For the last two years, Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s - Ozaukee Campus has worked with local firehouses, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and other Ozaukee County organizations with a common goal of providing the best care possible to the community.
 
EMS clinicians are unique and important members of the care team and enhancing EMS education can have significant impacts on patient safety and outcomes. The unified outreach efforts focus on continuing education for first responders through case reviews, ride-alongs, discussions with Ascension Wisconsin physicians and online learning platforms that balance basic knowledge with new information to help keep local EMS workers performing at their very best.
 
Instructors and speakers recognize this professional collaboration is vital to the healthcare system and effective communication supports the safe and effective transfer of care between prehospital and hospital providers.
 
“Everyone benefits when our communities are doing well,” Andrew Sandler, Ascension Wisconsin EMS service line, said. “After observing EMS efforts across the state, we decided to focus on progressive protocols, which results in top-notch training, improving the care our patients receive and ultimately making our community healthier.”
 
Outreach efforts also focus on improving an “integrated care management structure,” with surrounding hospitals. This means continuing to educate emergency room care teams about the prehospital care EMS crews provide before a patient arrives at the hospital. This understanding and communication can help provide patients with better care and reduce the number of readmissions.
 
With plans to expand outreach efforts to the Racine area, Sandler says he hopes these collaborative efforts will help improve efficiency across southeastern Wisconsin and contribute to the overall health and well-being of every patient.