COPEC - Rhonda Phillippi

Is Tennessee Ready to Meet the Emergency Care Needs of Children?

Rhonda G. Phillippi, RN, BA began working for Tennessee Emergency Medical Services for Children (TN EMSC) as the original project coordinator in 1995. As the role of TN EMSC expanded to include the entire state instead of only three regions, she assumed the role of State Coordinator for TN EMSC in 1999. In 2005, TN Emergency Medical Services for Children Foundation, a tax exempt non-profit was established to meet growing funding, programmatic and advocacy needs. She has a strong interest in preventing injuries to children and was the primary supplicant for the comprehensive revision to the child passenger laws in Tennessee which passed in the spring of 2003. She worked with Veronica Gunn, MD on two published studies: Improvement in Booster Seat Use in Tennessee and The Differences in Appropriate Child Safety Restraint Use Among Black and White Children in Tennessee. Ms. Phillippi and TN EMSC have received numerous awards including a Certificate of Appreciation from former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee's 2014 Special Exemplary Project Award. In 2013, Tennessee ranked #1 in pediatric readiness in the nation in large part to Ms. Phillippi ability to have diverse parties collaborate. Ms. Phillippi is recognized nationally for her leadership skills in meeting the EMSC National Performance Measures.  She received her Diploma in Nursing from Mansfield General Hospital School of Nursing, Mansfield, Ohio and a B.A. in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca University, Nashville, TN.