The Center for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center serves as an expert resource for current EMS systems in their quest to improve outcomes for cardiac arrest, trauma and other emergencies.

By uniting the efforts of the pre-hospital EMS providers with the hospital-based team at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the Ohio State Center for EMS has been charged with providing the community the best opportunity for survival and quality of life in emergency situations.

Medical Direction
Outreach
Research
Time Critical Diagnoses (TCD)

Medical Direction

The Center provides comprehensive medical direction, quality improvement and systems design services for local EMS agencies and the communities they serve. This vital role helps to improve the quality of care patients receive in the pre-hospital setting.

The EMS physicians at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are board certified emergency physicians with extensive training and EMS experience. Each has completed the requirements set forth by the State of Ohio for the position of medical director and has knowledge and training in the following areas:

Medical aspects of care consistent with the mission profile of both ground and air ambulance services
Aspects of ground service EMS units, including pertinent regulatory and safety issues, vehicle capabilities, and equipment requirements and performance
Operational aspects of communications equipment and dispatch procedures
Training in pre-hospital and inter-hospital transport issues and laws
Medical control and medical command issues, such as protocols, standing orders, triage and the capabilities of care providers
Quality improvement theories and applications

We currently provide medical direction to the following:

Clinton Township Fire Department
Columbus State Community College EMS Program
MedFlight
National Trail Raceway
Newark Fire Department
Worthington Fire Department
Upper Arlington Fire Department
Jerome Township Division of Fire
Whitehall Division of Fire
Delaware County EMS

Outreach

Cooking with Fire

We're proud to partner with the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Mobile Education Kitchen for our Cooking with Fire events. The mobile kitchen was purchased through the James Fund for Life’s Celebration for Life program, which supports cancer research at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. Each month, we bring nutrition services chefs and nutrition experts to different stations to educate our EMS providers on healthy, cancer-preventive foods and show you quick, easy ways to prepare them.

Interested in having Cooking with Fire at your station? Contact us at CenterforEMS@osumc.edu.

Learn more about the Mobile Education Kitchen

Research

The center conducts clinical pre-hospital research, and facilitates interdepartmental research focusing on pre-hospital care, including sudden cardiac arrest and trauma. We also provide opportunities for EMS involvement in clinical laboratories, research and other services throughout Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

We are currently involved in a variety of research projects, including:

Airway Management

We are spearheading research on identifying the characteristics of paramedics who excel in comprehensive pre-hospital airway management. The research work is funded by a grant that has allowed for the enrollment and assessment of more than 400 paramedics. This research is conducted in The Center for EMS Mobile Simulation Laboratory, placing paramedics in real life, difficult-airway scenarios. With assistance from the Columbus Division of Fire, Worthington Fire Department, Hamilton Township Fire Department, Grandview Heights Fire Department, Genoa Township Fire Department, Westerville Fire Department, Mifflin Township Fire Department, Violet Township Fire Department, and Prairie Township Fire Department, we are able to better understand the educational requirements necessary to become an airway expert.
Ambulance Staffing Patterns
Evaluation of Pre-Hospital Screening for Stroke Intervention

Recently, three New England Journal of Medicine articles described the benefit of catheter interventions for stroke management that have led to significant neurological improvements for patients with large-vessel occlusive strokes. The Center for EMS, in conjunction with the Central Ohio Trauma System and the Columbus Division of Fire, is seeking to determine whether pre-hospital screening of stroke patients can lead to early identification of patients who may benefit from these catheter interventions.
Increasing Bystander CPR for Cardiac Arrest in High Risk Neighborhoods

Neurologically intact survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is tied to the performance of bystander CPR. However, there are high-risk neighborhoods throughout the United States where bystander CPR rates are low and mortality high. With the assistance of the American Heart Association and a grant from the United Way, we have launched a multicenter trial utilizing the HANDS program, which defines high-risk neighborhoods and teaches CPR through a train-the-trainer model. This novel teaching technique has allowed the community to spearhead the training of CPR within its neighborhoods.
Increasing the Performance of Bystander CPR

Neurologically intact survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is tied to the performance of bystander CPR, but it is unknown what factors motivate bystanders to perform CPR for a stranger or family member. The Center for EMS is conducting research on these factors and whether they are tied to gender, race, education or training (watching a video or taking a class).
Optimizing Pre-Hospital Ventilation

The Center for EMS is also evaluating the relationship between airway management and pre-hospital patient ventilation, with the long-term goal of optimizing patient outcomes through improved oxygenation and perfusion. This research also is conducted in The Center for EMS Mobile Simulation Laboratory, which places paramedics in real life, difficult-airway scenarios.
Pre-Hospital Therapeutic Hypothermia

Due to changing paradigms for the use of pre-hospital therapeutic hypothermia, the Center for EMS became concerned about the safety of this intervention in our community. In conjunction with Columbus Division of Fire, we have evaluated the outcomes and complications of patients who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and received therapeutic hypothermia. The first study in this area was recently published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine.
Tele-EMS Medical Direction

Critical-care transports of acutely ill patients are highly challenging and may require time-sensitive treatments for the best patient outcome. The Center for EMS, with MedFlight of Ohio, is working on delivering specialized medical direction to the EMS bedside through the use of Tele-EMS, essentially allowing physician specialists to be in the back of ambulances with critical care teams through real-time video feeds. The physicians can even to listen to the heart and lungs while the ambulance is en route and can direct medical care for the patient.

Heartmobile Project

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is a pioneer in developing Emergency Medical Services. In 1969, Dr. James Warren, a Ohio State physician, initiated the Heartmobile project in cooperation with the Columbus Division of Fire. Warren demonstrated that patients could be successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest in an out-of-hospital setting. He went on to demonstrate that firefighters could be trained in advanced resuscitation techniques.

The Center for EMS is dedicated to maintaining our tie to this important piece of Columbus and national history and is a major contributor to the Heartmobile project, focused on the restoration of this landmark.

Learn more about the Heartmobile project.

Time Critical Diagnoses (TCD)

Burn

The Ohio State Comprehensive Burn Center is the only adult burn center in central Ohio. Our team of specialists treats a variety of burns ranging from minor to severe for more than 700 patients each year. We provide inpatient and outpatient care for burn wounds, complex burn management and serious skin conditions. For more information or non-emergency treatment, call 614-293-BURN (2876).

Learn more

Cancer

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) houses the nation’s first fully-integrated cancer emergency department. This allows cancer patients with urgent, sometimes life-threatening, issues access to highly skilled teams of oncology and emergency medicine experts.

Learn more

Heart and Vascular

The Heart and Vascular Emergency Program optimizes treatment of emergent, time-critical and life-threatening cardiovascular conditions. One of the first of its kind in the nation, the level 1 program facilitates rapid response to aortic dissection, aortic rupture, limb ischemia, pulmonary embolism and STEMI. Utilizing a protocol for rapid activation of surgical teams and resources, the level 1 system focuses the entire staff in a coordinated response to these time-critical emergencies.

Learn more

Sepsis

Ohio State’s emergency team provides rapid assessment and treatment of sepsis and septic shock. Our sepsis alert system allows EMS to activate an alert from the field and expedite life-saving interventions, including administration of antibiotics. This early detection and rapid treatment is critical to saving patients’ lives.

STEMI

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) is available at Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital as well as at East Hospital. At either location, a “STEMI alert” from the field will result in immediate activation, around the clock, of the cardiac catheterization lab intervention team. A new program for our EMS providers allows them to obtain CEU credit on-site, in both of our cath labs, for observing a cardiac catheterization procedure.

Learn more

Stroke

At the Ohio State Comprehensive Stroke Center, our physicians, nurses and researchers are at the forefront of stroke care, developing and delivering the most advanced and innovative treatment techniques. A stroke alert is called by paramedics while the patient is in transport to our facilities in order to activate our in-house stroke team, available around-the-clock, to ensure that we are ready to evaluate the patient upon arrival.

Learn more

Telestroke

With more than 20 hospital partners, Ohio State’s Telestroke Collaborative program enhances quality and efficiency of stroke care, around the clock, to patients, allowing immediate access to board certified vascular neurologists who provide real-time consultation to hospitals across Ohio.

Trauma

Designated as a level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons, Ohio State is widely recognized for its expertise in the care of trauma patients, with on-site physicians in more than 40 medical specialties. We offer specialized care services, including the only emergency department in central Ohio with hyperbaric medicine facilities specifically for emergency care. A one-call referral hotline, 614-366-8111, facilitates rapid activation of appropriate surgical teams and resources.

Learn more

Thank you to our EMS partners!

We want to recognize the impressive and remarkable work of our community first responders and thank them for the job they do every day and every run to get patients to our medical facilities safely, efficiently and with the medical expertise that saves lives.

Our Team

Logan Diehl, RN, BSN, EMT-P

Senior Outreach Coordinator, Center for EMS

Logan brings nearly 20 years of experience to the Center for EMS, including emergency department nursing, EMS, air medical services, firefighting and education. A registered nurse and paramedic, he holds a unique perspective of hospital and prehospital operations and leads innovative and collaborative environments to advance EMS care. Logan is a graduate of Ohio University and Columbus State Community College and is completing graduate studies at The Ohio State University.

Tyler Tumberg, MBA, MHA

Manager, Emergency Department Business & Operations, Center for EMS

Prior to starting his role at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Tyler was the administrative fellow in the two-year joint administrative fellowship program between Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. During his fellowship, he led a number of operational and strategic initiatives while reporting to each organization’s leadership. He’s a graduate of the University of Dayton where he earned a bachelor of science, and of Saint Louis University where he earned master’s degrees in business and health administration.

Michael Dick, MD

Medical Director, Ohio State Center for EMS; Medical Director, Emergency Department - East Hospital; Medical Director, Upper Arlington Fire Department

Dr. Dick started his career as a medic and is a long-standing leader in the regional EMS community, serving previously as medical director for the Upper Arlington Fire Department. Over the course of his career, Dr. Dick has served on multiple Central Ohio Trauma System (COTS) committees, including the Emergency Services Advisory Board, the stroke committee and the STEMI committee. Dr. Dick earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado prior to completing a master’s degree in anatomic pathology at The Ohio State University. He then earned his MD and completed both his emergency medicine residency and critical care fellowship at Ohio State.

Travis Sharkey, MD, PhD

Assistant Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Dr. Sharkey started his educational pathway in computer science and engineering and electrical and computer engineering studying signal processing and artificial intelligence techniques. This led to his PhD in biomedical engineering while obtaining his MD through the Medical Scientist Training Program at The Ohio State University. He completed both his emergency medicine residency and EMS fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center before returning as faculty. As an EMS physician, he focuses on strengthening educational opportunities directed at real-world experiences of our local EMS providers. As a researcher, he is investigating the use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing to support accurate and efficient dispatch of EMS providers to get the right resources to the right people at the right time.

Troy Acker

Ohio CARES Coordinator

Troy Acker is the state coordinator for Ohio CARES, a position housed within the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center’s Center for EMS. He has also served communities as a firefighter/paramedic since 2004. His professional interests include EMS education and research.

EMS Medical Directors

Michael Dick, MD

Medical Director – Ohio State Center for EMS, Medical Director – Upper Arlington Fire Department

For more than 20 years, I have been thoroughly interested in emergency medicine and critical care, which has consumed much of my time on an academic and research level. I completed my undergraduate degree and medical degree at The Ohio State University and the College of Medicine. I then went on to complete both my residency in emergency medicine and fellowship in critical care at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

Travis Sharkey, MD, PhD

Assistant Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Ashley Larrimore, MD

Medical Director – MedFlight of Ohio, Medical Director – Newark Fire Department, Medical Director – Whitehall Division of Fire, Assistant Medical Director – Clinton Township Fire Department

I’m an assistant professor of clinical emergency medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degrees at The George Washington University with dual majors in biology and religion. I received my medical degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine followed by a residency in emergency medicine at UMass Memorial Medical Center and a fellowship in emergency medical services at the University of Cincinnati. I have a particular interest in air medical transport and have previously flown as a flight physician with UMass Memorial Life Flight and University of Cincinnati AirCare and am medical director at MedFlight of Ohio.

Ashish Panchal, MD, PhD

Medical Director – Delaware County EMS

I’m an associate professor of emergency medicine for the Department of Emergency Medicine. I’m passionate about improving patient outcomes in the prehospital setting, and conducting research focused on prehospital airway management and improving outcomes from cardiac arrest. I began my career as a researcher, and completed a PhD in cardiovascular physiology at Case Western Reserve University. Following this, I completed my medical training and residency at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Currently, I’m heavily involved in prehospital care being the EMS medical director for Delaware County EMS and the Delaware County Dispatch Center as well as associate medical director for the Worthington Fire Department. At The Ohio State University, I’m the program director for the ACGME-accredited EMS fellowship. On a national level, I’m the research and fellowship director for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, and part of the expert panels for the National EMS Scope of Practice Model Revision Project and the Evidence-Based Guideline for Naloxone. I’m also a member of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Scientific Subcommittee and am the chair of the 2018 AHA/ECC Guidelines Focused Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.

Creagh Boulger, MD

Medical Director – Columbus State Community College EMS Program

As a physician, my areas of interest include trauma, EMS and ultrasound. I currently serve as medical director for the Paramedic Training Program at Columbus State Community College. I was born and raised in central Ohio and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in chemistry and childhood studies from Case Western Reserve University. I continued my education in Dayton, Ohio, earning a medical degree from Wright State University. Following medical school, I did my residency here at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. I love travel and any outdoor adventure, especially backpacking and boating. My husband, Nick, and I have a very spirited daughter, Rowan, and dog, Cooper.

Brooke Moungey, MD

Medical Director – Union County Group, Associate Medical Director – Columbus State Community College EMS Program, Associate Medical Director – Delaware County EMS

Douglas Rund, MD Professor Emeritus

Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Craig Key, MD

Medical Director – Clinton Township Fire Department, Medical Director – National Trail Raceway

My undergraduate education led to a degree in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University. After that, I obtained my medical degree from The Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo Medical School). Following medical school, I completed a residency in emergency medicine at the Orlando Regional Medical Center in Orlando, Florida. Then I traveled to Houston to participate in an emergency medical services fellowship under the direction of Dr. Paul Pepe and remained there for five years as associate medical director of the Houston Fire Department.

Currently, I’m on faculty with The Ohio State University College of Medicine as assistant professor of emergency medicine. I enjoy teaching residents and participating with local EMS agencies. Among my academic activities, I have authored or contributed to many publications and professional presentations concerning the subject of out-of-hospital cardiac care and the need for early recognition, response and treatment of heart attacks. I have also developed and implemented research concerning the subject of out-of-hospital resuscitation and emergency medical dispatch. I’m now drawing on my undergraduate training in electrical engineering as I become more interested in the application of technology to medicine and EMS. I have developed numerous websites and written iPhone apps dealing with teaching and practicing medicine.

Center for EMS

Dedicated to providing the resources needed for EMS to deliver the best pre-hospital care

Medical Direction

Outreach

Outreach

Research

Airway Management

Ambulance Staffing Patterns

Evaluation of Pre-Hospital Screening for Stroke Intervention

Increasing Bystander CPR for Cardiac Arrest in High Risk Neighborhoods

Increasing the Performance of Bystander CPR

Optimizing Pre-Hospital Ventilation

Pre-Hospital Therapeutic Hypothermia

Tele-EMS Medical Direction

Heartmobile Project

Time Critical Diagnoses (TCD)

Burn

Cancer

Heart and Vascular

Sepsis

STEMI

Stroke

Telestroke

Trauma

Thank you to our EMS partners!

Our Team

Logan Diehl, RN, BSN, EMT-P

Senior Outreach Coordinator, Center for EMS

Tyler Tumberg, MBA, MHA

Manager, Emergency Department Business & Operations, Center for EMS

Michael Dick, MD

Medical Director, Ohio State Center for EMS; Medical Director, Emergency Department - East Hospital; Medical Director, Upper Arlington Fire Department

Travis Sharkey, MD, PhD

Assistant Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Troy Acker

Ohio CARES Coordinator

EMS Medical Directors

Michael Dick, MD

Medical Director – Ohio State Center for EMS, Medical Director – Upper Arlington Fire Department

Travis Sharkey, MD, PhD

Assistant Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Ashley Larrimore, MD

Medical Director – MedFlight of Ohio, Medical Director – Newark Fire Department, Medical Director – Whitehall Division of Fire, Assistant Medical Director – Clinton Township Fire Department

Ashish Panchal, MD, PhD

Medical Director – Delaware County EMS

Creagh Boulger, MD

Medical Director – Columbus State Community College EMS Program

Brooke Moungey, MD

Medical Director – Union County Group, Associate Medical Director – Columbus State Community College EMS Program, Associate Medical Director – Delaware County EMS

Douglas Rund, MD Professor Emeritus

Medical Director – Worthington Fire Department

Craig Key, MD

Medical Director – Clinton Township Fire Department, Medical Director – National Trail Raceway

Leo Boggs, MD

Medical Director – Jerome Township Division of Fire

James Ryan, MD

Medical Director – Muirfield Village Golf Club, Memorial Tournament

EMS Resources

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