John Blumenstock bids farewell to STATCARE and Kentucky
STATCARE director has been influential with Kentucky's EMS system

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

John Blumenstock acknowledges a standing ovation from the STATCARE staff at an awards ceremony in January. Kentucky EMS Connection photo by John Hultgren.

LOUISVILLE — John Blumenstock, the director for the STATCARE air medical program, a board member for the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association, and the vice-chair of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services, bids farewell to Kentucky on Wednesday as he embarks on a new career path.

Blumenstock will become director of the Arizona Division for Golden Hour Data Systems, Inc., an EMS medical software development company headquartered in Solana Beach, California. Blumenstock will be based in Phoenix, Arizona, and will assist the company's customers in using their integrated information systems and business processes to better manage their revenue.

Managing revenue has always been a particular strength of Blumenstock's that has certainly benefited the air medical programs he has managed. But he has long shared his acute business sense with Kentucky's emergency medical services community through his involvement with EMS through the state ambulance providers association and the Kentucky Board of EMS.

"I wasn't looking for another job," Blumenstock said during an interview last week. "It's an opportunity that should be professionally rewarding and cerebrally challenging. It takes advantage of my strengths to help improve reimbursements for air ambulances not only in Kentucky but across the nation."

Blumenstock came to Kentucky in January, 1990, from Savannah, Georgia, where he was the program director for LifeStar. He was recruited by Jewish Hospital's SKYCARE air medical program, the first civilian helicopter air medical program in Kentucky, to be its program director.

Blumenstock was elected to the board of the Kentucky Ambulance Providers Association in 1993 as an at-large representative. He has retained his board position except for the two years when he left the EMS field in 1997 following the merger of SKYCARE and University of Louisville Hospital's STAT Flight into STATCARE. Blumenstock was re-elected to the board after he was named STATCARE's program director in 1999. He has also served on KAPA's Government Relations Committee and the Kentucky EMS Conference and Expo Committee.

Blumenstock was appointed by Gov. Patton to the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services in July, 2002, to represent licensed air ambulance services. He was elected vice-chair of KBEMS last January. His term would have expired in 2006.

Blumenstock's management style at STATCARE was relaxed but organized, thoughtful but determined, ethical and always professional. He set the standard for professionalism and expected his employees to follow that standard. He would frequently ask "What's the right thing to do?" He insisted on holding monthly staff meetings to keep his employees informed, and he was truthful and candid at those meetings. He always started those meetings recognizing employees who had accomplishments during the preceding month. In an era where the air medical industry is under increasing scrutiny for safety issues (there have been 12 air medical crashes in the United States within the past 12 months, resulting in 37 fatalities), he was committed to safety at STATCARE, believing in twin engine aircraft, instrument flight capabilities, continuing safety training, and other safety enhancements. "I'll shut this program down before I compromise safety" he said on numerous occasions. STATCARE has never had an accident.

"Since I have come to Kentucky I have seen a positive transformation of EMS here," Blumenstock said last week. "Through the efforts of KAPA they have addressed many problems with Medicare and improved the state conference."

Blumenstock says EMS in Kentucky "keeps getting better and better. There is a desire to improve EMS in Kentucky. But, EMS in Kentucky is in a crisis because of funding shortfalls, staff shortages, apathy from the citizens, and a feeling of frustration by many that it can't get better. There is a risk over the next several months of the situation getting worse if the EMS community becomes involved with infighting, rather than working together for the good of EMS. Everyone needs to remember what is on the Kentucky state flag: 'United We Stand'."

Blumenstock is confident that his departure will not affect STATCARE. "It will be fine," he throws out without a second thought. 

"My years with STATCARE have been the highlight of my career," Blumenstock said, "and I feel I am leaving STATCARE in a position of strength with the best staff, the best aircraft, the best business processes, and the best support system for clinical growth: the Louisville Medical Center."

"It has truly been an honor to work with these fine men and women who care so much for the success of EMS in Kentucky," Blumenstock said.

"It is a shock, to say the least," KAPA president Joe Bradshaw said last week about Blumenstock's departure. "John is one of those rare people who really can see the big picture. John has been for me a mentor, adviser, and a great example of what is best in EMS. Most of all he has been, and still is, one of my best and dearest friends. I think it was Lincoln who once said, 'If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded.' For me, I think John Blumenstock is a tremendous success."

"John's knowledge, expertise and concern for the EMS industry has earned him the respect of everyone that has had the opportunity to come in contact with him," Kentucky Board of EMS board member Mike Swift said last week. "His influence and impact upon EMS in the Commonwealth has and will continue to extend far beyond where STATCARE's aircraft will ever be able to fly."

STATCARE Chief Flight Nurse Jodie Hignite will serve as the interim executive director for STATCARE, assuming all of the responsibilities handled by Blumenstock, while the STATCARE board recruits a replacement.

Copyright © 2005 The Kentucky EMS Connection. All rights reserved. News stories may be copyrighted by another organization. Original material may be reproduced provided source is credited.