NYS EMS Annual Awards Annual Submission

1. Applications for individual or team achievement awards shall be based on a pattern of activities that have culminated in a significant improvement of Emergency Medical Services in the community. Applications for individual or team heroism shall be based on a single unusual event that was beyond ordinary duty. All nominees, in both achievement and heroism categories, must be affiliated with a NYS EMS agency. Agencies must possess a current and valid ID code as an ambulance service or first response service. Individuals must be credentialed to practice within NY State.
2. In order to be considered, each application must be clearly and completely documented to include time, place and description of event including names of all involved. All patient references must be HIPPA compliant. Applications for a pattern of activities must include details of activities, dates and descriptions of the individual's impact on the EMS community. Applications recognizing a single event must be based on that event occurring in the previous calendar year.
3. All applications for the New York State EMS Annual Awards must be submitted by the REMSCO using the application form below or in essay format. The Regional Program Agencies have been provided a portal for direct submission.  Essay's may not to exceed 1,000 words. All essay submissions must be in an electronic format using a 12 point New Times Roman font; double spaced with 1 inch margins. Supplemental attachments also in PDF format will be accepted. All materials submitted will become the property of the State of New York and cannot be returned and may be used in subsequent public announcements.
4. Each application for an award will ONLY be considered in one category. Applications submitted for more than one category will be automatically rejected. There are ten categories of awards for submission by REMSCOs; only one application may be submitted to the State by an EMS Region in each of the ten categories. All nominations submitted must be signed by the Regional EMS Council Chair and submitted through the Regional Portal.

Applications for the Commissioner of Health's award may be submitted directly to the Department via this portal.

Applications for the Innovation Awards may be submitted through Innovation Awards Submission Portal 2024. 

The application form is located here for the awards listed below.

BLS Provider Criteria:  A Certified First Responder (CFR) or as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to be recognized for contributions to the community including dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment.

BLS Provider Eligibility:  New York State certified Certified First Responder or Emergency Medical Technician.

Advanced Life Support Provider Criteria:  An Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), Critical Care Technician (AEMT-CC), or Paramedic (AEMT-P) to be recognized for contributions to the community including dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS environment. 

ALS Provider Eligibility:  New York state certified Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), Critical Care Technician (AEMT-CC), or Paramedic (AEMT-P).

EMS Agency Criteria:  Any agency which strives for consistency in EMS excellence and exhibits exemplary performance when providing or supporting prehospital emergency medical care.

EMS Agency Eligibility:  NYS EMS agency that includes, but is not limited to, an ambulance (air or ground), Advanced Life Support First Response or Basic Life Support First Response participating in their local EMS system.

Youth Provider Criteria:  A Certified First Response (CFR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or First Aid Certified to be recognized for dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the EMS Community.

Youth Provider Eligibility:  NYS Certified First Responder (CFR), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), or First Aid youth provider affiliated with a first response or transport under the age of 21 years for the period to be recognized (fire, police or EMS).

Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award Criteria:  An individual exhibiting longevity, innovation/dedication, responsibility, executive and management skills in establishing, maintaining, promoting or expanding EMS organizations, agencies, committees at the community and/or state level.

Harriet C. Weber EMS Leadership Award Eligibility:  EMS agency leader; local, county, regional state EMS leader; medical/nursing/career EMS leader.

EMS Educator of Excellence Criteria:  an individual who through outstanding teaching, educational administration/coordination, publication or research has significantly improved prehospital services at the local, county, regional or state level.

EMS Educator of Excellence Eligibility:  an EMS educator (Certified Instructor Coordinator, Certified Lab Instructor, Course Sponsor Administrator) or equivalent.

EMS Communications Specialist of the Year Criteria:  an individual who contributes to the EMS community as a call receiving operator, dispatcher or call taker while showing dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, or special skill or insight to prehospital communications.  

EMS Communication Specialist Eligibility:  an employee or volunteer with an organized dispatch center in New York state.

Registered Nurse of Excellent Criteria:  a Registered Professional Nurse who demonstrates dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, ingenuity, special skill or insight in the prehospital environment.

Registered Nurse of Excellence Eligibility:  NYS licensed Registered Professional Nurse serving the EMS system.

Physician of Excellence Criteria:  a physician who demonstrates dedication, responsibility, professional behavior, special skill or insight in the prehospital environment.

Physician of Excellence Eligibility:  NYS licensed physician serving an EMS system.

Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety Criteria:  an EMS agency, provider or leader that has implemented a practice or made a significant contribution that enhances the focus on the delivery of EMS in the community.  

The practice should lead to a measurable and sustained improvement in EMS provider safety, patient care quality and effectiveness, or the efficiency of EMS response or resource development.  

The application must include a program description, the methodology used to achieve change, a description of the outcomes and lessons learned that provide insight into what it takes to accomplish and sustain a successful change.

Excellence in EMS Quality and Safety Eligibility:  a New York state based EMS service, individual provider or EMS leader.

Commissioner of Health's Award of Excellence in EMS Activities Criteria:  an individual who exhibits exceptional contribution to EMS activities in any way.

Commissioner of Health's Award of Excellence in EMS Activities Eligibility:  an individual may be nominated for any other award in the same year and need not be nominated by a regional council. The award may not be given every year.  The selection process will be determined by the Commissioner of Health and the selection will be made by the Commissioner.  

Nominations for the Commissioner of Health's Award of Excellence in EMS Activities must be received by July 1st of each year.

Nomination deadlines vary region for the other awards, the deadline for each region is listed below and on the submission links on the form:

• Adirondack Appalachian Region (Counties:  Delaware, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Schoharie) (April 2nd)
• Big Lakes Region (Counties:  Genesee, Niagara, Orleans) (March 31st)
• Central New York Region (Counties:  Cayuga, Cortland, Onondaga, Oswego, Tompkins) (May 1st)
• Finger Lakes Region (Counties: Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Yates)  
• Hudson-Mohawk Region (Counties:  Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady) (June 1st)
• Hudson Valley Region (Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster) (June 30th)
• Mid State Region (Counties:  Herkimer, Madison, Oneida) (May 1st)
• Monroe-Livingston Region (Counties: Livingston, Monroe) (February 1st)
• Mountain Lakes Region (Counties:  Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Warren, Washington) (May 1st)
• Nassau Region (County:  Nassau) (April 15th)
• New York City Region (Counties:  Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond) (April 1st)
• North Country Region (Counties: Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence) (March 8th)
• Southern Tier Region (Counties:  Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben)
• Southwestern Region (Counties:  Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua) (May 31st)
• Suffolk Region (County:  Suffolk) (May 1st)
• Susquehanna Region (Counties:  Broome, Chenango, Tioga) (March 31st)
• Westchester Region (County:  Westchester) (March 29th)
• Wyoming-Erie Region (Counties:  Erie, Wyoming) (May 17th)

Please click on the Next Page button below to start submitting a nomination for a qualified individual or EMS agency.