EMS One-Stop

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

Fresh off their appearance at EMS World Expo, Inside EMS cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson break down what it takes to become a successful conference speaker. The duo discuss the process for getting engaged in events at both the state and national level, how to develop a professional presentation, the agonizing-but-cathartic process of crafting a catchy title and the critical need for to fully prepare before the event. 

To cap off the episode, Chris gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at his personal preparation process ahead of a speaking engagement. 

• Conference dos and don’ts

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence welcomes Sean M Kivlehan, MD, MPH; and Kevin Collopy, MHL, FP-C, NRP; to discuss the search for the next big EMS speaker as well as the Harvard initiative to provide mass casualty training to Ukraine.

EMS World Expo takes place October 10-14 in Orlando and one of the returning sessions this year is “Stand and Deliver,” a presentational opportunity for speakers to audition for their place on the national stage. 

The program was the brainchild of Kivlehan and Collopy, and participants get their chance to present at a national conference as well as receive coaching and constructive feedback on their sessions. The Stand and Deliver winner then gets the opportunity to present their session at the Expo general session at the end of the week.

The guests also discuss the Harvard Humanitarian initiative focusing on emergency health systems in conflict and austere environments. When the Ukraine/Russian war escalated, the Harvard group were approached to provide CBRN and mass casualty training throughout Ukraine. 

About the guests

Sean M Kivlehan, MD, MPH, is the director of the Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. He is a practicing emergency medicine physician in the level one trauma and burn center, and core faculty for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency. He is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Harvard Medical School; assistant professor of global health and population at the Harvard Chan School of Public Health; and faculty at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. He has worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization's Emergency, Trauma and Acute Care Program and was a New York City paramedic and instructor coordinator for 10 years.

Kevin Collopy, MHL, FP-C, NRP, CMTE, is the clinical outcomes and compliance manager for Novant Health AirLink/VitaLink where he oversees the program's research, education, risk management, quality management and reimbursement programs. He regularly speaks across the United States and has taught emergency and wilderness medicine on three continents. He's an author of over 200 articles and book chapters, including 18 peer-reviewed research abstracts and papers. In addition, he serves on several national and international advisory boards, teaches the paramedic program at Cape Fear Community College and is currently overseeing multiple clinical trials. He also maintains his LEAN Healthcare Blackbelt certification, has a master’s in healthcare leadership, and is known for developing and innovating quality management solutions in prehospital care systems.

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

This week, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the murder of FDNY EMS Capt. Alison Russo, who was violently stabbed to death by a man just a half mile from her home EMS station. The conversation touches on personal safety, how to prepare the EMS workforce with additional safety equipment and self defense training.

The duo also revisit the fraught discussion about arming EMS providers in the field and how thoughts on the topic have evolved over the years. 

"Some people say, 'We're not combatants, we're compassionate.' I was a combat medic; we can do both." — Chris Cebollero

"Are we becoming so inured to the violence we face every day that we look at it as part of the job?" — Kelly Grayson

"I think we need to learn hand-to-hand combat, I think we need to worry about wearing Kevlar vests, and we need to think about arming our paramedics with some kind of weapon." — Chris Cebollero

• An outpouring of support, outrage over FDNY EMS provider's murder

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

“Honorable but broken” is an emotionally compelling documentary from seasoned network news producers Bryony Gilbey and Rich Diefenbach that highlights the realities of working in EMS. The documentary calls attention to the inexcusable underfunding of our first responders and the subsequent collapse of the system. 

The story told by Gilbey and Diefenbach truly sums up the precipitous state of EMS. In this edition of EMS One-Stop, Rob Lawrence welcomes Bryony Gilbey and returning guest Matt Zavadsky to discuss the documentary, its planned development into a full-length production, exciting sponsorship news and commentary on the issues raised by NAEMT board members that appeared in the film.

The discussion and documentary advocate for funding and political change to the current status quo, but as Gilbey asks, “what is life worth to an elected official?”

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this episode, host Chris Cebollero is joined by guest co-host Mike Touchstone, who previously served as president of the National EMS Management Association and recently retired as the deputy paramedic chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department. Touchstone outlines the foundations of professionalism in your career, including the integration of your personal values, how to develop a personal strategic plan and how to advance to the next level of your EMS career. For good measure, Touchstone also offers a few tips on developing a national presence through professional writing and speaking on EMS issues at conferences. 

This episode of Inside EMS is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this episode, cohosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss the drug Ketamine and its use in EMS. Providers may utilize the drug to assist with many different conditions they encounter in the field. The discussion references a recent article regarding ketamine's possible use in treating anxiety and depression, and the conversation turns to other drugs that are being used to treat similar maladies, such as MDMA, which has been touted as helpful when treating terminal patients.

6 ways to avoid ketamine pitfalls

Article Bites: Pain management options

Understanding prehospital ketamine: Dosing to drawbacks

Excited delirium: The Long Beach integrated medical response

Vodcast: Patient with delirium and agitated behavior

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

On Sept. 12, 2022, American Medical Response announced it is to close its Los Angeles County non-emergency operations over the next 180 days. One of the key reasons is one faced by all ambulance operators at this time – insufficient levels of Medicare reimbursement. Against this backdrop, GMR (AMR’s international EMS division) predicts that its Los Angeles division is on course for an operational deficit of over $3.5 million.

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Brian Henricksen, California-based regional director for GMR, joins host Rob Lawrence for a frank discussion on the issues in LA and they discuss the fact that this may be the bellwether of things to come across the nation.

Rob is also the executive director of the California Ambulance Association and the economics of ambulance service operations in the state are close to his heart. California has not increased its Medi-Cal reimbursement for private ambulance operators since the late 1990s. The current Medi-Cal base rate for private ambulance services sits just above $100, which is far below the cost of providing transport. The State’s Medi-Cal reimbursement rate is one of the lowest in the country, but it also has the highest operational costs for ambulance transports.

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, Host Rob Lawrence is joined by Alexia Jobson of REMSA Health and Mark Tenia of the Richmond Ambulance Authority.

Rob, Mark and Alexia are taking communications on the road this conference season in a number of pre-conference sessions.

The team discusses:

• How to communicate your organization’s message

Rob, Alexia and Mark also discuss the downside of offering “no comment” to a reporter, as well as tips for dealing with live and pre-recorded interviews. Finally, Rob discusses the free training available at the Emergency Management Institute at Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Read next: 5 best practices for media appearances by EMS chiefs and field personnel

This episode of the Inside EMS podcast is sponsored by Verizon Frontline, the advanced network and technology for first responders on the front lines. Learn more at verizon.com/frontline.

In this special crossover episode, public safety leaders come together to reflect on the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the legacy of 9/11 in the emergency services.

Inside EMS host Chris Cebollero is joined by Policing Matters host Jim Dudley, deputy chief (ret.), of the San Francisco Police Department; and Gary Ludwig, of the Champaign (Illinois) Fire Department, the 2022 IAFC Career Fire Chief of the Year.

Together, they discuss how first responders have continued to move forward for over 20 years now and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice on 9/11 as recruits enter public safety who were not even born yet at the time.

The focus is on honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lived up to their oath to help others in their time of need, the legacy of lessons learned about responding in a hazardous situation, ongoing vigilance against threats and why “never forget” should not be a cavalier statement, but one made with meaning, purpose and with emphasis.

Read more recollections, as well as how lessons learned are impacting the way first responders of today train and respond to incidents in our 9/11 coverage, sponsored by Verizon.

This episode of EMS One-Stop With Rob Lawrence is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.

In a continuation of the Inside EMS podcast, Host Rob Lawrence picks up the EMS leadership discussion with Robbie MacCue, FP-C, MBA and Lisa Giruzzi of the EMS Leadership Academy.  

Robbie, Lisa and Rob discuss a systems approach to leadership, emotional intelligence, encouraging freedom of thought, relationship building, effective listening and – above all – the ability to communicate at all levels.

Robbie and Lisa will be launching the 4th Annual Leadership Summit on September 20-24th, virtual and free at www.emsleadershipsummit.com.