Future-proofing EMS: How a new course is building results-driven problem solvers

NOTE: Be sure to check out the Inside EMS podcast this month where Rob Lawrence will be joining Kelly Grayson as a guest cohost for Chris Cebollero.  In this episode of the EMS One-Stop podcast, Dr. Dave Williams discusses an exciting new master's-level course designed for EMS and fire leaders, focused on advanced improvement science. Along with Mike Taigman, Dr. Williams is leading this program, which aims to equip leaders with the tools and methods necessary to achieve results-driven improvement in their EMS systems. Over the course of 12 months, attendees will work on real-world projects, gaining the skills needed to make data-driven decisions and improve patient care outcomes within their organizations. Dr. Williams also dives into the core concepts of improvement science, including understanding of variation and the importance of creating organizational systems that support sustainable improvements. He shares insights into the curriculum, the significance of benchmarking and how the course will help EMS leaders tackle systemic challenges by applying proven improvement methodologies. This conversation also touches on the future of EMS leadership and how innovation in data management, process design and leadership will shape the profession moving forward. Timeline 02:22 – Dr. Williams explains the background of the course, highlighting how it builds on improvement science to drive better results in EMS systems. He and Mike Taigman aim to teach EMS leaders to use data and evidence to improve patient care outcomes. 06:16 – Quality improvement: Dr. Williams discusses the gap in EMS leadership regarding quality improvement, emphasizing that quality needs to be integrated into the leadership team’s responsibilities, not treated as a separate function. 11:01 – Why data matters: The conversation shifts to the importance of data in EMS improvement efforts. Dr. Williams highlights how collecting and analyzing data helps organizations understand system performance and drive change. 15:43 – The fleet management example: Rob shares a fleet management story where data was used to improve vehicle downtime, highlighting the real-world impact of using improvement science to solve practical challenges. 19:29 – Project-based learning in the course: Dr. Williams elaborates on the project-based nature of the course, explaining how each participant will bring a real-world project that directly impacts their organization and use improvement science to solve it. 23:09 – Practical applications: Dr. Williams talks about how the course will blend online learning with in-person workshops, providing practical tools and methods that participants can apply to their projects throughout the year. 31:08 – Course logistics: Dr. Williams discusses course deadlines and important dates, including the application deadline of April 18, 2025; and the course's first workshop in September 2025. 54:05 – ROI and the course's value: Dr. Williams emphasizes the return on investment for attending the course, explaining that solving organizational problems through improvement science will ultimately save money and improve results for EMS services. 1:00 – Final thoughts: Rob and Dr. Williams close the conversation by reiterating the uniqueness of the course and its potential to reshape EMS leadership through the application of improvement science. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Next-level improvement science: New master-level course equips EMS and fire leaders with advanced improvement science skills Course application deadline: April 18, 2025 Course start date: July 22, 2025 Workshop dates: September 2025; February 2026 Mastering data and EMS performance metrics with Mike Taigman: Exploring how data informs change, improves clinical outcomes and drives leadership decisions Improve EMS quality with a model that works: The simple yet powerful Model for Improvement holds the key to making real changes to an EMS organization