Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service Team Members Recognized with State Awards
Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service (RCEMS) was recognized at the state level for extraordinary clinical excellence, teamwork, and compassion during two life-saving emergency responses in 2025. Among those honored were Shift Commander Wendy Lampley and Paramedic Jeremy Coleman, recipients of the prestigious State Award recognizing exceptional interagency trauma response and patient survival.
RCEMS personnel also received the Outstanding Achievement in Maternal and Neonatal Emergency Response Award for their remarkable care during a critical neonatal resuscitation on July 22, 2025. Award recipients included Paramedic Kayla Harney, Paramedic Marguette Allen, Paramedic James Wilson, and Shift Captain Joseph Shannon.
RCEMS was additionally recognized as part of a statewide interprofessional response involving Rutherford County 911, Murfreesboro Fire Rescue, Vanderbilt LifeFlight, and emergency trauma teams following a devastating motor vehicle collision on April 22, 2025.
The incident involved Crystal Lane, who suffered catastrophic traumatic injuries and traumatic cardiac arrest after a prolonged vehicle extrication. During 24 minutes without a pulse, responders performed continuous advanced resuscitative interventions, including rapid airway management, blood transfusions, thoracostomies, ventilatory support, and coordinated trauma care between ground and air medical teams.
Against overwhelming odds, Crystal achieved return of spontaneous circulation and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center for definitive trauma care. After extensive surgeries, rehabilitation, and recovery, she has since returned to independent daily life and is preparing to return to work. Their extraordinary actions during those critical first moments gave a mother the chance to return home to her child and continue her life.
Officials stated the survival and recovery of both patients were made possible through extraordinary coordination, clinical expertise, and decisive teamwork across multiple agencies and disciplines.
“These incidents represent the very best of emergency medical services,” officials said during the awards presentation. “The professionalism, technical skill, and compassion demonstrated by these responders saved lives and changed the futures of entire families.”
The Maternal and Neonatal Emergency Response Award recognized the coordinated efforts of RCEMS Medic 7, Medic 6, and Medic 22, Smyrna Fire Department, Smyrna Police Department, and additional responding crews during a rapidly evolving childbirth emergency involving 18-year-old mother Ke’Asia Britton and her newborn son, Korey.
What began as a routine maternity call escalated into a neonatal cardiac arrest while crews were en route. Upon arrival, responders found baby Korey unresponsive, pulseless, and cyanotic after an unexpected delivery at home. Responders immediately initiated advanced neonatal resuscitation measures, including ventilations, chest compressions, airway management, thermal stabilization, and the successful placement of an intraosseous line in the infant’s tibia — a highly technical procedure in a newborn patient.
Through seamless teamwork, rapid decision-making, and unwavering composure under pressure, crews successfully restored Korey’s heart rate and spontaneous respirations before transport to Stone Crest Medical Center. Baby Korey ultimately stabilized and was transferred to NICU care with an outcome described as extraordinary given the severity of the initial presentation.
The award also recognized the compassion demonstrated by responders after the incident, as crews continued supporting the young mother and family beyond the emergency itself.
Rutherford County Emergency Medical Service Director Brian Gaither reflected on the awards.
“I am proud of these team members and the incredible work they do every day,” Gaither said. “These awards are a reflection of the professionalism, compassion, and teamwork that I see throughout Rutherford County EMS. These recognitions are well deserved, and it is an honor to serve alongside such an outstanding group of professionals. Please join me in congratulating them on this achievement.”