Hennepin EMS

Rigsby, our beloved therapy pup, had a blast hamming it up for the cameras yesterday! It’s been a tough few months, and through it all, Rigsby has been right there, making our hard days a little softer and brightening every shift.  We’re deeply grateful to Soldiers 6 for donating Rigsby to our team. https://lnkd.in/g_FDMFBH

October is Ultrasound Awareness Month—a time to highlight the vital role ultrasound plays in diagnosing and monitoring medical conditions. At Hennepin EMS, we're proud to be leaders in prehospital ultrasound, using this technology daily to enhance patient care. In 2024 alone, our team performed over 6,000 scans, contributing to 10% of cardiac and lung assessments. These scans help accelerate critical decisions and support direct-to-operating-room transfers when every second counts.

It’s been a wonderfully busy few weeks out in the community. At the Excelsior Fire Department open house earlier this month, we had the opportunity to teach attendees how to perform hands-only CPR — a simple skill that can save lives. We also showcased our ambulance and technology at open houses hosted by the fire departments in Saint Louis Park, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, and Saint Anthony. And this past weekend, we joined one of our favorite local traditions: the Morris Nilson Richfield Community Trunk or Treat to hand out candy. Thanks to everyone who came out to these events — we’re grateful to be part of such an engaged community. Photos courtesy of St. Anthony Village Fire Department, Excelsior Fire District, MN, and City of Eden Prairie (thanks, ERV Photography by Eric).

Hennepin EMS responds to opioid emergencies daily—but our care doesn’t stop at the scene. Through our newly launched Bridge Team, specialized paramedics follow up with patients after overdose calls, helping them access treatment, support, and stability. They also fill critical gaps in the healthcare system—like connecting patients to care when pharmacies and clinics are closed.   Our team meets patients wherever they feel safe—on street corners, in libraries, or wherever that connection can begin—and walks with them through the often overwhelming path to recovery.   We’re committed not only to responding to overdose calls, but to preventing them in the first place. We hope to grow the Bridge program and make it easier for people in our community to recover from substance use disorders. 

Our team is honored to recognize the exemplary work and longstanding commitment of Hennepin EMS team member Kelly Munn. This week, Kelly received the Citizen’s Award of Honor from the City of Minneapolis for his life-saving actions during the 2020 civil unrest. Kelly has dedicated 35 years to HEMS as a Paramedic, having retired from full-time status in February 2023. We are honored that he continues to support our team with his breadth of experience and leadership. Join us in congratulating Kelly on this amazing milestone and recognition!

Today, we honor the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and recognize the courage of the first responders who ran toward danger to help others. Their bravery continues to inspire our work and our commitment to serve.   As we reflect on that day, we also reaffirm our dedication to protecting and caring for our community—24/7, 365 days a year. We remember, we honor, and we continue the mission.

We have been overwhelmed by the kind messages and generous support as we continue to heal from responding to the Annunciation shooting and other community tragedies. The compassion shown to our team has made a meaningful difference. Among those who have stepped up to support us: · Soldier’s 6 brought service dogs along with pizza, sandwiches, and coffee donated by Caribou Coffee · Methodist Hospital ED team and Saint Francis ED team shared food and support · MN Dairy Lab dropped off ice cream sandwiches · Community members and paramedics’ families donated meals · Hennepin Healthcare Labor & Delivery team provided food and coffee for our critical incident stress debriefing · Lakes Region EMS, Burnsville FD, and Edina FD helped cover shifts so our crews could attend debriefs · Lutheran Church Charities K9 Comfort Dog Ministries offered emotional support · University of Minnesota Police Department donations for food and beverage · Godfather’s Pizza donated food There’s too many to list, and likely a few that we missed, but please know we are deeply grateful for every gesture. These acts of kindness remind us that we are not alone—and that healing happens together.

Last week’s events shook our entire community to the core. Today, we’re sharing a reflection from Chief Marty Scheerer on the events of that day—the heroism displayed, the emotional toll on our team, and the path forward toward healing. Read the full reflection here: https://conta.cc/4mJJ9ja

This has been an incredibly difficult 24 hours for our community as we grieve the tragic losses from the shootings in Minneapolis. The weight of these events is deeply felt here at Hennepin EMS. In the midst of this, we are immensely proud of our dispatchers who spoke calmly on the phone with victims before other first responders arrived; as well as paramedics, EMTs and medical directors, who responded with courage and professionalism in the face of unimaginable scenes. They applied their training, administered care, and showed unwavering commitment. And yet, we wish with all our hearts that their skills hadn’t been needed in such circumstances. We’re grateful for the outpouring of support, for our first responder partners who stood shoulder to shoulder with us on scene and for the expert care provided by the Hennepin Healthcare team.

This week, we welcomed emergency medicine fellows from Mayo Clinic and Regions Hospital to our cutting-edge, 10,000-square-foot Interdisciplinary Simulation and Medical Education Center. Through high-intensity simulations—including cardiac arrest during a marathon and multi-patient car crashes—the fellows practiced making critical decisions when they’re the only provider on scene.