John Quinlavin of Monroe, a paramedic, EMSI, recently received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Connecticut EMS Advisory Board and the Connecticut Council of EMS Regional Presidents in recognition of his lasting, significant impact on EMS in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health EMS director and EMS Medical director presented the award on behalf of the Council during the annual Connecticut EMS Pro conference at Foxwoods.
“Congratulations on receiving this prestigious award,” said William Fitzmaurice, chairman of CORP. “Your dedication and commitment to EMS is to be commended. You have made a significant impact on the delivery of EMS in the State of Connecticut through your active participation in many local, regional and state committees.”
A brief synopsis of Quinlavin’s 45 years of contributions to the EMS system was shared during the ceremony. Among some of the highlights:
Quinlavin has over 45 years of prehospital medicine experience working as an EMT, paramedic, firefighter, instructor and administrator in New York, Kansas and Connecticut.
While a member of the Monroe EMS Commission, and subsequently as chairman, Quinlavin was instrumental in upgrading the delivery of paramedic care to the town of Monroe by having paramedics stationed in town, rather than responding from Bridgeport when available.
As a hospital-based EMS service director, Quinlavin transformed a single paramedic ambulance service into a regional system of paramedic care covering six communities with superb clinicians, who have a reputation for innovative and cutting-edge prehospital care in Connecticut.
Quinlavin also served for 18 years as the chief of medical services for the Travelers Championship PGA Tournament in Cromwell. Implementation of 100 percent paramedic level response teams and ongoing innovations including GPS tracking, onsite wound care including suturing/stapling, concierge medical services, ultrasound and whole blood availability earned the team recognition by the PGA for providing the best medical care on the PGA Tour.
In his role of EMS manager at St. Francis Hospital, Quinlavin served as the DPH commissioner’s appointed chairman of the Connecticut EMS Advisory Board for over a decade guiding this board to become a collaborative and productive contributor to the EMS system, which introduced and supported a multitude of legislative and policy changes improving the EMS system statewide.
Quinlavin was implementer and project manager for the St. Francis Hospital Regional Pre-Hospital Transfusion project, the first of its kind in New England and with over 200 live saving field transfusions prior to his retirement.
Quinlavin has served on numerous committees, commissions, and workgroups and has consulted for municipal and private entities.
He enjoys a variety of outdoor activities and as someone who is newly retired, he plans to increase his time spent with family, while enjoying these outdoor activities and continuing to be active within the EMS community.
Quinlavin is also the current Scoutmaster of Troop 203 Monroe-Trumbull.
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