Global Medical Response Taps Healthcare Leader Anessa Bazouzi to Lead Groundbreaking 911 Nurse Navigation Program

Global Medical Response (GMR), the largest emergency medical services (EMS) provider in the United States, is advancing its mission to reshape the industry for the 21st century with the appointment of Anessa Bazouzi as Vice President of its 911 Nurse Navigation program. This strategic leadership appointment underscores GMR’s commitment to revolutionizing healthcare delivery and positions the Nurse Navigation program for rapid growth under Bazouzi’s direction, continuing to provide high-quality, patient-centered care that extends beyond traditional emergency response.

“Nurse Navigation is critical to optimizing healthcare delivery,” said Ted Van Horne, Chief Operating Officer at GMR. “Anessa’s leadership and experience will be key to expanding the program’s reach, ensuring we continue to deliver innovative, effective care that addresses the growing needs of the communities we serve.”

"We are at a crucial point where pre-hospital emergency medicine must evolve," said Bazouzi. "A recent study indicated almost a third of 911 callers have low acuity, or non-emergency needs. By optimizing EMS for better resource allocation, payers, providers, and patients alike benefit—Nurse Navigation is an ideal solution. The program ensures we respond more effectively, reach those in urgent need faster, and still serve all callers."

With over 15 years of healthcare leadership experience, Bazouzi has specialized in patient access, care coordination, and urgent care services. Her background in managing large-scale patient access operations makes her uniquely qualified to lead the next phase of GMR’s innovative program. Bazouzi adds, “Our goal is to build a more efficient, sustainable, and patient-centered system that ultimately benefits all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.”

Bazouzi’s expertise includes her most recent role as national vice president of patient access and acute care at Optum where she managed a 24/7 patient access and urgent care call center. She also served in a vice president/general manager role at Landmark Health, overseeing home-based, proactive care coordination for patients with complex health needs.

“I’ve had the privilege of seeing how tailoring care to a patient’s needs can have a tremendous impact on outcomes. Whether it’s directing someone to the emergency department or connecting them to the right care outside the hospital, the key is ensuring that patients are supported by the most appropriate resources at the right moment,” said Bazouzi . “I’m eager to leverage this experience with GMR’s Nurse Navigation program, where we’re building a system that prioritizes the most effective care for each individual, at every stage of their health journey.”

Today, Nurse Navigators are making a profound impact in over 30 communities across 14 states, serving more than 20 million people. With proven success, the program is set to expand further this year with the launch of a second call center in Phoenix, extending its reach and capabilities.

“911 systems are overloaded, and emergency departments are overcrowded,” explained Bazouzi. “Nurse Navigation addresses this gap by right-sizing EMS resources, ensuring that we meet the needs of all patients while responding more swiftly to those with time-sensitive conditions. It’s about creating a more efficient, sustainable system that benefits patients, payors, and the entire healthcare ecosystem.”