The Future of EMS | Ethics of Medical Direction in EMS

Presented By: EMSS-AAEM

There is a troubling cultural trend in EMS regarding how new technologies and procedures are being introduced into an EMS system. While certainly all EMS physician medical directors are well-meaning and want to inject new clinical protocols and technology into their systems, it is important that we as an EMS physician community continue to introduce these new ideas in an ethical and safe manner.

Our responsibility is to the community. The community is often left unaware that these novel, cutting-edge clinical protocols or technologies are being implemented in their respective communities. Do we need a better way to inform the community that we are changing the medicine they receive? Should EMS physician medical directors have more oversight than most currently do? If an EMS physician medical director decides to implement a new clinical protocol that might be considered outside the mainstream in a community, should there be safeguards in place to ensure that we aren’t inadvertently experimenting on an unsuspecting populace?

What are some ideas about how we in the EMS physician medical director community can inform our stakeholders and get feedback prior to implementing new things in the field? The ultimate question is, do EMS physician medical directors need more oversight when determining the type of medical care delivered to an entire community?

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Event Details
  • Location: Zoom
  • Date: Tuesday, January 6, 2026
  • Time: 5:00pm CT
Moderator

Scott Goldstein, DO FACEP FAEMS FAAEM
EMSS-AAEM Operating Board Member

Speakers

Cameron Hanson, DO FAAEM

Ryan C. Jacobsen, MD FAAEM
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Kansas School of Medicine
EMS Fellowship Faculty, University of Kansas
Medical Director, EMS Transport System, University of Kansas Health System
Associate Medical Director, Johnson County Community College EMS Training Program

Ryan C. Jacobsen, MD FAAEM, is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a faculty member for the institution’s EMS Fellowship Training Program. He is board-certified in both Emergency Medicine and EMS.

Dr. Jacobsen serves as the medical director for the University of Kansas Health System’s EMS Transport System, overseeing system operations and clinical quality. He also contributes to EMS education as an associate medical director for the Johnson County Community College EMS Training Program, supporting the development of future EMS clinicians.

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