The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine has launched updated EMS protocols and a new website to support emergency medical services professionals across Wisconsin.
The UW EMS protocols, policies and procedures reflect current best practices and the UW’s emphasis on innovation in prehospital care, with updates designed for real-time use in the field. The new UW EMS website, ems.emed.wisc.edu, outlines medical direction services, clinical resources, and education and research opportunities available through UW Health, the integrated health system affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The team is also developing a companion app to put UW EMS protocols within easier reach on scene.
EMS professionals operate under dynamic, time-sensitive conditions in which clear, reliable information can directly affect patient outcomes, said Dr. Megan Gussick, associate professor of emergency medicine and division chief of prehospital medicine.
“Our goal is to put expert, evidence-based information in the hands of EMS teams when and where they need it,” Gussick said. “Paired with our advanced education and training capabilities, these resources support effective clinical decision-making in the field and consistent prehospital care across the system.”
EMS medical protocols turn physician guidance into practical care pathways for the field. They help paramedics and emergency medical technicians assess, treat and transport patients while preserving room for clinical judgment in complex or rapidly changing situations.
According to Gussick, the updated UW EMS protocols are responsive to the realities of modern prehospital care and provide support for emerging tools and expanded treatments that help EMS clinicians deliver advanced care before a patient reaches the hospital.
“We have added several new medications and indications, including cefazolin for open fractures, ketamine and levetiracetam for seizures, and buprenorphine for opioid withdrawal,” she said.
Other updates include complex airway management, including tracheostomy and left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, care; expanded behavioral health protocols; blood product administration; and large vessel occlusion identification for stroke. Guidance on prehospital ultrasound gives trained EMS clinicians another tool to assess critically ill or injured patients before they reach the hospital.
Usability was also a major focus in updating the protocols, said Dr. Michael Lohmeier, associate professor of emergency medicine and lead medical director for ground EMS.
“Our protocols have been reformatted with larger text, clearer organization and faster navigation,” he said. “We have also integrated our pediatric quick reference guide into the protocols. This popular resuscitation aid simplifies medication dosing for children by eliminating calculations and providing ready-to-use doses in milliliters.”
For clinicians treating critically ill or injured children, Lohmeier said, removing extra calculations can save time and lower the risk of dosing errors during high-stress calls.
The new EMS website complements these clinical tools by serving two audiences: current UW EMS Consortium partners and EMS agencies across Wisconsin exploring clinical and academic services.
For current partners, the site provides direct access to protocols, a shared calendar of education and training events, and curated resources such as regulatory guidance, professional position statements and prehospital research.
For prospective partners, the site highlights UW’s approach to EMS medical direction: close collaboration with field clinicians, continuous quality improvement and access to the resources of Wisconsin’s leading academic medical center.
The Division of Prehospital Medicine includes eight physicians board-certified in both emergency medicine and EMS — and one of the few physicians in the U.S. with additional board certification in clinical informatics. The team provides a range of services, including education, quality management and operational support. Partner agencies also have access to experts in pediatric emergency medicine, technical rescue, tactical medicine, rural EMS and other specialized areas of prehospital care.
The launch coincides with National EMS Week, observed May 17–23, 2026, under the theme “Improving Outcomes, Together.” For the UW, that theme reflects the shared work of first responders, dispatchers, physician medical directors, hospitals and health systems to strengthen care from the first call to the final handoff.
It also reflects the core goal of the UW’s EMS work: giving clinicians and agencies across Wisconsin the tools, training and support they need to deliver remarkable health care when it matters most.
About the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine
The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine was founded in 2014 and has rapidly grown into a nationally recognized academic department advancing emergency medicine through education, research and remarkable patient care.
As part of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, the department’s more than 60 core faculty help shape emergency care across UW Health emergency departments, regional prehospital services and statewide clinical partnerships. Global and social emergency medicine work extends this impact around the world.
Guided by the Wisconsin Idea, the department is committed to cultivating a people-first culture that strengthens its teams, promotes healthy communities and fuels lasting change.
EMS agencies interested in partnering with UW Health and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health can contact uwprehospital@medicine.wisc.edu for more information.