Lee Thomas
Lee’s relentless dedication to EMS for the last 40 years is a testament of his passion and commitment to learning and teaching.
In 1979 Lee was a Military Medic in the 82 nd Airborne Division,
where he trained as an EMT and was part of the first full time
Paramedic class held at Ft. Bragg, NC. Lee was among the first 3
paramedic’s to fully function at that base.
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Lee and I became acquainted in 1987 when I worked as a dispatcher for LIfe Flight in Des Moines. His passion and dedication for patient care and advocacy were evident to me at that time, even though I was only 18! Eventually, Lee came to work for the same department I was at and retired as a Division Chief of EMS.
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Areas of Expertise
Public Speaking
Cardiology
12-lead interpretation
Critical Care
Hospital/EMS relations
Experience and Accomplishments
Lee Thomas, Paramedic, AS Paramedic Science
Lee spent 10+ combined years as a Fight Paramedic with Life Flight Des
Moines and Mercy Air Life (currently Mercy One) Des Moines.
He spent several years providing clinical support in the cardiac
electrophysiology labs in central Iowa while working for a medical
device company.
As a Division Chief with West Des Moines EMS, Lee managed transports
for 4 Des Moines area hospitals through a 28E agreement with West
Des Moines EMS. The responsibilities included planning, coordination,
and implementation of patient transports. Transports included routine
transfers, Hospice transports; high risk critical care ballon pump and
ECMO transports, Pediatric and NICU transports. Lee was the primary
liaison between West Des Moines EMS and Hospital Management along
with hospital line staff personnel.
Holding a Master Electrician License, along with earlier life experience
as a professionally trained automotive technician, provides a broadly
developed mindset for dealing with logistical and maintenance issues.
Lee has participated in legal consultation on cases involving EMS calls
and treatment issues, as well as disciplinary investigations and actions
regarding EMS matters.