About HDH EMS
The Harney District Hospital (HDH) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department was formed in 2000 when the City of Burns Volunteer Fire Department passed ambulance service responsibilities on to HDH. Our service area encompasses the Burns and Hines communities as well as all of Harney County — more than 10,000 square miles!
In addition to providing 24/7 emergency coverage for the county, HDH EMS provides education, emergency coverage for community events, and tour opportunities for local school classes.
Meet our Team
Kyle Snider
Interim HDH EMS Manager
Paramedic
Kyle Snider joined the EMS team in 2022. Originally from Melrose, Oregon, Kyle works in Harney County and lives in Bend, Oregon.
After graduating from Roseburg High School, Kyle attended Oregon State University to earn his bachelor’s degree. He then attended the National Medical Education & Training Center (NMETC) for paramedic school. Kyle is a National Registered Paramedic (NRP) who received a variety of trainings such as water rescue, rope rescue, tactical medicine, and wilderness medicine. He recently passed the International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC) exam to become a certified Community Care Paramedic.
Kyle grew up very involved in Boy Scouts, which built a sense of duty and an interest in serving the public within him. These values, along with his interest in science and adventure, led him to a career in EMS. Kyle thinks the best parts of his job are the diversity of each workday, his EMS coworkers, and the tightknit employee culture of HDH.
Though he does not live in Harney County, Kyle loves the remote/rural landscape, culture, and community. Kyle said he experiences great fulfilment when serving the people of Harney County and feels privileged to take care of them so they may continue to do what they love.
Kyle and his wife try to spend as much of their free time outside as possible. They love to climb, mountain bike, trail run, and ski together.
Stephanie Swierkos
Paramedic
Stephanie Swierkos joined the EMS team in 2022. Stephanie grew up and went to school in McCall, Idaho. She decided to join the field of emergency medicine after being drawn to an intensive EMT program at her local community college.
Stephanie prefers the rural EMS setting. She said she likes working in Harney County because of the community atmosphere and small-town feel. She also enjoys the highs and lows of each shift and the investigation required to identify patient ailments and injuries.
As a mother of two toddlers, Stephanie spends much of her free time with her children. She also loves hiking, skiing, and playing with her animals.
Matt Edwards
Paramedic
Matt Edwards joined the EMS team in 2024. Matt grew up in Los Angeles, Southern Oregon, and Bend. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California — Santa Cruz as well as an Associate of Science degree in paramedicine from the College of the Siskiyous in Weed, California.
Matt has Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Advanced Medical Life Support (AMLS), International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Basic Life Support (BLS), and CPR certifications. He also received special training in wilderness and remote medicine, water and rope rescue, Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC), Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), and riot medicine. He is currently training to become a Community Care and Critical Care paramedic.
With a background in firefighting, Matt also completed all of the state and federally mandated courses for structure and wildland firefighting.
Matt said he was drawn to Harney County because he enjoys working in remote and austere environments. In his free time, Matt can be found exploring the county’s vast landscape.
When asked what he likes most about his job, Matt said he enjoys working with great people and providing top-tier medical services to the community.
Katia Collins
Advanced EMT
Katia Collins joined the EMS team in 2012. She grew up in the rural Harney County towns of Frenchglen and Riley and graduated from Burns High School.
Katia continued her education at Treasure Valley Community College, earning an EMT certification. She later went on to become an Advanced EMT (AEMT) through the EMS/Fire Academy. She isn’t stopping there. Katia is currently studying to become a certified paramedic through the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT).
Katia first entered the medical field as a veterinary technologist (vet tech). Her passion for healthcare grew from there. She later became a certified nursing assistant (CNA), before joining the EMS team and moving up the ranks.
She said working in Harney County allows her to do something positive for her friends, family, and the community that she grew up in. Although it can be difficult to see her friends and neighbors experience emergencies, Katia said being able to help them is extremely rewarding. She holds a high standard of care for our community. Katia added that her coworkers in the EMS Department have become like family. They share a tight, irreplaceable bond that comes from depending on each other in challenging situations.
Katia said Harney County is unlike anywhere else, and she can’t imagine leaving home. She explained that community members are kind and supportive of each other, and it’s a great place to raise a family. She also noted that the scenery is beautiful, and there are abundant opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
When she isn’t on the job, Katia can be found hunting, fishing, camping, golfing, going for a scenic drive, and spending time with her family.
Kimberly Theall
Advanced EMT
Kimberly Theall joined the EMS team in 2017. Kimberly grew up in Vale, Oregon and has lived in Harney County since 2006.
She attended Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon. She is an Advanced EMT (AEMT) as well as a CPR coordinator and instructor. Kimberly wanted to join the medical field, and the opportunity presented itself as a career in emergency medicine. She quickly fell in love with her work.
For Kimberly, the best parts of the job are helping people who are at their worst, having varied workdays, and spending time with her coworkers. She also enjoys the small, close-knit community of Harney County.
In her free time, Kimberly enjoys paddleboarding, snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with her kids.
Shealyne Peasley
Advanced EMT
Shealyne joined the EMS team in 2023. She was born and raised in Harney County and said she’s thankful for the opportunity to give back to the community she loves.
After graduating from Burns High School, Shealyne entered the medical field as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). However, after a few years on the job, she developed a passion for emergency medicine and decided to obtain an EMT license through the EMS/Fire Academy. While studying to become an EMT, Shealyne worked as an emergency room technician, confirming her decision to pursue a career in emergency medicine.
Shealyne went on to receive an Advanced EMT (AEMT) certification through Idaho Medical Academy. She said the opportunities to learn new skills and obtain new licenses and certifications are endless, and she enjoys working with talented medical professionals from a variety of different backgrounds. She noted that everyone in the emergency medical field seems to share her enthusiasm for sharpening skills, sharing knowledge, and developing best practices.
Shealyne said she chose to work in Harney County because she loves the close-knit community.
“If you don’t know someone, someone you know knows them,” she said, adding that she’s watched our community come together overnight to help a family in need.
Shealyne noted that no one ever wants to experience an emergency, but she’s happy that she can use her skills and knowledge to help those in need.
In her free time, Shealyne can be found hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors with her family.
Stephanie Sell
Advanced EMT
Stephanie Sell joined the EMS team in 2022. Stephanie grew up in Burns and was excited to move herself and her children back home.
Stephanie attended Southwestern Oregon Community College and received certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). She then continued her education at Idaho Medical Academy to become an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT).
Stephanie’s lifelong interest in the medical field, and her love for living in a small community, brought her EMS career to Burns. She loves working in Harney County and considers the EMS department her second family. Stephanie said the best part of her job is getting to form relationships with patients and coworkers. She also likes getting to make each patient’s day better, however she can.
In her free time, Stephanie likes to travel and spend time with her friends and family.
Kim Kautz
EMT / EMS Office Administrator
Kim Kautz joined the EMS team in 2008. She was born and raised in Burns and can’t picture herself living anywhere else. Kim said she likes living in a small town and exploring the far reaches of Harney County.
After graduating from Burns High School, Kim attended online college courses through Eastern Oregon University and Treasure Valley Community College.
Kim has known that she wanted to be an EMT since she was a kid. She has always loved helping people and serving her community.
In her free time, Kim can be found baking and decorating beautiful and delicious cakes. She also loves to camp, fish, hunt, work in her yard and garden, and spend time with her family.
Christina Banton
EMT
Christina Banton joined the EMS team in 2003. She grew up and went to school in Lakeview, Oregon.
Christina joined the emergency medicine field while living in Grass Valley, Oregon. The highway through Grass Valley saw many motor vehicle crashes, so she decided to become an EMT to help her community. Christina and her family moved to Harney County when her husband transferred for work. Upon moving to a new area, Christina wanted to continue doing what she loves: helping her community. She believes Harney County is a wonderful small community and a great place to raise kids.
In her free time, Christina enjoys exploring the outdoors, gardening, camping, and spending time with her grandkids.
Brennick Bowman
EMT
Brennick Bowman joined the EMS team in 2022. Originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Brennick moved to Harney County in 2012, and graduated from Burns High School.
Brennick attended Treasure Valley Community College and received certification from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). He wanted to help people and save lives and felt that emergency medicine would provide a good opportunity to do so.
Brennick likes the different experiences each workday brings and that his job gets him out in the county on a regular basis. For Brennick, the best part of living in Harney County is how easy it is to get out of town and explore the outdoors. Over the years, he has grown to love the area as well as the various options for recreation.
Brennick enjoys spending time outdoors, riding motorcycles, and staying active.
CPR and First Aid Training
For information about local CPR and First Aid Training opportunities, please call 541-573-3687.
You can also find classes on the American Heart Association Atlas website.
First Responders Needed
A First Responder is a community volunteer who is trained and certified in first aid techniques. This program is very important in the rural areas of Harney County where our wide-open spaces can mean long travel times for the ambulance crew from Burns.
If you enjoy helping people, live in a rural area, and would like to make a difference in your community, you may be a perfect First Responder!
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911!
For more information about HDH EMS, call the hospital at 541-573-7281.