The honor given to Chief Jack Krakeel at the recent Region V EMS awards banquet reminded me that perhaps the people in Fayette County do not realize what an incredible leader they have for their Emergency Services.

Your chief is a towering leader within the industry across the country. He has served as section chief of the EMS section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for many years.

In that capacity he has shaped the EMS systems in every state. Of particular note was his work on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee that rewrote the regulations used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington to pay every claim submitted in the nation for Medicare payment for ambulance services.

Healthcare across our nation is driven to provide services based on the way they are paid for those services, so this work has been instrumental in redefining how EMS systems will be designed for decades to come.

While representing the IAFC at the table, Jack took the lead role in bringing different factions together to reach consensus in how this new system should work. He had a vision and he brought everyone together to embrace that vision.

While you probably understand that your EMS service serves as a role model for similar organizations across the nation, please realize making it work takes great courage and understanding.

Jack has never settled for the status quo in an industry that celebrates tradition to a fault.

Thanks to you as citizens for giving him the platform to stand on to lead us all, and realize the work he does for you spreads across America to every town and village.

Ben Hinson
President, Mid Georgia Ambulance Service
Past President, American Ambulance Association
Macon, Ga.

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