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March 21, 2014


Skagit County hires EMS director

MOUNT VERNON – Lynden resident Mark Raaka has agreed to serve as Skagit County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) director, effective April 14.

Raaka will provide administrative oversight to all areas of Skagit County’s EMS delivery system, with an initial assignment to lead in development of the structure of that system.

The new EMS director is a 2003 graduate of Central Washington University, with a Bachelor of Science – Paramedic degree. He earned a Master of Science in Health Services – Emergency Services Management degree from George Washington University in 2013 and he is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington State University.

Raaka’s career began in 2000, at which time he served as a reserve firefighter/paramedic for the City of Ellensburg Fire Department. He also served as a firefighter paramedic in Ephrata, Washington.

In August 2003 Raaka was employed in Yakima as a paramedic/paramedic preceptor for Advanced Life Systems (ALS). In that role he maintained ambulance readiness and worked as a mentor with new paramedics and students doing field internships.

Raaka was named interim Paramedic Program Director at Central Washington University, where he served from September 2007 to June 2008 before successfully recruiting a permanent director. During this time he implemented a program reorganization to ensure compliance with accreditation requirements. He also established and maintained relationships with clinical and field student internship programs.

During his time at CWU Raaka also taught upper division courses, projected program budget needs and implemented a new information system.

Raaka served most recently as Medic Operations Manager for Kittitas Valley Healthcare, where he was responsible for all day to day operations of the ambulance service. Duties ranged from staff selection, training and scheduling to oversight of budget and forecasting capital expenditures. He served on various stakeholder committees and worked collaboratively with external partners on system improvements.

The new EMS director was hired from a field of 23 candidates following interviews by a panel including Skagit County Commissioner Ron Wesen; Mike Liepman, Chief Operating Officer, Skagit Valley Regional; Don Slack, Medical Program Director, Skagit County EMS; Donnie LaPlante, Sr. HR/Risk Analyst, Skagit County.

“We are pleased to bring Mark into a leadership position as we restructure our EMS delivery system,” said Wesen. “His career in emergency medical services includes experience at all levels – a history that will serve him well as he works with Skagit County’s partners in delivering this vital community service.”

Contact:
Donnie LaPlante, Sr. HR/Risk Mgmnt. Analyst
(360) 419-7602