The next EMS Board meeting will be held:
September 13 and 14, 2022. More information and Zoom meeting links can be found on our EMS Boards and Subcommittee Meetings webpage.
2022 EMS Board Meeting Dates:
September 13 and 14
December 6 and 7
About the EMS Board
The EMS Board provides recommendations directly to DHS. Listed below is a summary of the roles and duties of the EMS Board.
EMS Board subcommittees are formed to address specific issues and develop recommendations on EMS-related topics. All voting members are appointed by the Board and attend meetings quarterly in conjunction with the regular Board meetings. As with all Board meetings, members of the public are encouraged to attend.
EMS Board members are appointed by the Governor. Appointment information and application. All persons interested in serving on a standing subcommittee should submit their application, F-00568 to the Wisconsin EMS Section.
EMS Board and Subcommittee Meetings
Statutory Duties
- Appoint an advisory committee of physicians with expertise in the emergency medical services area to advise the department on the criteria for selection of the state medical director for emergency medical services and on the performance of the director and to advise the director on appropriate medical issues.
- Periodically review all emergency medical services statutes and rules for surface, water and air transportation and recommend to the department and the department of transportation changes in those statutes and rules to provide different personnel and equipment requirements, where appropriate, for emergency response, nonemergency response and interfacility transportation of patients.
- Seek involvement in its deliberations by appropriate personnel from the department, the technical college system board and the department of transportation.
- Seek involvement in its deliberations by ambulance service provider personnel, emergency medical services practitioners, emergency medical responders, persons who train emergency medical services personnel and other interested persons.
- Advise, make recommendations to, and consult with the department concerning the funding under Wis. Stat. § 256.12(4) and (5), including recommending a formula for allocating funds among ambulance service providers under Wis. Stat. § 256.12(5).
- Review the annual budget prepared by the department for the expenditures under Wis. Stat. § 20.435(1) (ch).
- Prepare written information on cardiocerebral resuscitation and provide the information to persons who offer certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Prepare recommendations on training and approval qualifications for community paramedics and community emergency medical services practitioners.
- Serve as a repository and contact for information and guidance on rendering first aid to domestic animals. In developing any guidance under this subsection, the board shall consult with a licensed veterinarian who is trained in pre-hospitalization emergency care of domestic animals. Appoints EMS subcommittee membership.
EMS Board and Subcommittee Position Statements
Member Contact Information | Member Contact Information |
Jerry Biggart (Chair) |
Justin Pluess |
Brian Litza (Secretary) |
Gregory West (Vice Chair) |
Timothy Bantes |
Michael Clark, MD, MPH |
Dustin Ridings Green Bay Metro Fire Department Green Bay, Wisconsin (term expires 05/01/23) |
Chris Eberlein, MD Gundersen Health LaCrosse, Wisconsin (term expires 05/01/24) |
Christopher Anderson |
Government Representatives DHS/DPH Representative State EMS and Trauma Medical Director Department of Transportation (DOT) Representative EMSC Representative WTCS Board Representative |
Steven Zils, MD |
|
Jennifer Hernandez-Meier, PhD, MSW |
Subcommittee Membership
EMS Board subcommittees are formed to address specific issues and develop recommendations on EMS-related topics. All voting members are appointed by the Board and attend meetings the first Tuesday of the month in conjunction with the regular Board meetings. As with all Board meetings, members of the public are encouraged to attend. A calendar of meeting dates/locations is posted on this website.
All persons interested in serving on a standing committee should submit their application, F-00568 to the Wisconsin EMS Section.
Standing committees are listed below, with Board members in boldface.
Subcommittee Functions |
Member |
EMS Systems Quality and Data
|
* Chris Eberlein, MD (Chair) |
EMS Education and Training
|
* Biran Litza (Chair) |
EMS System Management and Development
|
* Chris Anderson (Chair) |
EMS Physician Advisory Committee
|
* Steven Zils, MD (Chair) |
Establishment of the Wisconsin EMS Advisory Board Human Relations Committee The mission of the Wisconsin EMS Board Human Relations Committee (HRC) is to provide information on how to create, adopt, educate, and implement cultural competency for EMS providers. The HRC will also address specific emergency medical considerations relative to the diverse population that resides in and visits the State of Wisconsin, and within individual EMS agencies. In addition to working on the mission, the EMS HRC will define where they expect to be in the future. The HRC’s vision will provide Wisconsin EMS practitioners with a future view that can be shared within their organization, a clear sense of direction, a mobilization of energy, impacts on recruitment and retention of a diverse workforce, and knowledge of how to instill engagement in something as important as diversity and inclusion in EMS care and the EMTs that provide it. The EMS HRC will create a Human Dignity Statement to define the committee’s culture, belief system, and core values, thus providing a foundation in an environment that is always changing. Further, the HRC will create applicable strategic initiatives, goals, and objectives for emergency medical services and disparities in EMS care that may exist. Analyzing and prioritizing the patients and practitioners, and the emergency medical services industry strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) is the first step in identifying actionable strategies for the future. The EMS HRC will consist of representatives from several historically underrepresented populations, including Black and/or African American, Native American, Asian American, the disability community, women, Hispanic and/or Latinx, the LGBTQIA+ community, and veterans. The EMS HRC will be selected by the EMS Board through the established committee election process and adhere to the same operational policies of EMS Board Committees. However, the role of Chair and Vice Chair of the EMS HRC may be delegated to an elected member that is not a member of the EMS Board. At minimum, there will be one EMS Board Member assigned as the liaison to the EMS HRC. Additionally, the EMS HRC will have one EMS physician to serve as a medical advisor on recommendations related to field emergency medicine. The Wisconsin EMS Board recognizes that diversity, inclusion, racial and gender equity issues are being raised within EMS across the State. The EMS Board acknowledges that there are a number of EMS agencies as well as affinity groups that are discussing and addressing diversity and inclusion issues, and our goal is to create a mechanism to mutually support each other in achieving equity, diversity and inclusion goals for patients and practitioners. The objective is to inspire positive change in EMS. The representative populations identified in this initial committee creation may expand at any point by the action of the EMS Board majority. |
Liaisons Laura Albert |