In today’s age of AI, social media, and the Internet – where anyone and
everyone can proclaim to be an “expert” – we are surrounded by
misinformation. Unfortunately, Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC’s) are
some of the leading disseminators of this misinformation. Although trying to be helpful
(by hosting training sessions, consortiums, coalition meetings, and other educational seminars)
these MACs sometimes provide a disservice to the EMS community by providing false,
inaccurate, or misleading information. This session highlights some recent
statements made by the MAC representatives causing confusion and
non-compliance, which can trigger overpayment liability – or worse, allegations of fraud.
This is a tale about being careful who you receive information from, who you
should trust, and the need to fact-check your information before you commit a
major error.
The title of the proposed session is a take-off of Yvon Chouinard’s book “Let My People Go Surfing”. Chouinard, being the owner of the outdoor clothing/equipment company, Patagonia. The description of my proposed session is similar to the concept he writes of; letting his employees go surfing while working ends up creating more productive employees. The application I would use this theory for would be to let your employees rest when they can and they will end up being more productive. My presentation takes a big focus on fatigue mitigation and when to say enough is enough for our crew’s wellbeing and safety.
Experience a new style of presentation at Annual this year!
Our lineup of speakers will deliver Pecha Kucha–style presentations, where each session lasts 6 minutes and 40 seconds and tells a story through powerful, image-based slides. Using 20 slides shown for 20 seconds each, presenters will share ideas in a format that keeps content focused, dynamic, and engaging. These concise presentations highlight strong visuals and clear storytelling, creating an energetic session full of fresh perspectives you won’t want to miss.
Beyond the Band-Aid: Leading the Transformation Mandate in EMS with Marshall Woodmansee
The next wave of young leaders demands wholesale transformation, rejecting the incrementalism that has failed to solve the industry’s most pressing crises. This session explores the communication strategies of today’s most influential “disruptor” archetypes and connects their winning messaging to the future of EMS. Attendees will learn how to shift from “managing decline” to actively leading the systemic changes required to attract talent and ensure long-term industry sustainability.
Method to the Madness with Donna Hankins
Igniting Joy: A Leader’s Guide to EMS Wellness with Marc Kilman-Burnham
In the high-stakes world of EMS, is joy an elusive dream or a powerful tool for wellness? This Pecha Kucha for leaders asserts it’s the latter. We’ll dive headfirst into the “how”: understanding the critical need to ask the right questions, fostering realistic and empathetic relationships with our providers, and consciously embracing moments of joy to build a foundation of sustainable well-being. In 20 slides, we’ll demonstrate that a joyful, well-supported EMS team isn’t just possible, it’s essential – and entirely within your leadership’s grasp.
The Day the Sirens Came for Us with Nick Romenesko
My presentation shares the personal story of June 4, 2022—the day our family’s life changed forever. My daughter was struck and run over by a pickup truck just after learning to ride her bike. I responded as both her father and the senior paramedic on scene. This presentation examines the emotional challenges of that day, the personal impact of each call, and the significance of mental health in emergency services.
The Courage to Ask for Help – What to do When Saying, ‘I Got This’ Fails with Elisabeth Handgraaf
In this presentation, Elisabeth “Lis” Handgraaf shares her journey from isolation to collaboration as a new leader, learning that strength comes from connection, not perfection. Attendees will learn to: (1) ask for help early and often, (2) lean on mentors and team support, and (3) embrace imperfection as a path to authentic, effective leadership.
Can Community Building Fix the Workforce Shortage with Michael Kaduce
Today, we delve into how community building can play a role in addressing the workforce shortage in Emergency Medical Services. Research has demonstrated that fostering a strong sense of belonging among team members enhances engagement, collaboration, and overall job satisfaction, and that those in high-reliance occupations stay longer when they feel part of a team. However, little real-world application has been observed in initial EMS education.
The Falck Health Institute has focused on incorporating effective strategies to create a welcoming environment that encourages open communication, critical thinking, and dialogue among their initial education EMT students and new hire orientation. These tactics emphasize the importance of structured collaboration and group work, enabling participants to engage in meaningful interactions that strengthen team dynamics. Additionally, mentorship and peer support methods will be highlighted as essential tools for cultivating relationships and fostering a culture of success.
With over 20 years of experience and $20 million secured in grant funding, Bob W. Hargis shares creative strategies ambulance services can use to elevate their grant writing success. Attendees will learn how to craft compelling narratives, align proposals with funder priorities, and leverage storytelling to stand out. Participants will leave with actionable tools to identify fundable projects, build persuasive budgets, and avoid common pitfalls in competitive applications.
In this session, Deputy Chief Terence Sheehy challenges the false choice between empathy and accountability in EMS leadership. Participants will learn how to hold difficult conversations without damaging trust, apply a structured method for coaching performance issues, and set clear expectations that stabilize team culture. Attendees leave with practical tools for balancing compassion with standards, improving supervisory consistency, and strengthening workforce relationships.
This talk explores the link between efforts to promote our industry, agency, or individual personnel and the psychological well-being of our team members. Are we unintentionally contributing to career ending thoughts or suicidal tragedy? Do our T-shirts, window stickers, license plates, ball caps, and social media profiles unintentionally damage our psyche? Do we allow our personal brand to be corrupted by political messaging related to our career? This talk critically examines the impact of cognitive dissonance among fire and EMS personnel; and how it may be a significant contributor to the current mental health crisis.
We are faced with a multitude of “ethical dilemmas” in EMS – from on the scene patient care decisions to the workplace, business and financial decisions we make as leaders. How we treat the weak, the vulnerable, the destitute, and the “easily taken advantage of” – says a lot about our EMS agency and ourselves as individuals. Making the tough ethical decisions takes courage and can be a challenge in the face of conflicting values and the difficult environment in which we operate.
In this session we will describe the science of ethics, the top ethical challenges we face as EMS leaders, and discuss specific steps we can each take to ensure that we make the “right” decisions for our long-term success and for the health and well-being of our patients and the communities we serve. We’ll wrap it up with a discussion on “compassionomics” and how providing compassionate care to patients not only improves the mental and physical well-being of both patients and caregivers – it improves patient outcomes and our financial bottom line.
This session shares how Brewster Ambulance Service’s multiyear discharge lounge model at St. Luke’s Hospital reduced door-to-discharge times, improved UHU, increased revenue-per-run, and enhanced satisfaction for patients, staff, and EMS crews. Presenters outline why other lounges failed and provide a practical framework for success. Participants will learn how to evaluate feasibility at their hospitals, implement key operational components, and track essential KPIs from day one.
Controlled-substance diversion is a hidden but serious risk in EMS. In this session, Priority Ambulance Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Nursing Officer Diahan Underwood examines how diversion occurs, what EMS leaders must watch for, and the regulatory duties they cannot overlook. Participants will learn to recognize high-risk points in field operations, implement effective DEA-aligned oversight, and apply practical prevention strategies to strengthen agency accountability and patient safety immediately.
In EMS, clinical excellence saves lives—but patient experience builds trust, loyalty, and community confidence. This high-energy session will show why patient experience is just as important as clinical outcomes and how EMS organizations can create a culture that values both.
We’ll explore:
The Business Case: How patient experience impacts reputation, funding, and growth
The Human Factor: Why empathy and communication matter as much as clinical skill
Actionable Strategies: Proven methods to measure, improve, and sustain exceptional experiences
In a world where EMS leaders face relentless villains like staffing shortages, burnout, and financial pressures, this dynamic, co-presented session brings the Batman & Robin partnership to life as a model for collaborative leadership. Through engaging stories, interactive exercises, and practical strategies, participants will learn how to combine visionary thinking with tactical action to solve workforce challenges. This session emphasizes heroic habits—prioritizing employees, fixing the little things, and leading with clarity and courage—because in EMS, your team is your Gotham, and they need you to answer the call.
