Emergency Medical Services

Oshkosh Fire Department Protocols

Steven Stroman, MD Medical Director

BC J. Austad: Fire Department Emergency Medical Services
Phone: 920.236.5247

Oshkosh Fire Department Privacy Statement

The emergency medical services (EMS) division manages the department's paramedic ambulance services and education program. The EMS division coordinates continuing education for paramedics as well as public education. The Battalion Chief of EMS also acts as the department's infection control coordinator and emergency management planning to the city.

The City of Oshkosh Fire Department responds to all emergency and non-emergency medical calls within the city limits, it also responds to emergency calls in the following areas.

The OFD works under protocols provided by the Fox Valley Medical Control Authority, and receives online medical direction from the closest hospital. The OFD provides a Paramedic Ambulance Service with three primary Med Units, and four Cross-Staffed units out of six fire stations. The primary Med units are staffed with two Firefighter/Paramedics.  The cross-staff units are staffed with an Equipment Operator/Paramedic and a Firefighter/Paramedic that are assigned to an engine company, and when all three primary Med units are assigned to calls they will respond to the next call with a Med unit. When the primary Med unit responds to a call the engine companies will respond with them as a paramedic engine company.

The primary Med units are kept in the three fire stations with the Quint companies and the Quints are staffed with a minimum of one paramedic on them. The Quint companies are separate from the fire stations with the paramedic Engine companies.  With the fire stations being strategically located throughout the City of Oshkosh, and paramedics working on the fire companies, residents of the City of Oshkosh receive paramedic care within 4 minutes.   Paramedic(s) on the fire companies can operate to their level of training before the Med unit arrives. The balance of the OFD personnel are trained to the EMT IV Technician (with intubation) and first responder level.  The EMT-IV technicians only work on the first response fire companies.  Their skills are used to bridge the gap for patient care until the Med unit arrives and enhance the capabilities of the Med unit once its onscene.  The EMT-IV technicians work under the same protocols that are provided by the Fox Valley Medical Control Authority.  They use the same protocols that the paramedics do, but only operate to the level of their training.

All of the Townships that the OFD responds to have first responder groups with AED’s. 

The OFD receives online medical control from the closest receiving facility.  The OFD will also transport patients upon their request to other facilities within reasonable distance.  These hospitals are identified as Saint Agnes, Theda Clark, Saint Elizabeth’s, and Appleton Medical Center.  The OFD will also transport to other facilities upon request of Mercy Medical Center or Aurora Hospital. OFD paramedics during these transports will only administer/monitor medications that are approved by the Fox Valley Medical Control Authority.  Patients receiving medications not outlined by the Fox Valley Medical Control Authority will have a critical care nurse provided by the hospital requesting transport for the purpose of administration and monitoring the Medication(s).