EMS One-Stop

CAAS accreditation – More than a badge, a blueprint for excellence

This week on EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence sits down with Sarah McEntee, executive director of the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), to unpack what accreditation really means for modern EMS systems.
Moving beyond the “sticker on the truck,” Sarah reframes CAAS as a living, breathing process — one that drives internal improvement, organizational alignment and long-term sustainability. From its origins within the American Ambulance Association in the 1990s, to the latest Version 4.0 standards, the conversation highlights how CAAS provides a unified, industry-driven framework that elevates agencies from compliant to high-performing.
Rob brings a practitioner’s perspective, reflecting on his own experience navigating multiple accreditation cycles, emphasizing how CAAS becomes a “guiding light” for governance, clinical care and operational excellence.
Together, they explore the structure of the standards, the application journey, and the cultural readiness required to succeed.
The key takeaway is clear: accreditation is not a project with an endpoint — it’s a continuous process that strengthens organizations from the inside out, identifying risks, improving systems, and ultimately delivering better care to patients and communities.
Episode timeline
01:30 – Origins of CAAS and need for unified standards
03:30 – Breakdown of CAAS standards (admin, clinical, operations)
06:30 – Deep dive into operational standards and structure
10:30 – Rob’s real-world experience with accreditation
12:30 – Accreditation as a process vs. project
16:00 – Value proposition: internal vs. external benefits
18:30 – Cost vs. value — and the risk of not being accredited
22:00 – Step-by-step accreditation journey (readiness → submission → review)
28:30 – Site visits and peer collaboration
31:30 – Resources, support and how to get started
34:30 – Final reflections and leadership call to action
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Live from NEMSMA: From battlefield to boardroom

This edition of EMS One-Stop, recorded at the inaugural National EMS Management Association conference in Arlington, Virginia, pairs two complementary conversations about leadership and the future of EMS.
 
In the first half, General Robert Neller brings a military leader’s lens to universal leadership truths: lead yourself first, remember that everyone is watching, stay humble, listen better and understand that decisiveness matters. His message is simple and sharp. People want leaders who will set the example, make the call when it matters, and balance standards with empathy.
 
| MORE: EMS Leadership Institute — AI and the future of EMS
 
In the second half, NEMSMA President Dr. Hezedean Smith reflects on a successful launch for the conference and looks ahead to where EMS leadership must go next. He frames this association as a growing home for mentorship, shared learning and strategic thinking, while also pointing to the disruptive forces already reshaping the profession:
Artificial intelligence
Redesigned systems
Recruitment and retention pressures
The possibility of autonomous ambulance operations
Taken together, the episode is both a leadership masterclass and a forward look at an EMS profession that cannot afford to stand still.
Episode timeline
00:39 – Rob sets the scene from the inaugural NEMSMA conference in Northern Virginia.
00:51 – Rob introduces General Neller as the opening keynote speaker.
01:38 – General Neller explains his leadership “roadmap,” beginning with leading yourself first.
03:38 – Rob and General Neller discuss how leaders are always being watched.
06:04 – Advice for the newly promoted EMS lieutenant: growth takes time, ask for advice, study and learn.
08:11 – General Neller reflects on what he wishes he had known earlier in his career: be a better listener.
09:41 – The “don’t eat the cake” story becomes a lesson in humility and example-setting.
11:42 – General Neller discusses when leaders must consult and when they must simply decide.
13:22 – Final leadership theme from General Neller: empathy strengthens standards rather than weakening them.
17:04 – Rob returns with Dr. Hezedean Smith, President of NEMSMA.
17:18 – Dr. Smith describes the early success of the inaugural conference and strong turnout.
18:12 – Dr. Smith confirms planning is already underway for next year because the event has outgrown the venue.
19:25 – Discussion shifts to the future direction of EMS leadership and system design.
19:49 – Dr. Smith highlights AI, system redesign, and recruitment and retention as major themes.
20:47 – Dr. Smith talks about self-driving ambulances, solar-powered systems and rapid technological change.
21:38 – Dr. Smith emphasizes that technology must make providers’ work easier, not harder.
22:22 – Rob asks why people should join NEMSMA.
22:28 – Dr. Smith outlines mentorship, information sharing and rapid organizational growth.
23:13 – Dr. Smith closes by reaffirming NEMSMA’s role in the EMS leadership space.
23:46 – Rob signs off from what he calls an “amazing time” at the conference.
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Six minutes to live: Inside the push to save cardiac arrest victims

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by Bob Davies and Hilary Gates to explore the mission behind Six Minutes to Live, a growing movement focused on improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest.
| MORE: ‘Six Minutes to Live': Mini-documentary spotlights cardiac arrest care crisis
The conversation begins with the stark reality that every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces survival by 10%, and then widens into a larger discussion about injustice, geography and system performance.
Bob reflects on his landmark USA Today investigation into EMS disparities across the country, while Hilary explains why this issue remains deeply personal and why communities, not just medical systems, must be part of the solution.
The episode then turns from problem to action. Hilary and Bob describe how Six Minutes to Live is using storytelling, advocacy, community partnerships and public training to drive change, especially through bystander CPR education, school-based training and public access defibrillation.
From Santa Cruz to the Resuscitation Academy in Seattle, the emphasis is on making the simple feel possible: hands-only CPR, early defibrillation and empowering ordinary people to act. The result is more than a nonprofit or a campaign. As Rob notes, this is a movement.
Memorable quotes
“For every minute that a person's heart has stopped, their chance of survival decreases by 10%.” — Hilary Gates
“Life and death is defined by geography.” — Bob Davies
“There are vulnerable, voiceless people living on the margins who need a voice.” — Hilary Gates
“The main way that people save more lives is they care.” — Bob Davies
“Every podcast that Hillary and I are involved with is actually sponsored by R&D. Rip off and duplicate, show up, take our stuff, go and save lives with it.” — Rob Lawrence
Additional resources
Six Minutes to Live
Six Minutes to Live mini documentary
Episode timeline
01:34-02:14 – Rob Lawrence introduces the episode and welcomes Hilary Gates and Bob Davies.
02:21-03:21 – Hilary Gates shares her background as an educator turned paramedic and cofounder of Six Minutes to Live.
03:48-08:14 – Bob Davies recounts his experience as a paramedic and journalist, including his USA Today investigation into EMS performance disparities.
08:24-10:50 – Rob asks what has changed in 20 years; Bob discusses the enduring formula, new technology and the energy of younger clinicians.
11:08-13:02 – Hilary explains why Six Minutes to Live was founded and frames cardiac arrest survival as an issue of injustice and community responsibility.
13:13-17:08 – Rob asks what Six Minutes to Live is and how it fits among other advocacy organizations; Bob and Hilary describe its role as a connector and storyteller.
18:04-18:39 – Rob resets the conversation and asks what the organization is doing now.
18:50-20:47 – Hilary describes the Santa Cruz partnership, community CPR training and support from donors and local agencies.
21:12-23:47 – Bob highlights their upcoming workshop at the Resuscitation Academy in Seattle and the power of systems that care enough to measure and improve.
24:00-25:20 – Rob offers a transatlantic explainer connecting Eisenberg, Utstein and UK ambulance response standards.
25:24-28:41 – Hilary discusses community myths about CPR and AEDs, and the need to simplify action for laypeople.
28:48-31:02 – Bob outlines what is next: documentaries, deep listening, connecting voices and helping movements grow organically.
31:17-33:01 – Rob and Hilary talk about creating local champions, liability concerns and getting communities to act.
33:13-34:47 – Rob asks the closing question; Hilary urges EMS clinicians to become local champions for simple lifesaving actions.
35:22-37:20 – Bob closes with a call for EMS professionals to confront the “little secrets” they know and act on them.
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EMS leaders head to Capitol Hill with one message: It’s time to fund the future

EMS on the Hill isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s the profession’s annual moment to stand in front of Congress and tell the EMS story with clarity, confidence and unity.
In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by NAEMT President, Chris Way, to preview EMS on the Hill (March 25–26, 2026) and explain why this event matters now more than ever: EMS is where most Americans first enter the healthcare system, and the care delivered in the field is no longer “drive-you-to-the-hospital medicine.”
Chris and Rob also unpack what’s changed — the scale of collaboration across national organizations and the discipline of going to Capitol Hill with aligned priorities and a shared message. They walk listeners through the event flow (Education Day, briefings, Hill visits, awards and reception), the importance of working relationships with staffers, and the advocacy “ask” that could reshape the future: reimbursement for treatment in place, mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine, and sustainable support for initiatives like prehospital blood. The throughline is simple: show up, speak with one voice, and translate momentum into legislative wins.
Additional resources:
EMS on the Hill Day
One voice, one profession — EMS leaders open summit with call for unity and coordinated action
Episode timeline
00:00 – Chris Way frames the goal: becoming a trusted, go-to EMS resource for lawmakers
00:52 – Why EMS on the Hill matters; EMS as the front door of healthcare; call to action
02:16 – Advocacy theme and EMS on the Hill as the seminal D.C. event
03:27 – Kansas City summit recap; commitment to making it annual; “stronger together”
05:39 – Evolution of EMS on the Hill into a multi-organization partnership; one message
08:24 – Logistics overview begins: dates, hotel, education day, briefings, awards
10:16 – How to succeed in legislative meetings: reading the room, time limits, staffer relationships
17:14 – Priority bills: treatment in place, MIH/CP, whole blood, NAMSP priorities
21:02 – “This is ongoing” collaboration: monthly cross-organization calls, broader coordination
24:05 – Chris shares his recommended approach: prep, priorities, cards/coins, questions, follow-up
27:34 – Rob’s add-ons: photos after meetings, tagging lawmakers, comms/PR value
28:59 – Final logistics recap; what to expect as a first-timer at state tables
30:37 – Chris closes: unprecedented partnership, focus to “get this done”
31:14 – Rob plugs state-level advocacy (CAA Stars/Capitol Day)
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Synergy in action: How EMS leaders are aligning for impact

Recorded on location at the EMS Association Summit in sunny Kansas City, this edition of EMS One-Stop captures something that’s been building for a while across the profession: real momentum.
In the first half, Rob Lawrence sits down with Bill Seifarth, CEO of the National Registry of EMTs, to unpack what the Registry is today; how its mission has evolved; and why partnerships, research and continued competence sit at the heart of public trust when 911 is called.
In the second half, returning guest Patrick Pianezza joins Rob to talk Code 3, the top streaming EMS movie’s impact on providers and families and what comes next.
Across both conversations, the theme is unmistakable. When EMS organizations collaborate, align messaging and show up as one voice, the profession becomes harder to ignore and easier to support. The summit becomes more than a meeting. It becomes a signal.
Episode timeline
1:02 – Introduction of Bill Seifarth; brief personal bio and career path
2:01 – “National Registry 101”: Bill explains the mission and what the Registry does
2:53 – Research focus: the Registry’s fellowship and EMS research priorities
3:31 – “Bread and butter”: entry-level and continued competence assessment and why it matters to the public
4:33 – Rob notes the Registry’s growing national presence; Bill outlines advocacy-through-partnership
5:08 – Preview of next year’s summit; participation in EMS on the Hill and NCSL with multiple EMS orgs in one booth
6:33 – Why the summit matters: state associations and national partners coming together under one roof — it’s a sold-out inaugural event; education, networking and shared experience highlighted
10:52 – Next stop: EMS on the Hill; “hunting in a pack”
12:20 – Bill’s closing: partnership, collaboration, synergy and supporting the profession
13:38 – Transition: Rob introduces Patrick Pianezza, co-writer of Code 3
14:41 – Patrick reflects on the film’s reception — especially among working providers
15:33 – Patrick shares the origin story: a “homework assignment” turned full-length film
17:39 – Where to watch: Apple/Amazon to rent or purchase; streaming on Hulu; performance metrics shared
18:30 – What’s next: pitching a TV series and interest in a sequel; realities of funding and IP ownership
21:33 – Discussion of the “Mr. President” scene and the intentional visual tension-building
24:19 – Patrick addresses feedback and the goal: honest portrayal and conversation-starting, not villainizing partners
27:41 – Leadership pipeline point: great clinicians aren’t automatically great leaders; mentorship matters
30:15 – Closing theme returns: one voice, fewer scattered voices, more impact for the profession
31:20 – Rob wraps: summit takeaways, guests, and a final nudge to watch Code 3
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Dr. Linda Dykes: From toxic culture to safer systems

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Dr. Linda Dykes joins Rob Lawrence from the UK for a wide-ranging, transatlantic conversation that starts with workplace culture and ends with a practical look at how health systems can keep patients safely at home.
In the first half, Linda breaks down her newly published (open-access) qualitative paper, provocatively titled “It’s not bullying if I do it to everyone,” drawn from UK NHS “Med Twitter” responses: a raw, heartbreaking window into the red flags of toxic workplace culture, how bullying is experienced in the eye of the beholder, and why incivility and silence are not just HR problems — they’re patient safety threats.
In the second half, Linda brings listeners into the UK’s evolving admission alternative world: frailty care at home, urgent community response models, and the increasingly important interface between EMS and community-based teams. She explains the UK’s SPOA (single point of access) concept, why she dislikes the term “admission avoidance,” and how ED crowding and access change the risk-benefit equation for hospital vs. home.
Rob connects the dots back to the U.S. reality — reimbursement, APOT/wall time, treatment-in-place policy — and why this work is becoming a shared challenge on both sides of the Atlantic.
Timeline
00:51 – Rob opens, recaps NAEMSP in Tampa and recent content.
02:25 – Rob introduces Linda as the “triple threat” (emergency medicine, primary care/GP, geriatrics) and tees up two-part discussion.
05:39 – Rob introduces Linda’s paper: “It’s not bullying if I do it to everyone.”
06:13 – Linda explains why toxic culture is increasingly visible and how the tweet prompt became a dataset.
07:33 – “Flash mob research group” forms; Linda explains social-media-to-qualitative methodology and limitations.
10:03 – Rob asks about bias; Linda clarifies purpose: insight, not representativeness.
16:39 – Linda defines gaslighting and why it’s so destabilizing.
18:21 – Reactions to publication; resonance, sharing and uncomfortable self-reflection on learned behaviors.
20:18 – The “16:55 Friday email” as a weapon — and as an accidental harm.
23:29 – Leadership as “the sponge” — absorbing pressure rather than passing it down.
25:27 – “One thing right now”: know the impact your words can have, especially on vulnerable staff.
26:41 – Rob on “pressure bubbles,” micro-movements and atmospherics: how leaders shift climate without realizing it.
30:53 – SPOA explained: single point of access and urgent community response behind it.
33:03 – EMS interface: calling before conveyance to find safe pathways to keep patients at home.
35:47 – Linda on mortality risk of access block/long waits and how that reframes risk decisions.
37:19 – Evolving models: primary care-led response vs. hospital at home approaches.
39:34 – Clinical myths challenged: oral antibiotics sometimes non-inferior to IV in conditions we assumed needed admission.
40:34 – Outcomes: hospital at home trial signals safety and fewer patients in institutional care by 6 months.
42:00 – Telemedicine/telehealth: underutilized but useful; when you still need a senior clinician in person.
44:50 – Closing takeaways: read the paper (with trigger warning); admission alternative work is deeply satisfying.
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EMS One Stop: Resilience and beyond

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, host Rob Lawrence welcomes John Sammons, an advanced practice paramedic with Wake County EMS, a peer support team member and a key leader in the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program. John sits at the intersection of system design and human performance, helping build the kind of operational and cultural scaffolding that keeps clinicians effective, healthy and coming back tomorrow.
In this episode of EMS One-Stop, host Rob Lawrence welcomes John Sammons, an advanced practice paramedic with Wake County EMS, a peer support team member and a key leader in the NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership Program. John sits at the intersection of system design and human performance, helping build the kind of operational and cultural scaffolding that keeps clinicians effective, healthy and coming back tomorrow.
| MORE: Peer support teams: How to build trust and maximize effectiveness
This week’s conversation goes beyond “be more resilient” and into the practical realities of burnout, moral injury, mentoring and culture, including the role of frontline and unofficial leaders in shaping what “normal” looks like inside an agency. John also shares the Wake County approach to peer support: presence first, then resources, plus the power of finding your people: your team, your tribe, your board of directors.
Memorable quotes from John Sammons
“We have folks that don’t stay in the profession. We have folks that leave. We have folks that unfortunately develop substantial mental health crises up to and including, unfortunately, suicide in our profession.”
“What an amazing privilege that we’re invited into somebody’s home to take care of them and to figure it out.”
“Every one of those people expects to call 911 and have an expert show up and solve the problem.”
“I work to live, I don’t live to work. And that’s a great philosophy to have.”
“Everybody goes home ... but there should be an addendum on the bottom of it that says, ‘but everybody comes back tomorrow.’”
“Nobody gets us like we get us.”
“Leadership is action, not a title.”
“Everybody has their bucket, and everybody’s bucket can only hold so much.”
“Nobody got into this because we wanted to be crusty and angry and miserable and difficult to be around.”
Episode timeline
00:40 – Rob opens the episode and introduces John Sammons and the theme: resilience and beyond
02:05 – John’s “Sammons 101” bio: Wake County APP, peer support, Lighthouse Leadership involvement
03:01 – Burnout data and why it matters for retention and wellbeing
04:16 – Wake County’s Advanced Practice Paramedic Program: the “three Rs”
05:03 – John’s post-COVID turning point: “I’m done ... I don’t want to do this anymore”
06:12 – What brings John back to work: purpose, people, privilege, challenge
09:16 – Prevention and balance: identity beyond the job, sleep, nutrition, purpose
12:15 – Peer support in practice: presence, triage, in-house clinician, canines, statewide resources
17:09 – Podcast/vodcast reminder and John’s slides supporting the discussion
18:14 – NAEMT Lighthouse Leadership: why relationships and peers are the real multiplier
20:39 – Mentorship as a resilience strategy: formal programs and informal investment
24:25 – Culture: administration vs frontline leaders vs unofficial leaders
28:06 – Closing reflections: remembering why we got into EMS
30:36 – Final takeaways
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‘We love this job — and it’s hurting us’: Paramedic Sophie on EMS burnout and culture change

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Sophie Fuller — better known across social media as Paramedic Sophie — joins host Rob Lawrence for a candid, energizing conversation about what it really feels like to work in EMS right now: pride, the pressure, the burnout, and the culture issues that too many providers have been taught to silently absorb.
Sophie is a critical care ground paramedic, flight paramedic, educator and president of the Tennessee Association of EMS Providers (TAEMSP), and she brings a provider-first lens to everything from leadership visibility, to mental health and pay equity.
Together, Rob and Sophie dig into why Sophie started creating content in the first place (hint: burnout and the need to connect), how social media can be used as a force for good, and what “healthy” EMS culture should look like in practice. Sophie shares practical advice for crews and leaders alike:
Be human
Say the uncomfortable thing
Stop normalizing harm
Build systems that “care back” for the people doing the work
Memorable quotes
“We're just working in systems that haven't yet learned how to care back for the provider.” — Sophie Fuller
“Management by walking about. Don't be stuck in the office. Don't say my door is always open because that relies on people coming in to see you. Get out and go and see them.” — Rob Lawrence
“We love this job and that distracts us from the fact that it's also hurting us.” — Sophie Fuller
“Just because it's normal doesn't mean it's healthy.” — Sophie Fuller
“We confuse trauma with tradition.” — Sophie Fuller
Additional resources:
Follow Paramedic Sophie on:
YouTube
Tik Tok
“The Next Shift : A mentorship workbook for EMTs and Paramedics” | E-Book, by Sophie Fuller
“To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System” - PubMed
Episode timeline
01:00 – Rob introduces Sophie Fuller (“Paramedic Sophie”) and frames the influencer vs. “effluencer” concept
02:14 – Sophie’s origin story: graphic design → hospital tech → EMT → volunteer fire → paramedic → critical care → flight
06:16 – TAEMSP: why Tennessee needed a provider-level association and the shift toward legislative advocacy
08:05 – Why she started with social media: two full-time 911 jobs, low pay, burnout and the need for an outlet/connection
09:32 – Defining EMS burnout: the “jar on the shelf” and cumulative strain that becomes chronic fatigue
13:26 – Sophie’s guidance to providers: vulnerability, telling the truth and not letting naysayers silence needed conversations
16:00 – Sophie’s message to leadership: don’t be the “Wizard of Oz” — show up, communicate and stay connected to crews
20:26 – EMS culture: self-sacrifice, silence, “earning your place through suffering,” and confusing trauma with tradition
23:10 – Sophie’s book “The Next Shift”: a field guide to “learn, lead and last” in EMS
26:03 – Mistakes and “just culture”: reporting, mentoring, anonymous reporting systems, and learning vs. blame
32:08 – Closing challenge: stop normalizing harm; speak up for culture and patient care
33:14 – Where to find Sophie online and how large her platform has become
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NEMSQA 2025 Report: In trauma care, consistency outperforms heroics

In this episode of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence is joined by his own Medical Director, Dr. Maia Dorsett, to unpack the 2025 NEMSQA Measures Report — a deep dive into trauma-focused quality measures built largely from NEMSIS data.
Dr. Dorsett frames the discussion around the central aim of quality improvement:
Are we doing a good job?
Are we delivering the best possible care?
How do we get better?
From pediatric vital signs to traumatic brain injury (TBI) fundamentals, she walks listeners through what the report reveals, what it can’t reliably measure yet, and why some of the “sexy” procedures are too rare to serve as useful system-wide metrics.
The conversation highlights a recurring theme: fundamentals matter most. Dr. Dorsett explains how measures like complete vital signs and avoiding secondary brain injury in TBI (hypoxia, hypotension, hyperventilation) can drive meaningful outcomes — even during relatively short prehospital intervals.
She also points out where current measurement approaches unintentionally create documentation burden for clinicians, arguing that systems should do more of the “figuring out” (like trauma center designation and prenotification capture) without requiring extra clicks.
The episode closes with a call to action: anyone can join NEMSQA, contribute to the work, and help shape what EMS quality measurement becomes next.
Memorable quotes from Dr. Maia Dorsett
“I think the most fundamental question in quality improvement is, are we doing a good job?”
“I think part of the value of this report is specifically looking at those things and saying what should we be measuring using NEMSIS data or how should things be integrated into that database so that the answers are there rather than needing to be documented on each individual case?”
“If there's one thing that you're going to take away from this trauma report is that, the sexy stuff is important, but it happens rarely. And if you want to improve care in your system, it's about the fundamentals of good care.”
Additional resources
NEMSQA 2025 Report Release
EMS One-Stop: Leading through momentum: Dr. Douglas Kupas on steering NAEMSP
Episode timeline
00:31 – Rob welcomes listeners; introduces the 2025 NEMSQA measures discussion and notes prior episode with Dr. Jeff Jarvis
01:10 – Dr. Dorsett joins; holiday surge discussion and flu impact on EDs and admissions
03:08 – Dr. Dorsett explains her role as co-chair of NEMSQA’s Measure Analysis and Research Committee; trauma focus of the 2025 report; pain measures not included due to active research
05:00 – NEMSIS scale and opportunity: extracting meaningful measures from a massive national dataset
05:35 – Dr. Dorsett on what NEMSIS measures well vs. what it shouldn’t force clinicians to document (system should determine trauma center status)
07:46 – “HALO procedures” table: why rare interventions shouldn’t become national quality measures
10:17 – Trauma 08: complete vital signs; pediatric gap (adults ~93% vs pediatrics ~85% in discussion)
14:22 – TBI measures: preventing secondary brain injury; why fundamentals outperform “sexy” fixes; correction rates for hypotension/hypoxia discussed
21:39 – Trauma 04: trauma triage criteria and transport to trauma centers; why national measure looks low; documentation field limitations
24:17 – State collaboration comparison: using state trauma center designation data shifts performance dramatically (often 75–90%+ in examples)
26:55 – Trauma 14: hospital prenotification; importance and measurement challenges (multiple modalities, inconsistent capture)
30:01 – Rob raises operational/policy concerns about trauma alerts and incentives; Dr. Dorsett adds nuance about local criteria variation
33:22 – Closing: Dr. Dorsett’s “fundamentals matter” takeaway; impact at scale
34:44 – Dr. Dorsett plugs joining NEMSQA as an individual/agency; committees are open
35:31 – NAEMSP Tampa preview; Dr. Dorsett: “The people” are why she goes — leaves energized with new ideas
Enjoying the show? Email editor@ems1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

Leading through momentum: Dr. Douglas Kupas on steering NAEMSP

Dr. Douglas Kupas joins Rob Lawrence to kick off EMS One-Stop in 2026, reflecting on his first year as President of NAEMSP — a year he describes as fast-moving, complex and occasionally “whack-a-mole,” with emerging issues demanding real-time leadership while long-term priorities still had to move forward.
He shares what he’s learned about the presidency, the value of NAEMSP’s leadership “bench strength,” and why advocacy and coalition-building across national EMS organizations has become more coordinated, more strategic and more essential.
The conversation then turns to what’s immediately ahead: the NAEMSP Annual Meeting in Tampa (late January), including pre-conference courses, the flagship Medical Director’s Course, and a packed scientific program. Kupas highlights a keynote focused on transforming battlefield trauma care; major research programming through oral abstracts and hundreds of posters; and high-impact sessions spanning clinical care, operations, legal issues, and international perspectives — reinforcing why the Tampa meeting remains a must-attend event for anyone serious about the science and future of EMS.
Episode timeline
00:00 – Rob tees up NAEMSP Annual Meeting growth as a “good problem to have”00:50 – Welcome/Happy New Year 2026; Dr. Kupas introduced as first guest of the year01:45 – Year one as NAEMSP president: what’s surprised Dr. Kupas, pace of work, governance “bench strength”04:26 – NEMSAC termination: what happened, what NAEMSP hopes comes next07:02 – Building the pipeline: medical student/resident interest group, travel support ideas08:47 – “Hot off the press:” NAEMSP accepted into WHO Acute Care Action Network10:08 – Advocacy “hunting as a pack:” overlapping national orgs, EMS on the Hill coordination12:40 – Why Hill visits work: stories, staffers and why first-timers matter16:48 – “White hat” advocacy and patient-centered priorities; ED wall time as a key issue20:07 – Tampa preview: “It’s not just for docs,” NAEMSP membership structure22:11 – Pre-cons overview: Medical Director’s Course, QI workshop, MIH, ventilation, blood, TECC23:55 – Keynote: Dr. Frank Butler and special intro by Dr. Bob Mabry; Grand Rounds obstetric focus27:45 – Major legal session format and why legal content draws a crowd29:28 – Space constraints and future planning: small convention centers; San Diego “buyout” scale31:49 – Research explosion: oral abstracts, posters, receptions; better ways to access abstracts34:39 – “Meat of the conference:” operations, clinical topics, international speakers/learning36:49 – Closing question: Bill details
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