Push Dose EMS

In this episode of Push Dose EMS, Shane Hughes and Dr. Tom Grawey discuss how to recognize and manage the peri-arrest patient before they progress to cardiac arrest. The conversation challenges the traditional rapid transport mindset and focuses on early identification, treating the underlying cause, and making patient movement safer through deliberate, meaningful interventions.   Email Mike: mich...

This episode takes a one-year look at Milwaukee County’s prehospital whole blood program, exploring how it was built, implemented, and refined across a complex EMS system. Dr. Amy Stasik, Dr. Tom Engel, and Dan Pojar share key lessons learned, clinical impact, and opportunities for improvement - from patient recognition to system coordination.   Email Mike: michael.cohen@milwaukeecountywi.gov

In this episode of Push Dose EMS, Dr. Mitch Byrd and Quality Assurance Manager Matt Pinsoneault break down what QA/QI means in modern EMS. The discussion highlights Milwaukee County’s shift toward a just culture, focusing on learning, system design, and provider engagement rather than blame, and emphasizes how documentation and clinician involvement drive meaningful change and better patient outco...

Every call generates data, but what actually happens to it? This month, we take a behind-the-scenes look at how EMS documentation fuels system performance, research, and operational decisions across Milwaukee County. Learn how your charting shapes dashboards, deployment strategy, and quality improvement efforts.    Email Mike: michael.cohen@milwaukeecountywi.gov   Email Milwaukee County Data Analy...

Pediatric 911 encounters account for just over 5% of Milwaukee County EMS calls, but they require disciplined assessment and rapid recognition.  In this episode, we discuss assessment pearls, talk about common emergencies in the pediatric population, and take a look at our current pediatric EMS study, the Pedi-PART Trial.   Email Mike: michael.cohen@milwaukeecountywi.gov   Pedi-PART SOAR Card Refe...

This episode explores postpartum hemorrhage and what EMS providers need to know for early recognition and effective prehospital management. With insight from Dr. Rachel Harrison and Dr. Amy Stasik, we review the 4 Ts, updated guidelines, and whole blood considerations.    Email Mike: michael.cohen@milwaukeecountywi.gov   NAEMSP OB Emergency Guidelines: Now Available: New EMS Obstetric Emergency Gu...

A challenging Oak Creek call with seizure activity, head trauma, and a late DNR highlights decision-making in the gray zone of EMS. The crew reflects on airway management and ethics to strengthen clinical judgment in the field.   Email Mike: michael.cohen@milwaukeecountywi.gov   Spaite, D. W., Hu, C., Bobrow, B. J., Chikani, V., Barnhart, B., Gaither, J. B., Denninghoff, K. R., Adelson, P. D., Kei...

Saving lives takes more than rapid response in today world.  Host and OEM EMS Clinician Development Manager, Shane Hughes, welcomes Lt. Mason Barribeau of Oak Creek Fire Rescue, Kendall Wolter, City of Wauwatosa Social Worker and Dr. Amy Stasik, MCW Fellow to discuss the evolving roles, responsibilities and scenarios of Community Paramedicine in the Milwaukee County EMS system.

Host Shane Hughes, OEM EMS Clinician Development Manager, along with Dr. Mitch Byrd, Emergency Medicine Physician and MCW EMS Fellow, plus Lt. Jessica Ziems, Milwaukee Fire Department Paramedic, discuss a bradycardia case.

Co-Hosts Shane Hughes, OEM EMS Clinician Development Manager and Dr. Tom Grawey, Deputy Chief Medical Director of the Milwaukee County EMS System, welcome Medical College EM Fellows Dr. Amy Stasik and Dr. Mitch Byrd to discuss a unique case.  Also, medical director messaging from EMS Division Director Dan Pojar (while Dr. Weston is on vacation) and a purpose statement of the new CDUs (clinician de...

Host and Clinician Development Manager, Shane Hughes welcomes Drs. Amy Stasik and Mitch Byrd as Medical College of Wisconsin, EMS Fellows to OEM and the Milwaukee County EMS System.  Plus, Chief Medical Director, Dr. Ben Weston highlights the importance of fellowship program and collaboration with the system.

Host and Clinician Development Manager, Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Director Dr. Tom Grawey, and Dr. Max Nanes from Aurora Advocate discuss Hospice and Palliative Care.

Host and Clinician Development Manager, Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Director Dr. Tom Grawey, and Clinical Neuro Psychologist Dr. Mike McCrea from Froedert and the Medical College of Wisconsin, discuss 'H' bombs and pearls of mastering Traumatic Brain Injury care.

Host and Clinical Development Manager, Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Directors Dr. Tom Grawey and Dr. Tom Engel discuss the status, successes and lessons learned of the Milwaukee County Prehospital Blood Program.

Host and Clinical Development Manager, Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Director Dr. Grawey - and special guests Jared Roorda and Michelle Mooring, talk about April being National Donate Life Month and information for EMS about organ donation.

Host and Clinical Development Manager, Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Director Dr. Grawey and special guest OEM Educator Mike Cohen discuss the pursuit of excellence, personal wellbeing and the initial thoughts on lifelong learning and the development of a growth mindset.

Host Shane Hughes, along with Deputy Chief Medical Director Dr. Grawey and special guest Flight For Life, Flight Paramedic Ryan Gauthier discuss the components of the gray area, decision making, assessment and reassessment of challenging EMS cases.

Host Jeff Matcha, along with Assistant Medical Director Dr. Grawey and special guests from WAFD Cpt Steve Kaltenbrun, HEO Dan Groh, FF/PM Anthony Bilderback, FF/PM Samuel Knutson, FF/PM Andrew Crum, and FF/EMT Brandon Chastain, talk through the treatment of a difficult patient.

This episode focus' on the pneumonic SPIKES and delivering bad news to parents or family of our pediatric patients. 

Host Jeff Matcha, along with Assistant Medical Director Dr. Grawey, and special guest from Children's Hospital Dr. Amy Romashko and from Milwaukee Fire Dept. Lt. Zak Hennessy 

Host Jeff Matcha, along with System Medical Director Dr. Weston, Assistant Medical Director Dr. Engel, and special guest Mike Bindokas, discuss some of the latest guideline updates.

Host Jeff Matcha, along with System Medical Director Dr. Weston, Assistant Medical Director Dr. Grawey, and special guest Sean Duffey, J.D., discuss the issues surrounding Elijah McClain's death and what we can learn from it.

Host Jeff Matcha, along with System Medical Director Dr. Weston, EMS Division Director Dan Pojar, Assistant Medical Director Dr. Grawey, Joel Vallier, and special guest pediatric emergency fellow Dr. Jamie Holland, discuss system updates, and using our critical thinking skills in pediatric patients.

Host Jeff Matcha, along with System Medical Director Dr. Weston, EMS Division Director Dan Pojar, Assistant Medical Director Dr. Grawey, Joel Vallier, and special guest Dr. Jamie Jasti, discuss system updates, and honing our critical thinking skills.

Host Jeff Matcha, along with System Medical Director Dr. Weston, EMS Fellow Dr. Dahlstrom, and PA Joel Vallier, discuss how to choose the right airway adjunct for a patient.