Oak Ridge Today

AC EMS doesn’t carry most medications found during search of doctor’s home, director says

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Michael Lapaglia

Michael A. Lapaglia

Its former medical director was arrested Tuesday on drug and gun charges, and Anderson County Emergency Medical Services issued a statement on Wednesday that said most of the medications allegedly found in the home of Dr. Michael A. LaPaglia are not carried by the ambulance service.

The statement also said that the Anderson County EMS medical director is never allowed or provided access to any controlled equipment, supplies, or medications.

“Anderson County EMS has a very solid and concise procedure for controlled substances, with many levels of reporting and accountability,” Director Nathan Sweet said. [Read more…]

KPD: Doctor arrested on drug, weapons charges after officers find pipes, pot, pills

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Michael Lapaglia

Michael LaPaglia

Note: This story was last updated at 12:02 p.m.

An East Tennessee doctor with ties to Oak Ridge and Anderson County was arrested Tuesday morning at his Knoxville home on drug and weapons charges after officers allegedly found about 125 marijuana pipes and bongs, more than two pounds of high-grade marijuana, and pills and vials containing liquids commonly used in hospitals, with the medicines ranging from Valium and amphetamine to oxycodone, propofol, and morphine, authorities said.

The Knoxville Police Department arrested Michael A. LaPaglia, 42, after responding to a report of a domestic dispute at a home on Fox Cove Road about 11:46 p.m. Monday, spokesman Darrell DeBusk said. When police entered the home, they said they noticed a strong marijuana smell throughout the house. They also saw several Mason jars with marijuana residue as well as bongs, or water pipes used to smoke marijuana, according to a KPD statement. [Read more…]

Anderson EMS honors paramedic, EMT, officer of the year; gives first ‘Director’s Award’

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Anderson County Emergency Medical Service, or EMS, honored some of its own Wednesday afternoon with a luncheon and awards ceremony.

Whitney Ellis was recognized as Paramedic of the Year. EMS Director Nathan Sweet said Ellis has great compassion for her job “and her commitment to patient care exceeds all others. [Read more…]

Anderson County EMS plans operational changes

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Anderson County EMS has announced a change in their system’s operations that will start June 3.

Anderson County EMS currently operates 11 ambulances during the day Monday through Friday, six of which are Advanced Life Support (ALS), Paramedic-staffed ambulances, and five are designated as Basic Life Support (BLS) convalescent trucks with dual EMT-IV crews. [Read more…]

MMC Health Night: When minutes matter—behind the scenes of a heart attack

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Milan Sheth

Milan Sheth

Nathan Sweet

Nathan Sweet

When you’re having a health emergency like a heart attack, every minute matters. Methodist Medical Center and the Anderson County Emergency Medical Services work together to make sure patients get the treatment they need as quickly as possible.

Methodist’s emergency heart team includes interventional cardiologists, emergency room doctors, nurses, technicians, and EMS personnel. Each one is trained and ready 24 hours a day, every day of the year. It’s their mission to open blocked arteries—as quickly as possible—and they do it 25 minutes faster than the national benchmark. [Read more…]

Roane State student recognized for helping during medical emergency

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Roane State Student Recognized

Anderson County EMS director Nathan Sweet, left, recognizes Roane State student Amber Kennedy at the Anderson County Commission’s Feb. 19 meeting. (Submitted photo)

Anderson County Emergency Medical Services recently recognized a Roane State Community College student who provided assistance during a medical emergency.

EMS director Nathan Sweet honored Amber Kennedy of Sunbright during the Anderson County Commission’s Feb. 19 meeting. Kennedy is a waitress at Ruby Tuesday in Oak Ridge.

Last December, a customer collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Kennedy—who had taken a safety, first aid, and CPR course at Roane State’s Morgan County campus—stepped forward and administered CPR.

[Read more…]