When a group of Kansas EMS leaders gathered in the mid-1990s, they shared a common concern. Emergency medical services in Kansas were represented by multiple organizations, each advocating for its own interests. While everyone wanted what was best for EMS, the profession lacked a single, unified voice.

That changed in March 1996 when the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association (KEMSA) was officially formed.

Thirty years later, KEMSA has grown from approximately 80 founding members into an organization representing more than 2,250 EMS professionals, services, educators, administrators, and advocates across Kansas. Along the way, KEMSA has become a leading voice for EMS education, legislative advocacy, professional development, and collaboration.

As KEMSA celebrates its 30th anniversary, past presidents reflect on the organization’s journey, the challenges it has overcome, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Building a Unified Voice

For KEMSA’s founding leaders, the mission was clear: bring Kansas EMS together.

Founding President Connie Meyer recalls that the association’s greatest challenge was creating a single organization capable of representing all facets of EMS.

“Many states still have separate organizations representing EMS educators, administrators, and practitioners,” Meyer said. “These are all represented by one organization in Kansas, giving us the advantage of speaking for all aspects of EMS.”

That commitment to unity remains one of KEMSA’s defining characteristics. Throughout the years, presidents repeatedly pointed to collaboration as one of the organization’s greatest strengths.

“What makes KEMSA unique is its ability to provide a unified voice on issues affecting EMS across Kansas,” said Past President Kerry McCue. “KEMSA brings together EMS professionals, services, educators, and leaders from rural and urban communities to work toward common goals.”

Growing and Professionalizing

As membership grew, so did the association’s ambitions.

Early leaders focused on establishing educational conferences, building relationships with national organizations, improving communication with members, and strengthening KEMSA’s presence within state government.

Jon Friesen, a past president of KEMSA, remembers a period when the organization worked to gain credibility with providers across Kansas while enhancing its annual conference and professional publications.

“We began interacting with other state EMS associations to learn from them and share what was working for us in Kansas,” Friesen said.

Several presidents described the organization’s evolution from a volunteer-led association into a more sophisticated professional organization. Past President Chris Way recalls a pivotal period when KEMSA recognized it needed to expand its infrastructure to continue growing.

“We were at a crossroads of being too big to be small and too small to be big,” Way said. “If we wanted to grow, we had to take a leap of faith.”

That leap included hiring staff support, expanding educational offerings, strengthening advocacy efforts, and creating new opportunities for member engagement.

As the association celebrates 30 years, current President Chrissy Bartel has focused on strengthening connections with members throughout Kansas.

“I wanted us to be member-driven as well as mission-driven,” Bartel said. “That meant being present at regional meetings, providing regional training opportunities, and ensuring our members knew that KEMSA is here to support them.”

Her goal, she said, is for KEMSA to serve as the “easy button” for EMS providers and agencies seeking education, advocacy, resources, and support.

Advocating for Kansas EMS

Advocacy has been a constant theme throughout KEMSA’s history.

Past presidents pointed to legislative victories, Medicaid reimbursement improvements, regulatory reforms, workforce initiatives, and stronger relationships with state and federal policymakers as some of the association’s most important accomplishments.

John Hultgren, another past president of KEMSA, remembers advocacy efforts in both Topeka and Washington, D.C. as some of his most meaningful experiences.

“Going to Topeka and Washington D.C. to advocate for changes, funding, and recognition for what EMS provides is important for the future,” he said.

Dave Johnston echoed the importance of maintaining a strong voice for EMS, particularly during times of uncertainty.

“EMS providers found themselves on the front lines of an unprecedented public health crisis,” Johnston said of the COVID-19 pandemic. “KEMSA worked hard to keep agencies informed and connected during a very uncertain time.”

Bartel points to the recent EMS Modernization Bill as one of the most significant accomplishments of her presidency so far.

“Through a collaborative effort, KEMSA worked to update existing legislation to better reflect the realities of current provider practices in the field,” Bartel said. “The modernization effort represents an important step forward in ensuring that Kansas EMS providers have legislation that aligns with the care they deliver every day.”

Whether addressing reimbursement, workforce shortages, educational standards, or healthcare policy, KEMSA has remained focused on representing the interests of EMS professionals and the patients they serve.

More Than an Association

While accomplishments and milestones are important, many former presidents spoke less about programs and legislation and more about people.

For many, the relationships built through KEMSA remain the most meaningful part of the organization.

“I’ve been to all but the initial two annual conferences,” Friesen said. “What stands out most is seeing the way people form new relationships and strengthen existing ones.”

Johnston shared a particularly personal reflection, describing how members of the Kansas EMS community rallied around his family during a difficult time in his life.

“It reminded me that KEMSA is more than a professional association, it is a family,” he said.

Bartel believes those relationships remain one of the association’s defining characteristics.

“I believe what makes KEMSA unique is its people,” Bartel said. “This organization is more than just members, board members, providers, and agencies. It is built on individuals coming together with a shared purpose to make Kansas EMS the very best it can be.”

She said many of those professional relationships ultimately become something deeper. “KEMSA’s tagline, ‘Unity is Strength,’ is more than just a slogan. It reflects who we are as an organization,” she explained.

That sense of connection appears throughout KEMSA’s history. From conferences and workshops to advocacy events and committee meetings, the organization has provided opportunities for EMS professionals from every corner of Kansas to learn from one another and work together.

Looking Toward the Future

While much has changed over the last 30 years, the challenges facing EMS remain significant.

Past presidents consistently identified workforce recruitment and retention, funding and reimbursement, rural EMS sustainability, and leadership development as critical priorities for the future.

Bartel agrees that workforce sustainability remains one of the greatest challenges facing EMS today.

“Recruitment and retention have been ongoing concerns for many years, and we are seeing providers remain in the profession for shorter periods of time,” she said. “Many leave prehospital care for other healthcare opportunities, while others leave the industry altogether.”

At the same time, she believes EMS is approaching a pivotal moment in its evolution.

“For many years, our profession has struggled with an identity crisis,” Bartel said. “Are we public safety? Are we healthcare providers? EMS has often found itself caught between those worlds.”

Bartel believes embracing EMS’s role within the healthcare system presents one of the greatest opportunities for the profession’s future, strengthening reimbursement, improving sustainability, and ensuring EMS has a voice in healthcare policy decisions.

Mobile integrated healthcare, community paramedicine, healthcare partnerships, payment reform, leadership development, and continued advocacy were frequently cited as areas where KEMSA can continue to make a difference.

Perhaps the most common theme was the importance of continuing the organization’s founding mission: bringing people together.

“I hope KEMSA stays the course on the hard work,” Friesen said.

Meyer hopes the organization will continue growing while remaining relevant to all aspects of EMS. Johnston believes KEMSA’s legacy will continue to be one of service, advocacy, leadership, and collaboration.

As KEMSA celebrates 30 years of advocacy, education, and standing beside Kansas EMS providers, the anniversary offers more than an opportunity to reflect on the past. It is also a chance to look forward.

Over three decades, EMS has evolved. Healthcare has evolved. KEMSA has evolved alongside it. What began as a determined effort to unite Kansas EMS has grown into a respected and influential organization that continues to shape the future of the profession.

In the months and years ahead, members will begin to see signs of that continued evolution. While KEMSA’s foundation remains unchanged, the association is thoughtfully positioning itself for the next chapter and building on a legacy of service while embracing new opportunities to support EMS professionals across Kansas.

The core mission remains the same: to be the unified voice for Kansas EMS. The commitment remains unwavering. But the next chapter is already beginning to take shape.

As Johnston reflected, generations of EMS leaders have invested their time and energy not for themselves, but for those who would follow.

“A group of dedicated professionals came together to plant trees knowing they would never sit under the shade,” Johnston said. “They did the work because they cared about the future of EMS and the people who would follow them.”

Looking ahead, Bartel hopes KEMSA’s legacy will continue to be defined by service, advocacy, and an unwavering commitment to its members.

“If, thirty years from now, KEMSA is still bringing people together and strengthening EMS across Kansas, then I believe we will have honored the legacy of those who came before us and fulfilled our mission for those who will follow.”

Thirty years after its founding, KEMSA continues to build on that legacy by uniting providers, supporting agencies, and serving as the voice of Kansas EMS for generations to come. ■