The COVID-19 pandemic was a defining moment for EMS agencies of every size, exposing long-standing gaps in preparedness, coordination, and system integration. Shortages of personal protective equipment, inconsistent clinical guidance, overwhelmed hospitals, and fragile workforce capacity placed EMS at the center of the crisis—often without a clear seat at the public health planning table. The next public health emergency is not a question of if, but when. Drawing on lessons from COVID-19 and earlier infectious disease events such as SARS, H1N1, Ebola, mpox, and Zika, as well as system-stress emergencies including Hurricane Katrina and the 2021 Texas winter storm, this session examines how crises disrupt EMS operations in distinct but predictable ways. From workforce shortages and hospital diversions to infrastructure failures, resource scarcity, and breakdowns in mutual aid, these events reveal how quickly EMS systems can be strained when preparedness and coordination fall short. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of EMS’s indispensable role as frontline healthcare and public health infrastructure, along with practical strategies to strengthen collaboration, resilience, and operational readiness ahead of the next inevitable public health emergency.

NYS CME: All Levels - Core - Operations