EMS Today

Matt Zavadsky from PWW Advisory Group (PWW|AG) joins the podcast to discuss the economics of EMS. We discuss the current economic landscape of EMS and how it has strained some services to the point of closure. We also discuss the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Surveys conducted over the past few years and how some of the data collected were not included in the final results published. We wrap up with a brief discussion on what could be seen in EMS economics and reimbursement in the future. This podcast is brought to you by Medical Shipment: https://medicalshipment.com/

In this special 2026 EMS Week episode of the JEMS podcast, Mike Brown hosts Gamunu “Gam” Wijetunge from NHTSA’s Office of EMS and Dr. Nicholas Cozzi, an emergency physician from Chicago. The conversation centers on a significant shift in emergency medicine: moving high-level clinical interventions like blood transfusions directly to the point of injury. With roadway fatalities hovering around 40,000 annually, NHTSA is prioritizing "post-crash care" by aggressive funding through the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program. Beyond the equipment, the guests discuss the power of data linkage between dispatch centers and hospitals to measure bystander intervention and long-term patient survival. Dr. Cozzi highlights the human element, sharing how simple acts—like sending letters of praise to field clinicians—boost morale and strengthen the bond between medical directors and front-line providers. From grant deadlines on May 26th to Save a Life Day demonstrations in D.C., this episode outlines how federal advocacy and local clinical excellence are converging to save more lives in the field.

At FDIC International 2026, our panel of EMS providers and critical‑care physicians break down ventilation during cardiac arrest: what the science supports, where practice still fails, and practical fixes you can use tomorrow. We cover why bag‑valve‑mask ventilation is a high‑risk skill (and best performed as a two‑person procedure), how over‑ and under‑ventilation change intrathoracic pressure and cardiac output, and why properly opening the airway and achieving a seal are fundamental. We discuss supraglottic airways, intubation pitfalls, CPAP and high‑flow strategies, the pros and cons of mechanical ventilators in the field, and the role of objective feedback devices. The panel emphasizes regular, low‑cost simulation training, equipment readiness, pit‑crew coordination, and the hard truth: patients die from poor ventilation more often than from the absence of intubation.