Our Mission:
Raising money to support excellent pre-hospital emergency care.
The Foundation’s role is vital to saving lives.
Here’s a snapshot of the important work of the Foundation, made possible through the generous support of the community.
Click the highlighted links to find out more:
- The Foundation guarantees rigorous paramedic training and continuing medical education that is experience-centered and under the guidance of University of Washington physicians.
- The Foundation ensures the quality of pre-hospital emergency care through independent medical review - continuously evaluating Medic One services; monitoring treatments and outcomes; and developing new approaches to improve survival.
- The Foundation sponsors targeted research on methods to improve patient outcomes and prevent sudden cardiac death.
- The Foundation equips emergency medical service providers by funding special equipment needs to help them in better serving their communities.
The best paramedic training from the most competent sources.
Community support has helped the Foundation develop a world-class paramedic training program. The national Joint Review Committee on Education Programs for Paramedics describes the training program as "extremely unique," and points to the significant advantages of "funding from the Medic One Foundation, probably the only one of its kind in the nation." Foundation funding promotes the unique characteristics of our region's paramedic training program by ensuring that Medic One paramedic students:
- Receive instruction from physicians who are University of Washington faculty members.
- Have access to state-of-the-art training aids and equipment.
- Acquire extensive training in the field under the direct supervision of experienced paramedics. Medic One paramedic students have an average of 700 patient contacts - more than three times the national average.
- Have sufficient guidance and opportunity to perform procedures that, in the past, were only performed by physicians, and now rarely performed by paramedics outside of King County and Washington State. Medic One paramedic students undergo 2,000 hours of instruction, compared to the national recommendation of 1,100 hours.
- Have the advantage of learning procedures that are constantly updated through independent scientific research and development, and constant evaluation of treatments and outcomes.
- Undergo a rigorous internship experience with written evaluations by senior paramedics and physicians.
In addition to funding the paramedic training program, the Foundation funds continuing medical education classes for paramedics, providing support for instructors, medical reference books, computer educational training aids and training equipment.
Independent medical review of Medic One's performance to improve survival rates and patient outcomes.
By funding independent, ongoing medical evaluation of Medic One's effectiveness, the Foundation guarantees that the caliber of Medic One services are medically appropriate and uncompromised. Critical questions are constantly asked and as a result, treatments and outcomes are continuously evaluated in order to develop new approaches to improve the quality of care. Valuable feedback is provided to fire department paramedics and EMT's on the use of automated defibrillation and in the management of trauma cases and medical dispatching. Through the Medic One Foundation quality assurance efforts, the Foundation has helped to develop a nationally recognized resource of clinical and laboratory data that has supported significant studies on:
- The effects of early defibrillation.
- The effects of bystander-initiated CPR.
- Long-term outcomes after resuscitation.
- Neurological outcomes after resuscitation.
- Drug therapy after resuscitation.
Advanced research in new methods of health care delivery in the pre-hospital setting.
Emergency medical treatment is a dynamic field and constant research is critical to sustain the very best quality of care. Accordingly, the Foundation funds promising pilot research focusing on emergency medical services, pre-hospital care and prevention of sudden cardiac death. The Foundation funds projects that demonstrate a direct relevance to the way emergency care and follow-up is provided in our community - and ultimately throughout the country and beyond. Foundation-funded research has led to:
- New techniques for performing CPR to improve patient outcomes.
- The use of new drugs in managing cardiac arrest.
- Prevention of sudden cardiac arrest.
- Brain protection after resuscitation from sudden cardiac death.
- The importance of CPR prior to defibrillation.
- The most effective use of drugs in dissolving clots that cause some forms of heart attacks.
Recently funded research:
- Graham Nichol, MD
"Evaluation of Video Self-Instruction in Compressions-Only Using CPR Anytime" - Samuel R. Sharar, MD
"Assessment of Patient Recall/Awareness of Prehospital Endotracheal Intubation"
View a list of additional research grants
Special equipment grants to help paramedics save more lives
The Foundation assists emergency medical service providers in better serving their communities by providing financial assistance to purchase emergency medical equipment. Funding priority is given to communities with a limited tax base or funding sources.
Recently funded equipment:
- Camano Stanwood Medic One: MCI/disaster trailer, equipment and supplies
- City of SeaTac Fire Department: CPR training manikins
- Everett Fire Department: 5 stretchers
- King County Fire District #44 (Auburn): mobile emergency medical support trailer
- King County Fire District #47 (Palmer): defibrillator, gurney and stretcher
- King County Fire District #50 (Skykomish): automatic external defibrillator, gurney & stretcher
- Snohomish County Fire District #4 (Snohomish): 4 automatic external defibrillators
- Snohomish County Fire District #8 (Lake Stevens): 4 stair chairs
View a list of additional equipment grants
To learn more about the Medic One Foundation:
View the Medic One Foundation Annual Report for a detailed look at the work of the Foundation.