Inside EMS

Future-proofing EMS: How a new course is building results-driven problem solvers

Note: Thanks for following the Inside EMS podcast! Enjoy this special EMS One-Stop crossover episode with host Rob Lawrence, who will also join Kelly Grayson as a guest cohost during the month of April.  

In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, Dr. Dave Williams discusses an exciting new master's-level course designed for EMS and fire leaders, focused on advanced improvement science.

Along with Mike Taigman, Dr. Williams is leading this program, which aims to equip leaders with the tools and methods necessary to achieve results-driven improvement in their EMS systems. Over the course of 12 months, attendees will work on real-world projects, gaining the skills needed to make data-driven decisions and improve patient care outcomes within their organizations.

Dr. Williams also dives into the core concepts of improvement science, including understanding of variation and the importance of creating organizational systems that support sustainable improvements. He shares insights into the curriculum, the significance of benchmarking and how the course will help EMS leaders tackle systemic challenges by applying proven improvement methodologies. This conversation also touches on the future of EMS leadership and how innovation in data management, process design and leadership will shape the profession moving forward.

Timeline

02:22 – Dr. Williams explains the background of the course, highlighting how it builds on improvement science to drive better results in EMS systems. He and Mike Taigman aim to teach EMS leaders to use data and evidence to improve patient care outcomes.

06:16 – Quality improvement: Dr. Williams discusses the gap in EMS leadership regarding quality improvement, emphasizing that quality needs to be integrated into the leadership team’s responsibilities, not treated as a separate function.

11:01 – Why data matters: The conversation shifts to the importance of data in EMS improvement efforts. Dr. Williams highlights how collecting and analyzing data helps organizations understand system performance and drive change.

15:43 – The fleet management example: Rob shares a fleet management story where data was used to improve vehicle downtime, highlighting the real-world impact of using improvement science to solve practical challenges.

19:29 – Project-based learning in the course: Dr. Williams elaborates on the project-based nature of the course, explaining how each participant will bring a real-world project that directly impacts their organization and use improvement science to solve it.

23:09 – Practical applications: Dr. Williams talks about how the course will blend online learning with in-person workshops, providing practical tools and methods that participants can apply to their projects throughout the year.

31:08 – Course logistics: Dr. Williams discusses course deadlines and important dates, including the application deadline of April 18, 2025; and the course's first workshop in September 2025.

54:05 – ROI and the course's value: Dr. Williams emphasizes the return on investment for attending the course, explaining that solving organizational problems through improvement science will ultimately save money and improve results for EMS services.

1:00 – Final thoughts: Rob and Dr. Williams close the conversation by reiterating the uniqueness of the course and its potential to reshape EMS leadership through the application of improvement science.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Next-level improvement science: New master-level course equips EMS and fire leaders with advanced improvement science skills

  • Course application deadline: April 18, 2025

  • Course start date: July 22, 2025

  • Workshop dates: September 2025; February 2026

• Mastering data and EMS performance metrics with Mike Taigman: Exploring how data informs change, improves clinical outcomes and drives leadership decisions

• Improve EMS quality with a model that works: The simple yet powerful Model for Improvement holds the key to making real changes to an EMS organization

‘Death was staring me in the face’: Kelly Grayson’s no-BS guide to getting healthy

In honor of First Responder Wellness Week, Inside EMS hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson go beyond the surface-level tips and dig into what true wellness looks like in this profession. Spoiler: it’s messy, personal and sometimes terrifying.

Kelly shares his deeply personal journey from a spinal surgery and a near-fatal pulmonary embolism to dropping over 140 pounds and reclaiming his life. At his heaviest, he was 410 pounds. Today? He’s neck-and-neck with Chris on the scale, rocking a 40-inch waist after shedding a whole foot from his midsection.

But this episode isn’t about bragging — it’s about honesty. Kelly gets vulnerable about depression, self-doubt and EMS culture’s toxic relationship with self-care. He also drops hard-earned advice on meal prepping, smarter snacking and how to make real progress without crash diets or guilt trips.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and not liked what you saw — or felt the creeping realization that this job might just break you — this one’s for you. Kelly’s story isn’t just about weight loss; it’s about survival, resilience and building a new life, one lap at a time.

Memorable quotes

• "EMS is not an active profession. It’s 23 hours of boredom and an hour of blind panic."

• "It’s not simply a matter of willpower, but support, attainable goals, and short increments add up over the years."

• "You have to get serious about what you want to feel like, what you want to look like."

• "I said, 'What are you doing this for? Are you doing this to die, knowing what killed you?'"

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Show me the money: How EMS can tap into opioid funding

Billions of dollars from opioid settlements are flowing into communities, but how does EMS get a slice of the pie? In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, host Chris Cebollero is joined by Corey Carlson, EMS segment lead at Lexipol, to break it all down. Carlson simplifies the complex world of opioid settlement funding, sharing exactly where the money is, who controls it and how EMS agencies — both public and private — can apply.

From funding for training, mental health support, AEDs, cardiac monitors, ambulances and even K-9 units, there are countless ways EMS can use these funds. The key? Knowing who to ask and how to frame the request.

If your EMS agency could use a financial boost (and let’s be real — whose couldn’t?), this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you claim your share of the $56 billion (and counting) in opioid settlement funds.

Additional grant-funding resources:

• EMS grants: 5 steps to success

• Debunking the top 5 EMS grant myths: Insights for success

• 10 books every EMS grant writer needs

• Guide to securing Congressionally directed funds

This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by ZOLL Medical. Learn more about ZOLL’s products for EMS at zoll.com/solutions/ems-and-fire.

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Pencils down: EMS test-taking tips … from a guy who writes EMS tests

Sitting for the National Registry exam might rank up there with colonoscopies in terms of excitement, but EMS educator Dan Limmer recently took the test. Why? To stay sharp, to keep his licenses and to see firsthand how the test has evolved. And guess what? He walked out impressed.

In this episode of Inside EMS, Dan sits down with host Chris Cebollero to break down his experience, share study strategies and offer test-taking wisdom for new and seasoned medics alike. He highlights how the test isn’t just a memory game — it’s about judgment, application and truly understanding why you make the decisions you do in the field.

From tackling the anxiety factor to navigating new question formats (hello, multi-response and scenario-based questions), Dan gives practical advice for anyone gearing up for the exam. Whether you’re an EMT candidate or a veteran paramedic thinking about challenging yourself with a retest, this episode is packed with useful takeaways.

Memorable quotes

• “Nobody ever comes out of the registry exam saying, ‘Oh, that was easy.’”
  
  
• “I was in awe of the way they give you a little bit of information, but then make a big ask, and the different ways they can ask questions — I just think it's a good exam.”
  
  
•  “If you read your book and you paid attention and did well in class, when you finish your class, your book shifts from a primary source to a reference.”

RATE & REVIEW

Catch a new episode of the Inside EMS podcast every Friday on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Spotify, and RSS Feed. Enjoying the show? Please take a moment to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

EMS life: Stuck in an ambulance with your work enemy?

In EMS, where the stress is high and space is tight, conflict is bound to happen. Whether it’s a personality clash with your partner, frustration over unclear responsibilities or a disagreement with leadership, knowing how to navigate workplace tension is a crucial skill.  

In this episode of the Inside EMS podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson break down conflict resolution strategies. Whether you’re dealing with an overbearing supervisor, a partner who won’t pull their weight or just the everyday stress of the job, this episode will arm you with the tools to handle conflict effectively. 

Memorable quotes:

• “My way of dealing with these conflicts is, I try to remind myself that they're not so different from me. They want the same things in life. They just differ in how they want to get there.” — Kelly Grayson 

• “We hear all the time that perception is reality, but what does that really mean? It means, if somebody thinks that you've slighted them, you've slighted them.” — Chris Cebollero 

•  “Regardless of how good you are at practicing the art and science of leadership, conflict always happens, right?” — Chris Cebollero 

Additional resources:  

• Toxic partners: The damage they do in EMS 

• EMT partners: ‘The people that really make it happen’ on calls 

• The 3-part EMS assessment: Your patient, your partner and yourself 

• How to tell if your EMS partner is a jerk 

• When crew dynamics disrupt patient care

Enjoying the show? Email theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest!

‘You hope it never happens’: Responding to an MCI on Bourbon Street

New Year’s celebrations in New Orleans are always a spectacle, but this year, tragedy struck at 3:15 a.m. A truck barreled into the crowds, triggering what first responders feared was a vehicle-ramming attack. Within moments, New Orleans EMS was in full mass casualty mode — triaging, treating and coordinating with law enforcement amid the unfolding chaos. But things quickly escalated. As Chief Bill Salmeron recounts, responders soon discovered not only multiple critical patients, but also a shootout, a downed suspect and the chilling realization that explosive devices had been planted nearby. 

In this gripping episode, Chief Salmeron shares the inside story of how his team handled one of the most intense incidents in recent New Orleans history. He walks through the initial response, communication challenges and how well-drilled interagency coordination played a pivotal role. But beyond the logistics, he also speaks to the emotional toll — how EMS crews handled the psychological weight of triaging patients, working alongside grieving families and processing the magnitude of the event in the days after. 

Top quotes

“You don’t see that many fatalities in one place with possible explosives, an active shooter — or at least you shouldn’t in a civilian EMS world — but we do.” — Chief Bill Salmeron

"Anybody can command a scene. You don't have to be a paramedic. You don't have to be a chief or a doctor or whatever it is." — Chief Bill Salmeron

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

Why every EMS agency needs a mental health game plan

In this episode of Inside EMS, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson are joined by Nick Maltby, chief of service for New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance Service, and a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and PTSD. Nick brings a unique perspective, blending frontline EMS experience with mental health expertise to tackle one of the biggest issues in EMS today — mental health support that actually works.

Memorable quotes

• “Depression is a voice that whispers to you that you can't do all the things that bring you joy.” — Kelly Grayson

• “The first step to a problem getting worse is thinking, ‘I can't tell anybody, because if I did, they would ostracize me, they would fire me, they wouldn't be my friend,’ but it’s all in your head.” — Nick Maltby

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

News flash: Don’t treat patients with an expired certification

In this week’s episode of the Inside EMS Podcast, hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson discuss some of the biggest news stories in EMS from the month.

First up: A fire chief in Colorado is under investigation for running nearly 300 medical calls on an expired paramedic certification from 2019. What happens when leadership sets a bad example for their crews?

The pair also discuss several mental health initiatives, including the University of Washington’s new first responder training program and the mental health teams supporting evacuees of California’s wildfires.

Plus, Chris reacts to an idea floated by the new White House administration to reduce FEMA’s role, and Kelly gives his take on why the agency – despite its flaws – is a necessity.

Have an EMS-related news story you want Chris and Kelly to analyze? Send an email to theshow@ems1.com.

Memorable quotes

•  “If you don't want to pay for it, then, then don't gripe about poor response times ... or inadequate care, because you wouldn't pay for it.” — Kelly Grayson

• “ You know, during COVID, we were heroes.  And we squandered that goodwill and let ourselves be pushed onto the back burner until something horrific happens to California. And then firefighting leaps into the breach again. Then, those citizens are incredibly grateful, but when this is all over, they'll fade back into obscurity again.” — Kelly Grayson

This episode of the Inside EMS Podcast is sponsored by Philips. Time to take pre-hospital emergency care to the next level. Time for Tempus.

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest. 

Male-centric medicine: Why women’s health is EMS’s next big challenge

In this episode of Inside EMS, Chris and Kelly are joined by Tim Redding, founder and CEO of Emergency Education Consultants, to explore a topic that’s reshaping how we think about medicine: male-centric healthcare. Tim shares insights from Dr. Alyson J. McGregor’s groundbreaking book, “Sex Matters”, which explores how medical research and education have historically centered on white male patients, leaving women underserved and misdiagnosed.

From cardiac care to drug research, Tim explains how biases have permeated everything from symptom recognition to treatment protocols. Did you know that women experiencing heart attacks rarely exhibit the “classic” symptoms, like chest pain? Or that 8 out of 10 drugs pulled from the market between 1997 and 2001 were due to severe side effects in women?

If you’re someone passionate about improving patient outcomes, this episode will make you rethink what you know – and don’t know – about women’s health in EMS.

Memorable quotes

“Medicine historically has been white males doing the doctoring, writing the textbooks and doing the studies. So, what that has led to, by no one’s fault, is to this very male-centric view of medicine.”

“The most accurate tool for confirming and diagnosing MI in women is an MRI and that really blew my mind.  I can’t think of any time that I’ve heard a doc say, ‘Let’s get an MRI for that cardiac female patient.’”

Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.

The science behind shock: Why providers must understand the RAAS

Ever wonder what really happens inside the body during shock? This week, Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson dive into the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS).  From vasoconstriction to fluid retention, they break down this complex topic with real-life examples, a sprinkle of humor and practical tips for how EMS providers can apply this knowledge in the field.

Kelly shares the importance of understanding the “why” behind shock presentations, from recognizing when fluids won’t work to knowing when vasopressors are the answer. With anecdotes like treating a sepsis patient on ACE inhibitors and using pulse ox waveforms for clues, this episode blends science with field-tested wisdom. Whether you’re an EMT, paramedic, or just an anatomy nerd, you’ll walk away with a clearer picture of how the RAAS keeps us alive – and how we, as EMS professionals, can work smarter alongside it.

Memorable quotes

• “It's called, ‘The Renan Angiotensin Aldosterone System – not just a planetary belt in Star Wars’”. — Kelly Grayson

• “So, the kidneys now say, ‘We're not getting enough blood. Here's this renin that we're gonna send out because we've gotta fix this problem.’ What the body doesn't know is that Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson and you are out there trying to fix it. So it’s trying to fix itself.” — Chris Cebollero

Related resources:

• Understanding push dose pressors

• Understanding prehospital vasopressors: Dopamine, epinephrine or norepinephrine?

• A basic overview of shock for EMS

• Compensated vs. decompensated shock: what you need to know

ABOUT THE SPONSOR

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RATE & REVIEW

Catch a new episode of the Inside EMS podcast every Friday. Enjoying the show? Contact the Inside EMS team at theshow@ems1.com to share ideas, suggestions and feedback, or let us know if you’d like to join us as a guest.