Former Quality EMS executive director Conrad Pfeifer, left, stands with new executive director Keith Singleton. Submitted photo

Keith Singleton, the new executive director of Quality Emergency Medical Services, said he is looking forward to continuing to work with the six municipalities served by the “spectacular” ambulance service.

He described the municipalities — Adams and Middlesex townships, along with Callery, Mars, Seven Fields and Valencia — as “forward leaning and proactive” for providing funding to Quality EMS, which operates four ambulances six days a week and three on Sundays.

“They have spectacular ambulance service for their citizens and their communities,” Singleton said.

Singleton started as a paramedic and was recently promoted from deputy chief to executive director to replace Conrad Pfeifer, who resigned to pursue a new professional venture.

In a news release Tuesday announcing the change in leadership, Quality EMS thanked Pfeifer for his years of dedicated service, leadership, and commitment to the organization.

“Under his guidance, Quality EMS experienced significant growth while maintaining an unwavering focus on clinical excellence, operational success, and exceptional patient care. His vision, expertise and mentorship have left a lasting impact on both the organization and the communities it serves,” according to the release.

Singleton echoed that sentiment.

“We are incredibly grateful for Conrad’s leadership and dedication,” Singleton said. “His contributions have helped shape Quality EMS into the organization it is today, and we wish him every success in his future endeavors.”

Using advanced emergency medical protocols helps makes Quality EMS spectacular, he said.

Through a partnership with UPMC Passavant, Quality EMS’ crew of paramedics and emergency medical technicians have been trained to prepare patients suffering the most severe type of heart attack for surgery by the time the ambulance arrives at a hospital.

A ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or STEMI, occurs when one of the coronary arteries is completely blocked. Quality EMS crews take photo images of the patient’s heart and prepare the surgical site on the patient in the ambulance so the patient is ready for surgery when the ambulance arrives at a hospital, he said.

Quality EMS also supplies its ambulances with intravenous Tylenol and lactated ringers injections to combat sepsis, and might be the only ambulance service that uses dual sequential defibrillation, which involves connecting two automated external defibrillators, to resuscitate heart attack patients, he said.

“We’ve had two successful resuscitations recently,” Singleton said.

He said his goal is to pursue next-level treatment to provide the best possible care for patients in the communities, and to continue working with the municipalities, he said.

Funding from the municipalities helps Quality EMS create a culture and offer pay that attracts the best providers, Singleton said.

“The crew is 100% on board. They want to deliver the best care,” Singleton said.