NE Colorado RETAC

11/17/2025

Great catching up with fellow RETAC Executive Directors from across Colorado at !

Each RETAC represents a different region of our state, but we all share the same mission:
supporting EMS agencies, trauma centers, responders, and the communities who rely on them every day.

It’s always inspiring to see the dedication, collaboration, and passion that each region brings to strengthening emergency care across Colorado—urban, rural, and frontier alike.

Huge thanks to SLV RETAC for sharing this photo and to everyone who makes this work possible.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient EMS system for all Coloradans. 💚🚑

Sometimes just spending some quality time with good friends is the only therapy you need. And what better way than with your RETAC friends. ❤️

11/15/2025

Weld County residents take note.

This week, the CodeRed notification system was taken offline by the vendor, the root cause has yet to be identified. Please be assured that this is a standalone system and is not connected to any Weld County systems. There is no impact on county operations or data.

As a precaution, new signups for CodeRed have been temporarily suspended. Additionally, if you use the CodeRed mobile app for location-based alerts, those alerts and subscribed alerts are currently unavailable. We have other alerting methods that will be used during emergencies.

We appreciate your patience and will provide updates as more information becomes available. This particular vendor has nothing to do with services for calling 9-1-1. Those services are operating at full capacity.

If you have questions, please contact Director Tina Powell at 970-400-2895.

11/10/2025

💚 Where Your $2 EMS Fee Goes

When you renew your vehicle registration in Colorado, you’ll notice a small $2 “Emergency Medical Services” fee on your receipt.

That modest contribution makes a big difference in saving lives across our state.

Here’s how your $2 is used:

🚑 Supporting local and regional EMS systems
The fee funds Colorado’s 11 Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Councils (RETACs) — including NCRETAC, which serves the northeast region. This support allows us to coordinate regional emergency and trauma care, provide education, improve readiness, and sustain vital EMS and trauma system functions in our rural and frontier communities.

🏛️ Staffing the state EMS Division
A portion of the fee funds the staff and operations of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) EMS Division, which oversees statewide standards, data, and licensing for EMS providers, agencies, and trauma centers.

💰 Funding local EMS provider grants
These dollars also sustain Colorado’s EMS Provider Grant Program, which helps purchase ambulances, lifesaving equipment, and fund personnel across the state.
In just the last two years, over $1.6 million from this program has been returned to agencies within our own northeast region.

🎓 Advancing EMS education and training
Through the Colorado Resource for EMS and Trauma Education (CREATE) program, your $2 also helps support initial education and continuing training for EMTs, paramedics, nurses, and trauma professionals — ensuring that responders stay sharp, skilled, and ready.

A small $2 fee adds up to millions of dollars in impact — helping ensure that when emergencies happen, help arrives fast and fully prepared.

Thank you for doing your part to keep Colorado’s EMS and trauma system strong. 💚

Learn more about NCRETAC ➜ https://ncretac.org/

11/08/2025

🎉 We are thrilled to share that our Board Vice President, James Robinson (CEO of the Thompson Valley EMS and Chief of the Health Service District), has been honored by the Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado (EMSAC) as Colorado EMS Executive of the Year.

His recognition reflects outstanding leadership in EMS across Colorado — including his efforts on the Senate-Bill 225 EMS Sustainability Taskforce, his more than 35 years of service spanning volunteer, private and public EMS, and his commitment to building strong systems of care for rural, suburban and urban communities. 

We at the Northeast Colorado Regional Emergency Medical and Trauma Advisory Council (NCRETAC) are especially proud of this achievement, as James brings that same dedication to our regional board and is actively elevating EMS/trauma care across northeast Colorado.

Please join us in congratulating James for this well-deserved honor, and for his ongoing work to advance EMS systems, strengthen workforce development, and safeguard patient outcomes throughout our region. 🎖️

The Emergency Medical Services Association of Colorado will present Thompson Valley EMS Chief James Robinson with the State Executive of the Year Award on Saturday.

11/07/2025

A beautiful end to a meaningful day at 🌄

As the sun set over Keystone this evening, it was a perfect reminder of why we’re here — to connect, to learn, and to strengthen the future of EMS across Colorado.

From thought-provoking sessions to inspiring conversations, today reflected the resilience and dedication of our EMS community. Moments like this sunset help us pause and appreciate the people beside us — providers, leaders, educators, and partners — all working toward the same mission.

Here’s to another great day ahead at the EMSAC Conference.
Proud to represent Northeast Colorado and the incredible professionals who serve our region every day.

11/06/2025

🚨 Final Call for Nominations!
Help us recognize the heroes of Northeast Colorado EMS before the deadline passes.
Nominate a colleague, agency, or community member today:
🔗 https://ncretac.org/ncretac-awards-nominations/
Deadline: Nov 10

Join NCRETAC in advancing emergency medical and trauma care in Northeast Colorado. Explore training, resources, and initiatives making a lifesaving impact in our region.

11/03/2025

🚓🐻 A Beary Unexpected Passenger in Larimer County 🚑

Only in Colorado…

This week, one of our Larimer County EMS agencies -the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office - responded to a call that was a little less “medical emergency” and a little more “Winnie the Who-dunit.”

A black bear somehow managed to get into a parked car and locked itself inside—proving once and for all that opposable thumbs are just a suggestion in the animal kingdom.

No injuries, no damage (well… mostly), and the bear was safely released back to the wild after deputies opened the door—no keys, no tasers, just pure courage and maybe a prayer or two.

Highlights include:
• 🐾 No humans or bears were harmed
• 🚗 The bear did not know how to operate the turn signal
• 💼 EMS stayed on standby in case anyone needed a “paw-pressure check”
• 🐻 Bear refused to answer questions and left the scene without comment

One deputy was overheard saying, “I’ve written up deer vs. car… but never bear in car.”
Another responder added, “That’s one way to test your airbags.”

Huge thanks to the LCSO team and EMS for handling it professionally, safely, and with only moderate levels of bear puns.

⸻

Moral of the story:
Lock your cars. Bears don’t need a reason—they just need a handle.

11/03/2025

We are excited to introduce our first speaker, Dr. Kathleen Adelgais! Dr. Adelgais will be speaking on the important topic of Pediatric Severe and Inflicted Trauma from the PEC Trauma Compendium (https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2025.2457141).

Dr. Adelgais is a Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a Pediatric Emergency Medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, CO. She serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for the Colorado EMS for Children State Partnership program. She leads the Colorado Pediatric Preparedness for the ER or COPPER program, one of 19 federally recognized Pediatric Readiness Recognition programs in the US. She also serves as one of the leads for the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center Prehospital Domain and serves as the key lead for the Pediatric Pandemic Network Prehospital Domain.

She serves as the scientific advisor for the Aurora Fire Department EMS affiliate role in PEM-NEWS node within the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) the largest pediatric emergency care research network in the country. She is funded through HRSA, AHRQ, and the NIH to conduct impactful research in prehospital medicine focused on simulation training, coordination of care, and EMS workflow analysis. Finally, Dr. Adelgais serves as the Associate Pediatric Medical Director for 2 EMS agencies in Colorado.

11/03/2025

We are excited to be joined by Dr. Matt Angelidis at the Fall Forum in Keystone, presenting on Traumatic Pneumothorax Care from the PEC (https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2024.2416978).

Dr Matthew Angelidis graduated from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in 2006 with a Medical Doctorate and then completed Emergency Medicine Residency training at Madigan Army Medical Center/University of Washington in Seattle. He went on to complete a 15 year career in the Army serving in tours overseas in Iraq before joining the UCHealth ER and EMS teams in Colorado Springs. He has spent his entire career working in EMS and serving as a Physician Medical Director for agencies in Washington, Texas, Georgia and finally here in Colorado where he currently serves as the Medical Director for the UCHealth Center for EMS Excellence overseeing the medical direction of over 100 EMS agencies in the Plains to Peaks RETAC in central Colorado. He is the Chief Medical Director for Colorado Springs Fire Department, Colorado Springs Police Department and AMR. Additionally he serves as the Medical Director for the UCHealth Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit. He also serves as the Medical Director for “The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb” on Pikes Peak Mountain. He is committed to serving prehospital health care professionals and strives to improve the care received by the citizens of Colorado Springs and the Plains to Peaks RETAC before they reach our hospitals.

11/01/2025

💬 “Recognition doesn’t just honor individuals—it strengthens the entire system.”

There’s still time to nominate your EMS colleagues for the 2025 NCRETAC Annual Awards!
Take a moment to spotlight those who show extraordinary dedication, compassion, and courage every day.

👉 https://ncretac.org/ncretac-awards-nominations/

Join NCRETAC in advancing emergency medical and trauma care in Northeast Colorado. Explore training, resources, and initiatives making a lifesaving impact in our region.

10/27/2025

🚒🚑👮‍♀️ Behind the Badge: The People Who Keep Northern Colorado Safe

The latest NoCo Style feature, “Behind the Badge,” offers an incredible look at the firefighters, police officers, and paramedics who serve our region with professionalism, compassion, and quiet courage.

These are the people who respond on our worst days — and who train, prepare, and care for our communities every day in between. From Firefighter Landon Schmidt’s teamwork and readiness, to Officer Tyler Payne’s compassion and respect, to Paramedic Katie Siman’s decades of service and resilience — their stories remind us what public safety really means in Northern Colorado.

Read the full story here: https://nocostyle.com/2025/09/29/behind-the-badge/

NCRETAC is proud to stand alongside the agencies and individuals who make up this network of care — ensuring every call, every rescue, and every patient gets the best possible chance.


UCHealth EMS
Poudre Fire Authority
Fort Collins Police Services

First responders heal our communities with heart and humanity