Wylie Fire Rescue on Oct. 28 recognized crews and dispatch personnel for two recent cases in which patients in cardiac arrest were identified as candidates for extracorporeal CPR (eCPR) and transported to Medical City Plano, where cardiology and ECMO teams took over care.

Heidi Hawkins, EMS program manager, described the cases and credited the decision to operate an in‑house EMS division — established about a year earlier within Wylie Fire Rescue — and the equipment and training that enabled rapid, advanced care in the field.

June 18 case (Greaves): Hawkins said dispatchers and units responded quickly after a 911 call reporting an unresponsive patient. The on‑scene team identified the patient as an eCPR candidate, initiated care within nine minutes of arrival and transported him to Medical City Plano, where the cath lab and ECMO team took over. "They took one look at us in the hallway. We didn't even stop in the ER," Hawkins said. The patient spent about eight days in the hospital and returned home to celebrate his retirement, Hawkins said.

Crews named in the June 18 response included Battalion Chief Brown, Zane Neely (ambulance), Captain Ham, Engineer/Driver Storm, Tim Turquette and Zach Littlefield; Chief Blythe and Chief Nash also responded to the scene, staff said.

Aug. 8 case (Thomas): Hawkins described a second patient whose initial call was logged as a seizure and later upgraded to cardiac arrest while units were en route. Responders identified the patient as an eCPR candidate and again transported to Medical City Plano; Hawkins said the patient was stabilized and transferred to ICU shortly after arrival. She said the interval from dispatch until arrival at Medical City Plano in that case was 48 minutes. Crews involved included Captain John Hunt, driver/engineer Patrick Hewitt, Brett Hoppe, Josh Ludeman and Jonathan Hawkes; Battalion Chief Tripp coordinated on scene.

Hospital partners and protocol: Hawkins said Wylie EMS operates under medical direction and protocols provided by Dr. Eric Madden; she introduced Ashley Smith (vice president, Cardiovascular and Neuroscience Services, Medical City hospitals), Kelsey Zukowski (CVIC manager, Medical City Plano) and Debbie Miller (CV services director, ECMO at Medical City Plano), who were present to explain the receiving hospital's role and validate the eCPR pathway.

Recognition and memorabilia: Wylie presented a new resuscitation plaque and challenge coins to survivors and responders; Hawkins said each rescued patient signs a commemorative "ticket" that lists the responding personnel and is kept on display in fire administration.

Why it matters: Hawkins said bringing EMS in‑house allowed Wylie to equip ambulances with LUCAS devices, advanced monitoring and trained personnel needed to identify eCPR candidates and rapidly coordinate with the ECMO team at Medical City Plano — interventions the staff credited with changing the trajectory for both patients.

Speakers (selected)

- Heidi Hawkins, EMS program manager, Wylie Fire Rescue
- Chief Nash, presenting for Wylie Fire Rescue
- Ashley Smith, vice president of Cardiovascular and Neuroscience Services, Medical City hospitals
- Kelsey Zukowski, manager of CVIC, Medical City Plano
- Debbie Miller, CV services director, ECMO, Medical City Plano

Clarifying details

- eCPR/ECMO: Hawkins said eCPR (ECMO CPR) is performed at Medical City Plano and that candidates must meet strict criteria for transport and cannulation at the receiving center.
- June 18 case: Hawkins said care was initiated within nine minutes of arrival and the patient spent about eight days hospitalized, then discharged home.
- Aug. 8 case: Hawkins said the interval from dispatch to arrival at Medical City Plano was 48 minutes.
- Resuscitation plaque: fire department will hang plaques in administration recording each save and list responding personnel; survivors sign a ticket that is kept on file.

Provenance

- Topic intro excerpt: Hawkins introduced the EMS background and eCPR protocol (transcript around 543.09–571.82).
- Greaves case excerpt: Hawkins described June 18 response and named responding personnel (transcript around 812.69–991.91).
- Thomas case excerpt: Hawkins described Aug. 8 response and travel time of 48 minutes (transcript around 1041.11–1182.575).

Community relevance

- Geographies: Wylie; Medical City Plano (receiving hospital).
- Impact groups: citizens experiencing cardiac emergencies, first responders, families of survivors.

Meeting context

- Engagement level: staff and families attended the presentation; two full case narratives and hospital representatives were present; the council acknowledged the EMS division's investment and results.
- Implementation risk: low — recognitions; ongoing operational note that interfacility coordination for eCPR requires strict timeframes and hospital capability.

Searchable tags: ["Wylie Fire Rescue","eCPR","ECMO","Medical City Plano","lifesave award"]