Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC)

08/25/2026

Join Thousands of EMS Professionals at the 49th Annual Pennsylvania EMS Conference!
For nearly half a century, the Pennsylvania EMS Conference has been the premier destination for EMS education, innovation, and professional growth. This year's 49th Pennsylvania EMS Conference brings together an outstanding panel of national, regional, and Pennsylvania-based experts covering the topics that matter most to today's EMS professionals.
📅 Live Online Conference: September 1-4, 2026
💻 On-Demand Access: Available through November 30, 2026
✅ Registration is Open Now!
Explore cutting-edge education featuring topics including:
🚑 Airway Management & Critical Care Transport
🩸 Prehospital Trauma Resuscitation
🧠 Mental Wellness & EMS Longevity
💊 Substance Use Disorder Management
👶 Pediatric Emergencies
🔬 Success Cause Analysis & Patient Safety
📋 Medical Director Panel Discussions
🚨 Emergency Response Operations & Much More!
Whether you're an EMT, Paramedic, EMS Educator, Medical Director, Student, or EMS Leader, you'll find valuable content designed to strengthen your skills, expand your knowledge, and support the future of EMS.
Last year, more than 3,100 participants joined us virtually from Pennsylvania and beyond. Don't miss your opportunity to learn from industry leaders and engage with colleagues from across the EMS community.
🔗 Register today at www.PAEMSConference.org
Penn State Health WellSpan Health Glick Fire Equipment Company UPMC Atlantic Emergency Solutions Emergency Health Services Federation Bucks County Emergency Health Services Chester County EMS Council, Inc. Delaware County CISM EMS West - Kersey Office EMS of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Inc. Montgomery County Ambulance Association Seven Mountains EMS Council Southern Alleghenies EMS Council, Inc. Ambulance Association of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute PA Emergency Management Agency

08/21/2026

🩸 Blood on Board: Transforming Prehospital Trauma Resuscitation 🚑

Trauma resuscitation has changed dramatically over the last two decades. The days of large-volume crystalloid resuscitation are giving way to a new standard: early hemorrhage control and balanced blood product resuscitation.

As EMS systems increasingly bring blood products directly to the point of injury, prehospital providers are playing a larger role than ever in improving trauma outcomes before patients reach the hospital.

Join Jonathan Jenkins, Clinical Research Education Manager with the LITES Network, for an in-depth look at the science, logistics, and future of prehospital blood administration.

Whether your organization is exploring a blood program for the first time or looking to strengthen an existing initiative, this session will provide practical guidance and valuable insights into one of the most significant advances in trauma care.

🎤 Speaker:
Jonathan Jenkins
Clinical Research Education Manager
LITES Network

📅 September 2, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Watch live or access recordings anytime throughout the fall.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

The future of trauma care starts before the patient reaches the hospital. Learn how blood on board is transforming prehospital resuscitation and improving outcomes for critically injured patients.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

Fire Equipment Company

08/21/2026

👶🚑 Is This Kid Sick? Pediatric Assessment, Decision-Making & Transport Considerations

Pediatric patients can be some of the most challenging patients EMS providers encounter. Is the child truly sick? How serious is the condition? What's the best treatment plan? Where should the patient be transported? And should that transport be by ground or air?

Join Fran Hildwine, Training Center Coordinator with Nemours Children's Health, for an engaging and interactive session designed to help EMS professionals answer these critical questions with confidence.

This highly interactive presentation encourages participants to think through realistic pediatric emergencies and consider how available resources, department capabilities, and regional factors influence patient care decisions.

🎤 Speaker:
Fran Hildwine
Training Center Coordinator
Nemours Children's Health

📅 September 1, 2026
⏰ 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Participate live or watch later at your convenience.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org

When seconds matter and resources vary, knowing how to assess, treat, and transport pediatric patients can make all the difference.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

Glick Fire Equipment Company

08/21/2026

🏆 Success Cause Analysis in EMS: Why Getting It Right Matters—and How to Learn From It 🚑

EMS has long focused on learning from mistakes through quality assurance reviews, root cause analysis, and morbidity and mortality discussions. While these processes are essential, they raise an important question:

What can we learn when things go right?

Join Dr. Avram Flamm and Travis Mitchell of WellSpan Health for an innovative and thought-provoking session exploring Success Cause Analysis (SCA), a powerful approach that examines why successful patient care and operations occur and how those successes can be replicated.

In EMS, positive outcomes are often the result of strong teamwork, effective communication, adaptive decision-making, situational awareness, and resilient system design. Yet these factors frequently go unexamined because success is often assumed rather than analyzed.

Through engaging discussion and real-world EMS case examples, participants will learn how to identify what worked, why it worked, and how to build systems that make success more predictable and repeatable.

🎤 Speakers:
Dr. Avram Flamm
System EMS Medical Director
WellSpan Health

Travis Mitchell
Senior Director for Patient Safety
WellSpan Health

📅 September 1, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Participate live or watch on your own schedule and revisit these valuable leadership and quality improvement concepts anytime.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

Sometimes the greatest opportunity for improvement isn't found in what went wrong, but in understanding why things went right.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

WellSpan Health

🏆 Success Cause Analysis in EMS: Why Getting It Right Matters—and How to Learn From It 🚑

EMS has long focused on learning from mistakes through quality assurance reviews, root cause analysis, and morbidity and mortality discussions. While these processes are essential, they raise an important question:

What can we learn when things go right?

Join Dr. Avram Flamm and Travis Mitchell of WellSpan Health for an innovative and thought-provoking session exploring Success Cause Analysis (SCA), a powerful approach that examines why successful patient care and operations occur and how those successes can be replicated.

In EMS, positive outcomes are often the result of strong teamwork, effective communication, adaptive decision-making, situational awareness, and resilient system design. Yet these factors frequently go unexamined because success is often assumed rather than analyzed.

Through engaging discussion and real-world EMS case examples, participants will learn how to identify what worked, why it worked, and how to build systems that make success more predictable and repeatable.

🎤 Speakers:
Dr. Avram Flamm
System EMS Medical Director
WellSpan Health

Travis Mitchell
Senior Director for Patient Safety
WellSpan Health

📅 September 1, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Participate live or watch on your own schedule and revisit these valuable leadership and quality improvement concepts anytime.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

Sometimes the greatest opportunity for improvement isn't found in what went wrong, but in understanding why things went right.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

WellSpan Health

08/20/2026

🚑 Anatomy of a Traumatic Arrest: Time Is Life 🚑
Traumatic cardiac arrest is not the same as a medical cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation depends on rapidly identifying the cause, addressing reversible conditions, and getting the patient to definitive trauma care as quickly as possible.
Join Justin Heinrich, Trauma Program Director at WellSpan Health, for an in-depth look at the unique challenges of traumatic cardiac arrest and the evidence-based interventions that can improve patient outcomes in the prehospital environment.
This session will explore:
✅ The key differences between medical and traumatic cardiac arrest
✅ The pathophysiology of traumatic arrest and common mechanisms of injury
✅ Identification and management of reversible causes, including hemorrhage, airway compromise, and tension pneumothorax
✅ Mechanism-specific resuscitation strategies for blunt, penetrating, and burn injuries
✅ The importance of minimizing scene time and prioritizing rapid transport
✅ The role of the "Golden Hour" in trauma survival and recovery
Through practical discussion and real-world application, participants will gain valuable insights into managing some of the most challenging emergencies encountered in EMS.
🎤 Speaker:
Justin Heinrich
Trauma Program Director
WellSpan Health
📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
💻 Live Online
🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Watch live or learn on your schedule with access to conference recordings throughout the fall.
🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org
When every second counts, understanding the anatomy of a traumatic arrest can make the difference between life and death.
Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health
WellSpan Health

🚑 Anatomy of a Traumatic Arrest: Time Is Life 🚑

Traumatic cardiac arrest is not the same as a medical cardiac arrest. Successful resuscitation depends on rapidly identifying the cause, addressing reversible conditions, and getting the patient to definitive trauma care as quickly as possible.

Join Justin Heinrich, Trauma Program Director at WellSpan Health, for an in-depth look at the unique challenges of traumatic cardiac arrest and the evidence-based interventions that can improve patient outcomes in the prehospital environment.

This session will explore:

✅ The key differences between medical and traumatic cardiac arrest
✅ The pathophysiology of traumatic arrest and common mechanisms of injury
✅ Identification and management of reversible causes, including hemorrhage, airway compromise, and tension pneumothorax
✅ Mechanism-specific resuscitation strategies for blunt, penetrating, and burn injuries
✅ The importance of minimizing scene time and prioritizing rapid transport
✅ The role of the "Golden Hour" in trauma survival and recovery

Through practical discussion and real-world application, participants will gain valuable insights into managing some of the most challenging emergencies encountered in EMS.

🎤 Speaker:
Justin Heinrich
Trauma Program Director
WellSpan Health

📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Watch live or learn on your schedule with access to conference recordings throughout the fall.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org

When every second counts, understanding the anatomy of a traumatic arrest can make the difference between life and death.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

Health

08/20/2026

👧🚑 Calm in the Chaos: Pediatric Psychosocial Support Techniques for EMS

When children experience a medical emergency, the injuries they sustain are only part of the story. Fear, confusion, anxiety, and loss of control can significantly impact how pediatric patients respond to care.

Join Elizabeth Anderson, Certified Child Life Specialist, for an engaging and practical session that explores emergency care through the eyes of a child and provides EMS professionals with tools to reduce fear, build trust, and improve the patient experience.

Whether you're caring for an injured child, responding to a family crisis, or managing a high-stress pediatric call, this session will help you provide compassionate, effective care that supports both the physical and emotional needs of your youngest patients.

🎤 Speaker:
Elizabeth Anderson, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist

📅 September 2, 2026
⏰ 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Learn at your convenience and revisit valuable pediatric care strategies whenever needed.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

Because sometimes the most important treatment we provide is helping a child feel safe in the middle of the chaos.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

UPMC UPMC

👧🚑 Calm in the Chaos: Pediatric Psychosocial Support Techniques for EMS

When children experience a medical emergency, the injuries they sustain are only part of the story. Fear, confusion, anxiety, and loss of control can significantly impact how pediatric patients respond to care.

Join Elizabeth Anderson, Certified Child Life Specialist, for an engaging and practical session that explores emergency care through the eyes of a child and provides EMS professionals with tools to reduce fear, build trust, and improve the patient experience.

Whether you're caring for an injured child, responding to a family crisis, or managing a high-stress pediatric call, this session will help you provide compassionate, effective care that supports both the physical and emotional needs of your youngest patients.

🎤 Speaker:
Elizabeth Anderson, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist

📅 September 2, 2026
⏰ 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Learn at your convenience and revisit valuable pediatric care strategies whenever needed.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

Because sometimes the most important treatment we provide is helping a child feel safe in the middle of the chaos.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

UPMC

08/19/2026

🎪 Not All Fun and Games: MCIs at Special Events 🚑

Concerts, festivals, sporting events, fairs, and community gatherings bring people together, but they also create unique challenges for emergency responders. Are you prepared when a special event turns into a mass casualty incident?

Join Dr. Jonathan Bar, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Director of Emergency Preparedness at the University of Pennsylvania, for an insightful session examining the risks, lessons learned, and response strategies associated with mass casualty incidents at special events.

Whether you're involved in event planning, EMS operations, emergency management, healthcare, fire service, or public safety, this session provides valuable knowledge to help your organization prepare for and respond to high-consequence incidents.

🎤 Speaker:
Dr. Jonathan Bar
Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine & Director of Emergency Preparedness
University of Pennsylvania

📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026, allowing you to learn at your convenience and revisit critical preparedness content whenever needed.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org

When planning for special events, preparation is everything. Learn how to identify risks, protect responders, and improve outcomes when the unexpected occurs.

08/18/2026

🚨 Safe Arrival Is the First Priority 🚨

Emergency response through intersections remains one of the leading causes of apparatus collisions, injuries, and preventable line-of-duty deaths in fire and EMS operations. Every response matters, but arriving safely is what ensures responders can complete their mission and return home.

Join us for VFIS Operation Safe Arrival, a powerful session focused on reducing risk during emergency vehicle operations and improving safety for responders and the communities they serve.

Participants will explore: ✅ Critical risk factors associated with emergency vehicle operations
✅ Common causes of intersection-related collisions
✅ Strategies to improve driver performance and decision-making
✅ Effective crew communication techniques
✅ Proven safeguards that promote responder and public safety
✅ The balance between rapid response and safe arrival

This session reinforces a simple but critical principle: you can't help anyone if you don't arrive safely.

🎤 Presented by:
• Frank Kachurak, Managing Partner, Halligan Training, LLC
• Zachary Slopthower, Firefighter/Paramedic

📅 September 4, 2026
⏰ 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026. Learn at your convenience and revisit this important safety content whenever needed.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconferece.org

Every call starts with a response. Every response starts with a safe arrival.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

UPMC

08/18/2026

🚑 Stay Current with the Latest EMS Developments in Pennsylvania
The EMS landscape is constantly evolving. Are you up to date on the latest initiatives, regulatory changes, workforce developments, and system priorities impacting EMS across the Commonwealth?
Join Anthony Martin, Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS, for the annual PA Department of Health Update at the Pennsylvania EMS Conference.
This informative session will provide attendees with: ✅ Updates on Bureau initiatives and priorities
✅ Regulatory and legislative developments
✅ EMS workforce and education updates
✅ Licensure and certification initiatives
✅ Data, technology, and quality improvement efforts
✅ Statewide preparedness and response activities
✅ Future directions for Pennsylvania's EMS system
Whether you're an EMS provider, educator, administrator, medical director, or regional EMS representative, this session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Bureau leadership and better understand how current and upcoming changes may impact your organization and daily operations.
📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
💻 Live Online
🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026, allowing you to access the latest EMS updates when it's convenient for you.
🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org
Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay connected to the future of EMS in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

🚑 Stay Current with the Latest EMS Developments in Pennsylvania

The EMS landscape is constantly evolving. Are you up to date on the latest initiatives, regulatory changes, workforce developments, and system priorities impacting EMS across the Commonwealth?

Join Anthony Martin, Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS, for the annual PA Department of Health Update at the Pennsylvania EMS Conference.

This informative session will provide attendees with: ✅ Updates on Bureau initiatives and priorities
✅ Regulatory and legislative developments
✅ EMS workforce and education updates
✅ Licensure and certification initiatives
✅ Data, technology, and quality improvement efforts
✅ Statewide preparedness and response activities
✅ Future directions for Pennsylvania's EMS system

Whether you're an EMS provider, educator, administrator, medical director, or regional EMS representative, this session offers a valuable opportunity to hear directly from Bureau leadership and better understand how current and upcoming changes may impact your organization and daily operations.

📅 September 3, 2026
⏰ 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026, allowing you to access the latest EMS updates when it's convenient for you.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org

Stay informed. Stay prepared. Stay connected to the future of EMS in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

08/17/2026

🎤 Ask the Experts: Pennsylvania EMS Medical Directors Panel Discussion 🚑

What questions would you ask some of Pennsylvania's most experienced EMS physician leaders?

Join us for an engaging and interactive Medical Directors Panel Discussion, where EMS medical directors from across the Commonwealth will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and evolving landscape of EMS. From clinical care and protocol development to workforce issues and emerging trends in prehospital medicine, this session is your opportunity to gain valuable insights and have your questions answered live.

Featured Speakers: 🔹 Dr. Alvin Wang
President, Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council

🔹 Dr. Dan Bledsoe
EMS Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS

📅 September 2, 2026
⏰ 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026, allowing you to learn on your schedule and revisit valuable content whenever it's convenient.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference: paemsconference.org

Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from Pennsylvania's EMS physician leaders and participate in a discussion that impacts EMS providers and patients across the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health

Pennsylvania Department of Health

🎤 Ask the Experts: Pennsylvania EMS Medical Directors Panel Discussion 🚑

What questions would you ask some of Pennsylvania's most experienced EMS physician leaders?

Join us for an engaging and interactive Medical Directors Panel Discussion, where EMS medical directors from across the Commonwealth will discuss the challenges, opportunities, and evolving landscape of EMS. From clinical care and protocol development to workforce issues and emerging trends in prehospital medicine, this session is your opportunity to gain valuable insights and have your questions answered live.

Featured Speakers: 🔹 Dr. Alvin Wang
President, Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council

🔹 Dr. Dan Bledsoe
EMS Medical Director, Pennsylvania Department of Health Bureau of EMS

📅 September 2, 2026
⏰ 2:15 PM – 3:45 PM
💻 Live Online

🎥 Can't attend live? No problem! Your registration includes on-demand access to this session and all Pennsylvania EMS Conference presentations through November 30, 2026, allowing you to learn on your schedule and revisit valuable content whenever it's convenient.

🔗 Register today at PA EMS Conference

Don't miss this opportunity to hear directly from Pennsylvania's EMS physician leaders and participate in a discussion that impacts EMS providers and patients across the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council (PEHSC) | Pennsylvania Department of Health