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'A true visionary': Retired EMS Coordinator dies
By Kelley Chambers, kchambers@starlocalnews.com
During his 27 years with the Plano Fire Department, Ken Klein saw a lot of changes take shape as the city's fire and rescue team made its way to the forefront of the 21st century.
That is mainly because he was the one making the changes.
Nearly two months after retiring, however, Klein's life was cut short, as the 65-year-old died on March 24 after an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife and their two daughters. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.
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| Ken Klein |
"Capt. Klein was instrumental in building the exemplary EMS system this community benefits from daily," said Plano Fire Chief Hugo Esparza. "He was a consummate professional and his dedicated work saved many lives in the past, as it will continue to do so in the future. He will be greatly missed by his family at the Plano Fire Department."
Klein began his career as a firefighter and paramedic in the early 1970s in Atlanta, Ga., where he met his wife, Pam. The couple moved to Richardson after marrying, and Klein was later hired by the Plano Fire Department in 1985 as its first EMS coordinator. The new job was a challenging one that included getting the paramedic program off the ground, in addition to overseeing the purchase of the department's state-of-the-art vehicles, equipment and supplies.
Thanks in part to his innovative style, Klein helped develop and implement many of the policies, procedures and programs that have made Plano's emergency medical services safer and more effective, both for fire personnel and the residents they serve. His efforts were honored when Klein received the EMS Administrator of the Year award by the state of Texas in 2010.
Assistant Fire Chief Jim Dickerson had been on the department for about four years when Klein joined the team, and soon had the pleasure of working with Klein on a number of projects aimed at improving the department's operations.
Klein was responsible for getting the fire department's first accreditation from the Commission on Ambulance Accredited Services, for example, making Plano the second city in the U.S. to achieve the gold standard in ambulance transport (Carrollton was the first). Thanks to Klein, Dickerson said, they have held the accreditation ever since.
"It was a great accomplishment and it's a reflection of the department, but Ken is the one who kind of led us through that process and got us on the map with them," he said. "It is that kind of a standard that he set but we all worked towards that, and we will work to continue to maintain that legacy."
Klein's tenure with EMS also ensured that the department maintained cutting edge equipment. For example, Klein was instrumental in improving their EKG machines to transmit information on heart attack victims to the physicians prior to their arrival. He is also remembered for enhancing the safety of his employees by helping purchase and install automatic chest compressors, which allows CPR to be administered without the need for a paramedic working unharnessed in a moving ambulance. Automatic lift stretchers were also purchased and installed on Klein's watch to reduce employee back injuries.
"There are countless things he had been involved in, but main thing staying on top of what was going on in EMS," Dickerson said. "His legacy was that he helped bring our organization to where it is today. He wanted to make sure we delivered the best service we could possibly deliver."
Dickerson was one of the many Plano Fire Department employees who attended Klein's funeral. Colleagues from state agencies and the medical field, as well as fellow retirees, joined the Klein family to say goodbye to a man whose work, Dickerson said, set the pace for Plano's excellence in emergency services.
"He was a friend to everybody," he said. "He had a lot of life left, he was a great guy to be around and it made us all better as a result of being around him."
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