Partnering for Progress: How South Carolina is Shaping the Future of EMS with Henry Lewis

What if EMS was more than transport? In this episode of The Leadership Lab, Asbel Montes sits down with Henry Lewis, Executive Director of the South Carolina EMS Association, to explore how EMS is moving beyond flashing lights and faster ambulances to become a cornerstone of community healthcare. Henry shares how South Carolina unified fragmented EMS groups, built cross-sector partnerships, and secured millions in new funding to strengthen the workforce pipeline. From embedding community paramedics into rural health clinics to protecting $16M in Medicaid revenue, this episode highlights what it really takes to shift EMS from a reactive transport model to a sustainable, integrated healthcare delivery system. You'll learn: ✅ Why the average paramedic age (42+) signals a workforce crisis ✅ How South Carolina created a unified voice across public, private, and air ambulance services ✅ The innovative programs expanding EMS training in "education deserts" ✅ How rural clinics and EMS are partnering to deliver better outcomes for 12,000+ patients ✅ Why reimbursement reform—not grants—is key to long-term sustainability ✅ What policymakers and healthcare finance leaders must do to support EMS transformation Only 8% of EMS calls are true emergencies, yet the system still pays for transport first. Without reform, EMS risks collapse. With collaboration, innovation, and aligned incentives, EMS can deliver value-based care that improves outcomes and reduces costs.   Links: Asbel Montes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634 Asbel Montes Book (In Plain Sight): https://asbelmontes.com/store/ Asbel Montes Website: https://asbelmontes.com/    Henry Lewis Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-lewis-mha-nrp-cem-303a47251/   Solutions Group Services: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices  Website -  ​​https://www.solutionsgroup.com/