Emergency Medical Services Expert Witnesses in Florida

Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Preparedness - Prehospital standards of care, EMS operations, Ambulance transport protocols, EMS documentation practices, EMS scope of practice, Regulatory compliance, Medical direction, Credentialing, Medical disaster response, Emergency preparedness, Hospital Transfers, 911

Professional Summary Steve Tafoya is a practicing Critical Care Paramedic, EMS instructor, former State EMS Program Manager for Nevada, and former U.S. Coast Guard Health Services Technician with over 25 years of experience in emergency medical services, regulatory compliance, healthcare operations, and disaster response. He holds advanced graduate degrees in Healthcare Management (MBA) and Legal Studies (MLS), providing a unique ability to bridge clinical realities with operational standards and regulatory frameworks. He has authored public health legislation, directed interfacility transport programs, led mass-casualty preparedness, and conducted internal audits of credentialing and regulatory enforcement. Steve has overseen statewide EMS compliance for over 60 permitted EMS agencies, along with trauma centers designations, he has deployed nationally with the Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) under Health and Human Services and taught 70 college-level EMS credits hours at t...

Emergency Medical Services - Ambulance Operations, EMS, EMT, Paramedic, Standard of Care, Medical Malpractice, Cardiac Arrest, Airway, Patient transport, Personal Injury, Refusal of Care, Stretcher drops, Emergency Medical Technician, Ambulance Response, Protocols, Delay of Care, Prehospital medical care, Emergency Medical Services, Wrongful Death, Negligence

Practicing paramedic and EMS officer with more than 35 years of experience in prehospital care, ambulance operations, and emergency services. Active in both field response and supervisory roles, with experience in patient assessment, airway management, cardiac arrest care, scene decision-making, provider supervision, protocol implementation, quality improvement, and EMS education. Retained as an expert witness in more than 80 matters across more than 20 states for both plaintiff and defense counsel. Casework has included issues involving airway management, resuscitation, delayed EMS response, scene management, patient refusals and informed consent, dispatch and triage, equipment readiness, policy compliance, ambulance operations, and stretcher-related injuries. Current roles include Battalion Chief/Paramedic with the City of Albany Department of Fire and Emergency Services and Shift Commander/Paramedic with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office EMS Division. Additional experience i...

St Augustine, Florida

Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medical Services - MI, ACS, chest pain, head injury, fracture, appendicitis, stroke, TIA, SAH, SDH, infection, necrotic, sepsis, trauma, aortic dissection, epidural abscess, mesenteric ischemia, pulmonary embolism, meningitis, airway

Emergency Medicine (EM) Specialty Residency training at Shands-Jacksonville (FL) 'Level I' Trauma Center; Undergraduate education Dartmouth College; Medical school Georgetown University; Former US Naval 'Flight Surgeon'; American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) Board-certified continuously since 2003; Clinical practice at multiple community-based hospitals of varying sizes in Florida, Georgia, and Virginia > 18 yrs; maintain active full-time practice of Emergency Medicine; Extensive expert experience with both Plaintiff and Defense aspects of medicolegal litigation; References available on request

Daytona Beach, Florida

Nurse, Emergency Medical Services - Forensic Nurse Examiner, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, SANE-A, Emergency Department, Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence, Human Trafficking, Strangulation, Domestic Violence, Sexual Battery, Rape, Paramedic, RN, Workplace Violence, Workplace Safety, Medical Regulatory Compliance, Employee Health, Program Development, TIC

Dual licensed Registered Nurse and Paramedic. Nationally certified as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner- Adult/Adolescent by the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Over 25 years experience in Emergency Medical Services including pre-hospital and emergency room care. Extensive leadership experience including serving as the Emergency Department Charge Nurse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experience in creating and developing teams. Currently practicing as a SANE-A in Central Florida. Own and operate Vanderhoof Vitality, LLC which is a natural health clinic. I am also the founder of Victim Response Training, Inc. which provides training to those who interact with victims during their continuum of care. I serve as the Secretary for the Florida Chapter of Forensic Nurses.

St. Petersburg, Florida

Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Medicine - EMS, ACLS, Medication Errors, Sentinel Events, Transfer of Care, Near Miss, Community Paramedic, Community Paramedicine, Paramedicine

Four years experience in high-risk community paramedicine. Four years experience in geriatric medicine. Three years experience in pediatric Level 1 trauma, critical care and cardiovascular critical care. Two years experience in acute care psychiatric emergency medicine. 1.5 years experience in a high volume 911 system.