EMS Call of the Year: Honoring Exceptional Care
Pictured from left: Dr. Ben Crary, BCMH Hospitalist and EMS Medical Director; Russell Whisenand, Paramedic and EMS Supervisor; 2025 Call of the Year honorees Rich Glossip, Paramedic, and Stephen Stark, EMT-B; and Greg Weaver, CEO of Bates County Memorial Hospital.
As part of the national EMS Week celebration, Bates County Memorial Hospital took time to honor the courage, commitment, and compassion of its emergency responders, highlighting one extraordinary call and the EMS crew behind it.
On May 21, 2025, BCMH recognized Paramedic Rich Glossip and EMT-B Stephen Stark as recipients of the Call of the Year award. Staff, volunteers, and board members gathered in the hospital dining room to hear about a challenging call that stood out for the exceptional care and teamwork it required.
Each honoree received a custom walnut plaque in appreciation of their exemplary service.
Dedicated Service and Lifesaving Work
Stephen Stark has served with BCMH for three years and is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served for four years. With 10 years of experience as an EMT-B, Stephen recently began paramedic training to further his education and deepen his ability to serve. He also supports the EMS team as a Field Training Officer, helping to guide and mentor newer team members.
Rich Glossip has been part of the BCMH EMS team since 2011, initially in a PRN (as-needed) role. He became a full-time team member in 2019 after retiring from the Kansas City Fire Department, where he served from 1992 to 2019. Rich began his career in emergency medicine after five years as a U.S. Navy corpsman, bringing decades of experience and a steady hand to critical situations. He has served at the paramedic level for much of his career.
Why This Call?
EMS Supervisor Russell Whisenand, Paramedic, shared that he reviewed more than 2,500 calls from 2024 in selecting this case. “Even though the outcome was not what we hoped for,” Russ explained, “this crew gave it everything they had and performed with excellence and professionalism.”
The strength of their teamwork and their calm, decisive response under pressure made this call stand out.
A Team That Speaks Without Words
During the ceremony, Rich Glossip reflected on the kind of teamwork that can only come from experience and trust:
“It’s awesome to have a good partner like Stephen. You barely have to talk to each other when you’re working a call like that. That’s what I take from the call. We did our best for him, and working with a good partner, it’s all you can ask for.”
Stephen echoed that sentiment:
“I’ve learned a lot from working with Rich. Experienced medics like Rich bring a lot of stories and a wealth of knowledge.”
Celebrating Our EMS Professionals
BCMH is proud to employ some of the most skilled and compassionate EMS professionals in the region. Events like this one remind us how lucky we are to have such dedicated individuals on the front lines of emergency care in our community.
If you’re interested in a career in emergency medical services—or know someone who is—visit our Careers page to learn more about opportunities at BCMH.
