A note of thanks from TeamHealth’s Emergency Medicine EMS Leaders Committee
Every call. Every shift. Every life saved. EMS professionals are there—day and night—bringing care, compassion, and courage directly to the scene. During National EMS Week, we pause to recognize the extraordinary individuals who serve as the first point of contact in many medical emergencies and honor this year’s theme: We Care. For Everyone.
At TeamHealth, this theme resonates deeply. We know that high-quality emergency care begins long before a patient reaches the hospital doors. Our work with EMS professionals across the country reflects a shared mission: to deliver seamless, lifesaving care grounded in trust, communication, and respect. Whether coordinating treatment plans at the bedside or consulting in high-pressure handoffs, we rely on the expertise, quick thinking, and teamwork of EMS personnel to help ensure the best possible outcomes for every patient.
This week—and every week—we celebrate EMS professionals as vital members of the healthcare continuum. We also recommit to supporting their well-being and recognizing the indispensable role they play in every community we serve.
Recognizing the Lifesaving Work of EMS Professionals
For EMS week, we recognize the integral nature every EMT and paramedic play in patient care as they arrive in our emergency departments across the country. Dr. Adam Darnobid, Facility Medical Director, Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medicine EMS Leaders Committee Chair says, “This first care provided prehospitally impacts our patients and greatly affects their outcomes. The work environments are austere, challenging, and our EMS colleagues do an outstanding job day in and day out. TeamHealth recognizes you and your hard work and sincerely thanks you.”
“As a national group made up of emergency medicine leaders we, the Emergency Medicine EMS Leaders Committee, have invested our collective talent and energies to support EMS the best we can. Clinicians across the country recognize the critical nature of EMS and are developing ways to further improve our working relationship with EMS. Our teams remain available and ready to work with you and your crews to continue to deliver exceptional care.”
Fostering a Supportive Culture
Dr. Randal Dabbs, Co-Founder, President, Practice Development remembers when less than kind comments were heard from those waiting for the patient on the ambulance bay. “I discovered early in my career as an emergency physician how common it was to hear hospital-based clinicians and nurses criticize the care given to EMS patients prior to their arrival to the emergency department. Then, I took the time to ride with the medics after my shift was over and gained a new appreciation for the sacrifices they make as they run ‘lights and sirens’ to unsafe places, to care for critically injured and ill patients without the tools and comforts of the ED.”
Dr. Dabbs firmly believes EMTs serve an integral role in the care of the emergency patient under the most challenging conditions. “They deserve acknowledgement and praise for their commitment to their work and the patient. During EMS week, seek out an EMS professional and thank them for their dedication and service—let them know how much they mean to the team.”
Caring for the Caregivers: Wellness Resources for EMS Teams
Behind every swift response and life saved is a human being carrying the weight of the moment. Dr. Kirby Black, Facility Medical Director, Emergency Medicine knows that all EMS professionals face intense physical and emotional demands—often without pause. “At TeamHealth, we believe that caring for the caregivers is essential. Supporting the health and resilience of EMS teams isn’t optional; it’s vital.” Below are national and community resources dedicated to helping EMS professionals protect their own well-being as they continue to serve others:
- The Resource Center for National EMS Week
- NAEMT Treatment and Prevention Programs
- EMS Mental Health Resources
Standing With You, Today and Always
As we celebrate National EMS Week, we’re reminded that care is more than a clinical act—it’s a commitment to people. This year’s National EMS Week theme, We Care. For Everyone, is a powerful reflection of the compassion and dedication that define EMS professionals. It also reflects TeamHealth’s belief that the well-being of our patients is inseparable from the well-being of those who serve them.
To every EMT, paramedic, and EMS clinician: thank you. Thank you for meeting people in their most vulnerable moments and offering not just treatment, but humanity. Thank you for being a steady presence when seconds matter most.
At TeamHealth, we are proud to stand with you, work alongside you, and advocate for you. Because caring for everyone starts with caring for each other—and that includes those who deliver care on the front lines every day.
Happy EMS Week—and thank you for everything you do!