EMS West

10/14/2026

JUST FYI - The event space has limited capacity, and we are near to having a sold-out event. If you are planning on attending the 35th EMS West Awards Night dinner on November 4 - now is the time to register.

10/14/2026

Information on the Compassionate Overdose Response Education course being held in Pittsburgh on October 23

09/30/2026

Throughout the Tracking Day, EMS agencies and hospitals are encouraged to use EMTrack for patient tracking as they would during normal operations or an actual incident. The goal is to continue building familiarity and comfort with the system through routine use.

EMS Agencies
Please utilize EMTrack tags and track patients to their receiving facilities throughout the exercise period.

Hospitals
Please monitor EMTrack throughout the day and complete the receiving/tracking process for patients transported to your facility.

Thank you for your continued participation and support of the Healthcare Coalition of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s EMTrack Tracking Days. These exercises are designed to strengthen our regional familiarity with the platform and improve patient tracking and information sharing during both day-to-day operations and larger incidents.

09/30/2026

YOU ARE INVITED

EMS West will honor regional EMS providers during its awards banquet on Wednesday, November 4 in the PNC room at the Kovalchick Complex on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

The evening begins with a welcome reception at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner at 6:30 p.m. and award ceremony to follow.

Business casual attire is requested.
Dinners are $40/person; Tables of 10 are $400
Meal choice is stuffed chicken breast or braised short ribs

09/28/2026

Information on the Compassionate Overdose Response Education course being held in October

09/23/2026

Nominations Open: EMS WEST Excellence in EMS Awards

Every day, EMS providers make a difference in the lives of patients, families, and communities. Their work often takes place during someone's most difficult moments and requires clinical skills, compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to service.

The EMS West Excellence in EMS Awards have been established to recognize outstanding EMS providers who exemplify the very best of the emergency medical services profession.

These awards will recognize individuals who consistently provide exemplary medical care, treat patients and colleagues with dignity and respect, promote the EMS profession, and represent their EMS agency and community with the highest level of professionalism.

We are seeking nominations for EMS providers who go beyond simply performing their duties. They are the individuals others look to as examples of what an EMS professional should be—clinically competent, compassionate, dependable, respectful, and committed to making EMS better.

Examples of nominations include:
• Compassionate Care/Patient Experience: Honors individuals nominated by co-workers, patients and/or families for exceptional empathy, patient care, and comfort.
• Physician Excellence: Celebrates overall clinical leadership, professional integrity, and high standards in prehospital medicine.
• Educator Excellence: Recognizes instructors and educators who have excelled in educating and training the next generation of providers and consistently produces high caliber graduates.
• Dedication to EMS Service: Honors those who have shown unwavering dedication to serving patients and improving healthcare services.
• Rising Star in EMS: Recognizes emerging professionals in the medical field who have shown exceptional promise and potential.
• Distinguished Leaders in EMS: Celebrates individuals who have made a lasting impact in the healthcare sector through their dedication and service.

The nomination should describe how the individual demonstrates the qualities of the award and include specific examples whenever possible.

Nomination deadline is 3pm on October 13, 2026. Please scan the QR code attached or visit: https://form.jotform.com/262514266733054 for the nomination form.

Help us recognize those EMS professionals who represent their patients, their agencies, their communities, and the EMS profession with excellence. Join us on November 4 at the EMS West Awards Dinner at the Kovalchick Complex on the IUP campus. Dinner RSVPs and sponsorship opportunities coming soon.

09/15/2026

Nominations for the EMS West 35th awards ceremony for EMS Excellence will open shortly.

Every day, EMS providers make a difference in the lives of patients, families, and communities. Their work often takes place during someone's most difficult moments and requires clinical skill, compassion, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to service.

The Excellence in EMS Awards recognize outstanding EMS providers who exemplify the very best of the emergency medical services profession.

These awards will recognize individuals who consistently provide exemplary medical care, treat patients and colleagues with dignity and respect, promote the EMS profession, and represent their EMS agency and community with the highest level of professionalism.

We will be seeking nominations for EMS providers who go beyond simply performing their duties. They are the individuals others look to as examples of what an EMS professional should be—clinically competent, compassionate, dependable, respectful, and committed to making EMS better.

Nominees can be recognized for their commitment to patient care, professionalism, leadership, teamwork, continuing education, community involvement, or their overall dedication to emergency medical services.

EMS agencies, colleagues, medical directors, healthcare professionals, and community partners are encouraged to nominate deserving EMS providers.

The awards will be presented at our November 4 2026 Awards Banquet in the PNC Room at the Kovalchick Complex on the campus of Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Sponsorship opportunities and dinner RSVPs will be available soon. Keep an eye on our social media accounts.

08/25/2026

Kennywood offering free admission to first responders the next two weekends to close out their summer season.

See their post for details.

FREE Admission for First Responders! 🚨 Kennywood salutes those who serve our communities, including police, fire, dispatch, corrections, and EMTs, with FREE admission with a valid work ID Aug. 29-30 and Sept. 5-7, 2026. First Responders can also buy up to four family and friend tickets for only $34.99 (plus tax) each at the gate these dates!

Spread the word! 🎢

08/25/2026

PA EMS Stars of Life Awards Banquet - Pittsburgh September 13th. Join them for an evening of celebration and camaraderie. Keynote Speaker Sheila Roth, PhD, LCSW, EMT-B - renowned counselor for first responders. Register Today!
Recognition of 14 Exemplary EMS Providers. Celebrating with 250 EMS colleagues. Class A Uniforms or Business Attire. A night to remember - be there!

ALso join the PA EMS Provider Foundation on September 14 for the Pennsylvania EMS Memorial Service.