The Vanderbilt EMS Center of Excellence offers support and training to emergency medical services personnel throughout the service region for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital. We assist EMS providers serving Vanderbilt hospitals with:
- Patient follow-up requests
- EMS equipment returns
- Education and training
- EMS communications for Vanderbilt facilities
Here to Support Our EMS Providers
The Center of Excellence recognizes the positive impact EMS providers make in the overall care of Vanderbilt patients. Our mission is to support local EMS agencies with easily accessible services and training.
"We want EMS agencies to feel like they are a part of the Vanderbilt family. When you bring a patient here, you are an important part of the total care that's provided." -- Eric Clauss, Director, EMS Center of Excellence
Our Team
Eric Clauss, Director
Eric Clauss, MSN, RN, EMT-P, is Director of the EMS Center for Excellence. Previously he was head of the Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center outreach team for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Eric has been involved in pre-hospital care since 1986 and began practicing as a paramedic in 1990.
Jared McKinney, M.D., Medical Director
Jared J McKinney, M.D., graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and completed his residency in emergency medicine at Vanderbilt. He is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director of the EMS Division at Vanderbilt, Medical Director of LifeFlight Event Medicine, Medical Director for the EMS Center of Excellence, Chairman of the Resuscitation Committee, and the Associate Medical Director for Metro Nashville Fire Department.
Michele Walsh, M.D., Medical Director
Michele Walsh, M.D., is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine at the Monroe Carell Jr.s Childrens Hospital. She has been involved in pediatric and emergency care for over ten years, first at Akron Childrens Hospital and since 2012 at Vanderbilt. As pediatric director of the EMS Center of Excellence, her role encompasses training, education and quality directives for EMS, transport and outreach within Vanderbilts hospital system.