Tulane EMS was founded in 1981 by a gruop of students who wanted to provide the community with emergency medical care. Since then, TEMS members have responded to thousands of calls for service. Currently, TEMS operates two Wheeled Coach made Ford E-350 Type III ambulances, Units 40 and 50. Click the photos for larger images of the ambulances.
Role of TEMS
Tulane EMS is first, and foremost, a service oriented organization. All members volunteer their services, and are expected to contribute no fewer than four active semesters to Tulane EMS. Over the years, the young men and women of Tulane EMS have grown to be an integral part of the Tulane and New Orleans community. Tulane EMS is the only 100% volunteer ambulance service remaining in the state of Louisiana. All positions, including the exeuctive board and supervisory positions, are all staffed by full time students. The staff of the Uptown Student Health Center and other departments at Tulane and Loyola provide valuable medical direction, financial oversight, and adminstrative assistance for issues relating ranging from licenseure to healthcare related legal compliance. Currently, TEMS is housed soley under the direction of the Tulane Student Health Center, and the Medical Director, in consultation with the Vice President for Student Affairs, is responsible for oversight of TEMS.
Tulane EMS also works very closely with both the Tulane and Loyola Police Departments. The dispatchers, officers, and adminstrative personnel of both departments graciously allow TEMS to share radio channels, be dispatched by their officers, and work side by side with them to ensure the safety and security of all students, staff, visitors, and affiliates of Tulane and Loyola Universities. For more information on either of their departments, please visit their websites Tulane Police and Loyola Police
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TEMS members are licensed and trained Emergency Medical Technicians, operating under the Medical Direction of the Director of the Uptown Student Health Center (currently James Farrow, MD). On Tulane and Loyola's campuses, Tulane EMS follows cutting edge protocols and procedures designed to provide patients with top notch acute medical care. As a service located in Orleans Parish, Tulane EMS is a fully compliant with the Region 1 Protocols for all EMS services operating in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquerimines, and St. Bernard. Additionally, Tulane EMS is dedicated to providing all callers with the best medical care possible. As such, for those callers who may be located off campus, and for certain emergencies on campus,TEMS will activate New Orleans EMS. In this way, patients receive the best medical care possible- with the prompt, professional and courteous attention of Tulane EMS, backed up by the years of experience, resources, and advanced level of care provided by New Orleans EMS. Though TEMS is free of charge to Tulane and Loyola students, guests, affilitates, and visitors to our campuses. You will never recieve a bill from Tulane University or Tulane EMS for your care and transport to the hospital.
When a caller requests TEMS, the Tulane or Loyola Police Dispatcher calls TEMS and provides the location, nature of the emergency, and number of patients. With this information, the crew is assembled, goes en route, and immediately activates New Orleans EMS if necessary. All patients receive what Dr. Saussy, Medical Director of New Orleans EMS and former TEMS member calls "the full court press," meaning that the assests mobilized and en route to the patient comprise some of the best EMTs, firefighters, paramedics, and even physicians in the country.
For more information on when to call TEMS and what specifically happens after you hang up, visit the When to Call page.
TEMS Members
All members of Tulane EMS are volunteers, selected from undergraduate students at Tulane University. TEMS holds selections twice per calendar year, once in Fall, around September to October, and once again in the spring, around March to April. For more specific information about the selections process, please visit our selections specific webpage. This webpage contains valuable information and references for those thinking of applying to TEMS. It is highly recommended you read the documents under the "Attachments" section at the bottom of the page.
TEMS members are dedicated to learning and enhancing the world around them and have a proven passion for service to others. All TEMS members undergo rigorious training- from in class experience to field practice. Many members are involved in other organizations on campus. Among TEMS's ranks have been fraternity and sorority presidents, student-athletes, USG and ASB senators, class presidents, and resident advisors. TEMS members represent the best of Tulane. Don't be surprised if one of your friends or classmates shows up to class in uniform one day!
 TEMS Members from the Hurricane Katrina Response Team with Tulane President Scott Cowen at the Superdome |
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