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2008

ACADIAN EXPANDS TO SAN ANTONIO. Acadian Ambulance Service began operations in San Antonio, Texas located in Bexar County, effective Tuesday, December 30, 2008, with the acquisition of Southwest EMS. The San Antonio operations will consist of about 40 full-time employees, six ambulances, and three wheelchair vans, will be dispatched from Austin.

ACADIAN HONORED BY AUSTIN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Acadian was named as a finalist to receive top honors in the category of customer service, for medium-sized businesses, at the 2008 Austin Chamber of Commerce Business Awards Gala. Acadian is the only ambulance or medical transportation company nominated or selected as a finalist by the Chamber of Commerce to receive its highest honor.

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HONORS ACADIAN AMBULANCE WITH FIRST ANNUAL AWARD. In recognition of their vital role of career and technical education, Acadian Ambulance Service received the 2008 Outstanding Secondary Business Champion Award from the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System at their 1st annual Career and Technical Education Distinguished Service Awards Ceremony in the historic Supreme Court Building in New Orleans on July 31st.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE ESTABLISHES OWN MOBILE COMMAND UNIT. Gearing up for hurricane season, Acadian Ambulance has established its own mobile command unit, Halo-1. The mobile unit will allow for assisting in the coordinating of ground and/or Air Med resources when communications are limited and non-existent in a specific geographical area. It will also house the temporary operations of Acadian's field medics.

ACADIAN MEDICS WIN THREE AWARDS AT LANREMT CONFERENCE: DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR, PRESIDENTIAL AWARD & EDUCATION COORDINATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD. Acadian Ambulance Services Paramedics Angie Vidrine, Janie Fuller and Cindy Mitchell were among the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from around Louisiana who were honored by LANREMT, the Louisiana Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING OF CENTRAL TEXAS DIVISION. Acadian Ambulance hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in Austin. The event took place at Acadian's Central Texas office located at 4100 Ed Bluestein Blvd. Acadian began operating in Travis and Williamson Counties in October of last year following the company purchasing select assets of MetroCare Services of Austin.

LSU HEAD FOOTBALL COACH LES MILES SPEAKS AT ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Since taking over as head coach at LSU in January of 2005, Miles has guided the Tigers to the 2007 BCS National Title and to three straight top five rankings, a first at the school. Miles compared the Acadian Ambulance Paramedics with a championship football team. He gave the audience of some 1400 people a look behind the scenes of his championship coaching style, and talked of the qualities that are essential to a winning team, whether a university football team or a championship emergency medical organization.

FLIGHT PARAMEDIC GLENN NAQUIN RECEIVES ACADIAN'S HIGHEST HONOR AS PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. Glenn Naquin, flight paramedic in Houma is voted by his peers to receive the Dr. Arthur Vidrine Award at the annual Paramedic Luncheon.

ACADIAN'S PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR GLENN NAQUIN AND EMT OF THE YEAR JOHN TRAHAN WERE HONORED IN WASHINGTON, DC. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, the 65th annual Stars of Life honors medics from around the U.S. for their heroic actions and dedication to the communities they serve. The medics also visited their congressmen to discuss health care issues.

ESOP ASSOCIATION PRESENTS BEST COMMUNICATIONS AWARD TO ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVIC FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. The Southwest Chapter of the ESOP Association, a regional organization of companies in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, in which employees are owners through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, presented its Tenth Annual Award for Best Communications to Acadian Ambulance Service. Acadian was judged on the ways in which they communicate employee ownership to its employees and its community.

2007

BOB WOODRUFF OF ABC NEWS IS KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT ANNUAL ACADIAN PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Bob Woodruff, recognized as one the world's leading broadcast journalists, gave a dramatic eyewitness account of activity in Iraq to a New Orleans audience of over 1400 Friday. Woodruff was guest speaker at the Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Luncheon, held for the first time in the Crescent City. Flight Paramedic Marc Creswell was honored as Paramedic of the Year.

ACADIAN'S PARAMEDIC MARC CRESWELL AND EMT BARBARA GARCIA WERE HONORED IN WASHINGTON, DC. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, the 15th annual Stars of Life honors medics from around the U.S. for their heroic actions and dedication to the communities they serve. Added to the agenda was an unscheduled recognition for the Acadian Stars. Creswell and Garcia were also commended at the banquet by AAA President Jim McPartlon for treating a woman who experienced a seizure outside a Congressional office building.

ACADIAN BEGINS CONSTRUCTION ON NEW FACILITIES OF SAFETY MANAGEMETN SYSTEMS & NATIONAL EMS ACADEMY. Acadian has initiated a long-term project that, when completed, will bring together all of the company's multi-faceted facilities and services at a single location -- 53 acres of recently acquired land on University Avenue in Lafayette, LA, a mile northeast of the I-49 and I-10 interchange.

ESOP ASSOCIATION PRESENTS BEST COMMUNICATIONS AWARD TO ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE. The Southwest Chapter of the ESOP Association, a regional organization of companies in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, in which employees are owners through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, presented its Ninth Annual Award for Best Communications to Acadian Ambulance Service.

ACADIAN MONITORING SERVICES CREATES ATM, ACADIAN TELEHEALTH MONITORING. AMS, a subsidiary of Acadian Ambulance Service, is partnering with home health agencies nationwide to take in-home medical testing and patient monitoring to a new level. ATM, through the use of state-of-the-art technology, will make home health company operations more efficient and cost-effective while at the same time allowing for superior patient care.

UNITED WAY OF ACADIANA RECOGNIZED ACADIAN AMBULANCE AT ITS COMMUNITY AWARDS BANQUET FOR OPENLY AND SELFLESSLY INSPIRING HOPE THROUGHOUT ACADIANA IN 2006. The Torian Award recognizes outstanding organizations who go above and beyond the call to give. This year's recipient is Acadian Ambulance Service who "earned a top 10 spot for Leadership Giving and Corporate and Employee Giving."

2006

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS ANNOUNCED AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND INCREASE THE COMPANY'S SERVICES AND PRESENCE IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. Acadian began operating in Orange County in June of this year. The company has reached a tentative agreement to acquire certain key assets of MetroCare EMS and plans to begin operations in Jefferson County. ACADIAN INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS MERGE. AIS & SMS merge companies to create largest provider of health, safety & environment services in region. SMS provides health, safety, and environmental technicians and consultants, and environmental management services. The company has a large presence in the Gulf of Mexico, Texas, and the Rocky Mountains.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE HAS BEEN GRANTED FULL THREE-YEAR RE-ACCREDITATION BY THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF AMBULANCE SERVICES (CAAS). Acadian was first accredited in 1995 for its compliance with national standards of excellence.

ACADIAN COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION OF ITS 25TH AMBULANCE. The company has been using the advanced capabilities and technology of its Fleet Maintenance Department to construct its own ambulances since 2002.

FEMA AWARDS CONTRACT TO ACADIAN AMBULANCE. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a contract to Acadian Ambulance Service under which Acadian will play a key role in the federal government's response program for emergencies or disasters in Louisiana.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE AIR MED SERVICES WAS HONORED FOR ITS EFFORT DURING HURRICANE KATRINA RESCUES. Air Med was selected as a recipient of the 2006 Igor I. Sikorsky Humanitarian Service Award, which is presented by the Helicopter Association International in recognition of the saving of life, protection of property and relieving of distress and suffering.

ACADIAN MEDICS WIN THREE AWARDS AT LANREMT CONFERENCE: PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR, DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR. Acadian Ambulance Services Paramedics Billy Vincent, Mike Sonnier and Glenn Naquin were among the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from around Louisiana who were honored by LANREMT, the Louisiana Association of Emergency Medical Technicians.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE BEGAN PROVIDING SERVICE TO ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS. Acadian was chosen from a list of six ambulance services that had been reduced to three finalists including Priority Care One, a California-based company and American Medical Response, of Houston. The area to be served under the new contract includes the cities of Orange, Bridge City, West Orange, Pinehurst plus three emergency service districts and the unincorporated jurisdiction of Orange County.

LA SENATOR MIKE MICHOT INTRODUCED A PROCLAMATION IN SENATE CHAMBERS FOR THE ACADIAN AMBULANCE MEDICS FOR THEIR HEROIC ACTIONS IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA. The four-page proclamation made reference to the multifaceted response of the rescue efforts called "inspiring, uplifting and successful." Michot praised the communication efforts by Acadian and its entire staff, and thanked Acadian for helping to bring national media attention to the plight of Louisiana.

ACADIAN'S DEAN LANDRY NAMED 2006 EMPLOYEE OWNER OF THE YEAR BY THE NATIONAL ESOP ASSOCIATION. The award was presented at the Association's 29th Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The ESOP Association is the national trade association for companies with employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) and the leading voice in America for employee ownership. Landry is a dispatcher with Acadian Ambulance Service, the company's ESOP chairman, and employee since 1997.

U.S. PRESIDENT, FORMER PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR HONOR ACADIAN AMBULANCE PARAMEDICS. The Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Luncheon constituted the most prestigious tribute ever paid to EMS professionals. It featured praise for the Paramedic of the year, Carl Dugas, and all the other members of the Acadian Paramedic corps by the president of the United States, a former president, the governor of Louisiana, and Lafayette's city-parish president. Former President George H. Bush, keynote speaker, was introduced through audio-visual technology from the White House by his son, President George W. Bush. The president cited what he called the "unmatched valor and unequaled innovation" of the Acadian Ambulance staff in meeting the needs of victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Former President Bush referred to the Acadian paramedics as America's heroes.

ACADIAN SELECTS SECOND BOARD MEMBER FROM OUTSIDE THE COMPANY. J. H. Fred H. Mills, Jr., St. Martin Parish business, civic and governmental leader, has accepted an invitation to serve on the company's board of directors. Board members are chosen by U.S. Trust, representing the employee-stockholders who own 75 percent of the company, and by Zuschlag, who owns 25 percent.

ACADIAN COMMANDED A MAJOR SHARE OF THE LIMELIGHT AT THE 24TH ANNUAL INC. 500 CONFERENCE & AWARDS CEREMONIES IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA. Acadian Chairman and CEO Richard Zuschlag was honored as the Honorable Mention for the Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year Award, while all the employee-owners of the ambulance service were honored with the first annual Bernard A. Goldhirsch Courage Award. The award is designed to recognize entrepreneurs who have overcome particularly daunting obstacles, bounced back from particularly difficult setbacks, and persevered.

JEMS HONORS MEN AND WOMEN OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR PERFORMANCE IN WAKE OF HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA. Heroic, life-saving efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have won the men and women of Acadian Ambulance Service one of the most coveted honors in the emergency medical services field. At the EMS Today professional conference and trade show in Baltimore, Md. the 2006 James O. Page Leadership Award was presented "collectively" to the company's employee-owners by JEMS, the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE EMPLOYEE OWNER RECEIVES THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE AWARD, THE EMPLOYEE OWNER OF THE YEAR AWARD. Paramedic Dean Landry is a dispatcher and nine-year Acadian veteran who also serves as Acadian's ESOP Committee Chairman. The Southwest Chapter of the ESOP Association, a regional five-state organization of ESOP companies made the presentation at the association's eighth annual conference in Dallas.

2005

ZUSCHLAG IS INC'S HONORABLE MENTION FOR ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR. Inc. magazine has named Acadian Ambulance CEO Richard Zuschlag honorable mention for its annual Entrepreneur of the Year award. Featured in the December issue, Zuschlag was included in a three-page spread entitled the Anti-Fema which detailed how his company stepped up in the wake of Katrina.

FIRST TIME IN TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS ACADIAN AMBULANCE POSTPONES PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Acadian Ambulance Service's board of directors decided to postpone their 2005 Paramedic Luncheon until May of 2006. "The two hurricanes have stressed our resources; we are extremely short staffed, and it is not the best time for us to celebrate," said Chairman & CEO Richard Zuschlag.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE GOT IT DONE, PRIVATE AMBULANCE COMPANY COORDINATES RESCUE EFFORTS IN NEW ORLEANS. EMS Magazine, Dec. 2005. "What we don't yet know about the response (or lack thereof) to Hurricane Katrina In New Orleans will doubtless fill volumes over the next several years. What we do know is this: Acadian Ambulance Services did it right. We're not just saying this because we had the foresight to present them with the EMS Magazine 2005 Gold Award at EMS EXPO just two days before Katrina hit (but we don't mind mentioning it)." -- Kathryn Robyn, Associate Editor, Emergency Medical Services , The Journal of Prehospital Care and Emergency Response.

THE CHAOS OF KATRINA. JEMS, November 2005. First-hand accounts from volunteers across the country of their Katrina experience are accounted in this November issue. Featured are our very own Ray Bias who volunteered to help man the aid station at the Superdome, David Lacombe, director of NEMSA, and Executive Director of National EMS, Bill Brown, who volunteered with Ray Bias.

DEVASTATION IN KATRINA'S WAKE. An initial report on the EMS response to one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history. JEMS, October 2005. "Among thousands of apocalyptic images still surfacing in the wake of hurricane Katrina, one in particular illustrates the altruistic EMS Response: A lone ambulance taking a hazardous chance, fords though floodwaters toward a stranded community. Ignoring nay saying officials unfamiliar with the area and its residents, David Hussey, an EMT-B with Acadian Ambulance Service, found a back way into St. Bernard Parish…"

STORM AND CRISIS: EARLY REACTION; AMID BUSY SIGNALS, HOPES RESTED ON AMBULANCE FIRM THAT COULD STILL COMMUNICATE. The day after Hurricane Katrina struck, Richard Zuschlag might have been one of the few people who knew the extent of the catastrophe that hit southern Louisiana. But he could not reach anyone in Baton Rouge to tell them. So Mr. Zuschlag, 57, who runs the largest ambulance service..." --GARDINER HARRIS, New York Times, National Desk, September 11, 2005, Sunday.

GOING (DOWN) BY THE BOOK. "The city's communications system was wiped out, but Acadian dispatchers kept working, thanks to a backup power system and a portable antenna rushed here the day after the hurricane. As stranded patients wondered what had happened to the city's medics and ambulances, Acadian medics filled in at the Superdome and evacuated thousands from six hospitals. While Louisiana officials debated how to accept outside help, Acadian was directing rescues by helicopters from the military and other states. As the Acadian workers demonstrated, coping with a disaster requires the ability to improvise and break the rules - talents notably absent in most bureaucrats." --JOHN TIERNEY, New York Times, Editorial Desk, September 17, 2005, Saturday

PLACES WHERE THE SYSTEM BROKE DOWN, A TIME INVESTIGATION SHOWS HOW CONFUSION, INCOMPETENCE AND, IRONICALLY, A FEAR OF MAKING MISTAKES HOBBLED THE GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS. "Because of all the chaos that descended on New Orleans, the acts of heroism often took the form of mini-rebellions against the bureaucracy. Richard Zuschlag, head of Acadian Ambulance, the largest ambulance transport company in southern Louisiana, moved his dispatch center to the outskirts of New Orleans, where it became the only communications network in the early hours of the disaster." --JAMES CARNEY, KAREN TUMULTY, AMANDA RIPLEY, MARK THOMPSON / WASHINGTON, TIME Magazine, September 19, 2005

ACADIAN AMBULANCE & AIR MED PLAY HUGE ROLES IN HURRICANE RESCUES AND EVACUATIONS. The Lafayette-based company coordinated the evacuation of thousands of people in need of medical attention, moving them out of New Orleans, Lake Charles and other cities in helicopters and ambulances. --Don Allen, Acadiana Profile, November 2005

FIRST LADY LAURA BUSH VISITS ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE. First Lady Laura Bush visited the Acadian Ambulance Service Dispatch and Control Center Friday to express appreciation for the company's leadership role in providing EMS services and evacuating patients from hospitals and nursing homes in storm- ravaged New Orleans. "She was very gracious," said Richard Zuschlag, Acadian Chairman and CEO, "in expressing gratitude not only to our medics, but also to the thousands of other people who are working so hard to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina."

ACADIAN RECEIVES GOLD AWARD. At the EMS Expo in New Orleans, Acadian Ambulance Service was honored for setting the "Gold Standard" for the nation in patient care. Acadian received the 11th Annual Gold Standard Service of the Year Award from EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Magazine, symbolizing national leadership in all aspects of pre-hospital emergency and non-emergency medical service.

NEMSA RECEIVES LANTERN AWARD. The National EMS Academy (NEMSA), founded by Acadian Ambulance Service to alleviate the ongoing shortage of emergency medical technicians, was awarded the coveted Lantern Award of Louisiana Economic Development (LED) in ceremonies at the Governor's Mansion in Baton Rouge. LED Secretary Michael J. Olivier presided over the awards ceremony with participation by Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

ACADIAN ANNOUNCES MAJOR ADVANCE IN ADMINISTERING LIFE-SAVING DRUGS, FLUID WITH EZ-IO. Acadian Ambulance Service announced a new device now in use by its field medics can save hundreds of lives in the company's two-state service area. Dr. Ross Judice, executive vice president and chief medical officer, said the EZ-IO(tm), world's first battery-powered intraosseous access device will allow administration of life-saving drugs or fluids to patients when traditional intravenous (IV) access is difficult or impossible.

ACADIAN HONORED AS COMPANY OF THE YEAR AND BEST ESOP COMMITTEE. The Southwest Chapter of the ESOP Association, a regional organization of companies in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico, in which employees are owners through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, presented its Seventh Annual Award for Company of the Year and Best ESOP Committee to Lafayette, Louisiana-based Acadian Ambulance Service. The presentation was made at the association's seventh annual conference in Dallas, TX.

2004

ACADIAN AQUIRES AMR IN NEW ORLEANS. Acadian Ambulance Service has announced an acquisition that will strengthen and increase the company's services and presence in the Greater New Orleans area. has reached a tentative agreement to acquire American Medical Response Ambulance Service and plans to assume AMR's operations on Wednesday, December 15, 2004.

ACADIAN & BELLSOUTH HELP CHILDREN BEAR THEIR TROUBLES. Acadian Ambulance and the BellSouth Pioneer Volunteers partnered together to give youngsters a greater sense of security and safety in times of need. Acadian Ambulance donated the materials, and the bears were sewn, stuffed and labeled by BellSouth Pioneer Volunteers. The program plans to reach kindergarteners and first graders throughout Louisiana. Paramedics will use the "Bear-a-Medic" to comfort children who need pre-hospital medical assistance.

NATIONAL EMS ACADEMY SELECTS PARTNER TO CREATE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE. The National EMS Academy and The Training Source have collaborated to form the EMS Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute will create a series of interactive courses delivered through a blend of web-based seminars, known as Webinar, and conference sessions held at the Academy's main campus in Lafayette, Louisiana.

NAIT HONORS ACADIAN AMBULANCE VICE PRESIDENT OF FLEET MAINTENANCE BILL VIDACOVICH. The National Association of Industrial Technology presented Bill Vidacovich, Acadian Ambulance vice president of Fleet Maintenance, with the Outstanding Industrial Technologist Award. The award was given in recognition of his exemplary leadership and application of the principals of Industrial Technology. Vidacovich was nominated by the Industrial Technology Department of the College of Engineering at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, where he serves as Chairman of the Industrial Technology Advisory Board, and member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board.

COAST GUARD APPROVED COURSES OFFERED IN LOUISIANA. Acadian Integrated Solutions' Training Center in Maurice, Louisiana, was approved by the United States Coast Guard to teach the Medical First Aid Provider and the Medical Care Person In Charge course. According to the Coast Guard, AIS is the only training center in the state of Louisiana that offers both courses.

ACADIAN EVACUATES OVER 100 DUE TO HURRICANE IVAN. During Hurricane Ivan, Acadian Ambulance working with Office of Emergency Preparedness and local law enforcement agencies, evacuated 190 non-ambulatory patients from facilities in the Louisiana parishes of Orleans, St. Bernard, Jefferson and St. Charles and Jackson County in Mississippi. To meet the extensive evacuation needs, 100 medics and 50 ambulances joined the normal daily contingent of 160 on-duty ambulances in the areas affected by the storm. Additional medics were on standby to be used on an as-needed basis. Seven Acadian Air Med helicopters and two medically configured airplanes participated in the evacuation operation of 21 critical patients from Methodist and Chalmette Medical Centers in the New Orleans area to Lake Charles.

NEMSA HOSTS INAGUARAL EMT-PARAMEDIC COMPLETION CEREMONY. The EMT-Paramedic Completion Ceremony marked the conclusion of the inaugural paramedic class offered by the National EMS Academy (NEMSA) in Lafayette, a unique distance learning institution for students pursuing a career as emergency medical technicians. The Academy is an educational partnership between South Louisiana Community College and Acadian Ambulance Service. NEMSA's satellite sites are located in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma, Lake Charles and Gretna.

SURGEON GENERAL IS GUEST SPEAKER AT ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Dr. Richard Carmona, Surgeon General of the United States, joined in honoring the paramedics of Acadian Ambulance Service Wednesday. Carmona was featured speaker at the 26th annual Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Luncheon. This year's Medic of the Year was Jason Hunt, a member of the Acadian team since 1997.

TEAM ACADIAN WINS THE SILVER. Teams of prehospital providers from around the nation and Australia gathered in Salt Lake City to compete in the first annual JEMS Games, "Excellence in EMS competition." JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services).was the sponsor of the event, The Olympic style event challenged competitors to demonstrate their assessment and treatment skills in simulated patient encounters. Team Acadian earned the Silver Medal for their outstanding performance. Representing Acadian were Paramedics David Finley, Allan Trammell, Hal Titus, and Gifford Saravia.

ACADIAN MEDIC IS STATE'S PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. An Acadian Ambulance paramedic has been selected as the state's leading Paramedic for 2004. Hal Titus of Morgan City was honored at the Louisiana EMT Conference where he received the EMT of the Year Award the highest individual honor in Louisiana in the field of pre-hospital emergency medical service. Titus works as a paramedic in the Morgan City/Franklin area.

ACADEMY IS INNOVATOR FINALIST. National EMS Academy has been chosen as a finalist for the third annual Innovator of the Year Award of New Orleans City Business Magazine. The academy, nominated by the Lafayette Economic Development, was one of 22 companies selected as finalists from a field of 100 entries. The award is presented to a Louisiana company, organization or individual that has demonstrated innovation through products, services and/or research.

ESOP ASSOCIATION HONORS ACADIAN. The ESOP Association presented its 2004 Award for Communications Excellence to Louisiana's own Acadian Ambulance Service. The presentation was made at the association's annual conference in Washington, DC. Acadian Ambulance received top honors in the Special Events & Promotions category for the company's "ESOP News" magazine show written, acted, produced and performed live by Acadian employees and was also honored as runner-up in the Total Communications Program.

ACADIAN PARAMEDICS PARTICIPATE IN NURSING CURRICULUM PILOT THAT COULD BE MODEL FOR THE NATION. Ten Acadian Ambulance Service paramedics are participating in a pilot program that could be a model for the nation at Nicholls State University. The medics are in an accelerated curriculum in which they can earn an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing in 15 months, as opposed to the normal curriculum of five full semesters or two-and-a-half years.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE USES "INFORMATION SUPER HIGHWAY" TO TRACK PARADE PROGRESS. In a collaborative effort between the New Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans Police Foundation, Acadian Ambulance Service and BellSouth, anyone in the world could have real time information on the progress of Mardi Gras parades. This new service utilizes state-of-the-art cellular and global positioning system (GPS) technology to show everyone the progress of parades and help them avoid congested traffic areas due to Mardi Gras activities. The Website tracks the progress of specially equipped police motorcycles at the beginning, middle and end of selected Mardi Gras parades, transmitting GPS information to mapping software created by the DICE Corporation.

ACADIAN WINS THE SILVER. Teams of prehospital providers from around the nation and Australia competed in the first annual JEMS Games, "Excellence in EMS competition" in Salt Lake City JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services) sponsored the Olympic style event which challenged competitors to demonstrate their assessment and treatment skills in simulated patient encounters. Team Acadian earned the Silver Medal for their outstanding performance. Representing Acadian were Paramedics David Finley, Allan Trammell, Hal Titus, and Gifford Saravia.

ACADIAN EXPANDS SERVICE TO NEW ORLEANS. Ambulance Service announced a major acquisition that will expand the company's services into the Greater New Orleans market. The company has acquired Priority Emergency Medical Service in an agreement that makes Acadian sole provider of emergency and non-emergency service in St. Bernard Parish and in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes will act as a backup to the 911 services.

2003

THREE-YEAR RE-ACCREDITATION GRANTED BY THE COMMISSION. Acadian was granted three-year re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS). Acadian was first accredited in 1995 for its compliance with national standards of excellence.

NEMSA RECEIVES FIRST PLACE AT THE NAISTD CONFERENCE. The collaboration between the state Louisiana Departments of Labor (LDOL) and Economic Development (LED), and Acadian Ambulance Service to train workers and address the state's health care shortage received first place honors during the National Association of Industry Specific Training Directors' (NAISTD) annual conference. In the "Leveraged Project Best Practices" category, the board of directors cited the partnership between government, education, and business to train hundreds of emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics as "an excellent example of how to do it right.

NEMSA COMPLETES FIRST COURSE. The National EMS Academy boasted 70 students who successfully completed the EMT Basic course. The National EMS Academy (NEMSA) is a unique distance learning institution for students pursuing a career as emergency medical technicians. The Academy is an educational partnership between South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) and Acadian Ambulance Service.

ACADIAN SUPPORTS AMERICA'S WETLAND CAMPAIGN. All 185 ambulances in the fleet of Acadian Ambulance Service have begun displaying decals promoting the preservation and restoration of Louisiana's wetlands. "America's Wetland Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana," is a comprehensive, multi-faceted public awareness and education initiative. The goal of the campaign is to focus public attention on the impact Louisiana's wetland loss has on the state, nation and world and to gain support for efforts to save coastal Louisiana.

PARAMEDIC MARK FRYOU NAMED NATIONAL PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. Acadian Ambulance paramedic Mark Fryou has been selected as the nation's leading Paramedic for 2003. Mark Fryou of Morgan City was honored at the EMS Expo in Las Vegas where he received the prestigious EMS Magazine/Braun Industries Paramedic of the Year Award, the highest individual honor in the field of pre-hospital emergency medical service. Fryou also received a $1000 savings bond from Braun and numerous prizes from EMS Magazine.

ACADIAN INCLUDED IN AMBER ALERT PLAN. Acadian is adding its resources to those of broadcasters and law Enforcement agencies throughout Louisiana that are part of the AMBER Alert Plan, described as the most significant weapon thus far against the kidnapping of children. Radio and television stations interrupt programming to broadcast information about the abducted child, using the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

ROY PAYNE IS 2003 MEDIC OF THE YEAR. Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Roy Payne is the 2003 recipient of the Dr. Arthur Vidrine, Jr. Memorial Award. Named in honor of the late Dr. Vidrine, who was one of the pioneers in the upgrading of ambulance service to its present advanced level, the award is presented to the outstanding medic of the year, selected from nominations by his or her peers. Payne was honored at the annual Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Luncheon.

RETIRED 4-STAR GENERAL WESLEY K. CLARK SPEAKS AT PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. General Clark told attendees at the annual Acadian Ambulance Service Paramedic Luncheon that he has deep respect for medics, greatly enhanced by a dangerous experience in Vietnam. Clark was wounded during in the conflict and, he said, a medic kept him from bleeding to death on the battlefield. Clark, one of the nation's most distinguished retired military officers, was guest speaker for the event.

GOVERNOR MIKE FOSTER EXPRESSED EXCITEMENT FOR THE ABILITY OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE AND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK. Ribbon cutting ceremonies Friday, July 11 marked the opening of the National EMS Academy (NEMSA) in Lafayette, a unique distance learning institution for students pursuing a career as emergency medical technicians. The Academy is an educational partnership between South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) and Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc. (AASI). The Academy will utilize compressed video technology to broadcast the training from the Lafayette-based host site to classrooms in five other sites in Louisiana: Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Covington, Houma, and Lake Charles. Taking part in the ceremony, Governor Mike Foster said,"…the distance learning technology that the Academy uses is amazing."

PIERCE NAMED PRESIDENT OF ACADIAN AMBULANCE. In a surprise announcement at the company's annual awards banquet, Chief Operating Officer David Pierce was named president of Acadian Service Ambulance, Inc. Pierce's selection was announced by Chairman and CEO Richard Zuschlag, who called it "an excellent choice by our board of directors." Zuschlag said Pierce is "imminently qualified to lead the company forward during a challenging period of continued growth and expansion."

ACADIAN EXPANDS FLEET OF AIR AMBULANCES TO SIX. Acadian announced an expansion of services to include providing emergency helicopter ambulance service in St. Tammany Parish. The service will be launched March 1 at 6 a.m. The Slidell-based aircraft will bring to six the number of helicopter ambulances operated by AASI. Programs are already operating in Lafayette, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge, Houma and Alexandria.

STARS BECOMES PART OF AIS. Acadian Integrated Solutions (AIS), a subsidiary company launched earlier this month by Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc., has acquired Safety Training and Regulatory Services (STARS), an established company with a 10-year history of broad-based training for the petroleum industry. Ed Mury, president of AIS, said the acquisition is the first major step toward expanding the extensive capabilities already offered by AIS.

NEW SUBSIDIARY COMPANY LAUNCHED BY ACADIAN. Acadian Ambulance Service announced the launch of a new subsidiary company called Acadian Integrated Solutions (AIS). The new company incorporates a broad spectrum of services to include on-site health and safety services, web-based productivity and risk management analysis tools, workplace security resources, on-site administrative support services, regulatory and compliance training, international medical management services and others -- under one umbrella.

ACADIAN PARAMEDICS RECEIVE AWARDS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Paramedic of the Year Christine Troxlair and husband and wife paramedic team Joe and Sue Szush received the Star of Life Award in Washington, DC for their commitment and dedication to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Troxlair and the Szush's were three of over 120 medics from around the United States who were sponsored by their ambulance service to participate in the Stars of Life Celebrations. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, (AAA) the 9th annual Stars of Life Celebration in Washington D.C. included meetings with their senators, congressional representatives, a session on Medical Response to Terrorism, and a special reception at the U.S. Capitol.

2002

LOCAL AMBULANCE COMPANIES CONSOLIDATE ACTIVITIES IN FIVE PARISHES. Acadian Ambulance Service Inc. and MedExpress Ambulance Service Inc. have agreed to consolidate their activities in five south and central Louisiana parishes under the Acadian Ambulance umbrella, effective Tuesday, June 11. Parishes affected by the consolidation are Calcasieu, Iberia, Rapides, St. Landry and Vermilion.

DISCOVERY CANADA TV SERIES FEATURES ACADIAN'S LIFE SAVING TECHNOLOGY. In January, a full-length episode of the Discovery Canada series "Fear Fighters" will feature Acadian Ambulance Service's highly advanced use of life-saving technology. Researcher Malcolm Fraser of CMJ Productions said, "I did extensive Internet research, and spoke to some industry experts, and all signs pointed towards Acadian as the leader in ambulance technology." The series focuses on organizations throughout North America that are leaders in applying high-tech equipment and capabilities to life-threatening emergency situations.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE HUSBAND & WIFE PARAMEDIC TEAM HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Troy and Mel Guidry received the Star of Life Award in Washington, DC for their commitment and dedication to Emergency Medical Services (EMS). The Guidrys were two of over 120 medics from around the United States who were sponsored by their ambulance service to celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, (AAA) the 8th annual Stars of Life Celebration in Washington D.C. included meetings with their senators, congressional representatives, officials from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and a special reception at the U.S. Capitol.

CHRISTINE TROXLAIR IS ACADIAN'S MEDIC OF THE YEAR. This year's recipient was Paramedic Christine Troxlair, described by her fellow workers as a caring and compassionate person deeply committed to her patients; a self-starter with a "can-do" attitude and widely respected skills; a leader with a track record of community service, and a true role model for new personnel."

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE CALLED AMERICA'S MOST INNOVATIVE AND REPUTABLE EMS ORGANIZATION. James O. (Jim) Page, recognized as the nation's leading authority on out-of-hospital emergency medical services, said Thursday that Acadian Ambulance Service is "America's most innovative and reputable EMS organization." Page, who was featured speaker at Acadian Ambulance's Paramedic Luncheon Thursday, told an audience of some 800 people that "of all the EMS companies in the U.S., there is none better than Acadian." Page is founder and publisher emeritus of Jems Communications, which publishes the EMS industry's leading professional magazine, the Journal of Emergency Services (JEMS).

ACADIAN CONSTRUCTS OWN AMBULANCES. Acadian will use the advanced capabilities and technology of its Fleet Maintenance Department to construct its own ambulances. Vice President of Fleet Maintenance Bill Vidacovich, a 29-year AASI veteran with a degree in Industrial Technology from UL Lafayette, has spearheaded the new venture. The six ambulances built each year will replace units being taken out of service. The company will continue to purchase new units for fleet expansion from its present vendors.

METRO AVIATION IS ACADIAN'S NEW AIRCRAFT PROVIDER. Acadian Ambulance Service Inc.'s change in providers of aircraft for its Air Med helicopter ambulance service has been implemented smoothly and without interruption of service. Erroll C. Babineaux, Vice President of Air Services, said the new provider, Metro Aviation of Shreveport, has maintained total quality and continuity in taking over the responsibility of providing pilots, helicopters, maintenance and other support services from Acadian's longtime provider, Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. PHI's 20-year relationship with Acadian ended in regret when an unacceptable rate increase of 45 percent was implemented.

ACADIAN RESPONDS TO ARTICLE IN NATIONAL PUBLICATION. Bill Vidacovich, vice president of maintenance and safety for Acadian Ambulance Service, responded today to a report by a national news publication that "ambulances are among the most dangerous vehicles on the road, involved in a disproportionate number of crashes." " The article is well-researched and no doubt applicable in some parts of the country." Vidacovich said. "Residents of our service area, however, can be secure in the knowledge that the hazardous modes of ambulance operation cited as the prime cause of the problem are not allowed by Acadian Ambulance, and that the monitoring procedures and safety precautions recommended in the publication have been in place at Acadian for more than 20 years."

2001

ACADIAN'S FLIGHT MEDIC IS NATION'S PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. At the annual meeting of the American Ambulance Association in San Antonio, Texas, Tony Cramer, Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Flight Paramedic, received the prestigious EMS Magazine/Braun Industries Paramedic of the Year Award, the highest individual honor in the field of pre-hospital emergency medical service. Cramer was chosen from a list of nominees throughout the U.S, described by American Ambulance Association President Ben Hinson as outstanding field providers, EMS leaders, and assets to their communities.

ACADIAN EXPANDS SERVICE IN MISSISSIPPI. Officials of Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc. announced today that the company will begin serving Rankin County, Mississippi on February 1. Acadian was selected Thursday by the Rankin County Board of Supervisors to serve as sole provider of emergency and non-emergency ambulance service. The contract was won in bid competition against one national and one local ambulance service. Acadian already serves as sole provider of ambulance service for Jackson County, Mississippi.

BIAS RECEIVES HIGHEST HONOR FROM NAEMT. Ray A. Bias, workforce development manager for Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services, has received the highest honor awarded by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT). Bias was named 2001 recipient of the Rocco V. Morando Lifetime Achievement Award, described as "the most prestigious award in the nation for visionaries who have helped shape pre-hospital emergency medical care since its infancy." The award was presented October 20 at an NAEMT honors banquet in Reno, Nevada.

ACADIAN'S MEDICAL DIRECTOR CHAIRS MEDICAL TASKFORCE. With the potential for biological or chemical disasters a threat throughout the country, the Acadiana area medical community is intensely involved in creating a state of readiness in Acadiana. Acadian's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ross Judice, chairman of the Acadiana Medical Readiness Taskforce, says more than 50 medical professionals from hospitals in Lafayette and throughout Acadiana are working to create a community disaster plan that will be the backbone of a response to terrorist-related emergencies or natural disasters. The plan will include procedures for response to biological threats such as anthrax and small pox, and chemical threats such as nerve gas.

ACADIAN RIDES FOR UNITED WAY. Employee-owners of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services, Inc. took to their bicycles Saturday, October 13, in a fund-raising ride for United Way. Dr. Ross Judice, Acadian Ambulance Chief Medical Officer and chairman of the event, said Team Acadian's "Bike Ride Across Louisiana" will seek to raise $2,500 through pledges of 5 cents or more per mile from fellow employees, family and friends and corporate sponsors.

ACADIANS LAUNCHES NURSING PROGRAM. Acadian Ambulance Service has announced the launching of Acadian Nursing Solutions, a new program designed to provide career path opportunities for Acadian paramedics who have gone on to become registered nurses. Nursing Solutions will offer registered nurses from the Acadian staff to area hospitals on a contract basis.

ACADIAN MARKETS MONITORING SERVICE. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services announced plans today for statewide marketing of "Acadian On Watch," the company's security and fire alarm monitoring service. The department will seek to partner with independent security and fire firms who provide alarm systems for homes and businesses. The marketing campaign will be conducted in all major Louisiana cities.

DUANE ACKERMAN FEATURED SPEAKER AT PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. F. Duane Ackerman, Chairman & CEO of BellSouth Corporation, praised Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Wednesday as "a new economy company," and its employees as "this millennium's heroes." Ackerman was the featured speaker at Acadian's annual Paramedic Luncheon where more than 700 guests were in attendance.

MEL GUIDRY NAMED ACADIAN'S PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. Acadian's annual Paramedic Luncheon honors all medics and an outstanding paramedic of their medical team, chosen by his or her fellow medics. Named for a Lafayette physician who was deeply involved in upgrading the level of out-of-hospital emergency medical service, this year's recipient of the Dr. Arthur Vidrine Award was Paramedic Melanie Annette (Mel) Guidry, described as "the ideal role model of the future." In nominating her for the honor, fellow employees said Guidry "is a true representative of our field medics…a person who can truly bring life to the ‘A' in Acadian Ambulance and help us lead the way for changes in the new millennium."

ACADIAN HONORS SECOND CLASS OF ACES GRADUATES. Acadian Ambulance Service honored 72 graduates of its second ACES class. The training program called Acadian's Comprehensive Education for Success, (ACES), for management personnel seeks to develop competencies in specific skills related to Acadian's supervisory function and promote life-long learning and mentoring. It was developed by Acadian Ambulance and Fitch & Associates, the nation's most widely used EMS consultant, to address the fact that employees in the past have often advanced from fieldwork to management responsibilities without a theoretical foundation and a broad overall knowledge of the ambulance industry.

ESOP ASSOCIATION HONORS ACADIAN. The ESOP Association, a national organization of companies in which employees are owners through Employee Stock Ownership Plans, presented its 2001 Award for Communication Excellence to Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services. Acadian was honored in the category of external communications for a company brochure in which employees discuss their company, its services and accomplishments, and talk about how ownership enhances the quality of service.

ACADAN AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Flight Paramedic Tony Cramer was one of over 100 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from around the United States who were sponsored by their ambulance service on a trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, (AAA) the 7th Annual Stars of Life Celebration in Washington D.C. included meetings with their senators, congressional representatives, and a special reception at the U.S. Capitol.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE MAGAZINE FEATURES ACADIAN'S RETIREMENT PLAN. Richard Zuschlag was featured in Chief Executive Magazine in the article, "Rethinking the Retirement System." The article covered a round-table discussion where 20 companies met in New York to discuss their retirement plans and the challenges of meeting employee expectations. Zuschlag's discussion of Acadian's ESOP plan was quoted in the article.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SHOWCASED BY LDED. The Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LDED) acknowledges the state's most successful companies through Louisiana Vision of Success, an ongoing campaign that showcases Louisiana's successful companies through a series of marketing pieces, including a brochure and their website, www.louisianavisionofsuccess.com. Acadian was featured as one of the Louisiana "Success Stories" by LDED. The brochure will be circulated to other states to encourage businesses to move to Louisiana.

ACADIAN EXECUTIVE SELECTED FOR LEADERSHIP LOUISIANA. Tyron D. Picard, Executive Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services has been selected for participation in Leadership Louisiana. Sponsored by the Council for A Better Louisiana (CABL) the program is designed to seek out, train, and promote high achievers for positions of responsibility in the state. According to a CABL spokesperson, leaders chosen from around the state will gain practical information about regional and state issues and be challenged to understand and participate in all levels of public affairs.

SCHOOL-TO-WORK PROGRAM SUCCESS. Students at Covington and Mandeville High Schools were certified as First Responders, signifying successful completion of the first such course offered in the state's School-To-Work (STW) program. As First Responders, they are now trained and qualified to serve as the first link between a patient who is injured and EMS professionals. The course, offered in a pilot program at six schools in the Pinelands STW Region, also prepares students for employment opportunities in the emergency medical field.

ACADIAN ENDORSES NATIONAL CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK. In honor of National Child Passenger Safety Week Acadiana Safety Association, Louisiana SAFE KIDS Coalition-Acadiana Chapter, Saturn of Lafayette and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission are sponsoring child passenger safety training to community organizations. Acadian has made a commitment to child safety by assigning paramedics to participate in this special training on car restraints for children, offering expertise to help parents in the selection of appropriate car seats or safety belts and to assure that they are properly installed and used.

2000

ACADIAN EXPANDS SERVICE AREA TO INCLUDE MISSISSIPPI. Officials of Acadian Ambulance Service announced that the company will begin serving Jackson County, Mississippi, November 28th at midnight. AASI was selected by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors and all municipalities to serve as sole provider of emergency and non-emergency ambulance service.

ACADIAN HONORS ACES GRADUATES. Acadian Ambulance Service and Fitch & Associates, the nation's most widely-used EMS consultant, designed and implemented a program that addresses the needs of employees advancing from field work to management responsibilities. The program, called Acadian's Comprehensive Education for Success, (ACES), was designed to broaden the participants' existing skills. The eight-month-long inaugural program culminated in a graduation ceremony at The City Club of Lafayette on November 4. "Challenge" was the theme of the ceremony with David Nelson of Fitch & Associates as the guest speaker.

PARAMEDICS RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD. Paramedics Marc Creswell and Bill Gerard have been chosen as recipients of the Acadian Ambulance Year 2000 Distinguished Service Award. Creswell and Gerard received the award for their life-saving response to a call in which a traffic accident victim was impaled by a pipe. The award is given for service above and beyond the call of duty.

ACADIAN PARTNERS WITH LOPA. Acadian Ambulance Service and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA) have announced an organ and tissue donor drive to take place this October. "This partnership is an effort to increase awareness of the need for organ and tissue donation," said Michael Manley, LOPA executive director. "Acadian Ambulance employees will have an opportunity to speak with transplant recipients, donor family members and the LOPA staff regarding organ and tissue donation. They will also be able to sign up to become members of the Legacy Donor Registry, the state's computer database that documents their decision to donate."

ACADIAN STANDS BY AT 900 FOOTBALL GAMES. With the football season underway, Acadian Ambulance has launched its annual stand-by program which puts paramedics and advanced emergency medical technology at 75 high school and college games each weekend. Standing by without charge at nearly 900 football games annually is one of Acadian's major community service initiatives.

ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. U. S. Rep. Chris John, D-Crowley, praised Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Thursday as "a success story that underscores all that is good about America." John, master of ceremonies for Acadian's annual Paramedic Luncheon, praised the dedication of the Acadian paramedics and the company-wide commitment to community involvement. Guest speaker was Bob Hamm, Lafayette writer, humorist and creative consultant, who recounted stories of courage, compassion and devotion to duty by the Paramedic corps. "They have gone beyond easing suffering and saving lives," he said. "They have set the standard for emergency medical care for the entire nation."

MEDIC OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED. Air Med Flight Paramedic Tony Cramer, of Roberts Cove in Acadia Parish, was selected by his peers as the 2000 Medic of the Year. Tony is stationed on Air Med V in Lake Charles. He will be officially recognized at the annual Paramedic Luncheon Wednesday, August 23 in Lafayette where more than 700 guests are expected to attend.

DISCOVERY CHANNEL PRESENTATION WILL FEATURE ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE. The phenomenon of cutting-edge emergency health care technology at work in remote, rural communities and the Gulf of Mexico will be the focus of a documentary to air soon on the Discovery Channel. The hour-long program, "On the Inside," will feature the medics of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services utilizing advanced technology in serving South Louisiana's rural communities, swamps, marshes and offshore oil installations.

WORLDWIDE MARKET TURNS TO ACADIAN FOR ONSITE MEDICAL EXPERTISE. Acadian's Contract Services has established a solid and growing international presence. The entry into the world marketplace is an outgrowth of the rapid expansion of communications technology. Seismograph survey crews, involved in placing fiber-optic cable in remote parts of the world, find themselves in areas far removed from hospitals and other health care services. They are turning to Acadian for onsite medical expertise. The company provides a variety of services including contingency planning, identification of medical resources in an area of assignment, and global air medical evacuation services in the event of accident or serious illness. At present, company Paramedics are serving with crews in Barbados, the Caribbean, Ireland, W. Africa, Japan, Nova Scotia and on a project that ranges into various parts of Asia. An assignment in Chile and the Panama Canal Zone was completed recently.

ACADIAN MEDICS BENEFIT FROM AWARD. The Louisiana Department of Labor has awarded $270,000 from the Incumbent Worker Program for advanced emergency medical service training at five Louisiana Technical Colleges. As a result of the award, more than 60 Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc. emergency medical technicians (EMT) will be able to receive the training needed to become EMT-Paramedics. The award, which required the approval of the governor, was secured largely through the efforts of Acadian Ambulance Service and state Sen. Mike Michot of Lafayette.

ACADAN AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Offshore Paramedic Mike Moree was one of over 120 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from around the United States who were sponsored by their ambulance service on a trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, (AAA) the 6h Annual Stars of Life Celebration in Washington D.C. included meetings with their senators, congressional representatives, and a special reception at the U.S. Capitol.

TORNADO STRIKES HOUMA. On March 15th at 1:55 pm Acadian Ambulance Service responded to a tornado that touched down in Houma, LA. Approximately 15 ambulances and Paramedic Supervisors were dispatched to the scene which involved damage to a 1 1/2 mile area 100 yards wide along Prospect Ave., including destruction of the TG&Y store. 16 patients were transported to the two hospitals in Houma. A paramedic class of 30 students in Thibodaux was dispatched to the scene to assist. At 3:05 all patients had been transported and available ambulances were sent to the Command Post at the TG&Y parking lot.

ACADIAN INTRODUCES "MILLENNIUM AMBULANCE." The millennium ambulance is unique in more than its futuristic appearance. It is equipped with the most advanced medical and communications technology available, and will serve as a testing and evaluation facility as Acadian seeks even more advanced out-of-hospital emergency medical equipment. The design scheme for the ambulance was developed through a company-wide contest won by Keith Estillette, EMT-Basic.

ACADIAN ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION. Acadian announced the acquisition of the Safety Trainer/Paramedic (STP) division of Moreno & Associates, Inc., a Lafayette-based developer of safety management systems for the domestic and international petroleum industry. The two companies have also entered into a strategic marketing alliance designed to provide a greatly enhanced level of safety for personnel working in the offshore oil and gas environment.

1999

LOUISIANA'S DIGITAL FUTURE: A NEW MILLENIUM SUMMIT. Acadian Ambulance participated in "Louisiana's Digital Future: A New Millenium Summit" held at LSU. Hosted by Congressman Billy Tauzin and Governor Mike Foster, the summit provided a unique opportunity to gather business and industry leaders to hear from industry experts and to share ideas about the role of evolving technology in Louisiana. Acadian demonstrated innovative telemedicine technology used to render care to workers in the Gulf of Mexico. Acadian's vision is to make telemedicine commonplace in the offshore industry in order to improve the level of health care through the virtual presence of a physician.

ACADIAN PROFILED IN THE EVOLUTION OF EMS. The early 1970s commanded national attention with the lack of a responsive emergency medical system. A new philanthropy, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, launched as its very first national multisite demonstration the Emergency Medical Services program. Acadian Ambulance was a part of that program. Writer, book reviewer and radio and television commentator Digby Diehl looks back at the Emergency Medical Services Program. She chronicles the times and evolution of the Foundation's and the federal government's programs. The Foundation asked the author to attempt to find the forty-four original grantees and learn the current status of EMS. ‘The results show that EMS, many of them highly sophisticated, are functioning well, and that 911 and EMS have become part of the fabric of the nation's health care system." Acadian Ambulance, an original participant in the early 1970s, is now regarded as possibly the best ambulance service in the nation.

ACADIAN ENDOWS USL CHAIR. Acadian contribution helped establish a $1 million endowed chair in TeleHealth.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE PARAMEDIC HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services Flight Paramedic Scott Saunier was one of over 120 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics from around the United States who were sponsored by their ambulance service on a trip to Washington D.C. to celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week. Sponsored by the American Ambulance Association, (AAA) the 5h Annual Stars of Life Celebration in Washington D.C. included meetings with their senators, congressional representatives, officials from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and a special reception at the U.S. Capitol.

MICROSOFT'S BILL GATES RECOGNIZES ACADIAN'S USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN NEW BOOK. The national leadership of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services in the use of advanced technology for the delivery of out-of-hospital emergency medical care has been recognized by the guru of the high tech world, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. In a new book called "Business @ The Speed of Thought," Gates says "Perhaps no emergency services firm in the country has made more use of PC technology than Acadian Ambulance and Air Med Services, in Lafayette, Louisiana."

ACADIAN INDUCTED INTO SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM. Acadian Ambulance Service's Using Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) Technology to Improve Emergency Medical Transport Service became part of the Permanent Research Collection on Information Technology at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on Monday morning, April 12th when the 1999 Information Technology Innovation Collection was formally presented to the Institution.

ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Paramedic, Humorist and Cartoonist Steve Berry, was guest speaker at the annual Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Luncheon. The event honored Contract Services Paramedic Mike Moree of Columbia, Mississippi as Medic of the Year.

ACADIAN AWARDED BEST VIDEO BY THE ESOP ASSOCIATION. Acadian Ambulance was a winner in the company employee communication division for ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) companies in the southwest region of the United States. At its meeting this month in Arlington, Texas, The Southwest Chapter of The ESOP Association presented Acadian Ambulance with the top award for Best Video. The awards honored corporate members whose accomplishments exemplified the company's commitment to employee ownership.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION FOR MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT RESPONSE. JEMS Editor, A. J. Heightman, featured the August mass casualty incident as his premier story for a new monthly article, MCI Challenge. JEMS, Journal of Emergency Medical Services, is a leading national EMS magazine. The accident happened on the Atchafalaya Bridge which is 17.5 miles long of highway and elevated 45 feet above the Atchafalaya Swamp. Maneuvering through the backed-up traffic was difficult, but 23 separate accidents were found, involving 96 passenger vehicles and 10 tractor-trailer rigs. Before the day was over, four people would be pronounced dead, and 26 others injured.

ACADIAN APPOINTS CHIEF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT FOR LEGAL AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. Tyron D. Picard has been named Executive Vice President for Legal and Governmental Affairs of Acadian Ambulance Service. In addition to providing in-house legal counsel for the company, he will oversee all outside legal services performed for the company, coordinate all governmental relations on a federal, state, and local level, and assist in domestic and international strategic growth opportunities.

1998

ACADIAN RESPONDS TO LOUISIANA'S WORST MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services was put to the test with all of its resources during August 1998 when Louisiana experienced one of the worst mass casualty accidents in its history. The accident happened on the Atchafalaya Bridge that is 17.5 miles long of highway elevated 45 feet above the Atchafalaya Swamp. Before the day was over, four people would be pronounced dead, and 26 others injured, involving 23 separate accidents, 96 passenger vehicles and 10 tractor-trailer rigs.

ACADIAN APPOINTS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. Ross David Judice, M.D., M.P.H., was named executive vice president and chief medical officer of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services. Dr. Judice will assume duties performed with unusual expertise by first full-time Medical Director, Dr. Margaret Longo, who recently retired.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE SERVICE AREA EXPANDS TO 33 PARISHES. Company officials announced a major expansion of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services. Acadian acquired Calcasieu Ambulance Service and LifeCare Ambulance Service, both headquartered in Lake Charles. The purchase of the two companies expands Acadian's service area to 33 Louisiana parishes from the Texas border to Mississippi and from the Gulf of Mexico to just south of Shreveport. It adds the parishes of Calcasieu, Allen, Beauregard, Natchitoches, Vernon, Sabine and DeSoto to the 26 parishes already served by Acadian. The two acquisitions became effective at 12:01 a.m., May 1st.

ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Robert L. Tillman, president and chief executive officer of Lowes, Inc., recognized by Congress as one of the nation's leading ESOP companies., was guest speaker at the annual Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Luncheon. The event honored Air Med Flight Paramedic Scott Saunier as Medic of the Year. Also on the program was J. Michael Keeling, president of the ESOP Association who made a special presentation to U.S. Senator John Breaux master of ceremonies for the event. He called Breaux "a super champion of the ESOP program" in Congress. An unscheduled appearance by the Louisiana State Police expressed the department's appreciation for Acadian's support during the August 16 traffic disaster on Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin which involved approximately 100 cars and resulted in injuries to 26 people, four of whom died.

AASI'S RAY BIAS HONORED AS ONE OF MOST INTERESTING AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSONALITIES IN LOUISIANA. Acadian Ambulance's Vice President of Medical Resources Ray Bias was honored as one of the most interesting African American personalities across the State of Louisiana by The Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus Association, the Black Caucus Police Jury of Louisiana, The National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) Louisiana Chapter. Ray was recognized for his support of his community and for the contributions he has made to "improve the quality of life in Louisiana for all its citizens."

THE LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION PRESENTS AWARD TO ACADIAN. The Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) presented its "Contributor of the Year" award to Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services. The award, which recognizes outstanding assistance to LHSAA, was presented during the organization's convention in Baton Rouge. Principals and athletic directors from throughout the state attend the annual gathering.

ACADIAN RESPONDS TO HURRICANE GEORGES. Waiting for Hurricane George to hit the southeastern region of Louisiana, Acadian paramedic field supervisors staffed each Emergency Office of Communications, and strategically placed ambulances on standby to assist with evacuations. More than 15 extra crews were on duty for four consecutive days. Acadian was involved in 557 storm-related transports and evacuations.

1997

TORNADO THREATENS ST. TAMMANY PARISH. Acadian responded with 15 ambulances and Air Med to Covington Point Shopping Center where approximately 200 people needed assistance. More storm-related calls were received, and by the end of the afternoon Acadian handled 25 transports and one fatality.

AASI'S INDUSTRY-LEADING CONTRACT SERVICES PROGRAM WAS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE "LOUISIANA IN THE 21ST CENTURY" CONFERENCE ON IMPROVING HEALTH CARE AND EDUCATION THROUGH TECHNOLOGY. A featured speaker at the event, Acadian President Richard Zuschlag, presented cutting edge telemedicine technology used by Acadian in the Gulf of Mexico, along with other advances in technology made by the company to improve health care delivery. The conference was held at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, chaired by U.S. Rep. Billy Tauzin and included members of various State and private agencies involved in education and health care.

ANNUAL PARAMEDIC LUNCHEON. Skip Bertman, LSU's all-time winningest coach and holder of the highest all-time winning percentage among SEC coaches, was guest speaker at the annual Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Luncheon. The event honored Mark Reis of Slidell as Medic of the Year, and saw the unveiling of the new look in Acadian Ambulance vehicles – the 150th Golden Eagle ambulance ordered from Excellance, Inc., the nation's premier ambulance manufacturer.

511, NEW NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER. Effective August 1, callers will use 511 instead of 311 for accessing non-emergency services. The change is prompted by Federal Communications Commission action that reserved the 311 number nationwide for non-emergency police calls.

TELEMEDICINE REVOLUTIONIZES OFFSHORE MEDICAL CARE. The most recent advance, and the most revolutionary one thus far, is the introduction of telemedicine to the offshore environment. Telemedicine provides the ability for a physician at a computer terminal in the emergency department to view high resolution, magnified images transmitted by the Contract Paramedic from an offshore location.

ACADIAN WINS NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP AWARD. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services has been chosen from among over 800 small-to-midsize businesses of all kinds as the national leader in the use of advanced technology to enhance customer service with the Inc. Magazine/MCI National Technology Leadership Award.

1996

ACADIAN SELECTED AS SOLE PROVIDER. The St. Tammany Parish Police Jury selected Acadian Ambulance Service as the sole provider for ambulance service in the parish.

ACADIAN GARNERS PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS FROM AAA. Acadian was honored at the American Ambulance Association convention in Philadelphia, PA, for its extensive community involvement in all the area it serves. This marked the fifth year that Acadian has received Community Service Awards from the association.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE PRAISED BY CBS MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT. Bob Arnot, M.D., Health and Medical Correspondent for The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather, called Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services "the best ambulance service in the nation," and paramedics "heroes of the health care field." Arnot was guest speaker at the annual Acadian Ambulance Paramedic Luncheon.

ACADIAN SPONSORS PARAMEDIC IN WASHINGTON. Senior Paramedic Field Supervisor John Ritter was one of over 90 EMTs and paramedic from around the Untied States who were sponsored by their ambulance service on a trip to Washington, DC to celebrate National Emergency Medical Services Week. The Stars of Life celebration included meetings with congressional representatives, a special reception at the US Capital and an awards dinner.

ACADIAN CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY. AASI celebrated 25 years of service to Louisiana at the annual Paramedic Luncheon and open house. Lafayette native Chris Mixon was honored as Medic of the Year. An estimated 800 people attended the function at the Heymann Center for the Performing Arts in Lafayette.

MEDICS COMPLETE ALASKAN SEISMOGRAPHIC PROJECT. The constantly growing involvement of Acadian Ambulance Service with the oil and gas industry takes paramedics to the rugged North Slope of Alaska for one of the company's most unique assignments. Acadian's Alaskan contract is for the support of seismographic operations for British Petroleum (BP) Exploration.

CLINICAL EXTENSION PROGRAM. An important enhancement of on-site medical care for the offshore oil industry is Acadian's Clinical Extension Program. It is designed to broaden the physical assessment skills of the paramedic to effectively evaluate non-emergency complaints and properly relay findings to shore-based physicians who may recommend a course of treatment. The focus is to educate the students to identify abnormalities and then be the "eyes and hands of the physician." Skills learned in the program include advanced physical assessment, minor suturing, and pharmacology of antibiotics and other medications.

FLIGHT PHYSICIAN PROGRAM. Initiation of the Acadian Ambulance Flight Physician program gave the company a leadership role in still another aspect of pre-hospital emergency medical care. Providing physicians to accompany critically ill patients during air transport is not a typical function of ambulance services. The structure used by Acadian to assure the availability of qualified physicians whenever needed is also unique.

1995

ACADIAN RECEIVES ACCREDITATION. Acadian Ambulance Service has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services for its compliance with national standards of excellence. Acadian is now one of only 54 ambulance services in the country that have successfully completed the voluntary review process of the commission.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE RESPONDS TO STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE. Acadian Ambulance Service, in conjunction with SSA Consultants, a Baton Rouge consulting firm, has developed an employee improvement program entitled "Crackerjack." This is the second program the companies have developed for Acadian's emergency medical service employees. The Crackerjack program's objective is to bridge the gap between employee job expectations and the true workforce realities that medics face on a daily basis. Crackerjack addresses the other more prevalent side of stress for the average street medic.

ACADIAN ADDS QI POSITION TO STAFF. Officials of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services have announced that Al Landry, formerly education coordinator and 15-year veteran with the company, will hold the newly created position, Quality Improvement Coordinator. The purpose of the new position is to plan, organize, coordinate, evaluate and document an integrated, ambulance-wide program intended to monitor and improve the quality of prehospital patient care and transportation. Other responsibilities include assisting in the continued development and coordination of medical education and training programs.

AASI EXPANDS SERVICE AREA WITH TWO PARISHES. Acadian Ambulance expanded to its 25th parish, making it the largest privately owned ambulance service in the United States. Acadian now serves over 40 percent of Louisiana with the addition of East Feliciana and Rapides parishes.

AASI ADDS FOURTH HELICOPTER TO AIR MED FLEET. Rapides General Medical Center and St. Frances Cabrini Hospital are participating in the funding of a medical helicopter for Rapides parish. This will be the fourth in Acadian's Air Med fleet, with other EMS helicopters stationed in Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Houma. Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. of Lafayette provides, operates and maintains the helicopters.

AASI EXPANDS SERVICE AREA AGAIN. Acadian Ambulance expanded to its 26th parish with the addition of St. Tammany Parish.

ACADIAN WINS THREE NATIONAL AWARDS AT AAA CONFERENCE. The American Ambulance Association presented Acadian with awards for the ambulance industry's best Corporate Communications, Patient Assistance Programs, and Company Newsletters. This is the third time that Acadian has received top honors in the three categories, and the fourth year in succession to receive awards from the AAA.

ACADIAN ADDS BK117 HELICOPTER TO AIR MED FLEET. Acadian Ambulance entered a new era in helicopter ambulance service with the acquisition of a new BK-117 helicopter, which has capabilities previously unavailable to the area. The medically configured helicopter will enhance emergency care and transportation of high-risk neonatal and maternity cases, as well as improve overall service for night-time response, and emergency flights on land and offshore in inclement weather.

1994

AASI HONORED WITH BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med services was awarded the 1994 Theodore G. Schad Jr., Business Achievement Award at a luncheon honoring Acadiana's top 100 privately held businesses. The award is designed to recognize an Acadiana company for excellence in business achievement, combined with a commitment to community service.

ACADIAN AMBULANCE ANNOUNCES NEW "311" PHONE NUMBER. The new "311" telephone number will go into effect August 1st in the 23 parish service area that is covered by South Central Bell. Areas serviced by independent telephone companies are scheduled for a September target date for implementation of the new telephone number. The new three digit phone number will greatly assist us in serving those in need of ambulance transportation by providing quick easy access to our services.

AASI PROVIDES TRAINING FOR NEW RESIDENT PHYSICIANS PROGRAM. Acadian has affiliated with the second LSU Emergency Residency Program located in Baton Rouge at Earl K. Long Medical Center and Baton Rouge General Medical Center. Through the Emergency Medicine Residency Programs, Acadian provides a learning experience to assist in the education of physicians in emergency medical training.

ACADIAN WINS FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS AT AAA CONFERENCE. Acadian Ambulance has won, for the second time, the highest award offered in the ambulance service field for community service and marketing. The American Ambulance Association presented Acadian with its "Community Partnership Award" which was created specifically for Acadian Ambulance in 1991. Acadian also won awards for the ambulance industry's best Corporate Communications, Patient Assistance Programs, and Company Newsletter. This is the second time that Acadian has received top honors in the four categories, in competition with ambulance providers from all regions of the country who submitted over 150 entries in the community service categories.

ACADIAN SPONSORS CISM CONFERENCE. Acadian Ambulance cosponsored a Basic and Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Conference. CISM experts Jeffrey T. Mitchell, Ph.D., and Guy J. Schiller, MA, CAC presented four workshops in critical incident stress debriefing and management targeted for emergency services workers, mental health professionals, firefighters, physicians, counselors, police officers, nurses, dispatchers and disaster workers.

1993

ACADIAN CARPE DIEM PROGRAM FEATURED AS MODEL FOR ELDERLY CARE. A leading magazine in the emergency medical field, The Journal of Emergency Medical Services, featured a new Acadian Ambulance Service program as a model for elderly care. The program, called "Carpe Diem," or "Seize the Day," gives medics the knowledge, skills and motivation to take advantage of whatever opportunity the day offers to make life a little better for the elderly people they serve.

USL PARAMEDIC SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED. Acadian Ambulance offers scholarships to two seniors in August and January in the USL Emergency Medical Health Science program based on academic achievement and clinical and field performance.

BATON ROUGE CHAMBER RECOGNIZED AASI FOR COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP. Acadian Ambulance and its staff were recognized by the Greater Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce with a special resolution for their dedication and achievement in serving the Greater Baton Rouge community and the State of Louisiana.

ACADIAN SERVICE AREA TOTALS 23 PARISHES. Acadian begins service to St. John the Baptist Parish.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS AWARDS AASI. Acadian Ambulance received the Area Corporate Donor of the Year Award from Special Olympics, and their appreciation for Acadian's fifteen-year involvement with the program.

AIR MED ON RESCUE 911. For the fourth time, the camera crew of the CBS TV show, Rescue 911, came to Louisiana to visit Acadian Ambulance. The Hollywood-based crew rode along with Acadian's Baton Rouge Air Med helicopter filming a typical Memorial Day weekend in south Louisiana.

DUGAS NAMED ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR. Roland F. Dugas, Jr., cofounder and president of Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services is named the Service Industry's Entrepreneur of the Year for 1993. The Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, developed by national sponsors Ernst & Young, Inc., Magazine, and Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services, was designed to salute people "who are providing the solid foundation for future economic growth, by pursuing the American Dream."

GUEST SPEAKER, JIM PAGE, PRAISES AASI. Jim Page, publisher/editor of Journal of Emergency Medicine (JEMS) was guest speaker at AASI's Paramedic Luncheon. Page had high praise for the company saying, "The caring professional nature of Acadian, with its dedication to excellence, its sensitivity to the needs of special groups..., is what we all want America to be like."

ACADIAN AMBULANCE STARTS ESOP. Acadian announces the first step taken toward making the company employee owned. An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was developed through which the owners will make available 30 percent of the company value in stock to full-time, long term employees over the next seven years.

SUMRALL NAMED NATIONAL PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. At the annual meeting of the American Ambulance Association in Orlando, Florida, the 1993 national Paramedic of the Year Award was presented to Acadian Ambulance NREMT-Paramedic Gerald Sumrall of New Iberia, La. Sumrall received the award for the outstanding patient care rendered under extraordinary circumstances during Hurricane Andrew, which struck New Iberia in August of 1992.

ACADIAN PROGRAMS GARNER TWO NATIONAL AWARDS. Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services won the ambulance industry's highest award for Corporate Communications programs including annual reports and video presentations. The Carpe Diem program that teaches medics to understand how to deal with specific needs of the elderly was chosen the best in the nation for Patient Assistance programs. The awards were presented at the American Ambulance Association Convention in Orlando, Florida.

EXPERT SAYS ACADIAN AMBULANCE MAY BE BEST IN THE UNITED STATES. James O. Page, publisher and editor of The Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS), the most prestigious magazine in the pre-hospital emergency medical care industry, says Acadian Ambulance & Air Med Services, Inc., "may well be the best ambulance service in the nation."

1992

ACADIAN AMBULANCE ADDS SECOND FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT. Acadian Ambulance announced addition of a fixed-wing aircraft to the company's Air Med fleet. The Cessna Conquest II, a twin-engine pressurized cabin prop jet, can transport two patients along with the flight crew and up to four medical attendants. Only five percent of the fixed wing aircraft operators in the air medical industry have this capability.

LOCAL PHYSICIAN NAMED MEDICAL DIRECTOR. AASI named Margaret Longo, M.D., vice president of Medical Services, with responsibility for monitoring quality of patient care and on scene medical procedures of AASI Paramedics.

ACADIAN GARNERS PRESTIGIOUS NEWSLETTER AWARD. AASI is honored with the 1992 Outstanding Newsletter Award of the American Ambulance Association at their Academy Awards of Community Service Campaign Banquet. The award is presented annually to an ambulance service that has demonstrated a commitment by management to communicate effectively with both employees and customers, in a mutual and beneficial way.

FREEPORT-MCMORAN CONTRACTS WITH AASI. Freeport-McMoRan, one of the world's leading producers and providers of natural energy resources, contracted with AASI to provide four paramedics for two of its sulfur mining locations in the Gulf of Mexico.

ACADIAN PRIDE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. AASI developed the Acadian Pride Program to expand quality improvement beyond the level of patient care to all department levels.

AASI RECEIVES US SENATE INNOVATION AWARD. AASI received the United States Senate Award for its innovative work in pioneering the membership program, which allows rural areas to receive state-of-the-art pre-hospital emergency service equivalent to that in metropolitan areas, and for its development of a communications system which is a model for EMS providers throughout much of the nation

VIP PROGRAM ANNOUNCED. AASI introduced a new program, VIP, with special benefits for nursing homes (Very Important Partners) and their patients (Very Important Patients).

ACADIAN "TEAM" PROGRAM FOR PLAYERS. AASI initiated a new community service program that provides ambulance transportation services to all high school football players while that are competing in games played anywhere in the company's 22 parish service area.

BIAS NAMED NATIONAL PARAMEDIC OF THE YEAR. At the annual American Ambulance Association meeting, Bias, a Vietnam medic and registered nurse, was selected as Paramedic Of the Year for his 20 years of service in the pre-hospital health care field and for his role as chairman of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

1991

TWENTY YEARS OF LOYALTY. Acadian recognized fourteen of its 20 year employees at a special ceremony with an address by Bishop Harry Flynn of the Diocese of Lafayette.

RESCUE 911 HOST, WILLIAM SHATNER, PRAISES PARAMEDICS AT SPECIAL LUNCHEON. William Shatner, host of the CBS TV show Rescue 911, praised emergency medical technicians for their willingness to give of themselves and save lives. Shatner was guest speaker at AASI's annual Paramedic Luncheon.

DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS TWENTY YEARS OF SAVING LIVES. AASI celebrated 20 years of service to the people of South Louisiana. A highlight of the 20 year anniversary celebration included a half-hour television documentary called "Twenty Years of Saving Lives, the story of Acadian Ambulance" sponsored by Premier Bank, BellSouth, and Chevrolet Motor Division.

AASI RECEIVES NATIONAL COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP AWARD. At the annual American Ambulance Association Convention AASI was unanimously awarded the first Community Partnership Award for overall community service and marketing.

MOSS RECEIVES MARKETER OF THE YEAR AWARD. Mike Moss, governmental & community relations manager, received Marketer of the Year Award from Sales & Marketing Executives International of Greater Baton Rouge at their annual banquet.

CLIENT SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES APPOINTED. AASI established new division of Client Service Representatives that will market company products and services to the decision-makers in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, radiology and dialysis centers.

ACADIAN ON CALL SERVICE ANNOUNCED. A new personal alert system for aged and disabled persons was established to instantly alert the AASI Communication Center in times of an emergency. AASI ON RESCUE 911 TV SERIES AGAIN. The camera crew of the CBS television series, "Rescue 911," filmed a re-enactment of emergency call involving a kidnapped child in which AASI responded.

1990

NEW HOT AIR BALLOON INTRODUCED. Acadian's new vehicle will not be transporting patients. The new craft, a hot air balloon, "L'Etoile de vie" (Star of Life), is an addition to the company's innovative marketing and community relations program.

ACADIAN EXPANDS SERVICE AREA. A contractual arrangement with the Parish Council permitted service to Avoyelles Parish through a tax-supported program which made every parish resident eligible to receive member services.

CBS GUEST SPEAKER, DR. BOB ARNOT, HAS KEY TO LONGER LIFE. Dr. Bob Arnot, CBS medical correspondent and guest speaker for the AASI annual paramedic luncheon, says people can increase their life expectancy and "stay young" by becoming two things--an athlete and an optimist.

NEW tPA CARDIAC DRUG PROGRAM A LIFESAVER. AASI was chosen to participate in an innovative program by hospitals in Lafayette and Houma designed to prevent or limit heart damage in cardiac emergencies through the use of the drug tPA.

AASI LOGS MILLIONTH TRANSPORT. AASI logged its millionth patient transport.

ACADIAN PRESENTED NATIONAL EMS LEADERSHIP AWARD. The U.S. Sprint Emergency Medical Services National Leadership Award was presented to Acadian Ambulance Service by the National EMS Management Academy.

CBS PROFILES AMBULANCE FIRM. Dr. Bob Arnot, CBS medical correspondent, profiled Acadian Ambulance and the unique services it provides to rural communities on the TV show, "CBS This Morning."

1989

AIRPLANE ADDED TO AIR MED SERVICES' FLEET. A medically configured twin engine airplane was added to the Air Med Services' fleet.

SAFETY DEPARTMENT ADDED TO AASI. Acadian Ambulance promoted Paramedic Kent Guidry to the position of safety coordinator for its newly created safety department. Guidry will oversee all aspects of vehicle safety,. hazardous materials programs and the defensive driving program.

AASI JOINS USL IN EXTERNAL PACEMAKER STUDY. AASI joined USL in the first scientifically controlled study of an external pacemaker to "jump start' the heart in cardiac emergencies.

AASI ON RESCUE 911 TV SERIES. The camera crew of the CBS television series, "Rescue 911," filmed two reenactments of emergency calls in which AASI responded. Both were featured on the weekly series.

1988

ACADIAN INTRODUCES MED CART I. AASI introduced Med Cart, a medically-equipped vehicle, similar to a battery operated golf cart, to its fleet. Med Cart provides maneuverability in large crowds such as those at sporting events and community festivals.

AASI INTRODUCES ANDRE' TO SOUTH LOUISIANA. A mini ambulance robot, "Andre'," became part of the AASI community service team, serving as a teaching aid for children in classrooms, fairs, and other places where safety education is desirable.

ACADIAN EXPANDS SERVICE AREA. Through a contract with Sheriff Freddie Pitre, Iberville Parish became the 21st parish in the Acadian Ambulance service area.

SPORTS MEDICINE AWARD PRESENTED. Acadian Ambulance established the Adam Sturlese Memorial Sports Medicine Award to be given to a freshman student and athletic trainer in recognition for their dedication to the sports medicine field.

1987

STATEWIDE PHONE NUMBER. Tribute was paid to South Central Bell, AT&T and the Louisiana Public Service Commission at the annual Paramedic Luncheon for their joint efforts in making possible the first seven-digit statewide toll free telephone number for access to the AASI communication Center for emergency calls.

COMPUTER MOBILE DATA TERMINALS INSTALLED IN AMBULANCES. AASI dedicated a million-dollar communication center that allows the service to transmit data to mobile data computer terminals in its ambulances. Ambulance crews can input information that is transmitted to and processed by the center's computer. The information is called up from a database, transmitted, and displayed in the ambulance. Transmitted data includes directions to accident sites.

AIR MED PROGRAM EXPANDS. A third Air Med helicopter was placed in service, based in Houma, and partially subsidized by Terrebonne General Medical Center.

ACADIAN RESPONDS TO OAKDALE FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER INMATE TAKEOVER. Although the crisis was outside its coverage area, Acadian was the major provider of EMS when inmates took over the Oakdale Federal Detention Center. Acadian ambulances were on scene within 40 minutes and transported 20 patients during the hostage takeover. The inmates held more than 20 hostages for nine days and burned down most of the prison's 14 buildings.

1986

AIR MED PROGRAM EXPANDS. A second Air Med helicopter was placed in service, based in Baton Rouge, and partially subsidized by Baton Rouge General Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.

AASI EXPANDS SERVICE TO ASCENSION PARISH. The Ascension Parish Police Jury, which had operated a government ambulance service, invited Acadian Ambulance to provide service to the parish.

CONTRIBUTORS SUPPORT HELPING HAND FUND. AASI established the Helping Hand Fund to assist indigent persons in need of pre-hospital emergency medical services. It is supported by donations from members of the ambulance service, who make donations at the time of enrollment. Contributions are used in their home parishes and a determination of need is made in cooperation with a committee appointed by the parish president or police jury president.

LIVINGSTON PARISH BECOMES ALS. The Livingston Parish Emergency Medical Services Council recommended that the police jury endorse a proposal by AASI to establish an Advanced Life Support program.

1985

AASI PLEDGES $50,000 TO USL. In an effort to cope with the severe national shortage of Paramedics, Acadian Ambulance pledged $50,000 to help USL develop a curriculum in Emergency Health Science.

AASI EXPANDS TO CAPITAL AREA. Acadian expanded service to East & West Baton Rouge Parishes, providing the basis for the capital area network which assured continued excellence and further expansion in that area.

1984

ACADIAN RESPONDS TO MAJOR FLOOD. A major flood struck the Erath area in Vermilion Parish, and Acadian Ambulance again demonstrated its ability to respond immediately with a fleet of ambulances and a large medical corps to assist 128 residents/patients.

FLYING DOCTOR SAVES YOUNG GIRL. The effectiveness of the arrangement under which resident physicians from the LSU School of Medicine fly with the Air Med team was emphasized when the life of a young girl in Iberia Parish was saved by the swift response of the helicopter and the expertise of the doctor on board.

1983

ACADIAN INSTITUTES DEFENSIVE DRIVING PROGRAM. Acadian Ambulance launched a Failsafe defensive driving program in its continuing efforts to maximize service and safety.

MEDICS TRANSMIT EKG FROM AMBULANCE BY RADIO TELEPHONE. A radio telephone switching system was installed to enable medics to access hospital emergency room physicians by telephone to transmit an EKG.

1982

RESIDENT PHYSICIANS RECEIVE EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRAINING WITH AASI. An agreement was reached with the LSU School of Medicine in which resident physicians would work with Acadian Ambulance, acquiring hands-on training in emergency medical care.

AASI SERVICE AREA TOTALS 16 PARISHES. Service was expanded to the Raceland area of Lafourche Parish, Tangipahoa Parish and St. Helena. Also a contractual arrangement with the Parish Council permitted service to St. James Parish through a tax-supported program which made every parish resident eligible to receive member services.

AASI RESPONDS TO MAJOR AIR DISASTER. Acadian Ambulance's capability to dispatch large numbers of ambulances and medics to the scene of major emergencies greatly aided rescue efforts following a major air disaster in Kenner.

1981

AASI BEGINS AIR MED HELICOPTER SERVICE. Air Med Services was launched with the first helicopter ambulance stationed in Lafayette and subsidized in part by Lafayette General Medical Center and Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.

AASI EXPANDS TO THE GULF OF MEXICO. Offshore services were expanded as Acadian Ambulance provided contract medics to work regular shifts on oil installations in the Gulf of Mexico.

AASI SERVICE AREA EXPANDS TO 14 PARISHES. Operations began in Pointe Coupee Parish and all of St. Landry Parish.

1980

TELEMETRY CAPABILITY THROUGHOUT SERVICE AREA. Telemetry capability throughout the entire service area became a reality with the addition of five mobile transmitters and base stations.

BIAS NAMED TO NATIONAL BOARD OF EMTs. AASI Medical Director, Ray Bias, RN, EMT-P, was named to the Board of Directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

1979

AASI ENROLLS 100,000 PLUS MEMBERS. An unprecedented media blitz brought attention to the AASI membership program, as 100,000 plus families or individuals enrolled.

ZUSCHLAG HONORED. Company official Richard Zuschlag was named "Small Business Person of the Year" for Louisiana.

AASI SERVICE AREA EXPANDS. A contract with Assumption Parish laid the groundwork for full emergency services in a sparsely populated area.

1978

NASA SPACE SATELLITE PIONEER PROJECT. A pioneer project allowing communications from offshore oil installations to hospital emergency rooms via NASA Space Satellite was initiated.

AASI MEDICS COMPLETE 700-HOUR COURSE. AASI medics successfully completed a 700-hour National Registry Paramedic course--one of the first such courses offered in the state.

AASI RECEIVES NATIONAL RECOGNITION. AASI received national recognition in Emergency Magazine for community support of the unique membership program. Memberships total 95,443.

1977

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES ACADIAN. AASI was singled out by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation as one of three services in the nation operating an effective ambulance, hospital radio communication system on a regional basis.

MILITARY ASSISTANCE. Arrangements were made for assistance with military helicopter transportation of AASI critical patients.

1976

AASI INSTITUTES IV TRAINING FOR EMTs. Formalized training was instituted, culminating in certification by the state and National EMT Registry's. Training began in IV administration, giving AASI medics the capability of administering life-saving fluids in trauma cases, a program later adopted by the National Registry of EMTs.

SPIRIT OF '76. The "Spirit of '76" ambulance was designed as a mobile and visual reminder of our nation's bicentennial celebration.

1975

FACILITIES EXPANDED AGAIN. Communications and maintenance facilities in Lafayette were expanded due to call volume growth. AASI's total staff increased to 116 employees, manning 33 ambulances. Memberships reached 80,216.

1974

AASI HOME OFFICE COMPLETED. A new Lafayette home office for AASI was completed with a new full service maintenance facility. The Emergency Medical Dispatch Center, considered one of the best in the nation, also began operation from the new headquarters.

COMPANY EXPANDS SERVICE AREA AND STAFF. The company expanded into Evangeline and Iberia Parishes. Employees totaled 100, with 75 registered EMTs.

1973

NEW TELEMETRY RADIO SYSTEM FOR AASI. A new telemetry radio system was established to enable AASI medics to transmit EKGs of heart attack victims to the hospital emergency room. SERVICE AREA EXPANDED. The AASI service area was expanded to include Acadia, St. Martin, Jeff Davis and Terrebonne Parishes, and the Eunice and Thibodaux Hospital Districts. Memberships reached 70,648.

1972

PARISHES ADDED TO AASI SERVICE AREA. Honoring requests from officials of Vermilion and St. Mary Parishes, those area parishes were added to Acadian's service area. The fleet grew from two to eight ambulances that year, and the membership campaign resulted in the enrollment of 25,718 families and individuals.

RADIO COMMUNICATION ENHANCES OPERATIONS. Medics are able to communicate directly with hospital emergency room nurses to give vital patient information while en route to the hospital. Dispatchers in the Communication Center are also able to communicate directly to the sheriff's office by radio for vital transfer of emergency information.

1971

ACADIAN AMBULANCE BEGINS OPERATIONS. Acadian Ambulance began operations in Lafayette Parish as the departure of funeral homes from the ambulance transportation field precipitated a nationwide crisis due to new federal regulations. Two ambulances and eight employees served the 279 square miles of Lafayette Parish with an operating budget of $190,000. The first membership drive enrolled 8,400 members. Returning Vietnam veterans with medic experience provided the initial source of manpower.

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