Since its inception, the field of emergency medicine has always worked closely with first responders such as field EMS personnel to provide care for the critically ill and injured. Acting as extenders of the emergency physician and ambassadors to the health care system, out-of-hospital providers naturally look to the emergency department as a link to a healthcare landscape that is continuously changing and growing based on current medical literature and best practices.
At the University of Wisconsin, we have embraced this role and sought innovative ways to bring cutting edge medicine to the sickest of the sick, long before they arrive at the “front door of the hospital.”
The Division of Prehospital Medicine strives to unite the educational mission of the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Idea by extending outstanding emergency care to the prehospital arena. The division is comprised of a number of physicians who are dual-boarded or board-eligible in Emergency Medical Services and whose area(s) of focus include critical care transport, primary EMS medical direction, and prehospital education. Multiple faculty hold leadership positions not only within the University but at regional, national, and international levels. Our prehospital physicians have been invited to present at countless national and international conferences and are recognized as experts in their field.
While prehospital medicine is intellectually challenging and physically demanding work, it is also among the most fulfilling and rewarding ways to practice medicine. We invite you to explore our prehospital sections and connect with our faculty.
Prehospital Sections
UW Health Med Flight
Our premier air and ground critical care transport and retrieval service has served the upper Midwest for over 35 years and is recognized as one of the safest air medical transport services in the country.
Emergency Medical Services
The EMS Section provides leadership in education, quality assurance, protocol development, physician response, EMS research and prehospital advocacy. UW has provided medical direction for primary EMS services in Dane County for more than a decade.
Event Medicine
Event Medicine is the planning, execution and post-event review of medical care provided during any mass gathering. The Department of Emergency Medicine provides medical coverage for several area events, including UW Athletics and IRONMAN Wisconsin.
Prehospital Continuing Education
In partnership with UW Health, the Department of Emergency Medicine offers a variety of educational programming aimed at providers in the prehospital setting. Our expert faculty develop, teach, and oversee classroom training, advanced simulations using state-of-the-art technology, case reviews, and high-yield experiences for all levels of care providers.
Our goal is to ensure that local and regional emergency response teams are able to access and utilize the highest level of education and training so they are prepared to handle complex, real-world scenarios.