Office of EMS: EMS Focus                     'article aside footer header nav section time'.replace(/\w+/g,function(n){document.createElement(n)})  $(document).ready(function () { $('.group').hide(); $('#option13,#option12,#option1,#option2,#option3,#option4,#option5,#option6,#option7,#option8,#option9,#option10,#option11').show(); $('#selectMe').change(function () { if( $('#selectMe').val() == 'all') { $('#option13,#option12,#option1,#option2,#option3,#option4,#option5,#option6,#option7,#option8,#option9,#option10,#option11').show(); } else{ $('.group').hide(); $('#'+$(this).val()).show(); } }) });        .col-left { float:left; margin-right:40px; } @media (max-width:999px) { .col-left { float:none; margin-right:0; } }   div.alert-container { display: none; margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; } div.alert-container div.alert { border: 2px solid #ab1219; background-color: rgba(171,18,24,0.25); color: #032e4a; padding: 1em; }     window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-21026522-5');     //"); //]]>       After 11/1 your browser will no longer be supported by this website. Please upgrade your internet browser for optimal viewing.                    These free webinars provide the EMS community with a unique opportunity to learn more about Federal EMS efforts and programs. Together with our Federal partners, the NHTSA Office of EMS will address issues important to the EMS community and share the latest news and information about federal resources and programs.

               Previously Aired Webinars    Sort by Year  All 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014     2021  Implementing Telemedicine in EMS and the 911 Communications Center   (aired September 22, 2021) 

 No one could predict the speed at which COVID-19 changed healthcare, including the acceleration of telemedicine. For EMS and 911 systems, telemedicine has enabled safer triaging of possible COVID patients, avoiding unnecessary and expensive visits to the emergency department, and getting patients the right care at the right time. But not every EMS agency or 911 emergency communications center is familiar with telemedicine or knows how to take advantage of these new tools and implement them in their agency. Even for those who are, figuring out how to fund these programs and get reimbursed adds an additional challenge. To help address that gap, the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS collaborated with EMS leaders from across the country to create the “Telemedicine Framework for EMS and 911 Organizations,” a 45-page guide explaining how agencies can use telemedicine to deliver high-quality, cost-efficient care. In this webinar, you’ll hear from people who were involved in the creation of the Framework and who have helped implement telemedicine in an EMS system. They’ll highlight some of the challenges faced by EMS and 911 organizations—and how to use the Framework to help find solutions. Presenters:  Pat Songer is chief operating officer of Cascade Medical, a critical access hospital in Leavenworth, Washington, where he oversees numerous departments and services, including emergency preparedness. Previously, Pat was senior vice president of operations at Ready Responders, overseeing the implementation of a telemedicine program, and served in numerous capacities with EMS agencies and hospitals in Colorado and Nevada. Pat is also a former flight medic, firefighter and reserve deputy sheriff and currently serves as executive director of the National EMS Management Association.    Richard Hunt, MD, is a senior medical advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services. He has extensive experience in emergency medicine, EMS and healthcare preparedness, including service at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Security Council. Dr. Hunt began his career in emergency medicine as an EMT and later served as an emergency physician, professor and medical director for both ground and air transport services.    Jon Krohmer, MD, director of NHTSA’s Office of EMS, will moderate.   Access the slide deck 

   What the Vaccine Means for EMS Operations   (aired March 25, 2021)

 Millions of EMS clinicians and members of the public across the nation have now received a COVID-19 vaccine. But exactly what does that mean for EMS systems and organizations? In this webinar, learn what we know, and what we don’t know yet, about how the vaccines are changing our approach to the coronavirus pandemic. You’ll hear from experts helping to create and implement guidance for EMS services during these unprecedented times. They’ll address topics such as:  Testing and quarantine implications  EMS clinicians who have not been vaccinated  Vaccines and coronavirus variants Lessons learned for the next pandemic  Presenters: Bryan E. Christensen, PhD, is an epidemiologist and industrial hygienist with the Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP) in the National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is also an environmental health officer in the U.S. Public Health Service. During the COVID-19 response, Bryan has been deployed in several capacities and has served on the Prehospital/EMS Team as part of the Federal Healthcare Resilience Working Group.  Kenneth A. Scheppke, MD, FAEMS, is Florida’s State EMS medical director. A board-certified EMS and emergency physician, he also serves as chief medical officer for several fire-rescue agencies in southeast Florida, and has been a leader in the state's response to coronavirus.  Jon Krohmer, MD, director of NHTSA’s Office of EMS and team lead for the Federal Healthcare Resilience Working Group EMS/Prehospital Team, will moderate.  Access the slide deck 

    2020  Staying Safe on the Road: How You Can Help Make Ambulances Safer and Prevent Crashes   (aired November 18, 2020)

 Too often, EMS clinicians and patients are injured or killed in crashes involving ambulances. Even when no one is hurt, crashes or mechanical problems can cause delays in care when patients need it most. Finding ways to prevent these issues is critical to making EMS as safe as possible for clinicians, their patients and the public, and sharing information about crashes or problems with ambulances can help prevent future incidents.  In this webinar, you’ll have a chance to hear about two programs at NHTSA that are working to make ambulances and other emergency response vehicles safer. You’ll learn:  How to report possible defects with ambulances and other vehicles to make sure they are cataloged, analyzed and addressed before causing serious harm  What NHTSA has learned from decades of investigating serious ambulance crashes  How you can access previous crash investigations and request help from NHTSA’s team of crash investigators  Presenters: Harold Herrera, Crash Investigation Specialist, NHTSA Office of Special Crash Investigations Peter Kivett, Safety Defects Engineer, NHTSA Office of Defects Investigations, NHTSA Max Sevareid, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

  Agency Wellness Programs that Work   (aired October 29, 2020)

 In this webinar, hosted by the NHTSA Office of EMS in collaboration with the US Fire Administration and other federal partners, the speakers explore approaches and philosophies agencies are using to help their people live well and thrive. Organizational psychologist John Becknell, PhD, a former paramedic, facilitates a discussion with Rhonda Kelly of Global Medical Response, one of the world’s largest EMS organizations, and Matthew Philbrick of Mercy Flights, a regional not-for-profit agency in Oregon. These inspiring leaders share how their organizations are proactively and practically addressing wellbeing in today’s challenging environment.  Presenters: Rhonda Kelly is director of GMR Life with Global Medical Response, where she focuses on overall wellness, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual domains. Prior to joining GMR, she served 17 years as a firefighter/paramedic with Aurora Fire Rescue in Colorado, where one of her roles included serving as health and safety officer. In 2016, she founded ResponderStrong, a mental health initiative for responders and their families, now housed at the All Clear Foundation.  Matthew Philbrick is a paramedic and currently works as the medical operations manager of the non-profit Mercy Flights in southern Oregon, overseeing a dynamic 911 ground operation, critical care flight medical operation, and an active communications center. He serves on Oregon’s State Trauma Advisory Board and chairs the Oregon EMS for Children committee.  John Becknell, PhD, is an organizational psychologist, author and former paramedic who studies and works with EMS, fire and law enforcement in areas of living well, peer support, organizational culture and leadership development. Kate Elkins, MPH, an EMS specialist with the NHTSA Office of EMS and paramedic with more than two decades of EMS experience, will moderate. Access the slide deck 

  Living Well and Leveraging Adversity and Stress over the Long Haul   (aired August 20, 2020)

 Adversity and stress are unavoidable aspects of serving as EMS clinicians, thanks to the challenges of everyday EMS work and the added difficulties brought on by extraordinary events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. There are ways, though, to cultivate resilience, recognize and manage stress, and turn adversity into an opportunity for personal growth and becoming a better version of yourself.  Presenters: In this webinar, two EMS veterans, leaders and resilience experts engage in a conversation about self-awareness, self-care, and specific actions, practices and wisdom for living well.  Mike Washington, MSW, is a 27-year firefighter/EMT with the Seattle Fire Department, a mental health therapist and a multiple combat tour Marine veteran with a powerful story about his own journey to wellbeing. He’s joined by organizational psychologist John Becknell, PhD, a former paramedic who studies and works with EMS, fire and law enforcement in areas of living well, peer support, organizational culture and leadership development. Kate Elkins, MPH, an EMS specialist with the NHTSA Office of EMS and paramedic with more than two decades of EMS experience, moderates. Access the slide deck 

  EMS and COVID-19 Testing   (aired May 12, 2020)

 As we continue to learn more about the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, we're also learning more about COVID-19 testing: Who should get tested, and when? How accurate are the tests? In this webinar, hosted be NHTSA's Office of EMS, you'll learn:  The local experience of some of the first EMS systems to have personnel quarantined and test positive for COVID-19 The latest guidance on testing of first responders and other healthcare personnel What the result of a COVID-19 test or antibody test really means for individuals and EMS organizations  Presenters: Jonathan Jui, MD, MPH, FACEP, EMS Medical Director for Multnomah County, Oregon Michael Sayre, MD, Medical Director for the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Medic One program, and mergency physician at Harborview Medical Center S. Michele Owen, PhD, Associate Director for laboratory science at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and co-lead for the COVID-19 Laboratory Task Force  Access the slide deck 

  Crisis Standards of Care and COVID-19: What EMS Needs to Know   (aired March 26, 2020)

 COVID-19 is challenging healthcare systems across the country, with many communities already seeing an increased demand for EMS, emergency department and critical care services. A systems approach to developing crisis standards of care, defined as a “substantial change in usual healthcare operations and the level of care it is possible to deliver,” is critical for EMS systems preparing for any public health emergency. This webinar shares:  Why crisis standards of care planning is so critical in the prehospital setting How one state is preparing for a surge in demand for EMS services Implications for local EMS leaders who may have to implement crisis standards of care in their communities  Presenters: James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LLM, Director of the Center for Public Health Law and Policy at Arizona State University and Professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Aaron Burnett, MD, FACEP, EMS Medical Director for the State of Minnesota and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Minnesota  John L. Hick, MD, Deputy Chief EMS Medical Director and Medical Director for Emergency Preparedness at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis  Access the slide deck 

  Special Edition: What EMS and 911 Need to Know About COVID-19    (aired February 24, 2020)

 The NHTSA Office of EMS hosted a special edition of EMS Focus, a Federal webinar series, to discuss the latest updates on COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has now infected thousands of people worldwide. Representatives of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) were invited to participate on the webinar panel. The speakers updated EMS and 911 personnel on the latest guidance for first responders who may take 911 calls or treat patients with potential COVID-19 infections, what PPE is required for responding to these patients and recommendations for transporting and treating people possibly infected with COVID-19. The webinar was moderated by Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS.  Presenters: CAPT Lisa Delaney, MS, CIH, Associate Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Jonathan Greene, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Director of Emergency Management and Medical Operations, HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Jon Krohmer, MD, FACEP, FAEMS, Director of NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

  Developing National EMS Performance Measures and Using Them to Improve Care     (aired January 30, 2020)

 In 2019, the National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) was created to continue the work of EMS Compass, a two-year national initiative that created a process for developing evidence-based quality measures for EMS. A collaboration of several national EMS organizations, NEMSQA recently released its first set of measures after a robust and rigorous process. These national measures, which use data elements from the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS), help EMS agencies across the country measure and benchmark their performance in key operational and clinical areas and improve the effectiveness of the care provided to patients and communities. In this EMS Focus webinar, you'll hear from leaders of NEMSQA who were involved in the development, testing, and implementation of these EMS performance measures.  In addition, panelists share:  What the NEMSQA measures are and how they can be assessed using your EMS data How NEMSQA enhances the value of EMS systems and how members of the EMS community can participate in and support NEMSQA’s future efforts How EMS organizations are using the measures to evaluate and improve care in their communities Presenters:Michael Redlener, MD, FAEMS, Vice President of the Board, NEMSQA, and Medical Director for EMS Quality at Mount Sinai Hospitals Jeff Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, FAEMS, Member, NEMSQA Steering Committee, and Medical Director for Williamson County EMS and Marble Falls Area EMS Brooke Burton, NRP, FACPE, Member, NEMSQA Board, and Division Chief of Quality, Falck – Alameda Max Sevareid, MPH, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS Access the slide deck 

   2019  The Future of Evidence-Based Guidelines in EMS    (aired November 19, 2019)

 In 2019, several EMS organizations collaborated to publish evidence-based guidelines (EBG) for the EMS administration of naloxone, adding to the growing number of EBGs available to help EMS clinicians provide care based on the latest research and best practices endorsed by experts in the field. In recent years, EBGs for external hemorrhage control, prehospital pediatric seizure management and other topics have helped move the profession toward the evidence-based, people-centered approach described in EMS Agenda 2050. In this EMS Focus webinar, you'll hear from leaders involved in efforts to create prehospital EBGs and model protocols. In addition, panelists will share:  How the naloxone EBG was developed, including what research was considered and why Suggestions for how to incorporate the naloxone EBG and others into protocols and practice at the State and local levels What moving toward an evidence-based practice means for the EMS profession—and what you can do to support the effort  

 Presenters:

 Christian Martin-Gill, MD, MPH, Chair, Prehospital Guidelines Consortium; Chief of EMS Division and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh David Niebuhr, MD, MPH, MSc, Medical Officer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Kenneth Williams, MD, Medical Director, Rhode Island Center for EMS Max Sevareid, MPH, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

  The Future of EMS Education: Revising the EMS Education Standards    (aired August 22, 2019)

 The National EMS Education Standards, first published in 2009, set the foundation for initial education of EMS clinicians at the EMR, EMT, AEMT and paramedic levels. Now, those standards are being revised, and it’s your turn to provide input. Hear from leaders of the effort to update the education standards as they share details of the first draft, released for public comment in August. They explain why the education standards are being updated, the process to do so and the members of the team behind the effort. In addition, the panelists share:  How the new EMS Education Standards will align with the recently released 2019 National EMS Scope of Practice Model The role of the EMS Education Standards and their impact on the profession Opportunities for you to share feedback and contribute to this important project  

 Presenters:

 Bryan Ericson, Chairman, NAEMSE, and Associate Professor, Emergency Medical Services Program, Tarrant County College Paul Rosenberger, EdD, Program Director, Section on EMS Continuing Education, Division of EMS, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Ernesto Rodriguez, MA, EMT-P, Chief, Austin-Travis County EMS Jon Krohmer, MD, Director, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck  

   The Future Starts Now: Implementation of EMS Agenda 2050    (aired March 11, 2019)

 EMS Agenda 2050 presents a compelling vision for a people-centered EMS system. In this webinar, hear from some of the EMS leaders who were responsible for gathering input from across the profession and turning it into a cohesive vision. They explain why the creation of the Agenda is just the beginning of the process and talk about how they plan to turn it into a reality.  The panelists will share:  What they feel are the most important challenges in moving the EMS profession forward What people-centered EMS and the six guiding principles of EMS Agenda 2050 mean for EMS clinicians, EMS physicians, and state and local leaders How you can start implementing aspects of EMS Agenda 2050 in your own EMS practice and leadership today  

 Presenters:

 Marianne Gausche-Hill, MD, FACEP, FAAP, FAEMS, Medical Director, Los Angeles County EMS Agency Andy Gienapp, MS, NRP, Manager, Wyoming Office of EMS Ernesto Rodriguez, MA, EMT-P, Chief, Austin-Travis County EMS Jon Krohmer, MD, Director, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

   2018  The New National Scope of Practice and What it Means for You    (aired December 18, 2018)

 First developed more than a decade ago, the National EMS Scope of Practice Model defined the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve competence for each of the four levels of EMS clinician: EMR, EMT, AEMT and paramedic. The 2018 revision marks the first significant update in more than a decade and is sure to have an impact on the education, credentialing and licensure of EMS clinicians for many years.  In this webinar, you’ll learn why revising the Model was so critical and how changes within the profession and medical science over the last decade influenced its content. The panel also provides insight into many of the decisions they made when writing the Model. You’ll also learn the progress being made to revise the National EMS Education Standards. In addition, the panelists share:  A quick history of the original Scope of Practice Model and why it matters The process for updating the document and gathering input from the EMS community  How the new National EMS Scope of Practice Model can influence EMS practice across the country now and in the future  

 Presenters:

 Dan Manz, Project Champion, 2018 National EMS Scope of Practice Model Scott Bourn, PhD, RN, FACHE, Co-Chair, 2018 National EMS Scope of Practice Model Project Expert Panel Bryan Ericson, MEd, RN, NRP, LP, Project Lead, National EMS Education Standards Revision Jon Krohmer, MD, Director, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck Read the FAQs 

  EMS and 911 Experts Unite to Improve CPR    (aired September 26, 2018)

 More than 250,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the U.S. each year; less than half of them receive bystander CPR before professional first responders arrive, even though early CPR is known to greatly increase an individual’s chances of survival.  In this webinar, leaders from the fire and emergency communications center in Bend, Oregon, discuss how their organizations partnered to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in their communities through a collaborative approach to telecommunicator and high-performance CPR training and focused improvement to response and outcome measurement. They also review CPR LifeLinks, a national initiative to implement these enhanced CPR programs with a how-to guide for EMS and 911 agencies. 

 Presenters:

 Megan Craig, Training Coordinator, Deschutes County 911, Bend, Oregon Petar Hossick, EMS Training Officer, Bend Fire Department, Oregon Bentley Bobrow, MD, FACEP, FAHA, Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Project Lead for CPR LifeLinks Jon Krohmer, MD, Director, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck Read the FAQs 

  Using Data to Measure Value and Improve Patient Care – Two Stories of How EMS Data is Making a Difference    (aired May 15, 2018)

 As EMS continues to embrace technology, collecting patient data has never been easier. Local and state EMS organizations are gathering more and more information, but many wonder how to effectively use it. Some agencies, including Gold Cross Ambulance in Utah and JFK Medical Center EMS in New Jersey, discuss how they’re using data not only to improve performance, but to demonstrate the value that EMS provides to patients and communities.

 In the webinar, the panelists discuss Gold Cross’ experience collecting and exchanging patient data with hospitals, improving system-wide processes, and enhancing the accuracy of emergency assessments and treatments. They also share how JFK Medical Center EMS measures the difference EMS makes for individual patients by tracking changes in their Rapid Emergency Medical Scores

 Presenters:

 Brooke Burton, NRP, Quality Director, Gold Cross Ambulance, Salt lake City, Utah Jamie Chebra, MS, NRP, Director of EMS, JFK Medical Center, Edison, New Jersey Jon Krohmer, MD, Director, NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck Read the FAQs 

  Teaching Mass Casualty Triage: Implementing the New MUCC Instructional Guidelines    (aired February 7, 2018)

 Mass casualty incidents usually don't obey jurisdictional boundaries, with responses often involving multiple agencies, regions and even states. Several years ago, to help ensure consistency when responding to these incidents, a group of experts created the Model Uniform Core Criteria for Mass Casualty Incident Triage, or MUCC. While not a system of triage itself, MUCC created a standard set of guidelines that all mass casualty triage systems should follow. Upon the recommendations of the National EMS Advisory Council and the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS, instructional guidelines were then developed to help EMS educators teach the basics of MUCC during initial and continuing education for all levels of EMS personnel. The three-member panel discusses the importance of using evidence-based triage systems during the response to mass casualty incidents, what educators need to know about the model uniform core criteria, and lessons learned during implementation of the new MUCC EMS instructional guidelines. 

 Presenters:

 E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin Kandra Strauss-Riggs, MPH, Education Director, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health Leaugeay Barnes, MS, EMS Faculty, Kapi'olani Community College Gam Wijetunge, NRP, NHTSA's Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

   2017  Following the Science: Evidence-based Approaches to Improving Patient & Provider Safety    (aired September 14, 2017)

 Improving the safety of patients, providers and the public is likely a mission of every EMS agency and leader. While the EMS community has widely accepted the role of evidence-based guidelines in clinical care, many organizations have yet to adopt operational evidence-based guidelines to create a safer EMS system. Lights and Siren Use by Emergency Medical Services(EMS): Above All Do No Harm is one of the most thorough investigations of the topic ever published. EMS physician, paramedic and Pennsylvania Medical Director Douglas Kupas, MD, led the project and shares the impact of emergency lights and siren on response time and transportation time, safety and patient outcomes. Paramedic and researcher Daniel Patterson, PhD, reviewed nearly 40,000 published research articles as part of the Fatigue in EMS initiative, and shares the research, literature and findings on workforce fatigue for EMS and other high-risk occupations. He also reveals what EMS agencies can do to reduce the impact of fatigue on the safety of the workforce, patients and the public. 

 Presenters:

 Douglas Kupas, MD, EMT-P, FAEMS, Professor of Emergency Medicine, Geisinger Health; EMS Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Health P. Daniel Patterson, PhD, NRP, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Dave Bryson, EMT, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS   Access the slide deck 

  Achieving Zero Preventable Deaths – Creating a National Trauma Care System    (aired June 20, 2017)

 Trauma remains a leading cause of death in the United States despite advances in prehospital and in-hospital care over the last half-century. In 2016, the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) released  A National Trauma Care System: Integrating Military and Civilian Trauma Systems to Achieve Zero Preventable Deaths After Injury, which proposed a vision for a national trauma system that would reduce deaths from injury on highways, on the battlefield and in any setting.

 The panel discusses the findings of the NASEM report and the role of EMS in achieving its vision, the results of a collaborative conference held in April to discuss implementation of the report’s recommendations, the role of the military in the nation’s trauma systems and how EMS systems can use data to measure and improve care for trauma victims.

 Presenters:

 Ronald Stewart, MD, Chair of the Committee on Trauma for the American College of Surgeons Col. (ret.) John Holcomb, MD, Director of the Memorial Hermann Texas Trauma Institute Cathy Gotschall, ScD, Senior Health Scientist with the NHTSA Office of EMS  Access the slide deck 

   NEMSAC: Ten Years of Representing EMS in Washington    (aired April 20, 2017)

 For more than a decade, individuals have served on the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) representing diverse stakeholders within the EMS community and advising the U.S. government on important national issues affecting EMS. The council has worked to elevate the profession through open and thoughtful discussion and recommendations on topics ranging from an EMS culture of safety to the educational system, and data collection to community paramedicine. In this webinar, the panel discusses NEMSAC’s most impactful recommendations to date, innovations in EMS that have come as a direct result of NEMSAC’s recommendations, and why EMS community leaders should apply to serve on the council. 

 Presenters:

 Aarron Reinert, Former NEMSAC Chair Vince Robbins, Current NEMSAC Chair Jon Krohmer, MD, Director of the Office of EMS Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, Office of EMS Access the slide deck 

   2016  Reducing EMS Workforce Injuries and Illness: What the Data Tell Us   (aired December 14, 2016)

 A day in the life of an EMS practitioner carries the risk of injury or illness. In fact, data show that EMS workers experience a higher rate of work-related injuries than the general workforce. These injuries jeopardize their careers and also put a strain on the profession due to lost productivity and high turnover. This webinar discusses a national study of EMS workforce safety led by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). You’ll hear about both local and national efforts to improve EMS workplace safety and reduce injuries.

 Presenters:

 Audrey Reichard, MPH, OTR, Epidemiologist in the NIOSH Division of Safety Research Mike Szczygiel, Chair of the National Association of EMT’s EMS Safety Committee Bryan McRay, Director of Safety for Richmond Ambulance Authority Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA’s Office of EMS Access the slide deck 

   Funding Opportunities for Building Data Connections Between EMS and Healthcare Partners    (aired September 14, 2016) 

 Establishing data connections between EMS, hospitals and other healthcare organizations could greatly improve patient care by allowing EMS providers to view a patient’s past medical history and by providing hospital staff with more accurate and accessible information about what EMS saw and did in the field. Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a guidance letter that allows the use of Health Information Technology for Economics and Clinical Health (HITECH) funds for expenditures related to electronically connecting eligible providers to other Medicaid providers, including EMS, to share health information. Learn more about the HITECH Act and the implications of the CMS guidance letter, how to leverage Medicaid HITECH funding and what EMS activities may be eligible for those funds. 

 Presenters:

 Thomas Novak, Medicaid Interoperability Lead, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services Rachel Abbey, MPH, Program Officer, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA’s Office of EMS Access the slide deck 

   How EMS Can Reduce Opioid Overdoses    (aired August 25, 2016) 

 The United States is in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic, affecting families and communities across the nation every day. EMS is often the first to arrive on the scene of an overdose, which gives providers an important responsibility in providing timely, appropriate care – but also presents EMS with opportunities to provide valuable information to public health and other partners and to play a role in preventing overdoses before they occur. Learn about national efforts to address the opioid overdose crisis, and how New Hampshire is piloting an EMS referral program for substance abuse patients and using EMS data to identify overdose hot spots. You’ll also hear how New Orleans EMS is partnering with public health agencies to track overdoses and educate the public on naloxone and much more. 

 Presenters:

  Nick Mercuri, MHA, NRP, RN, Bureau Chief of EMS for the State of New Hampshire Jeffrey Elder, MD, Director and Medical Director of New Orleans EMS Joseph Kanter, MD, Medical Director for the New Orleans Health Department Federal Partners Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA’s Office of EMS Jeremy Kinsman, MPH, EMT, NHTSA's Office of EMS Access the slide deck 

   EMS Past, Present and Future: Writing the Next Agenda    (aired May 16, 2016) 

 The authors of the 1996 EMS Agenda for the Future and EMSC lead a discussion of what lies ahead for EMS. This webinar kicks off by looking back at some of the profession’s most significant accomplishments over the last two decades, followed by a conversation about how the industry can evolve over the next 30 years. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how associations, agencies and individuals can provide input in the planning process for the 2017 anticipated revision of the Agenda for the Future.

 Presenters:

 Beth Edgerton, MD, MPH, Director of the Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Health for HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau Theodore Delbridge, MD, MPH, Professor and Chair of the Emergency Medicine Department at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine  Dan Manz, Executive Director of Essex (Vt.) Rescue and former director of Vermont EMS 

   Implementing Evidence-based Guidelines: How to take evidence-based patient care from paper to practice    (aired March 22, 2016) 

 Hear why local EMS systems should embrace evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) and tips for how to implement them. This webinar features a distinguished panel of speakers who will discuss how EBGs are changing EMS and improving patient care, the challenges of educating providers on EBGs at the state and local levels, and gaining buy-in for the guidelines and incorporating them into EMS practice. 

 Presenters:

 Beth Edgerton, MD, MPH, Director of the Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Health for HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau Matt Sholl, MD, Maine's State Medical Director Chris Souders, MD, Associate Medical Director for the Houston Fire Department Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

   The Blue Campaign to End Human Trafficking    (aired January 25, 2016) 

 Learn about the Blue Campaign, the Department of Homeland Security's effort to end human trafficking. You'll hear from a former prosecutor of human trafficking cases and Homeland Security officials, who will describe how to recognize potential victims and what steps EMS providers should take on the scene. 

 Presenters:

 Kathryn Brinsfield, MD, MPH, Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer Scott Santoro, Blue Campaign Training Advisor Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

 Read the FAQs

   2015  Emerging Technologies - Strengthening the Continuum of Care   (aired October 8, 2015) 

 Leading experts discuss the impact that technological innovations will have in improving patient care, operations and collaboration among providers. Hear insight from the authors of the recently released Emerging Digital Technologies in EMS: Considerations and Strategies to Strengthen the Continuum of Care and a professor of pediatric critical care in a children's research hospital about the innovative ways that prehospital care can be improved with new technologies, including digital data, medical devices and software applications.

 Presenters: Benjamin Schooley, PhD., University of South Carolina James P. Marcin, MD, MPH, UC Davis Children's Hospital Noah Smith, MPH, EMT, NHTSA's Office of EMS   

 Using Data to Improve EMS Systems of Care EMS FOCUS webinar hosted by NHTSA's Office of EMS

  (aired July 28, 2015)   Data collection and use continues to be an important topic within EMS, across agencies and systems, at the local, state and national level. The July webinar will feature a roundtable discussion to address how EMS systems use data to benchmark performance and guide quality improvement efforts to provide better care for patients and communities. 

 Presenters: N. Clay Mann, PhD, MS, EMS Data Nick Nudell, MS, NRP, EMS Compass Initiative project manager Noah Smith, NHTSA's Office of EMS Alex Garza, MD, MPH, EMS Compass Initiative Steering Committee 

 Read the FAQs

   Analyze, Investigate, Document: NHTSA Addresses Ground Ambulance Crashes  (aired April 19, 2015)   NHTSA regularly investigates ambulance crashes, with detailed reports that reveal valuable information about ambulance crashes and safety across the U.S. Learn how NHTSA's Office of EMS is collaborating with a variety of partners to use this information and other data to improve the safety of all providers and patients in transit. 

 Presenters: Drew Dawson, NHTSA's Office of EMS Noah Smith, NHTSA's Office of EMS Mirinda Gormley, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

   How FirstNet Can Help EMS Provide Better Patient Care  (aired February 19, 2015)  FirstNet Board members will explain why the FirstNet effort to build a nationwide public safety broadband network is important to EMS systems across the nation and provide an overview of current FirstNet activities, including consultations with the public safety community. 

 Presenters: Kevin McGinnis, FirstNet Amanda Hilliard, FirstNet Drew Dawson, NHTSA's Office of EMS Noah Smith, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

    2014  Tourniquets and Hemostatic Dressings: The New Evidence-based Guideline   (aired August 5, 2014)  National experts in emergency medicine and trauma care join the Office of EMS to discuss lessons learned from Iraq and Afghanistan, how prehospital tourniquet application is saving lives, the guideline development process and suggestions for guideline implementation. 

 Presenters: Richard Hunt, M.D., FACEP - National Security Council Todd Rasmussen, MD FACS - Colonel USAF MC Peter Taillac, MD, FACEP - Utah EMS Medical Director Scott Youngquist, MD, MS - Salt Lake City Fire Dept. Eileen M. Bulger, MD - American College of Surgeons Drew Dawson, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

  Federal Involvement in EMS:The Four Priorities  (aired June 2, 2014)   Take a detailed look into the top four priorities of the FICEMS Strategic Plan released in 2014. Addressed in this webinar: Veteran to Civilian EMS Credentialing, Evidence-Based Guideline Development, EMS System Preparedness and EMS Data Standardization. 

 Presenters: Kathryn Brinsfield, M.D., MPH, FACEP and 2014 Chair of FICEMS Drew Dawson, NHTSA's Office of EMS 

          News & Events   EMS Update  EMS Focus Webinars  Conferences & Meetings  Useful EMS Links    Email Sign Up   Sign up now to receive EMS Update, our e-newsletter. Go here to subscribe.     Media Contact  Please send us your inquiries and feedback:

 202-366-9550 public.affairs@dot.gov                       //>   //>        (function($) { $('#header').load(window.location.origin + '/includes/header.html'); $('#footer').load(window.location.origin + '/includes/footer.html'); })(jQuery);