Our Profile
The leadership team at Vital Emergency Medical Services has been involved with providing innovative solutions to a wide array of medical transportation needs for Central Massachusetts health care providers and families for decades. Our long term experience in providing trusted medical transportation programs has been the hallmark of our organization’s mission, vision, and values. Vital is a focused and full service medical transportation provider offering a complete array of emergency and non-emergency care at both the Advanced and Basic Life Support Levels.
Steven DiOrio | President
Steve is the company’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. His EMS experience spans three decades and includes significant work history within the Central Massachusetts region. Steve was Senior Vice President at Ambulance Systems of America with direct accountability for multiple operating entities including the former Worcester-Himmer Ambulance Service. In this position Steve redefined the company’s operating practices and performance criteria resulting in more than a doubling of Worcester-Himmer’s market share to more than 80% with 50,000+ patient transports annually while elevating its level of pre-hospital care services. Prior to joining ASA, after graduating from Bentley College, Steven became the Controller at Chaulk Ambulance Service and was mentored by Will and Bonnie Chaulk. During his tenure he held multiple positions, each with increasing scope and responsibility culminating with his role as the company’s Senior Vice President. Chaulk was an industry pioneer developing many cutting edge programs including implementing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ first 24-hour paramedic system, introducing computer aided ambulance dispatch to New England, and the Chaulk EMS training academy. It was in this environment that Steve came to appreciate that providing outstanding patient care was his true passion and chose to focus his career in Emergency Medical Services. He resides in Westborough with his wife Judy and their two children.
Eric Dunphy | RN, BSN. V.P. Community Engagement
Eric is a lifelong Central Massachusetts resident. Born and raised in Worcester he is a Registered Nurse graduating from the Worcester Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing and Regis College. He is a former EMT and Paramedic with over 30 years of EMS and Health care operational experience in civilian, state, and military environments. Eric was hired by the City of Worcester as the first Director of Worcester City Hospital Ambulance, recruited its first professional EMS staff, and administered the department in accordance with mandated federal KKK 1822A and MGL111c. He was the clinical coordinator for the region’s first paramedic training program and led Worcester EMS’ efforts during the Blizzard of 1978. At age 36 he volunteered for the US Army Reserve, served with the 399th Combat Support Hospital, 94th ARCOM as an Emergency Room nurse. He received an Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service, an Army Achievement Award, and an Honorable Discharge as Captain. Eric worked with UMass Medical School/ Commonwealth Medicine/Office of Massachusetts Client Relations as the Client Relations Manager for Division of Medical Assistance. He was a member of the Center for Health Care Finance/ Program Integrity algorithm development unit. Eric sits on many local boards and non-profit organizations, volunteers in civics, and has a long history of community service to Central Massachusetts. Eric and his wife Paula of 30 years, also a Registered Nurse, have 4 grown children, and reside in Holden, MA.
Janet Trotto | V.P. Patient Accounting Services
Janet has served the Central Massachusetts health care billing industry with distinction for over thirty years. She began her career with Worcester-Himmer Ambulance Service as Office Manager and was responsible for the company’s overall billing and collection processs. Through mergers and acquisitions of ambulance services by larger national companies, Janet rose to the position of Director of the Patient Business Services Division of American Medical Response supervising a staff of 130 employees. She was responsible for overseeing governmental claims, State and Federal statutes related to billing compliance for the nation’s largest medical transportation provider. Janet brings a comprehensive understanding of the complexities in medical transportation patient accounting services with a local focus. She and her husband, Anthony, reside in Shrewsbury, MA and have one grown son.
James Emerton | EMT-PA, Director of Operations
Jim has over 20 years of business operations experience in the scientific, 
medical education and publishing industries. His work has focused on providing excellent customer service, improving patient care and outcomes and developing innovative methods of presenting continuing education for healthcare providers. In his role, Jim oversees the company’s pre-hospital care services – including management of ambulance and coach crews, company transport fleet, and management systems to ensure superior service, on-time performance, and a positive experience for Vital’s customers, patients and employees. Jim is currently an EMT-PA for the Town of Sterling Massachusetts. He also serves as Team Coordinator for the Sterling CERT Team, and is an active member of the Worcester Medical Reserve Corps and the South Wachusett Regional Emergency Planning Committee. He is an American Red Cross certified Emergency Shelter Manager, and a trained operator of the Massachusetts Emergency Management (MEMA) Emergency Operations Center software – WebEOC.
Cameron Shuckerow | EMT-PA, Director of Information Technology
As Vital EMS increased reliance on technology, to better integrate its services 
and improve patient outcomes, it became clear that a dedicated resource was needed to support these enhancements. After a 2+ year stint as the company’s Operations Manager, Cameron transitioned into the newly established position of Director of Information Technology. As an integral member of the company’s management team, Cam is exceptionally versed in all areas of the company’s service delivery model and the nuances associated with the Central Massachusetts region. This knowledge allows him to leverage available technologies and adapt them into our workplace. Cam’s work product allows everyone in our organization, including field personnel, telecommunications staff, patient account representatives, and members of our leadership team to improve the quality of service to our patients and provide continuity of care for our clients. Cam began his EMS career while attending UMass-Amherst and worked for the Pelham Fire Department. He attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy and was promoted to lieutenant. Upon graduation Cam returned to his home state of Arizona where increased responsibilities resulted in his advancement to dispatch supervisor for Professional Medical Transport, one of the leading Arizona EMS companies. Longing to enjoy the four season climate of New England he returned to Massachusetts and has been a valued member of Vital EMS since 2008.
Ken Ward | EMT-P, Clinical Services Coordinator
Ken exemplifies the attributes of clinical governance and competency in pre hospital 
patient care. He has served as a Sergeant in the US Army Reserves and has over 15 years of progressive development in the EMS field. Ken started his EMS career in the Town of Northbridge and is currently a Paramedic/firefighter for the Town of Westborough. As a result of his commitment to quality patient care and his leadership skills he evolved into the role of Clinical Services Coordinator for Vital EMS. In this important role Ken is responsible for overseeing all of the company’s pre-hospital care services – from a clinical perspective, evaluation and procurement of supplies and equipment, along with coordination of Vital’s training programs.
Presently, Vital Emergency Medical Services operates a transport fleet of 30+ vehicles from a state of the art facility at 1013 Main Street in the heart of Worcester. To ensure superior service and on-time performance, these field resources are managed by some of the most modern and sophisticated tools available. A computer aided Zoll Data Dispatch system offers centralized coordination of Vital’s transport assets in a modern telecommunications center. Using historical data, tempered by real time service demands, deployed fleet resources are constantly updated for maximum service response capability. FleetEyes automatic vehicle software pinpoints the exact location of each vehicle in real time. Actual traffic patterns, weather condition overlays, and other adjuncts further enhance the capabilities of these advanced systems. These resources provide communications specialists with real time system status management tools to deploy the entire fleet in an expedited fashion and allows Vital EMS to provide precise response determinations to all customers.