Responsibilities
Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division was established in 1995 and provides both Advanced and Basic Life Support Treatment and Transport. This is accomplished using a very talented group of firefighters who maintain certification as either Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) or Paramedics. Paramedic personnel maintain the highest minimum ALS certification levels of any ground agency in Palm Beach County.
In addition, Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue also provides tactically trained paramedics for the Police SWAT Team. The Division currently operates five ALS rescue transport units and five ALS engines as part of the minimum response standards. Each shift has an EMS District Captain who provides supervision of field staff and insures that quality assurance standards are maintained.
Medical Direction
Kenneth Scheppke, M.D. serves as the agency's medical director, and is responsible for medical quality improvement and EMS treatment protocol development. Dr. Scheppke has been practicing medicine for over 25 years and is a dual board certified specialist in the fields of emergency medicine and EMS. Dr. Scheppke is a member of the prestigious and influential Coalition of Eagles, an organization of the EMS Medical Directors from many of the largest EMS Agencies across North America, London, and New Zealand. He has published numerous articles in both peer reviewed scientific literature and in EMS trade journals.
Dr. Scheppke is recognized as an expert in adult resuscitation, and lectures on this topic nationally at scientific meetings such as the EMS World Expo and as the keynote speaker for the 41st State of Alaska EMS Symposium. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Red Cross Heroes in Medicine Award, the American Heart Association EMS Mission Lifeline Award, and the EMS Distinguished Service Award.
