The Division of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School is a leader in out-of-hospital emergency medical care. Our mission is to provide exceptional medical direction to EMS and public safety agencies while advancing the field of prehospital medicine through research, policy development, and education. Our team is also deeply involved in tactical, rescue, and disaster medicine operations, offering unparalleled expertise in these specialized fields.
Comprehensive Medical Direction
The Division provides medical direction to a diverse range of EMS agencies as well as tactical, rescue, and air medical programs. With a dedicated team of experts, we provide physician leadership, education, and support to EMS and public safety agencies, focusing on enhancing patient care, provider safety, and system effectiveness. We ensure the highest quality of prehospital care and operations through training oversight, quality improvement initiatives, policy development, and real-time physician consultation and response.
Physician Consult Capabilities
EMS physicians are available to our partners 24 hours a day to assist with complicated on-line medical direction issues. Our physicians also possess advanced training in areas such as vehicle extrication, confined space rescue, rope rescue, and tactical operations. Utilizing physician response vehicles equipped with specialized medical and rescue equipment, our team has the capability to provide on-scene support to public safety agencies during complex incidents. These resources are available to assist partner agencies and for mutual aid responses, although deployment is subject to availability and situational considerations.
Responses can be requested by any EMS agency as a mutual aid request through University Hospital EMS. Contact REMCS.
Commitment to Education
Our Division is deeply invested in educating the next generation of physicians and EMS professionals:
- Medical Student Education: We provide EMS-focused education to NJMS medical students and offer two EMS-based medical student electives.
- Resident Training: Emergency Medicine residents benefit from comprehensive training in prehospital care and operational medicine.
- EMS Clinician Education: We deliver cutting-edge education to EMS clinicians in our contracted services and throughout New Jersey. This includes hosting EMS Grand Rounds and presenting at state and national conferences.
Research and Innovation
The Division conducts vital research in prehospital care, focusing on areas such as cardiac arrest management, quality improvement, and operational innovations. Our research aims to advance evidence-based practices and improve patient outcomes in the field.
Statewide and National Leadership
Our physicians are highly active at both the state and national levels, serving on multiple committees that shape policy, develop best practices, and advise governments and institutions on advancing the field of EMS. These leadership roles allow us to contribute to the future of prehospital medicine, ensuring that our efforts benefit not only our immediate community but also the larger EMS community across the country.
