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

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.

Cannon Dr. Relocation to Impact ED Access
Ohio State University is starting a construction project to relocate Cannon Dr. on Sept. 5. Learn more about this project and how it impacts EMS access to the ED.

2017 Ohio State Football Season 
Home football games for The Ohio State University Buckeyes will take place Sept. 9 – Nov. 25. View a schedule with dates and times for games.
Anticipate increased pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the campus area on home game days. 

Please note: Due to the Cannon Dr. relocation project, the Medical Center Dr. exit off of 315 North will remain open to the public, which is a change from prior years when only EMS could access this exit.

Conferences

Buckeye Fire and EMS Conference
September 7 and 8
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Ohio Union at Ohio State University
1739 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43210

This evidence-based continuing education conference will feature lectures on best practices for fire and EMS instruction, as well as discussions on cutting-edge research and the future of patient care. Instructional courses will be offered through a partnership with the Ohio Society of Fire Service Instructors. 12 EMS/Fire/Instruction continuing education credits available.

Learn more and register



Education

The Center for EMS has made education a significant priority, with the long term goal of improving patient outcomes through enhanced EMS training and expertise. To this end, the center provides ongoing training and education to medical directors, EMS personnel and the community at large. 

For more information or to schedule a training session for your unit, please contact the Center for EMS at 614-293-5102 or by email at centerforems@osumc.edu.

Community

The Center for EMS supports community education through the Wexner Medical Center at Ohio State by providing outreach and education that enable community members to facilitate improved health care. Courses and screenings offered include bystander CPR, and stroke and heart disease prevention

Learn more about how Ohio State can help you live a healthier life.

Cardiac Resuscitation Internship

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in conjunction with Columbus Division of Fire and the American Heart Association is pleased to announce a one-year undergraduate Cardiac Resuscitation Internship. This one-year program is designed to improve the provision of CPR in the community by providing CPR training and organizing community programs to increase awareness. Click here for further information 

Submit an Application

EMS Medical Directors

The Center for EMS offers specialized programs focusing on career and skills development, including an annual leadership conference and Ohio Fire and EMS Expo, bringing the most up-to-date research and lecturers to Columbus.

We are also the only medical center in central Ohio offering an EMS Fellowship that prepares future physicians for careers in EMS medical directorship.

EMS Providers

We have been providing EMS with specialty training and conferences for a number of years. Our close relationship with the signature programs at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center allows us to offer innovative training and conferences year-round. The experts who present these conferences not only are leaders in central Ohio, but are the national leaders spearheading research to improve patient outcomes for time-critical diseases like STEMI, stroke, trauma and burn.

We also provide online CEUs explaining the latest, most advanced training and technology for emergency situations.



Emergency Services

Emergency Services

Burn

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.


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cancer

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

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. 

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sepsis

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

STEMI

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for STEMI (ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) is available at Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital as well as at University Hospital East. 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. 

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stroke

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. 

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telestroke

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

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.


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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
  • Delaware County Sheriff’s Department Swat Team
  • Franklin County Sherriff’s Department Swat Team
  • MedFlight, OnmiFlight
  • National Trail Raceway and Honda of America (Marysville)
  • Newark Fire Department
  • Scioto Township Fire Department
  • Worthington Fire Department
  • Upper Arlington Fire Department

Online CEU's

The Center for EMS is pleased to offer continuing education courses online for EMS professionals. Check back often for newly released courses.

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

In conjunction with the Columbus Division of Fire, we are evaluating the differences and challenges of utilizing an ambulance team staffed only by paramedics versus a team comprising a paramedic and an EMT. The data will help understand the impact of alternative staffing models in large metropolitan cities.

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.

Our Team

AshleyLarrimore

Ashley D. Larrimore, MD

Director, Center for EMS and Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine

In addition to her role as assistant professor, Ashley also works with Medflight of Ohio. She completed her emergency medicine residency at The University of Massachusetts Medical Center and her fellowship in emergency medical services at the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Fire Department/UC Aircare and Mobile Care. Larrimore is particularly interested in air medical transport and paramedic education.

GeoffreyFinnegan

Geoffrey Finnegan

EMS Program Specialist

Geoff received his baccalaureate degree in Security and Risk Analysis at Pennsylvania State University College of Information Sciences and Technology. He is also a certified emergency medical technician and EMS instructor. Finnegan came to Ohio State in 2013 to serve as project coordinator for Project RED STAMP, a paramedic airway management education study from the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality. In addition to his work in the Department of Emergency Medicine, he serves as a simulationist in the College of Medicine Clinical Skills Education and Assessment Center.

WilliamKrebs

William A. Krebs, DO

Emergency Medical Services Fellow

Bill, as he likes to be addressed, completed his undergraduate coursework at the University of Dayton, where he was an emergency medical technician with the University’s rescue squad. A graduate of Ohio University College of Medicine, he completed his emergency medicine residency at St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio. While in Toledo, Krebs flew with the Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Life Flight as a flight physician. His interests include critical care transportation and novel technologies in EMS.

JenniferNelson

Jennifer Nelson

Office Associate, Center for EMS

Jennifer Nelson joins the Center for EMS from a rich background of entrepreneurial success. She is the office associate of the center and is the main contact for all EMS communications to The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Our Faculty

AngelosMark

Mark Angelos, MD

Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine

Mark Angelos, MD, joined Ohio State’s faculty in 1991 as an assistant professor in Emergency Medicine. Over the past 24 years, he has actively engaged the three major academic missions of education, research and clinical care.

View my bio

Adkins Eric J3959

Eric J. Adkins, MD

Medical Director, ED, Sepsis

Dr. Adkins is the medical director of the Emergency Department at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center on main campus. He completed his medical degree at West Virginia University in 2002, followed by a five-year residency program for both emergency medicine and internal medicine at Christiana Care Health Services in Delaware, where he served as chief resident in his final year of training. In 2010 he completed a three-year fellowship in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, having served as chief fellow.

LucaDelatore

Luca R. Delatore, MD

Medical Director, James Oncology ED

Dr. DeLatore is an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky, earning a degree in biology before attending medical school at the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. DeLatore completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2014, he practiced at Hilton Head Hospital in South Carolina. Previously he had served as medical director at Flower Hospital in Sylvania, Ohio.

DavidEvans

David C. Evans, MD, FACS

Medical Director, Trauma

Dr. Evans is assistant professor of Surgery and medical director of Ohio State’s level 1 trauma center. A graduate of Duke University Medical School, he came to Ohio State in 2006 for training in surgery and surgical critical care, joining the faculty in 2012. In addition to trauma, Dr. Evans is interested in nutrition in critically ill patients. He is an investigator in the TOP-UP ICU nutrition trial, the GIFT trial for pediatric trauma, and antibiotic and necrotizing soft tissue infection trials, among others. For 2013-14, he received funding from the Ohio Department of Public Safety for aeromedical transportation research.

LarryJones

Larry Jones, MD

Director, Ohio State Comprehensive Burn Center

Dr. Jones is the director of the Burn Center at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which is the only verified burn center in central Ohio. The majority of his career as a trauma and burn surgeon was spent in a private practice setting before arriving at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in 2011. He is board certified as National Faculty of Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS) Courses through the American Board of Surgery, and State Faculty of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Courses through the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

ErnieMazzaferri

Ernest Mazzaferri Jr., MD, FACC, FSCAI

Medical Director, Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital

Dr. Mazzaferri is a high-volume interventional cardiologist who specializes in radial catheterization. An active participant in the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) program at Ohio State, he implanted the first ventricular partitioning device (VPD) in the United States in March 2008. Mazzaferri also is chair for the Central Ohio Mission Lifeline STEMI Accelerator Program, served a term on the American Heart Association's STEMI Science Advisory Task Force and for many years chaired the Mission Lifeline: Ohio Hospital Working group.

MichaelTorbey

Michael T. Torbey, MD

Medical Director, Ohio State Stroke Center

Dr. Torbey earned his medical degree at the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in Beirut, Lebanon. He then completed a neurology residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, followed by a fellowship in neurocritical care at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Torbey’s research focuses on the application of neuroprotective strategies in traumatic brain injury and global and focal ischemia models. He is also involved in multicenter NIH-funded clinical trials for acute neurological disorders.

EMS Resources

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