Maryland state troopers in high-risk situations will now have emergency physician care just steps away, thanks to a new partnership with the nation’s leading hospital.

The Maryland State Police and the Johns Hopkins University Department of Emergency Medicine joined forces today in a new program that is expected to become a national model. The Tactical Physician Program will deploy doctors with tactical troopers in high risk situations, such as a dangerous warrant service or hostage incident. In the event a police officer, victim, or suspect is injured, these emergency doctors will be on-scene to provide immediate care, in addition to what is already provided by State Police tactical paramedics.

At a recent Maryland State Police trooper candidate class graduation, Col. Thomas E. Hutchins, Secretary of the Department of State Police, was joined by Mr. Jim Scheulen, Chief Administrative Officer, and Dr. Nelson Tang, both of the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine. They signed a memorandum of understanding that was also signed by Dr. Edward D. Miller, Vice President for Medicine and Dean of the Johns Hopkins Medical Faculty. Also present were Dr. Kevin Gerold and Dr. Don Alves, of the Maryland State Police Tactical Medical Program.

“We stand prepared to support the men and women of the Maryland State Police as they protect and serve our citizens,” Tang said. “We look forward to a relationship that enhances Johns Hopkins in our mission to train the future leaders of emergency medicine and tactical casualty care. This partnership will ensure a new level of excellence for both our organizations.”

“Our troopers will be safer because of the care and concern of these doctors who are willing to stand beside us as we protect the people of Maryland,” Hutchins said. “I thank each person associated with the Johns Hopkins Department of Emergency Medicine for their unselfish commitment to our law enforcement officers.”

The agreement provides the State Police Tactical Medical Unit with physicians and medical resources at no cost during high-risk law enforcement operations. In return, State Police will provide supervised training and operational medical support opportunities to emergency medicine physicians with an interest in tactical medical care.

As a leader in law enforcement, the Maryland State Police will provide Hopkins doctors with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to plan for and provide medical support to high-risk, large scale, and extended law enforcement operations. After training, these doctors will go on to similar assignments around the nation, working with police departments and homeland security operations.

The new partnership will help ensure state troopers and allied law enforcement officers injured during the course of providing high risk law enforcement services are given the highest quality of immediate medical attention and delivered to appropriate medical care within the all important ‘Golden Hour.’ The program is strongly supported by local emergency medical providers and the State Police Aviation Command. It is expected to quickly become the national model for tactical medical support.

For more information visit www.mdsp.org.