Dr. David K. Tan Welcomed as Chief Medical Officer

In recent years, the landscape of pre-hospital mobile healthcare has transformed tremendously. St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] has embraced this evolution, remaining steadfast in its mission to develop innovative programs and advance clinical practices to improve patient outcomes. Further elevating the unique practice of medicine being performed on-scene requires a physician clinical leader specially trained for this multi-faceted environment.  After a national search, SCCAD has welcomed Dr. David K. Tan as the District’s full-time Chief Medical Officer – Medical Director.

A double board-certified subject matter expert in the field of Emergency Medicine and EMS Medicine, Dr. Tan joins SCCAD after a long career with Washington University School of Medicine, where he served as Professor and EMS Division Chief, and was an attending Emergency Physician at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, a certified Level 1 Trauma Center.

Though Tan’s appointment as Chief Medical Officer makes him the first full-time EMS physician in the State of Missouri, his history with SCCAD goes back nearly two decades. Since 2006, Dr. Tan has served as Associate Medical Director for the District, focusing on the Tactical EMS Unit aligned with the St. Charles County Regional SWAT Team, and the Medical Specialists serving with St. Louis Metro Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 1.

“SCCAD’s clinical success, speed, patient feedback, and key performance indicators speak for themselves,” said Dr. Tan. “EMS does not merely bring patients to health care. EMS is healthcare, and this organization is re-defining service lines of pre-hospital medical practice – I’m enthusiastic about expanding my role with this devoted group of clinicians” said Dr. Tan.

Since stepping into the role, Dr. Tan has worked with the District’s Training Division to develop an aggressive and contemporary training schedule for 2024 which includes immersive education on patient care treatment protocols and new lifesaving equipment.

“Things that were once thought to be ‘hospital only’ or even ‘intensive care unit only’ are being routinely practiced in advanced life support units today. It has become increasingly clear that our paramedics are ready to embrace the expansion of their role as critical care practitioners,” said Dr. Tan.

Dr. Tan’s contributions to the advancement of pre-hospital medicine extend well beyond county borders – he has served as President of the National Association of EMS Physicians and is Vice Chair of the Missouri State Advisory Council on EMS. In addition, he is Chair of the Metropolitan St. Louis Emergency Transport Oversight Commission.  His professional honors include Fellowships from the Academy of EMS and American Academy of Emergency Medicine, and in 2011 he was named Physician of the Year by the Missouri EMS Association.


Dr. David K. Tan

SCCAD Kicks Off 2024 With $5.8M In Capital Investments

With annual call volume eclipsing 50,000 and trending upward, having the right equipment to care for ill and injured individuals is pivotal for paramedics in St. Charles County. This month, St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] made an investment of nearly $4M in lifesaving medical equipment, purchasing ventilators, stretchers, and power load systems to outfit its fleet of advanced life support units. The new equipment replaces devices that were at the end of the manufacturer-recommended lifespan.

Utilized on every patient transport, the 51 Stryker Power Pro 2 Stretchers purchased by SCCAD raise and lower with the push of a button, improving safety for patients and providers. The units are engineered to decrease body fatigue with enhanced ergonomics for paramedics assisting patients on and off the stretcher. Retractable sections of the new model enable first responders to navigate tighter quarters than was possible with previous stretchers. Installed within SCCAD’s advanced life support units and utilized with the stretchers, the Stryker Power-LOAD cot fastener system enhances safety by supporting the stretcher during transport, loading, and unloading.

For patients suffering from breathing complications, 40 new Hamilton T1 ventilators will provide a level of respiratory support typically seen in intensive care units. Among other features, the ventilators enable paramedics to set flow rates, oxygen concentration, and volume with a high degree of specificity.  Like the new stretchers, the vents are powered by long-lasting rechargeable batteries, enabling paramedics to provide respiratory care on-scene as well as in the ambulance.

“These pieces of equipment will be utilized every day by our skilled clinicians and will aid tremendously in our mission to improve patient outcomes,” said SCCAD Chief Kelly Cope.

While replacement of equipment at manufacturer-recommended intervals is a high priority for SCCAD, the District also maintains a rigorous maintenance schedule on all durable medial equipment to ensure each piece is in proper working order and will perform as expected during 911 emergencies.

The purchases were financed utilizing funds generated by Proposition Ambulance – a $70M general obligation bond issue approved by voters in 2018. In addition to the stretchers, load systems, and ventilators, the District will soon complete $2M in ambulance purchase and chassis remount projects utilizing bond funds. Other recent bond-financed capital projects include SCCAD’s $32M consolidated headquarters facility, which opened in 2021, and four ambulance stations constructed in St. Peters, Wentzville, and unincorporated St. Charles County.

“St. Charles County made an important capital investment in its emergency medical service with the approval of Prop. Ambulance,” said Cope. “These funds have and will continue to enable us to invest in infrastructure and equipment at strategic intervals, and we appreciate the public’s support in this endeavor.”

SAMHSA Awards SCCAD $1.5M Grant To Enhance SURRT Program

In a continued effort to address the nation’s ongoing mental health crisis and opiate epidemic, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA] last week awarded numerous grants to agencies to expand access to substance use disorder [SUD] treatments.  Among the initiatives funded was St. Charles County Ambulance District’s [SCCAD] Mobile Integrated Healthcare [MIH] network for SUD and Behavioral Health, which was fully funded in the amount of $1.5 million.

Since the onset of the opiate epidemic, SCCAD has taken an innovative approach to patient care – paired with prevention and harm reduction strategies, the District’s Substance Use Recovery Response Team [SURRT] garnered significant attention and was named 2017 Community Impact Program of the Year by the American Ambulance Association.  It has since become a model utilized by numerous EMS agencies throughout the United States and Canada.

“The primary goal of this initiative is to save lives and improve referrals to appropriate treatment and recovery supports for high-risk individuals,” said SCCAD Assistant Chief David Lewis.

The SAMHSA funding, which will be awarded over a four-year period, will enable SCCAD to expand   the SURRT program. Among the most notable enhancements to the program are a dedicated, 24/7 position available to immediately initiative treatment with the provision of field administration of buprenorphine – an FDA-approved medication used to stabilize patients and treat opioid addition. 

In the event of suspected opioid overdose call, a member of the MIH team will be dispatched along with the ambulance. Working with the patient, the team member may offer to initiate medication-assisted treatment, refer to program partners for inpatient or outpatient treatment, and address other critical needs.  

The newly dedicated position will enable the District to partner with area hospitals to offer SUD MIH services to individuals who self-present at the emergency department. Residents also may contact the District if they find themselves or a family member in need of assistance.

“Our vision for the program is that it becomes self-sustaining through our normal reimbursement pathways after the four-year grant period ends,” Lewis said.

In addition to SUD services, the District’s MIH network will work to address health inequities and social determinants of health. Program partners include Preferred Family Healthcare, Compass Health, St. Charles County Department of Health, Community Asset Builders, and the St. Charles City Fire Department, among others. The program will focus primarily on serving individuals under 200% of the federal poverty level, but no patient will be turned away.