NAEMT Radio

Ep 39. NAEMT Radio – Lead with NAEMT: How to Get Involved with NAEMT

In this episode of NAEMT Radio, Rob Lawrence is on-site at the 2024 EMS World Expo, where he speaks with Dr. Gary Peterson and Shannon Watson about volunteering opportunities within NAEMT. They discuss the importance of getting involved, the diverse roles available, and how volunteering can significantly impact both personal career growth and the broader EMS community. Shannon highlights positions in advocacy, education, and membership committees, encouraging listeners to get involved based on their interests and passions.
The episode also features testimonies from NAEMT volunteers, Dr. Gustavo Flores and Julius Jackson. They share their experiences of being part of committees such as advocacy, education, and workforce, emphasizing how their involvement has made a difference in advancing the EMS profession and helping underserved areas. Both Gary and Shannon emphasize that volunteering is about building connections, learning, and making lasting changes within EMS.
Listeners are encouraged to explore current opportunities with NAEMT by visiting the NAEMT website, where they can find open committee positions and apply to join. Whether through advocacy, education, or membership, the message is clear: there are many ways for members to contribute, grow, and make a positive impact in EMS
In October, you will have an opportunity to attend virtually in several NAEMT committee meetings. At these virtual meetings, members will learn about committee missions, visions and activities, participate in discussions on trending issues and topics, and ask questions. Members who wish to attend any of these virtual meetings will need to register in advance.
Below is the schedule of meetings which will be held on NAEMT’s virtual platform. All registrants will be provided with access information in advance of the meeting.
Membership Committee – Wednesday, 10/2 at 10 am CT
EMS Disaster Preparedness Committee – Thursday, 10/3 at 10 am CT
EMS Workforce Committee – Wednesday, 10/16 at 12 pm CT
EMS Economics Committee – Tuesday, 10/22 at 2 pm CT
Advocacy Committee – Wednesday, 10/23 at 3 pm CT
We hope you will attend one or more of these virtual meetings to experience how NAEMT’s committees work and advance the EMS profession.
 
Resources:
Join the NAEMT
https://www.naemt.org/join/join
About our Guests
Dr. Gary Peterson: Dr. Gary Peterson is a board member representing the Mid-Atlantic region for NAEMT and has been a paramedic for 24 years. He is passionate about education and advocacy within EMS, and his involvement with NAEMT has been a key driver in his professional growth.
Shannon Watson: Shannon Watson is the outgoing Great Plains Board Member for NAEMT and has been a paramedic since 2004. With a diverse background in EMS roles, including education and leadership, Shannon is committed to improving access to quality EMS training and advocacy.
Dr. Gustavo Flores: Dr. Gustavo Flores is a long-term NAEMT member and an active volunteer across various committees, including advocacy and education. He is both a paramedic and physician, dedicated to advancing EMS education and legislative efforts to support the profession.
Julius Jackson: Julius Jackson is a member of the NAEMT Workforce and Membership Committees and has over 20 years of experience in EMS. He brings his expertise as an educator to help shape the future of EMS, focusing on workforce challenges and enhancing membership engagement.

Ep 38. NAEMT Radio – A Case for Whole Blood with Dr Jon Krohmer

Exsanguination remains the leading cause of preventable deaths among victims of trauma with nearly half of these patients dying in the prehospital setting. Prehospital blood resuscitation is also clinically indicated for selected patients who hemorrhage from medical conditions (e.g. post-partum hemorrhage, abdominal bleeds). Individuals requiring critical care in the field in many locations in the US do not have access to prehospital blood transfusions due to reimbursement policies and scope of practice limitations.
To discuss this, host Rob Lawrence welcomes Dr Jon Krohmer to this edition of NAEMT Radio.  Dr Krohmer identifies the issues of whole blood availability, clinical scope of practice and reimbursement and suggests outcomes and solutions. Dr Krohmer also talks about the work of the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition and its survey of the agencies currently delivering pre-hospital blood administration.
Resources:
Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition: About Us | Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition | Improving Prehospital Blood Transfusion (prehospitaltransfusion.org)
Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition – briefing to the National EMS Advisory Council  - August 2003: Pre-Hospital Transfusion Reimbursement Working Group Meeting with NAEMT & Other Key Stakeholders Crystal Gateway Marriott March 31, 2023 (ems.gov)
Join the NAEMT
https://www.naemt.org/join/join
 About our Guest
Jon R. Krohmer, M.D., FACEP, FAEMS has recently retired as the Director of the NHTSA Office of EMS in the Department of Transportation and as the EMS Medical Director for the Caroline County (MD) Department of Emergency Services. He also served as the NHTSA Acting Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development from October 2018 to January 2020. Previously, he was the principal deputy assistant secretary for DHS Office of Health Affairs and DHS deputy chief medical officer. He began serving in that position as a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES) with DHS in September 2006 and served as the acting assistant secretary for health affairs and chief medical officer from August 2008 to August 2009. Dr. Krohmer was an attending physician and director of emergency medical services (EMS), emergency medicine residency and Department of Emergency Medicine at the Spectrum Health Butterworth Campus in Grand Rapids, MI, associate professor of emergency medicine at the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University and EMS medical director of Kent County Emergency Medical Services and was the medical director for the West Michigan Metropolitan Medical Response System and the Region 6 Consortium. Dr. Krohmer received his undergraduate degree at Ferris State College, School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Mich. in 1976 and is a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1983) in Ann Arbor, Mich. He completed his emergency medicine residency (1986) and EMS Fellowship (1987) at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is board certified in emergency medicine and emergency medical services. His current interests include EMS systems design and medical oversight, mass gathering events and EMS clinical support

Ep 37. NAEMT Radio – Meet two of the 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence Winners

In this edition of NAEMT Radio we get to meet, greet and hear from two of our 2024 National EMS Awards of Excellence recipients.  Joining Rob Lawrence is 2024 NAEMT Military Medic of the Year Award, Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jonathan Lu, Special Forces Medical Sergeant who served with a Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha Team and Zachary Alvey, full time EMT with Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, our 2024 NAEMT EMT of the Year recipient.
Master Sgt. Lu’s military journey culminated as the Chief Medical Operations NCO and Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor for the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where his leadership and vision ensured the medical operational readiness and holistic well-being of his fellow Green Berets and Special Operations Forces soldiers.
EMT Alvey’s journey in EMS is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a profound commitment to mentorship and community service. His tireless advocacy and leadership efforts are helping to shape the landscape of emergency medical care and ensure a stable and fruitful career path for future EMS professionals.
The awards will be presented during NAEMT’s General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, September 10, and at the Opening Ceremony of EMS World Expo on Wednesday, September 11 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zachary Alvey
Alvey embodies the essence of dedication and service in the field of EMS with a focus on patient care. “Zach is the truest definition of a dedicated and driven EMS practitioner,” said his supervisor. With over a decade of unwavering service and now at Ute Pass Regional Health Services District, Alvey serves as a full-time 911 EMT with a daily commitment to the community to provide accessible, high-quality medical care for all. Beyond his clinical role, he is deeply involved in shaping the future of EMS through his leadership as President of The Friends of Emergency Medical Services Board, a political action committee, and the Ute Pass Regional EMS Partnership. He is also the only EMT on the Colorado State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. Alvey is a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) Colorado Chapter, where he works toward the advancement of EMS practices and policies. He also serves NAEMT as an advocacy assistant to support association advocacy goals at the national level. His passion for EMS legislation and advocacy contributed to his appointment to the Colorado Emergency Medical Practice Advisory Council (EMPAC) in 2022, representing Basic Life Support (BLS) practitioners and advocating for his fellow EMTs. He was the EMS Association of Colorado’s 2023 BLS EMS Professional of the Year. Alvey imparts knowledge and inspires future generations of EMS practitioners by serving as an EMT instructor at the University of Colorado Health and Pikes Peak State College. His journey in EMS is marked not only by professional accomplishments but also by a profound commitment to mentorship and community service. His tireless advocacy and leadership efforts are helping to shape the landscape of emergency medical care and ensure a stable and fruitful career path for future EMS professionals.
U.S. Army Master Sgt. (Ret.) Jonathan Lu
Master Sgt. Lu, a first-generation immigrant, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 as a combat medic. Throughout his career, he demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his comrades and was driven by a high mission to care for those on his left and right. As a route clearance patrol medic, Master Sgt. Lu witnessed the profound impact of traumatic brain injury and PTSD on his comrades, which inspired him. He pursued advanced training, qualified as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant, and rose to the role of Special Forces Operational Detachment- Alpha Team Sergeant. “Jon’s expertise in providing prehospital medical trauma care is a cornerstone of his reputation as the most technically and tactically proficient special forces medic in his unit,” said his colleague. His military journey culminated as the Chief Medical Operations NCO and Senior Enlisted Medical Advisor for the U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), where his leadership and vision ensured the medical operational readiness and holistic well-being of his fellow Green Berets and Special Operations Forces soldiers. A 2020 Tillman Scholar, Master Sgt. Lu embodies the mission of the Pat Tillman Foundation, which unites and empowers remarkable military service members, veterans, and spouses as the next generation of public and private sector leaders committed to service beyond self. Master Sgt. Lu previously served his rural community as a volunteer firefighter/EMT and as president of his local firefighters’ association. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Health Sciences and a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, as well as a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University—all completed while serving as an active-duty Special Forces enlisted soldier.
Now a civilian, he is the director of the Center for Health Professions at Wright State University. He is also the founder and CEO of HardHat Wellness, a consulting firm serving the unique workforce health and wellness needs of first responder, healthcare, and high-hazard industries. Through his professional, academic, and volunteer work—and in true Green Beret fashion—he continues to empower agents of political, economic, and social change. His dedication to others serves as a lighthouse, shining brightly, so others may find their way toward building a more compassionate and equitable future for all.
The full press release covering all winners is available here: https://www.naemt.org/WhatsNewALLNEWS/2024/08/07/2024-national-ems-awards-of-excellence-recipients-announced

Ep 36. NAEMT Radio – NAEMT and State Associations

In the latest edition of NAEMT Radio, Rob Lawrence discusses State Associations and their relationship with NAEMT with NAEMT Board Member, Melissa McNally, MMSc, BCEM PA-C, NRP and Amy Marsh, Vice President of the South Dakota EMS Association. Melissa, also President of the Florida Association of EMTs and Paramedics and Amy discuss the benefits of joining a state association and in turn how affiliation with NAEMT offers many benefits in terms of legislative assistance and information sharing.
About our Guests:
Melissa McNally, MMSc, BCEM PA-C, NRP, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician assistant and nationally registered paramedic with over 31 years of experience in prehospital and emergency medicine. She practices clinically in the emergency department and works as a paramedic for the hospital’s ambulance service. Melissa operates Central Florida Emergency Education Consultants (CFEEC), which provides continuing education content for EMS and other healthcare professionals as well as consultant services in Mobile Integrated Healthcare/Community Paramedicine (MIH-CP) education and other service programs.
Melissa brings leadership experience as a medical practitioner and educator in the field of MIH and has provided clinical oversight to one of Florida’s largest MIH programs, Evolution Health, which manages the population health of over 60,000 Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients across Florida. She currently serves as the President-elect of the Florida Association of EMS Educators and as Secretary of the Access to Care, Medical Care, and Quality Managers Committees for the Florida Bureau of EMS. Melissa was recently appointed by the Surgeon General of Florida as the State EMS Education Chair for the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council.
Melissa has served on NAEMT’s EMS Transformation Committee and the Author Team for the Community Paramedic Course. Currently, Melissa serves as the chair of the Membership Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee. Melissa is also the assistant NAEMT Advocacy Coordinator and Membership Coordinator for the State of Florida.
Amy Marsh serves as EMS Educator for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Training Center since 2013.  She was born and raised in Sioux Falls and holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration from the University of Sioux Falls.
She is currently a Nationally Registered Paramedic and instructor in a wide range of EMS courses.  She has been involved in EMS for 32 years taking her EMT-Basic course in 1991.   Prior to working for Sioux Falls Fire Rescue, Amy served as the Program Coordinator for South Dakota EMS for Children for twelve years.  She has spoken at many local, state and regional EMS conferences.  She has served as faculty for IC1 for NAEMSE since 2021 and enjoys the opportunity to share her passion for education with fellow EMS Educators.  She has served on various committees and served on the South Dakota EMS Advisory Council for eight years and most recently serving on the South Dakota EMS Stakeholders Group.   Amy currently serves as the Vice President of the South Dakota EMS Association.  
Resources Discussed
Join the NAEMT: https://www.naemt.org/join/join

Ep 35. NAEMT Radio – Introducing Deb Lally – Executive Director NAEMT

 
In this edition of NAEMT Radio, President Susan Bailey takes great pleasure in introducing our new Executive Director, Deb Lally. Deb took up post on July 1st, 2024, and host Rob Lawrence invites Deb to tell her back story and her immediate priority and tasks (as directed by the NAEMT Board) for the immediate future. This is our first chance to hear from Deb and the great answers she delivers. 
During the podcast, President Bailey also delivers a key legislative update on Treatment In Place, or TIP, which has been reintroduced into Congress with bipartisan support. Representatives Michael T.W. Carey (OH-15), Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Carol Miller (WV-01), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), and Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced the bipartisan Improving Access to Emergency Medical Services for Seniors Act. The bill would allow seniors on Medicare to receive at-home emergency medical services to treat minor medical incidents.
About Deb Lally
Deb Lally has nearly 20 years of association leadership. Based in Massachusetts, Deb most recently served as Executive Director/CEO of AACE International, a professional engineering association. She has also held executive leadership roles at the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management. Prior to that, she spent a decade in the scientific and medical publishing industry. Deb earned the certified association executive (CAE) credential in 2017 and has extensive experience in member engagement, education development, strategic partnerships, and fiscal and resource management. With the NAEMT Board of Directors, Deb works to strengthen NAEMT’s foundational pillars of EMS advocacy, education, and membership. She also works to bolster NAEMT’s relationships with with key stakeholders to advance our mission of representing and serving Paramedics, EMTs, and support personnel at all levels. Connect with Deb at deb.lally@naemt.org
About Susan Bailey
Susan Bailey, MSEM, NRP, is the Director of the Louisiana Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and part-time faculty at Columbia Southern University where she teaches courses such as EMS Operations and Personnel Management, Risk Management Practices in EMS, and Finance of EMS Systems. She has been active in the EMS Industry since 1990 with experience in both the rural and urban setting. She has served as the NAEMT representative on the Commission on Accreditation of Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) Board of Directors and was chair from 2018-2022.
A lifetime NAEMT member, Susan served as Vice-Chair of NAEMT’s Advocacy Committee, Chair of the Disaster Preparedness Committee, Chair of the Affiliate Advisory Committee. She also served on the Education Committee and the Finance Committee. In 2014, she was awarded the NASCO/NAEMT Paramedic of the Year Award, and in 2016 she was awarded an NAEMT Education Service Award for innovation in delivering NAEMT education programs to rural areas. Susan is a lifetime member of the Louisiana Association of National Registered EMTs (LANREMT). LANREMT awarded her the Instructor of the Year Award in 1999, a Presidential Meritorious Award in 2013, and an Outstanding Achievement award in 2018. In July, 2022 she received a Raising the Bar Recognition from Columbia Southern University.
Passionate about the EMS Industry, Susan strives to bring positive attention to the work that EMS Practitioners do. She encourages EMS practitioners to expand their knowledge to grow with an ever-changing scope of practice within the EMS industry. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Susan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Southeastern Louisiana University where she graduated magna cum laude, and earned her Master’s Degree in Emergency Management from Millersville University in Pennsylvania.
Resources Discussed
World Trauma Symposium: World Trauma Symposium (naemt.org)
EMS World Expo: Home | EMS World Expo 2024 (hmpglobalevents.com)
Join the NAEMT: https://www.naemt.org/join/join

Ep 34. NAEMT Radio – Artificial Intelligence and EMS with Bruce Evans

‘Jana Nguyen sits in the back of an ambulance watching live video of the stroke specialists treating the patient she brought to the neurology clinic just 15 minutes earlier. Before reaching the station, a voice interrupts as the dispatch system notifies Jana and her partner, Chip, that they are responding to a call for a sick child. The screen on the wall displays information about their new patient. Jana begins reading about Carla’s medical history—other than being born 6 weeks premature, she’s been healthy—and sees her current vital signs. Based on information collected on the scene, the AIM—artificial intelligence medic—states that there is an 82 percent probability the patient is experiencing anaphylaxis’  EMS Agenda for the Future – EMS Agenda 2050
In this edition of NAEMT Radio we are delighted to welcome back Bruce Evans to discuss the advent of Artificial intelligence (AI) in and around the EMS space.  In a forward-looking discussion Rob and Bruce examine the opportunities for AI usage in the Call Center, Ambulance, ED and beyond. 
Resources Discussed
EMS Agenda for the Future:    https://www.ems.gov/assets/EMS-Agenda-2050.pdf
Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program - Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program | US Department of Transportation
Robs previous article on AI: https://www.ems1.com/ems-trend-report/artificial-intelligence-in-ems-the-future-is-here
Join the NAEMT: https://www.naemt.org/join/join

Ep 33. NAEMT Radio – Legislating for Critical Access Ambulance Designation

Ep 33. NAEMT Radio – Legislating for Critical Access Ambulance Designation
In this edition of NAEMT Radio we are delighted to welcome back Steve Kroll, NAEMT’s Advocacy Committee Vice Chair, and Chair of the NAEMT PAC Committee to introduce and discuss the concept of Critical Care Ambulance Designation and its associated reimbursement. 
Steve, and host Rob Lawrence, discuss this issue which if sponsored and executed would reduce the financial vulnerability of rural ambulance services and improve access to healthcare by keeping essential services in rural communities via cost-based Medicare Reimbursement.

Ep 32. NAEMT Radio – Lights and Sirens Reduction

Mecklenburg EMS Agency NC (MEDIC) achieves a 70% reduction in the use of lights and sirens during responses and a 78% decrease in Medic-involved traffic incidents
We are now aware of the academic research and trials underway to reduce the use of lights and sirens during emergency response and transport.  In this edition of NAEMT Radio, EMS Lawyer, Steve Wirth Esq and John ‘JP’ Peterson, Executive Director of The Mecklenburg EMS Agency, also known as MEDIC, join host Rob Lawrence to discuss the reasons, risks, liability, benefits, and outcomes of L&S reduction.
Steve Wirth highlights the benefits for and risks against adopting a policy of appropriate L&S use and JP Peterson discusses Medics award winning and pioneering Response Configuration program. This initiative, launched in April 2023, strategically enhanced Medic's response protocols to emergency calls, leading to significant operational improvements. Notably, within six months, comprehensive data analysis highlighted that the new configuration had no negative effects on patient outcomes, optimized resource allocation, and led to a substantial 70% reduction in the use of lights and sirens during responses. Additionally, it achieved a 78% decrease in Medic-involved traffic incidents, significantly enhancing safety for both the community and emergency responders. These impressive outcomes not only demonstrate Medic's innovative approach to EMS but also underscore its unwavering commitment to improving patient care, safety, and efficiency within the greater Charlotte area.
Resources
Presentation to the County Board of Commissioners on L&S Reduction https://mecklenburg.ravnur.com/media/PAx21k
Medic pleased with how reduced 'light and sirens' response configuration is working: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/medic-response-changes/275-72af3aad-acb9-4ce4-ad07-6032076d250d
Join the NAEMT
https://www.naemt.org/join/join
About our Guests
J.P. Peterson is the Executive Director at Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. MEDIC is the busiest EMS service in the state with over 156,000 responses in 2021. Prior to working at MEDIC, J.P. served as Vice President of Florida Operations for PatientCare EMS Solutions. In this role, he had oversight of MedFleet Ambulance Service based in Pasco County, Florida and Sunstar Paramedics in Pinellas County, Florida where he was also the Chief Operating Officer. He is the Immediate Past President of the Florida Ambulance Association and is also a member of the American Ambulance Association bylaws, professional standards, and ethics committees.
Steve Wirth is a founding partner of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth. In a distinguished four-decade public safety career, Steve has worked in virtually every facet of EMS – as first responder, firefighter, EMT, paramedic, flight paramedic, EMS instructor, fire officer, and EMS executive. He was one of central Pennsylvania’s first paramedics. Steve brings a pragmatic and business-oriented perspective to his diverse legal practice having served for almost a decade as senior executive of a mid-sized air and ground ambulance service, helping to build the company from the ground up.

Ep 31. NAEMT Radio – EMS on the Hill and NAEMT Legislative Issues

Recorded at the 2024 NAEMT EMS on the Hill event, Rob Lawrence chats with NAEMT President Susan Bailey and President Elect Chris Way on the bills and issues that are being discussed with elected officials and their staff this year.
Urge Congress to Support EMS Reimbursement for Treatment in Place (TIP)
NAEMT has long advocated for providing EMS agencies the flexibility to navigate patients to the right care in the right setting through federal and state reimbursement of Treatment in Place (TIP). Neither Medicaid nor Medicare currently cover TIP; because EMS is not reimbursed for care unless a patient is brought to the hospital, the current EMS economic model incentivizes transportation to a hospital emergency department, even when a less expensive level of care is appropriate.
 Reimbursing EMS agencies for TIP will save Medicare billions of dollars on unnecessary emergency department visits, shorten task times for EMS agencies struggling with workforce shortages, help decompress overcrowded hospitals and emergency departments, and meet patients’ needs without long waits at the hospital. Many hospitals hold EMS personnel for hours waiting for an available bed in the emergency department, keeping EMS responders from getting back into service and ready for the next emergency in the community.
Request House Support for the Community Paramedicine Act of 2024
Request support from your House Representatives for H.R. 8042, the Community Paramedicine Act of 2024, introduced by Representatives Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). This bill would create a grant program under the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would authorize $25 million per year for five years to support community paramedicine services; award qualified entities up to $750,000 for individual applications and $1.5 million for joint applications; and establish an advisory board comprised of national community paramedicine, emergency medical service, and fire service organizations to advise, assist, and peer review grant applications in rural and underserved areas.
SIREN ACT
The SIREN Act was signed into law on December 20, 2018. This law created a grant program for public and non-profit EMS agencies and fire departments in rural areas to support the recruitment, retention, education, and equipping of EMS personnel. Rural EMS agencies and fire departments often lack the resources to pay for even basic operational needs, and this program is aimed at helping meet some of those needs.
 This successful program needs to be reauthorized. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) and Representatives David Joyce (R-OH) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) have introduced the SIREN Reauthorization Act, S. 265 and H.R. 4646. These bills would reauthorize SIREN Act grants for an additional five years, through 2028. S. 265 passed the Senate in December 2023.
Encourage Congress to include $32M in FY2025 for SIREN Grants
Take action today to encourage Congress to include $32M in the FY2025 budget for the Rural EMS Training and Equipment Assistance (REMSTEA) grant program, otherwise known as the SIREN grants. The REMSTEA/SIREN Act grant program, administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a critical lifeline for budget-challenged rural EMS agencies and fire departments. The grants have provided much-needed funding to assist in procuring medication and medical supplies, recruiting and retaining personnel, increasing service levels from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support, and even replacing older ambulances with newer and safer models.
Ask Congress to Protect Access to Ground Ambulance Medical Services
S.1673 and H.R. 1666 would extend the current temporary increases under the Medicare ambulance fee schedule of 2% urban, 3% rural and 22.6% super rural for another three years, through December 31, 2027. Without the extension of these ground ambulance add-ons, many ambulance service organizations will not be able to continue serving their communities.
Resources
Online Legislative Service: Online Legislative Service (naemt.org)
Join the NAEMT
https://www.naemt.org/join/join
About our Guests
Susan Bailey, MSEM, NRP, is the Director of the Louisiana Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and part-time faculty at Columbia Southern University where she teaches courses such as EMS Operations and Personnel Management, Risk Management Practices in EMS, and Finance of EMS Systems. She has been active in the EMS Industry since 1990 with experience in both the rural and urban setting. She has served as the NAEMT representative on the Commission on Accreditation of Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE) Board of Directors and was chair from 2018-2022.
A lifetime NAEMT member, Susan served as Vice-Chair of NAEMT’s Advocacy Committee, Chair of the Disaster Preparedness Committee, Chair of the Affiliate Advisory Committee. She also served on the Education Committee and the Finance Committee. In 2014, she was awarded the NASCO/NAEMT Paramedic of the Year Award, and in 2016 she was awarded an NAEMT Education Service Award for innovation in delivering NAEMT education programs to rural areas. Susan is a lifetime member of the Louisiana Association of National Registered EMTs (LANREMT). LANREMT awarded her the Instructor of the Year Award in 1999, a Presidential Meritorious Award in 2013, and an Outstanding Achievement award in 2018. In July 2022 she received a Raising the Bar Recognition from Columbia Southern University.
Passionate about the EMS Industry, Susan strives to bring positive attention to the work that EMS Practitioners do. She encourages EMS practitioners to expand their knowledge to grow with an ever-changing scope of practice within the EMS industry. A Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Susan has a bachelor’s degree in management from Southeastern Louisiana University where she graduated magna cum laude, and earned her master’s degree in emergency management from Millersville University in Pennsylvania.
About Chris Way
Christopher Way has been an emergency service professional for 28 years. Chief Way transitioned to Kootenai County Fire and Rescue as the Fire Chief in May of 2020 after serving as the Chief Officer for the Kootenai Count EMS System for the previous seven years.
Chief Way came to Idaho from Kansas where he served in Fire and EMS roles in urban, suburban and rural settings. He was an EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and now has been a licensed paramedic since 1994 as well as a certified Firefighter. Throughout his career he has held different ranks culminating most recently in his promotion to Fire Chief.  He also has significant experience in disaster management at the local, state and national level.
In addition to his full-time role as Fire Chief he is involved at the local, regional, state and national level in advocacy and leadership for emergency services.  He is the Treasurer for the National EMT Association and has served on their board and committees for several years.  He is a regular speaker at national conferences and in his spare time Chief Way and two partners own an Emergency Medicine education and consulting company. 
Passionate about emergency medical care, Governor Brad Little selected Chief Way to be the Chairman of the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency Council in May of 2019. He has a bachelor’s degree in Management and Human Relations and maintains all of his Fire and EMS licenses/certifications.  He regularly donates time to his community, serves local non-profit organizations and is involved in his children’s many activities. Christopher and his wife Jennifer live in Hayden, Idaho with their two daughters and four Labradors.

Ep 30. NAEMT Radio - EMS Apprenticeship Programs

We reach a milestone as we arrive at Episode 30 of the NAEMT Radio Podcast! Joining us for this edition is Henry Lewis, Executive Director of the South Carolina EMS Association and Lieutenant Joseph Coley, of Tazewell EMS, VA.  The topic of discussion with host, Rob Lawrence, is EMS Apprenticeship programs, where funding, start up, candidate selection and results are discussed.  Henry describes the programs and resources leveraged across the whole of South Carolina.  These include scholarships, apprenticeship, and rural health tuition assistance programs. Joseph describes the actions of his own department to essentially offer an earn while you learn program to increase his staffing numbers.
Resources
Also discussed in this podcast, is the work of the NAEMT Workforce Development Committee and the comprehensive resource guide they offer via Workforce Development (naemt.org) Content within the guide is shared by EMS agencies, associations and organizations and highlight how they are promoting interest of the EMS profession, recruiting new EMTs and Paramedics, and engaging and retaining their current workforce. If your agency or organization would like to share its solution(s), please send to EMSWorkforce@naemt.orgfor the NAEMT EMS Workforce Committee to consider posting.
Statewide technical college scholarship program designed to address workforce shortages in South Carolina: SC EMS Association - EMS Program Assistance
Join the NAEMT
https://www.naemt.org/join/join
Guests
Henry Lewis
Henry Lewis began his career in emergency services with a small, volunteer fire department in South Carolina in 1999. He quickly transitioned to the local EMS agency and gained his paramedic license in 2003, which he still maintains. As a career EMS professional, Henry has worked across all aspects of EMS to include governmental, private industry, hospital-based services, and EMS education. He served as the State EMS Coordinator for the state EMS office and in administration for the state’s largest 911 provider before transitioning to become the South Carolina EMS Association’s first Executive Director in 2021. As a working student, Henry earned his BA in Emergency Management and master’s in healthcare administration from Columbia College with honors.
Joseph Coley
Joseph Coley is a Nationally Registered NR paramedic in rural South West Virginia. He works as a Lieutenant for the Town of Tazewell EMS. Joseph has worked in EMS for 26 years now and serves with NAEMT as the advocacy coordinator for Virginia, as well as serving on the NAEMT EMS workforce committee. Joseph is married with 2 girls.