Mel Jorgenson
HealthPartners Medical Transportation
2020 Wisconsin Star of Life

Community has always been something near and dear to Mel Jorgenson’s heart. At her rural EMS department, she has helped develop numerous outreach programs and events that have made a tremendous positive impact on her community and the county as a whole. These programs include First Aid Instruction, Car Seat Safety, Geriatric Falls Prevention, and a free Community Safety Day that educates over 300 children and families on safety and awareness.

When the time comes and the tones drop, Mel always drops everything to help those in need. She brings with her a sense of calmness, and when she arrives on the scene everyone feels a sense of relief. On one call Mel responded to for a pulseless non-breather (PNB) adult male, there was a large amount of family present when the ambulance arrived. The responding staff were new to the service, making this the first resuscitation they had ever worked. Mel arrived on scene and immediately took charge of the incident. When you hear "take charge" people typically think of someone running the show and telling people what to do, but that's not how Mel takes charge. She is an educator at heart and that's exactly what she does in the field. She was able to coach the staff through the situation, answer their questions, and explain the importance of what they were doing. She then educated the family on what was happening and what to expect next. Ultimately, Mel was calm amid the chaos of a very serious emergency, which resulted in a save. Mel's not your average medical provider, she is someone that goes above and beyond each and every day, making those around her better. We are honored to nominate Mel as a 2020 Wisconsin Star of Life!