EMS One-Stop

EMS research has grown rapidly, but finding the studies that truly matter to everyday clinical practice remains a challenge. In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by Dr. Christopher Richards, EMS and emergency physician at the University of Cincinnati; and Dr. Christian Martin-Gill, chief of the Division of EMS at the University of Pittsburgh and former president of the Prehospital Guidelines Consortium, to discuss the recently published EMS research reading list and the effort to identify the most important evidence EMS clinicians and medical directors should know about.
The discussion explores how the reading list was created; why a significant gap remains between publication and implementation; and how EMS can better translate research into education, protocols and patient care.
Richards and Martin-Gill explain the mix of evidence-based guidelines, position statements, systematic reviews and original research included in the project, while highlighting major gaps in behavioral emergencies, pediatrics, obstetrics, workforce wellness and EMS operations.
The message is clear: EMS practitioners should not wait for new research to appear in their protocols. They should read it, discuss it, question current practice and, where evidence is lacking, consider contributing to research that closes the gap.
Additional resources:
Richards CT, Cash RE, Crowe RP, et al. 2026. “Developing an emergency medical services research reading list for emergency medical services practitioners.” Prehospital Emergency Care, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2026.2693158
EMS1 Research Center. A central access point for critical research that can help drive operational and policy changes
Understanding research and its impact on patient care. David Page, MS; Hezedean Smith, DM; and Ayanna Walker, MD, share best practices for evaluating and interpreting prehospital research 
Key quotes
“With EMS research, there's always something missing. There's always more that we can do.” — Dr. Christian Martin-Gill
“What we're seeing here, particularly over the last decade, is these organizations working less as silos and moving more towards working together when it makes sense to do that.” — Dr. Christian Martin-Gill
“We didn't go in actually feeling like we needed to identify 10 primary research or professional statements that complemented the guidelines that were already identified through the systematic review. But there was just a natural break point there.” — Dr. Christopher Richards
“There are a number of position statements that are published by national and international organizations that are key scientific literature out there that people need to be paying attention to.” — Dr. Christian Martin-Gill
“Still there is research lacking in what the EMS clinicians themselves experience as part of the workforce — safety on scene, wellness, these sort of questions.” — Dr. Christopher Richards
“The behavioral emergency space I think is really important right now.” — Dr. Christian Martin-Gill
Episode timeline
01:09 – Rob introduces the episode and welcomes Drs. Christopher Richards and Christian Martin-Gill
02:16 – Dr. Richards introduces his EMS, emergency medicine and research background
03:18 – Dr. Martin-Gill discusses his role at the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC and the Prehospital Guidelines Consortium
04:15 – Why does EMS need a dedicated research reading list?
07:11 – Where can EMS practitioners currently go to identify the research that really matters?
09:13 – Moving research into protocols, practice and clinical care
11:15 – Can the Prehospital Guidelines Consortium help align the many organizations producing EMS clinical guidance?
13:41 – Breaking down the different categories of publications on the reading list
14:47 – Evidence-based guidelines included in the broader reading list
15:49 – Position statements covering hemorrhage, restraint, air medical utilization and workforce issues
16:26 – Systematic reviews addressing airway management and prehospital evidence-based guidelines
16:51 – Four original research papers, including refractory VF, pain disparities, evidence integration and midazolam use
18:58 – How the research reading list was actually developed
19:32 – The open call for EMS research submissions
20:10 – The project is ongoing, with submissions continuing for the next iteration
20:42 – Expert panel review, scoring and the natural cutoff that produced the final 10
23:18 – What important EMS research is still missing?
24:37 – Gaps in airway, pediatric and behavioral emergency evidence
26:08 – Dr. Richards highlights workforce, safety, wellness and operational research gaps
28:18 – Which areas should future EMS researchers investigate?
28:31 – Martin-Gill highlights behavioral, obstetric and pediatric emergencies as priorities
30:12 – Richards explains how everyday frustrations in EMS can become important research questions
32:12 – Final thoughts on the paper and the breadth of the reading list
33:37 – Martin-Gill discusses access to research and why highlighting important publications matters
35:05 – Turning reading into discussion, protocol review and further research
35:58 – Rob closes with a challenge to read, question, discuss and contribute to EMS research
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In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence speaks with Wesley Brookshear, critical care paramedic and FTO program supervisor with AMR in Knoxville, Tennessee, about a community-led effort that is changing how EMS responds to the city’s Mission District. What began as an attempt to understand unusually high 911 utilization has evolved into a multidisciplinary outreach program bringing EMS, public health, addiction services, shelter providers, clinicians and other community organizations directly to Knoxville’s unhoused population. By concentrating on relationships, consistency and basic human needs, the initiative has produced a reported 32% reduction in traditional EMS call volume while dramatically expanding access to wound care, food, addiction treatment, mental health support, nurse navigation and other services.
Wesley explains why the program’s success is less about creating another specialized EMS unit and more about connecting people to the resources that already exist. The team initially arrived without uniforms, handed out fruit, listened and built trust before attempting to provide care. Two years later, the program has recorded thousands of encounters, helped more than 140 people enter treatment or sober living and generated remarkably few ambulance transports from its outreach activity. The conversation explores how other EMS systems can identify high-utilization areas, develop community partnerships, protect the mental health of outreach staff and start small—even with a single motivated employee.
Above all, Wesley argues that EMS has an opportunity to move beyond simply transporting patients and instead become the connector that gets people to the care and resources they actually need.
Additional resources:
Global Medical Response - AMR Mission District Medical Team Program Sees 32 Percent Decline in 911 Calls
eBook: How to fund community paramedicine
Very high EMS utilizers: 7 strategies for local action
From sirens to solutions: Guiding paramedics to a patient-centered mindset
Public health at the front door: An MIH model to emulate
Key quotes
“We did go down without our EMS uniforms on. We went in black t-shirts, blue jeans and started making connections.” — Wesley Brookshear
“We have noticed a 32% reduction in our normal call volume down at the mission since we started this program 2 years ago.” — Wesley Brookshear
“MIH, mobile integrated healthcare, isn't a title; it's actually a list. It's mobile, it's integrated and it's healthcare.” — Rob Lawrence
“This is not Wesley Brookshear, this is not AMR, this is an entire community of Knox County citizens that are coming together to support.” — Wesley Brookshear
“We talk about the homeless or the unhoused, and I do use both terms, but the unhoused, and we act like it's those individuals; it's never those individuals, those are humans within your community.” — Wesley Brookshear
“My mission wasn't admission avoidance, it was arrival avoidance.” — Rob Lawrence
“Our folks are wrapping their own wounds now. We are providing supplies. We are giving education.” — Wesley Brookshear
“Do not go down with the idea that you're going to cure this idea that homelessness is going to go away.” — Wesley Brookshear
Episode timeline
00:49 – Rob introduces the episode and the concept of specialist teams focused on populations at risk
01:52 – Wesley introduces himself, AMR Knoxville and the multidisciplinary Mission District outreach team
03:25 – Identifying concentrated 911 utilization around the North Broadway area
04:22 – The headline result: a 32% reduction in normal call volume after 2 years
05:08 – Building services around Maslow’s hierarchy of needs: food, water, shelter and safety
06:10 – How the project began with surveys asking community members what they actually needed
06:50 – Wesley emphasizes that homelessness should be understood as a human and community issue
08:05 – Building partnerships and establishing a consistent Tuesday outreach presence
08:28 – Why the team initially attended in jeans and black t-shirts rather than EMS uniforms
10:10 – Rotating team members to manage emotional and mental-health pressures
11:27 – Training new outreach personnel and protecting the culture of the program
12:10 – The practical work: washing wounds, basic dressings and human contact
13:02 – Patients begin managing and dressing their own wounds with education and supplies
13:26 – Taking CPR and Stop the Bleed education directly into the Mission District
14:00 – Using GMR nurse navigation to expand access to alternative care and follow-up
16:09 – Nurse navigation, mental-health pathways and bypassing the emergency department when appropriate
18:28 – Discussion resumes: community paramedicine versus mobile integrated healthcare
19:23 – Rob defines MIH as “mobile, integrated and healthcare”
20:01 – Building relationships with partner organizations beyond the street-level outreach work
21:23 – Program numbers: approximately 4,800 encounters, 515-plus people served, 140-plus entering treatment or sober living, and only nine outreach encounters requiring ambulance transport
22:14 – A frostbite patient whose feet were saved through coordinated community intervention
24:23 – Wesley reflects on severe wounds, winter outreach and the impact of simple acts of care
25:18 – Where another EMS chief should start: find the hot spots and find someone who cares
26:39 – Starting small and expanding services gradually through community partnerships
27:08 – Why handing someone a resource list is not enough
27:36 – EMS as clinicians and navigators rather than simply a transport service
28:50 – Rob discusses “arrival avoidance” and directing patients into appropriate pathways of care
29:51 – The minimum viable program: one person who builds connections and physically links patients to resources
30:42 – Costs, donated supplies and the operational value of reducing unnecessary 911 demand
31:55 – The broader return: increased ambulance availability and potentially improved workforce engagement
33:14 – What not to do: don't approach outreach expecting to “solve homelessness”
33:43 – Managing compassion fatigue and rotating team members
34:58 – Food, coffee and small gestures as tools for relationship-building
35:26 – Challenging assumptions about who becomes unhoused
36:51 – Wesley's closing message: seek opportunities for EMS to grow and approach vulnerable populations with compassion
38:38 – Rob closes the episode with a challenge to EMS leaders: start something, even if it is small
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Finding grant funding can feel overwhelming, particularly for smaller EMS and fire agencies where one person often wears multiple hats.
In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, host Rob Lawrence is joined by Lexipol Grant Writer and Colorado Firefighter-Paramedic Anya Otterson to demystify the grant-writing process.
From identifying funding priorities and locating grant opportunities, to building a compelling case backed by data, Anya provides a practical roadmap for agencies looking to secure funding for equipment, staffing and operational improvements. She explains why success starts with clearly defining organizational needs, understanding grant priorities, and assembling evidence that demonstrates both community impact and operational necessity.
The discussion explores the complete grant lifecycle, from preparing competitive applications, through to post-award reporting and compliance. Anya emphasizes that strong grant applications combine hard data with real patient stories, while Rob shares lessons learned from managing successful Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and transportation safety grants.
They also discuss how AI tools such as ChatGPT can accelerate research when used appropriately — but caution against relying on AI to write narratives outright. The episode concludes with encouragement for agencies to not be discouraged by unsuccessful applications, reminding listeners that grant writing is an iterative process where persistence and continual improvement often lead to success.
Additional resources
EMS1 GrantFinder: Our suite of solutions gives agencies direct access to seasoned grant professionals—backed by over 500 years of combined experience—along with a comprehensive tailored grant database
Assistance to Firefighters Grants: Meeting firefighting and emergency response needs
On-demand webinar: Grants Day — Your funding playbook. Get the insights, expert advice and tools to help your agency score big on grants
Key quotes
"The data and statistics are incredibly important when writing grants, but to try to set yourself apart, I do like to have a little bit more of a personal touch." — Anya Otterson
"Figure out what kinds of things you want funding for and prioritize it." — Anya Otterson
"You've got to be in it to win it." — Rob Lawrence
"Give yourself enough time. This is not a day-before kind of thing." — Anya Otterson
"Making sure that everybody's on the same page is critical because this is not something you can really do in a silo." — Anya Otterson
"Never be afraid to reach out to the funding agency with questions. Their job is to help you through the process." — Anya Otterson
"ChatGPT should not be writing your narratives for you." — Anya Otterson
"If you don't get funded the first time, keep trying." — Anya Otterson
"The juice is worth the squeeze." — Rob Lawrence
Episode timeline
00:00 – Introduction and why so many EMS leaders struggle to know where to begin with grants
01:30 – Meet Firefighter-Paramedic and Lexipol Grant Writer Anya Otterson
03:00 – The first step: identifying and prioritizing organizational funding needs
04:00 – Where to find grants, including GrantFinder, ChatGPT, state resources and direct outreach
05:45 – Overview of FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program
07:00 – Understanding funding priorities and why high-priority requests have the greatest chance of success
09:00 – Building a compelling grant narrative using statistics, research and patient stories
12:30 – Grant writing best practices: answer the questions, proofread thoroughly and involve leadership early
15:50 – Importance of organizational buy-in and internal communication
17:20 – Understanding grant requirements, matching funds and funding conditions before applying
18:40 – Post-award responsibilities, reporting requirements and maintaining compliance
20:40 – Rob shares practical lessons from administering successful federal grants
23:20 – Lexipol's GrantFinder platform and professional grant writing services
25:45 – Using ChatGPT responsibly to support grant research while avoiding AI-generated narratives
29:35 – Final advice: persistence, continual improvement and learning from unsuccessful applications
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Matt Zavadsky explains how a commercial insurer’s reimbursement proposal — and looming Medicaid changes — could reshape EMS funding
In this week’s episode of EMS One-Stop, we examine two major financial threats facing EMS reimbursement.
Host Rob Lawrence is joined by Matt Zavadsky to analyze the recent Elevance (Anthem) Health Public Policy Institute paper, which argues that commercial insurers should reimburse ambulance services at approximately 160% of the Medicare fee schedule.
Zavadsky, EMS/mobile healthcare consultant with PWW | Advisory Group, explains why this paper is significant, noting that Medicare already reimburses below the actual cost of providing ambulance services. If policymakers adopt or even believe Elevance's recommendations, commercial reimbursement could fall dramatically, removing one of the few revenue sources that currently offsets chronic underpayments from Medicare and Medicaid. The discussion highlights the growing influence of commercial insurers in state legislatures and stresses the need for EMS leaders to counter policy proposals with credible cost and operational data rather than anecdotal arguments.
The conversation then shifts to CMS's proposed Medicaid supplemental payment rule (GEMT), where Matt predicts that most of the proposed changes are likely to survive into the final rule despite industry opposition. Both hosts discuss their review of the public comments, noting differing impressions of stakeholder sentiment but agreeing that agencies should begin financial planning now for a potential reduction in supplemental Medicaid revenue beginning in 2029.
Throughout the episode, the recurring theme is that EMS must become far more effective at explaining both the cost of readiness and the consequences of underfunding. The episode concludes on a more positive note by highlighting the newly released What Paramedics Want in 2026 report as a practical roadmap for improving workforce satisfaction while the industry continues addressing long-term reimbursement challenges.
Additional resources
The 160% mirage: Why every EMS leader should read the Elevance Ambulance Report
When the spreadsheet meets the siren: How CMS’s Proposed GEMT Rule could reshape EMS funding
What Paramedics Want in 2026
Key quotes
"The commercial insurance industry is creating a story that elected officials may perceive as reasonable. We need to combat that story with facts." — Matt Zavadsky
"Medicare reimbursement is already below cost, so using it as the benchmark automatically discounts ambulance services." — Matt Zavadsky
"We do a great job telling stories about the lives we save. We do a poor job telling the story of what it costs to provide that service." — Matt Zavadsky
"The balance billing issue is going to be the No. 1 issue in the next 12 months." — Matt Zavadsky
"The first time local elected officials hear there's a problem is usually when the sky is already falling. We need to tell the story before the sky falls." — Matt Zavadsky
"Know your costs; know your costs at different service levels, and begin educating your local community." — Matt Zavadsky
"This isn't necessarily good news, but it's something we need to understand and all work together to deal with." — Rob Lawrence
Episode timeline00:00 – Introduction and the Elevance Health Public Policy Institute report
02:00 – Matt explains who Elevance Health is and why the report should be viewed as a commercial insurer's policy position
03:30 – Discussion of state balance billing legislation and how commercial insurers are successfully pushing lower reimbursement benchmarks
06:15 – Breakdown of what percentages of Medicare actually mean using national EMS financial data
08:30 – Why using Medicare as the reimbursement benchmark is fundamentally flawed because Medicare itself pays below cost
10:30 – Discussion on the political influence of insurers and why EMS must counter with data-driven messaging
12:30 – Why EMS has historically struggled to tell its financial story despite being effective at telling patient care stories
14:20 – Matt predicts balance billing legislation will become the industry's No. 1 policy issue over the next year
16:10 – Potential consequences if commercial reimbursement falls to 160% of Medicare
17:30 – Discussion on community funding, essential service models and matching service expectations with available revenue
22:20 – Transition to CMS's proposed Medicaid supplemental payment (GEMT) rule
22:45 – Review of public comments submitted on the CMS proposal and differing observations about stakeholder support
25:00 – Matt predicts the CMS rule will largely move forward and agencies should prepare accordingly
27:45 – California and other states discussed as examples of systems likely to experience significant reductions in supplemental Medicaid funding
30:45 – Closing on a positive note with discussion of the What Paramedics Want workforce survey

The 2026 AIMHI Excellence in Public Information or Education Award recognizes organizations that create innovative programs which improve health, educate communities and demonstrate measurable outcomes. This year’s recipient, the Medic Keep the Beat Foundation, earned national recognition for a groundbreaking fall-prevention initiative that is helping older adults remain independent, reducing repeat 911 calls and preventing avoidable hospital admissions. The award celebrates programs that move EMS beyond emergency response into proactive, community-based healthcare.
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Jimmy Pierson, president and COO of Medic Ambulance; and Angeline Pierson, occupational therapist with the Medic Keep the Beat Foundation, to explore the award-winning program in depth. The discussion covers everything from home safety assessments and occupational therapy interventions, to public-private partnerships, sustainable funding, EMS workforce innovation and why prevention may be one of the greatest opportunities facing EMS today.
Key quotes
“You’ve taken the frequency out of a faller.” — Rob Lawrence
“We don’t want healthier transports; we want a healthier community.” — Jimmy Pierson
“This isn’t a business model; it’s a community model.” — Jimmy Pierson
“We want to keep people safe and independent in their own homes.” — Angeline Pierson
“With this program they can stay at home instead of moving into a skilled nursing facility.” — Angeline Pierson
“The key is finding partners who see you as a partner; not as a subcontractor.” — Jimmy Pierson
“The Australian paramedics became part of our family; they weren’t temporary staff.” — Jimmy Pierson
Additional resources
Awards – AIMHI
Medic Keep the Beat Foundation
Fall prevention: EMS patient education tips after the lift assist
Fall hazard reduction and emergency alerting
Geriatric slips, trips and falls: 3 assessment considerations
9 fall prevention tips for EMS providers to share
Episode timeline
01:00 – Meet Jimmy and Angeline Pierson
02:00 – Inside the award-winning fall prevention program
06:45 – How patients enter the program
08:30 – Why preventing falls starts inside the home
12:30 – Measuring outcomes and demonstrating return on investment
15:00 – Funding, grants and building community partnerships
17:00 – Public-private partnerships with California fire departments
22:00 – Sonoma County Fire and collaborative EMS delivery
28:00 – Workforce rebuilding after COVID-19
31:30 – Recruiting Australian paramedics and creating a sustainable workforce
34:30 – Final reflections on prevention, partnerships and the future of EMS
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This week on the EMS One-Stop podcast, Rob Lawrence sits down with emergency management and large-scale exercise expert Mike Marsh to explore what really goes into preparing agencies, communities and public safety partners for major events.
With the FIFA World Cup underway, America 250 upon us, and countless local events happening every weekend, the conversation focuses on the practical realities of planning, exercising and pressure-testing emergency response systems before the big day arrives.
| MORE: Training hard and fighting easy. Creating an effective tabletop training exercise for pre-planning MCI response
Drawing on decades of EMS leadership experience and his current work through Marsh EMS Consulting, Mike shares how agencies can move beyond "grant compliance exercises" and build meaningful operational readiness.
From tabletop exercises and ROC drills, to stakeholder coordination, communication failures and after-action reviews, Mike provides a masterclass in how to build resilient systems from the operator up.
His central premise is simple: exercises should be designed to break the system in a safe environment so weaknesses can be identified and corrected before a real incident occurs.
Whether you're preparing for a World Cup match, a county fair, or simply reviewing your MCI plans, this episode offers practical lessons for agencies of every size.
Notable quotes
"Our team is hired to break your system and rebuild it together." — Mike Marsh
"The scene will be bigger than they are. And it is OK to ask for help." — Mike Marsh
"We don't walk in and say, 'You don't understand ICS.' Actually, you do understand ICS, you just don't know that you're using it." — Mike Marsh
"Identifying and learning are two different activities; and they have to be cemented in." — Rob Lawrence
"Trust your people, know that you can't do it all, get a team together, train them, drill them, pressure them." — Mike Marsh
"Prior preparation and planning prevents pathetic performance." — Rob Lawrence
| MORE: 5 lessons for special events standby services and emergency response
Episode timeline
00:00 – Introduction and why major events require planning, exercises and preparation
02:25 – Mike's journey from California EMS leadership to emergency management consulting in Texas
04:53 – The biggest misconceptions about exercises and tabletop planning
06:30 – What frontline EMTs and supervisors need to know when the incident is bigger than they are
08:07 – The first questions Mike asks when planning a major event
10:13 – Communication, stakeholder engagement and identifying operational gaps
12:16 – Translating ICS and NIMS concepts into practical operational language
17:08 – Planning a county fair exercise: where to start and why capability gaps matter
19:46 – Who should be at the planning table and why executive participation matters
21:23 – The role of public works, politicians, emergency managers and public information officers
22:29 – The best and worst exercises Mike has ever experienced
25:29 – How to challenge leaders who believe their plans don't need testing
28:01 – Exercise planning for small and rural systems with limited resources
30:22 – After-action reviews and turning lessons identified into lessons learned
32:11 – Advice for agencies that have never exercised their plans before
33:54 – Mike's biggest leadership lesson from a career in EMS and emergency management
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The countdown to Pinnacle is on. Returning this year to San Diego from July 13-16, Pinnacle remains one of the most influential leadership and management conferences in EMS. Now entering its 22nd year, the event continues to attract executives, clinical leaders, innovators, educators and industry partners who gather not simply to learn, but to debate, challenge assumptions and shape the future direction of EMS. EMS1 is proud to be the premier media partner of Pinnacle.
| MORE: What Paramedics Want in 2026: Bookmark this page to get your copy
Joining EMS One-Stop this week is Anthony Minge, senior partner at Fitch & Associates and one of the driving forces behind Pinnacle. Anthony previews the major themes emerging this year, including workforce retention, leadership development, burnout and wellness, preparedness, artificial intelligence, blood delivery, drone technology and the ever-popular What Paramedics Want report.
Throughout the discussion, Anthony emphasizes that Pinnacle's value extends beyond the classroom. The real learning often happens in the conversations between sessions, over meals and among peers facing the same challenges across the country.
The conversation explores why retention has overtaken recruitment as EMS's primary workforce concern, how leaders must take greater responsibility for organizational culture, and why emerging technologies such as AI and drone-delivered medical supplies are changing the profession faster than many realize.
Anthony also offers a preview of keynote speakers, including preparedness expert and author William Forstchen, and highlights sessions covering leadership, resilience, operational excellence, workforce wellness and healthcare innovation.
As always, Pinnacle promises to deliver practical takeaways, provocative discussions, and the opportunity to connect with some of the brightest minds in EMS.
Key quotes
"If we can keep our people, we don't need to spend as much time trying to replace them."
"People don't leave organizations, they leave managers."
"Burnout is still too high. One suicide is way too many."
"We can't push it into the dark corners of our organizations and just hope it goes away."
"AI is here to stay. It's going to help us. It's going to do some great things."
"It is never meant to replace this computer right here."
"We practice healthcare. We practice extremely innovative healthcare out there."
"It's amazing the things that are happening out there."
"Good leaders share."
"Being responsible leaders is probably one of our largest challenges."
Additional resources
Pinnacle EMS 2026: Conference information, agenda details, speakers and registration
Conference dates: July 13-16, 2026
Location: Sheraton San Diego Resort
Pinnacle Early Bird Offer: provide the code “EMS26”. This gives early-bird offer provides $100 off the current/regular price
What Paramedics Want: 2026 Report debuts July 13, 2026
William Forstchen’s books
Episode timeline
03:00 – The major themes of Pinnacle 2026. Discussion of retention, leadership, financial sustainability, workforce wellness, preparedness, AI and emerging technologies.
06:30 – Recruitment vs. retention. Why keeping employees has become more important than finding new ones and how organizations can build careers rather than simply fill vacancies.
08:15 – Leadership beyond operations. The role of leadership in employee engagement, succession planning, data-driven decision-making and lessons from Matthew McConaughey's book Greenlights.
11:00 – Burnout, wellness and resilience. Why burnout remains a major challenge for EMS and how leaders must confront it rather than ignore it.
13:00 – Preparedness for the next crisis. A preview of keynote speaker William Forstchen and discussions around resilience, disaster readiness and planning for both natural and man-made events.
19:00 – AI Comes to EMS. Anthony discusses the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence, from documentation and CAD integration, to clinical decision support.
24:00 – Blood, drones and clinical innovation. A look at how blood products, AEDs, naloxone and other critical supplies are increasingly being delivered through innovative technologies, including drones.
29:00 – What Paramedics Want in 2026. A preview of the latest survey findings and the issues currently weighing most heavily on the minds of EMS professionals.
30:00 – Why Pinnacle matters. Anthony explains why networking, relationship building and peer-to-peer learning remain among the conference's greatest strengths.
32:00 – The conversation EMS needs to have. Anthony identifies leadership responsibility and accountability as one of the most important — and often avoided — topics facing EMS today.
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At a time when EMS reimbursement faces unprecedented scrutiny and pressure, Shawn Baird joins the EMS One-Stop podcast to explain what is happening in Washington, D.C., why it matters to every ambulance service in America and what EMS leaders can do about it.
| MORE: When the spreadsheet meets the siren: How CMS’s Proposed GEMT Rule could reshape EMS funding
A former Paramedic, ambulance service owner, CEO, American Ambulance Association resident, and now Vice President of Government Affairs for the AAA, Baird brings a unique perspective that spans frontline care, operations and national advocacy.
In this episode, Rob Lawrence and Baird unpack the growing threats to Medicare and Medicaid funding, discuss the proposed changes to Medicaid supplemental payment programs, and explore the work of the National EMS Payment Reform Committee.
The conversation also previews the AAA Legislative Fly-In, and highlights efforts to secure EMS workforce funding, streamline military medic transitions into civilian EMS and advance federal fuel tax relief. Most importantly, Baird delivers a clear message: EMS professionals must tell their story, engage with elected officials and advocate for the future of mobile healthcare.
This episode serves as both an explainer and a call to action. As federal policymakers debate Medicaid funding, EMS reimbursement, workforce development and healthcare spending, Baird makes the case that every EMS professional has a role to play. Whether through legislative fly-ins, ride-alongs, town halls or simply telling the EMS story, advocacy is no longer optional. It is essential to preserving access to emergency medical care in communities across America.
Notable quotes
"We're hoping to make some proposals for real long-term reform on Medicare that will shore up the EMS system, not just to survive day to day, but really to thrive." — Shawn Baird
"We are more than just a ride. We are mobile healthcare." — Rob Lawrence
"We really have not been able to find a lot of data to support a bunch of waste, fraud and abuse in the EMS system. What there is, is a lot of misunderstanding." — Shawn Baird
"If we don't get paid ourselves, how can we pay other people? How can we then afford to deliver excellent healthcare to our patients?" — Rob Lawrence
"First of all, talk about the patient because the patient is the most important part of this whole discussion; second of all, talk about the medical care you provide because that's what the patient needs." — Shawn Baird
"We're the safety net. We're access to critical emergency care in many communities that don't have other healthcare." — Shawn Baird
"Probably the most important thing that folks listening to your show can do is attend a town hall and raise your hand and say, 'I'm just worried about our ambulance service.'" — Shawn Baird
"We have the greatest story of all to tell." — Shawn Baird
Additional resources
AAA Advocacy Call to Action – Contact your member of Congress here
2026 Ambulance Ride-Along Toolkit
Episode timeline
01:00 – Rob introduces the episode and outlines the challenges facing EMS reimbursement and federal healthcare funding.
02:07 – Shawn Baird's EMS Journey — from paramedic intern at Grady Hospital to rural EMS operator, company owner, AAA president and government affairs leader.
03:00 – Why healthcare reimbursement decisions are increasingly shifting from Washington to state legislatures.
06:45 – The National EMS Payment Reform Committee and the search for long-term solutions to EMS financing.
09:13 – Medicaid, waste, fraud and abuse — understanding misconceptions about EMS reimbursement and why ambulance services are being caught in broader healthcare debates.
11:33 – EMS is more than transportation — reframing EMS as healthcare first, transportation second.
13:20 – The threat to Medicaid supplemental funding — provider taxes, GEMT programs and proposed federal changes that could impact ambulance services nationwide.
15:15 – Proposed CMS rule changes — why EMS leaders are concerned about being included in Medicaid funding reductions.
17:40 - How national EMS organizations are coordinating efforts to speak with one voice.
20:08 – The AAA Legislative Fly-In — what it is, how it works and why provider participation matters.
21:45 – Federal legislative priorities — EMS workforce development funding, military medic-to-civilian certification pathways and federal fuel tax relief for ambulance services.
26:50 – How EMS providers can engage when legislation is moving.
27:40 – The importance of local advocacy — town halls, community events and direct engagement with elected officials.
29:30 – Ride-alongs as an advocacy tool — why seeing EMS firsthand changes policymakers' perspectives.
32:00 – Final thoughts — politics is ultimately about relationships, storytelling and helping decision-makers understand EMS.
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What happens when the stars of the television series that introduced America to paramedicine decide it's time to tell the real story?
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by EMS pioneer Dr. Baxter Larmon and award-winning filmmaker Tom Putnam to discuss Into the Unknown: The Paramedics' Journey.
| MORE: ‘Emergency!’ stars launch Kickstarter campaign to expand reach of paramedic documentary, “Into the Unknown,” backed by Steve Buscemi, Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe
Born from the vision of Emergency! stars Randolph Mantooth and Kevin Tighe, and backed by Steve Buscemi, the documentary follows paramedics, dispatchers, volunteers, flight crews and their families across America, revealing the realities of modern EMS. From Baton Rouge to Sparks, from volunteer rescue squads in Virginia, to helicopter rescue teams in California, the film explores not only what paramedics do, but what the job does to them.
The conversation examines workforce shortages, mental health, resilience, public misunderstanding of EMS, and the role the film could play in educating communities, policymakers and future generations.
The episode also explores the documentary's Kickstarter campaign and plans for worldwide release. If Emergency! introduced America to paramedics 50 years ago, Into the Unknown seeks to explain the people behind the uniform.
Notable quotes
"One of the things that I'm probably most proud about in the movie is that these first responders are now allowing their family members and their friends to be able to see what they go through every single day." — Dr. Baxter Larmon
"The call volume, I mean, they used to sit in the station, they'd joke in the station, they'd eat, they'd have dinner, they'd complete their whole dinner and they would never get a call. That just doesn't happen anymore." — Dr. Baxter Larmon
"Our fourth goal is to get recognition by governmental agencies to understand what EMS is, to be able to recognize its importance in the community, but more importantly, to fund it appropriately as well." — Dr. Baxter Larmon
"I honestly had no idea what I was getting into with this and how intense the personal interactions were gonna be." — Tom Putnam
"By the time that particular run was over, I just think I was wide-eyed and said, wow, we're making a war movie." — Tom Putnam
"For the right person, this is the best job in the world." — Tom Putnam
Episode timeline
00:00 – Trailer and opening montage
01:41 – Rob introduces the episode and guests
03:18 – The origin story of Into the Unknown
05:13 – The lasting impact of Emergency! on EMS and what story the documentary is trying to tell
08:32 – Tom explains why he said “yes” immediately
10:52 – The first EMS call filmed and realizing the scale of the project
12:15 – Locations featured in the documentary
16:22 – How EMS has changed since Johnny Gage and Roy DeSoto
17:54 – Stories that surprised Tom most
20:15 – The emotional burden of the profession
22:40 – Calls Tom "can't unsee"
24:00 – EMS as the safety net for society
25:07 – Burnout, resilience and humanity
27:30 – Why families need to see this film
28:06 – Why the project launched a Kickstarter campaign, funding goals and distribution plans
33:30 – Using the film as an EMS advocacy tool
35:43 – Lightning round
38:03 – Why EMS might be the best job in the world
39:05 – Dr. Richard Carmona's role in the film
40:16 – Final thoughts and call to action
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In Episode 4 of the EMS One-Stop Blood on Board Series, host Rob Lawrence brings together two powerful perspectives on prehospital blood transfusion.
First, retired Army trauma nurse and national blood advocate Randi Schaefer discusses the work of the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition and the ongoing effort to remove barriers to blood product availability across the United States.
Drawing on lessons learned from military deployments and civilian implementation efforts, Schaefer explains why successful blood programs require collaboration among EMS agencies, hospitals, blood banks, legislators and funding partners. She emphasizes that while every system is different, the goal remains the same: getting lifesaving blood to patients before they reach the hospital.
The second half of the episode focuses on the story behind the statistics. Dr. Kate Krause, an emergency physician from Dallas, recounts her near-fatal postpartum hemorrhage just weeks after giving birth to her daughter. After she lost more than two liters of blood at home, Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedics recognized the severity of her condition and secured authorization to administer prehospital blood. That decision, combined with rapid transport and seamless hospital coordination, helped save her life.
Today, fully recovered and back to practicing medicine, Dr. Krause has become a compelling advocate for prehospital blood programs, reminding policymakers and EMS leaders that behind every protocol, funding request and unit of blood is a patient whose future depends on receiving the right treatment at the right time.
Previous Blood on Board episodes:
Blood on Board: Everything is bigger in Texas
Blood on board: Lessons from Sacramento and LA County Fire
Blood on Board: Federal funding paves the way for EMS blood programs
Impactful quotes
"I had a severe postpartum hemorrhage and had my life saved by a prehospital blood transfusion." — Dr. Kate Krause
"I'm here. I have no deficits. I'm healthy. I'm back to being a physician. I'm back to being a wife and being a mother to my beautiful little baby girl." — Dr. Kate Krause
"The coalition wants to make blood products available to those EMS agencies that want to carry them."  — Randi Schaefer
"This is a brand-new relationship. So there's a lot of learning how each other's worlds work." — Randi Schaefer
"We were not going to let people die of preventable death." — Randi Schaefer
"Keep pressing forward. We will find a way to yes." — Randi Schaefer
"Blood is one of those things that really makes a difference when it's given early." — Dr. Kate Krause
Additional resources
Prehospital Blood Transfusion Coalition
Episode timeline
00:00 – Introduction to Episode 4 and recap of the Blood on Board series and overview of previous episodes covering local, state and national blood initiatives.
02:18 – Introduction of Randi Schaefer and Dr. Kate Krause. Schaefer discusses military deployments and early blood program experiences, while Dr. Krause outlines her journey from lifeguard, to EMT, to emergency physician.
05:05 – Origins and mission of the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition, military lessons learned, funding challenges, sustainability concerns, the importance of legislative support and reimbursement
13:57 – Dr. Krause recounts her postpartum hemorrhage.
19:03 – Discussion of non-trauma indications for prehospital blood and the importance of medic judgment and protocol flexibility
20:22 – Dr. Krause discusses recovery and advocacy efforts, and Dallas City Council appearance and public awareness activities.
24:24 – Dr. Krause delivers a concise advocacy message supporting blood programs nationwide.
25:01 – Schaefer reflects on meeting blood recipients and the impact of seeing survivorship firsthand.
27:47 – Closing remarks from Dr. Krause and Schaefer
29:03 – Lawrence wraps up the four-part Blood on Board series and reinforces the need for continued advocacy and funding.
This episode is sponsored by Triad of Life. After traumatic injury, patients may enter the “Triad of Death” — a dangerous cycle of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy that can rapidly lead to fatal outcomes without timely intervention. That’s why Delta Development Team partners with Qinflow and Lifeflow to combat these life-threatening conditions with the Triad of Life. Learn how your team can put the Triad of Life into practice.
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