EMS Leadership Academy for Rural Wisconsin Ambulance Services

Locally owned and operated ambulance services or emergency medical services (EMS) are a vital component of the rural healthcare system in Wisconsin.  In recent years these services have faced growing challenges related to declining volunteerism, more demand for services and increasing clinical, operation and financial complexity. As rural healthcare becomes more regionalized the importance of these local services grow.

To assist local EMS leaders in meeting these challenges The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health sponsors an EMS Leadership Academy.  The Academy is a 60-hour leadership development and training program specifically designed to build the abilities and skills of those operating local EMS agencies.  The Academy is a product of SafeTech Solutions, LLP, an international leadership development firm that specializes in EMS and rural healthcare.

The Academy is provided in four 15-hour levels that use engaging, participatory and experiential learning methods. Participants learn the fundamentals of leadership and leading change and the key elements of creating EMS agencies that are reliable, sustainable and consistently providing high quality services.

Since 2011, 255 managers and leaders from more than 100 Wisconsin ambulance services have participated in the Academy.  Participants consistently give the Academy high ratings.