In the future she sees paramedics doing even more.
"Paramedics will be involved in some primary care and preventative care more than we do now," she said, citing paramedics recently administering H1N1 flu shots as an example.
While it's clear Larsen will be missed, Curtis said the department is in the process of finding a replacement.
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