Looking Back at 2025 and Ahead to an Exciting 2026
By EMSAC President Tom Anderson, AMR Canon City
As we close out the year, we hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza and wish you a Happy New Year. The year ahead promises to be an exciting one for the emergency medical services system, and this is a great time to reflect on EMSAC’s accomplishments in 2025 while looking forward to what’s ahead in 2026.
Highlights from 2025
The past year brought many positive changes for EMSAC. One of the most visible updates was the complete revamp of our website, bringing it up to today’s standards and making it more user-friendly. Our bylaws were also updated, allowing the organization to operate more efficiently and effectively. Additionally, our membership data was refreshed, greatly improving our ability to communicate with members in a more organized and timely manner.
EMSAC hosted two successful conferences in 2025. The Educators Conference was well attended and provided valuable education for participants. The State EMSAC Conference was once again a major success, drawing more than 900 attendees from across Colorado. A sincere thank-you goes to both conference committees for their dedication and hard work.
2025 Colorado State EMS Conference, EMSAC's 52nd! |
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The Awards Banquet was another highlight of the year. With many nominations submitted for each category, the competition was strong and showcased the outstanding EMS providers serving communities throughout Colorado.
The 2025 Colorado EMS Award Recipients |
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Advocacy remained a top priority in 2025. The Advocacy Committee worked tirelessly throughout the legislative session, most notably in support of House Bill 25-1088, which eliminated balance billing by requiring insurers to pay ambulance bills, and passed unanimously before ultimately being vetoed by the governor. While the outcome was disappointing, the committee did an exceptional job ensuring EMS was well represented at the Capitol. EMSAC also collaborated with all 11 RETACs to complete a statewide survey, which will help guide future improvements to the EMS system.
EMS Day at the Capitol, February 2025 |
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Looking Ahead to 2026
The year 2026 is shaping up to be another productive and impactful year for EMSAC and the Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (EMTS) system in Colorado. The Advocacy Committee is already actively working with legislators and our lobbyist on bills that may impact the EMTS system, including assisting with legislative language.
Our Education Committees continue to plan high-quality learning opportunities, beginning with the upcoming Educators Conference in May. Registration details are available on the EMSAC website.
Award nominations for EMSAC 2026 are now open. Members should recognize deserving coworkers, by submitting nominations online.
The Sustainability Task Force is entering year four of its five-year initiative. This group continues to evaluate every aspect of the EMTS system to identify opportunities for improvement. On the task force are EMSAC members Daniel Barela, Brandon Daruna, Sean Caffrey, Richard Cornelius, Jeremy DeWall, James Robinson, Annie Dorchak and Christopher Williams. Annual reports from the task force can be found on the State EMTS website.
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None of this work would be possible without the dedication of EMSAC’s members. From the Board of Directors and committee members to volunteers and general members, it truly takes a collective effort to move EMS forward.
On behalf of EMSAC, we wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026.