The Office of Emergency Medical Services

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is pleased to announce the creation of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Recognizing the consistent and long-standing contribution of the EMS program and its increasing responsibilities created by Congressional actions, NHTSA elevated the stature of the EMS Division to match its expanding role, effective February 6.

NHTSA Office of EMS Drew Dawson, Director drew.dawson@.dot.gov 202-366-9966 Susan McHenry, MS susan.mchenry@dot.gov 202-366-6540 David Bryson, EMT-B dave.bryson@.dot.gov 202-366-4302 Gamunu Wijetunge, NREMT-P gamunu.wijetunge@dot.gov 202-493-2793 Laurie Flaherty, RN laurie.flaherty@.dot.gov 202-366-2705 Debbie Boykin debbie.boykin@dot.gov 202-366-5440 Julie Krueger, Public Health Fellow julie.krueger@dot.gov 202-366-5016 Jenny Hansen (Contractor) jenny.hansen@dot.gov 202-366-5598 Address National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Office of EMS 400 Seventh Street, SW (NTI-140) Washington, DC 20590 PHONE: 202-366-5440 FAX: 202-366-7721 New Web page: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov To order EMS materials and publications, visit the NHTSA Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov, and click on “Traffic Safety Materials & Publications” in the Quick Links section.

NHTSA and its predecessor agency have taken the lead in Federal support of national Emergency Medical Services systems development since 1966. NHTSA has always held that an EMS system, ready every day for every emergency, is the best preparation for response to all medical emergencies as well as catastrophic events. Numerous programs and products, including The EMS Agenda for the Future, the Next Generation 9-1-1 Initiative, the National EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach, the National Research Agenda, and the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) demonstrate NHTSA’s ongoing commitment to EMS. With a proven track record, an expanding role, and elevated status the Office of EMS will provide guidance and assistance to EMS systems nationwide.

The Office of EMS will continue its mission to reduce death and disability by providing leadership and coordination of comprehensive, evidence-based emergency medical services and 9-1-1 systems. This national EMS office, in close coordination with its Federal partners, will serve its constituents with a coordinated, consensus-based process to reinforce the vital role of the EMS community in shaping and realizing its own future.

With a vision of universal and quality emergency medical care leading to optimal patient outcomes, the Office of EMS will function specifically to improve all aspects of EMS systems, at the local, State, and national level. With its Federal and national partners, and management of the statutorily created Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS), this national EMS office will continue to provide the EMS community with a mechanism for ongoing Federal coordination of EMS programs.