Always one of our favorite annual sessions, and #NAEMSP2026 was no different. Take these papers presented by @ColwellMD & share them with your #EMS clinical leadership AND your trauma centers! Trauma care doesn’t start in the trauma bay, it’s starts with #EMS.
Drs. Lowe and Curcio from Columbus, OH presenting on using objective behavioral agitation score, medications dosed and selected based on this objective score, and continuous monitoring of usage and quality assurance. #NAEMSP2026
If you didn’t document, it didn’t happen! This applies to the administrative tasks of the medical director, not just patient care activities. Dr. @JoshuaStilley sheds light on identifying standards and requirements of documentation for #EMS medical directors. #NAEMSP2026
Agitation is a frequent and complex patient presentation in prehospital emergency care. @mgauschehill leads a discussion on LA County’s multidisciplinary to improve the evolving landscape of behavioral health response. #NAEMSP2026
Dr. Gahm and Dr. Cooley discussing the importance of disease outbreaks and EMS Preparedness. There are essential steps you can and should be doing to prepare your agency @ClaireGlobalPEM@NAEMSP#NAEMSP2026
Progress in EMS is a team effort. Your support helps NAEMSP advocate for our members and the patients who rely on us every day. Contribute to the NAEMSP PAC: naemsp.org/naemsp-pac/#NAEMSP2026
The power of advocacy: bringing the voice of EMS to Capital Hill. Join the @NAEMSP PAC. Join the Advocacy Committee. Have a voice and be part of something bigger! #naemsp2026
@clayton_kazan presenting on 10 tips for dealing with hospital ED - EMS offloading wait times — it is a hospital problem! But, EMS can work to help a few ways #NAEMSP2026
Dr. Joey Grover is presenting on the important topic of #EMSDocs receiving proper compensation for the performance of their subspecialty. There are still many EMS Physicians working without pay, despite specialized training, education, & important clinical oversight. #NAEMSP2026
According to a 2024 study, the most important predictors of ability for #EMS agencies to pay their medical director for their work were county population and EMS call volume. These agencies likely have little discretionary funding to support an EMS Physician. #NAEMSP2026
As EMS agencies are able to financially support their #EMSDoc, you begin to see clinical improvements, evidence-based guidelines, better outcomes, improved safety, & ironically the EMS clinicians are overall happier with less burnout with better physician engagement. #NAEMSP2026
#SoMe is an important part of #EMS education for today’s clinician. The days of learning only from the classroom are past us. @BMorshediMD & Tori Reeder are teaching #EMSDocs how to leverage the power of #SoMe and #FOAMed to reach & education their clinicians. #NAEMSP2026
#EMSDocs must be present in the #SoMe space to build trust through visibility, providing context, acknowledging limitations, modeling professionalism, & gaining buy-in from their clinicians. You’re also providing external leadership, visible to public & the community. #NAEMSP2026
#EMSDocs can start with low-hanging fruit in #SoMe:
- Short evidence summaries
- Protocol rationale
- Myth-busting posts
- Case-based pearls
- Post Journal Club takeaways
- Combating misinformation
- Share #FOAMed sources with commentary
- Highlight good sources
#NAEMSP2026
Q&A time with the #EMS legal panel!
Q: What do you do when the patient won’t engage with a capacity assessment? When do you say “enough is enough?”
A: Prepare for a longer scene time, protocols should protect crews for taking pts that we can’t determine capacity.
#NAEMSP2026
Q: BWC vendors are more involved at #EMS conferences and exhibit halls. Do you think this will become the standard?
A: Panel says “yes, but likely not mandatory because of funding issues.”
HIPAA concerns? Read @pwwemslaw opinion here: tinyurl.com/4v7k75kw#NAEMSP2026
Q: What do you do when the technology used for talking to pts via medical control is inadequate (radios specifically)?
A: Consider use of cell phone recordings, or if unable to record, #EMSDoc should place addendum in the chart about that conversation w/patient.
#NAEMSP2026
Being a member of NAEMSP offers several benefits well beyond your dues. Specific to this morning’s medico-legal themes at #NAEMSP2026, read more here on accessing legal services with @pwwemslaw and discounted #EMSDoc malpractice insurance coverage at naemsp.org/membership-benefi…
A popular annual session at #NAEMSP2026 is @mklevy10 et al discussing insurance claim trends against #EMS clinicians & #EMSDocs.
Trend #1 is hospitals more recently blaming EMS for poor transitions of care, misplaced ETT’s, & poor documentation to support EMS interventions.
Another trend is issues with #EMSDoc contracts. These are usually boilerplate requirements that are NOT applicable to #EMSDocs & require conversation with insurance agent and the entity to be stricken from the contract before signing. #NAEMSP2026@mklevy10@EricJaegerTNG
Additional trends discussed by @mklevy10 & @EricJaegerTNG include:
- #EMS involved in legal blood draws
- Medication errors (teach the “Rights” and cross-checks)
- Responding to behavioral health calls with a developing crisis surrounding “officer created jeopardy”
#NAEMSP2026