Escambia County Selects New Medical Director For Public Safety, Corrections

April 19, 2018

Escambia County has selected Dr. Rayme Edler as the new Medical Services Director for the Escambia County Corrections and Public Safety departments, responsible for overseeing all county medical staff under emergency medical services and the county jail. Her target start date is Monday, May 7.

Edler is an emergency medicine board certified physician at Baptist Hospital, previously serving as an emergency medicine resident at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, Edler has called Pensacola home for about seven years, when she began working as a physician at Baptist Hospital.

Edler graduated from Ross University School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine and from Tulane University with a Master of Science in Public Health, also earning a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of New Orleans. Her certifications include Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support.

“Getting this position is just such an honor,” Edler said. “I’m excited to take on the challenge, and I’m really looking forward to working with Escambia County and bringing the best care to the county that we possibly can.”

Edler began her medical career as an emergency medical technician and paramedic and later worked as an EMT/paramedic supervisor, providing valuable insight into the operations she will be overseeing in Escambia County Emergency Medical Services.

Edler said being in the field and knowing firsthand what EMTs and paramedics encounter on a daily basis will help her better relate to staff and know what challenges they face.

“I think it’s really important that even as a medical director, you know what they’re going through,” Edler said. “You can read a book and you can learn something, but until you really do it and experience it, it’s a whole different story.”

Along with supervising and assuming direct responsibility for all EMTs, paramedics and medical staff of the Escambia County Corrections Department, Edler will be responsible for providing care to individuals incarcerated in the Escambia County Jail.

Before accepting the position, Edler toured the Escambia County Jail and participated in an ambulance ride along, giving her an opportunity to meet county medical staff and experience some of the day-to-day operations.

Edler said one of her goals in the new position is to continue to build a strong sense of teamwork with staff, along with ensuring departments remain up to date with emergency medicine protocols and are provided with the training needed to best perform their jobs.

“It’s that teamwork, that camaraderie that you never lose – making sure that everybody knows how important their position is, no matter where you are in the medical field,” Edler said.

Comments

2 Responses to “Escambia County Selects New Medical Director For Public Safety, Corrections”

  1. concerned on April 19th, 2018 3:32 pm

    One real issue at the county jail and the infirmary It’s beyond filthy and dangerous. Clean it up so folks yes real humans tho those who wind up there no matter why they’re treated like they’re subhuman. Clean it up. I used to work as the head of the medical department in the Leon county jail in Tallahassee FL it was spoless. These are humans not anything less. Good luck hope the best for you. The officers some of them have verbal bad attitudes. Help them too!!!

  2. Pineapple on April 19th, 2018 11:23 am

    Congratulations Doc! Please help make ECEMS great again! You are the right person at the right time and what this department needs. A lot of young medics need your guidance because most of their education was geared to test passing and less on clinical assessment and physiological prowess.
    Good Luck Doc! Many diamonds in the rough, but watch your back.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News