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Faculty

Samantha Johnson

Esq., MBA, MHA
Senior Associate General Counsel
Grady Health System

Samantha Johnson, Esq., MBA, MHA is a Senior Associate General Counsel for Grady Health System, where she advises, educates, and represents Grady’s hospital-based EMS division. Samantha is an accomplished author and speaker, focusing on legal issues for emergency medical services, EMTALA, guardianships, and healthcare law and ethics. She is the co-host of FlightBridgeED, LLC’s “The Standard of Care” Podcast with EMS Chief Nick Adams, where they explore the legal and ethical complexities of emergency care. Samantha is an active member of the State Bars of Georgia and South Carolina. She received her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2003, and her Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration from the Georgia State J. Mack Robinson College of Business in 2014.

2026 Sessions

From Field to File: Improving Documentation and Quality Assurance for MIH/CP

Yes, I understand

Not quite an EMS transport report, but not quite a hospital medical record—MIH/CP documentation exists in its own hybrid world. Essential for tracking and trending patient data, reporting outcomes, and establishing the case for initial or continued funding, proper documentation of care is essential for MIH/CP providers. Yet, many services rely on their EMS documentation as a standard for a different type of care. Nick and Samantha discuss the clinical, legal, and operational aspects of MIH/CP documentation, highlighting differences from traditional EMS response, and discuss how a robust quality assurance program improves clinical care and documentation compliance. They offer practical tips and tricks for documentation that accurately reflects care and minimizes legal risk for MIH/CP providers.

Co-Presenter (2 Presenters)

Thursday, October 01 9:15–10:15 AM
Room W240 C
Community Paramedicine
Faculty

Nicholas Adams

MPA, CEMSO, NREMT-P
EMS Division Chief
Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services

Nicholas “Nick” Adams, MPA, CEM, Paramedic, is the EMS Division Chief for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, leading one of Georgia’s largest Medical First Responder systems. A paramedic for more than 28 years, he is nationally recognized for expertise in EMS legal issues, system design, and clinical operations. Nick has led initiatives in opioid harm reduction, community paramedicine, prehospital blood administration, and EMS documentation improvement. He advises agencies across the country, contributes to medical publications, and speaks on EMS law, telemedicine, and operational leadership. He co-hosts The Standard of Care podcast with attorney Samantha Johnson, examining the legal and ethical challenges of emergency care. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and a Master of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University.

Faculty

Samantha Johnson

Esq., MBA, MHA
Senior Associate General Counsel
Grady Health System

Samantha Johnson, Esq., MBA, MHA is a Senior Associate General Counsel for Grady Health System, where she advises, educates, and represents Grady’s hospital-based EMS division. Samantha is an accomplished author and speaker, focusing on legal issues for emergency medical services, EMTALA, guardianships, and healthcare law and ethics. She is the co-host of FlightBridgeED, LLC’s “The Standard of Care” Podcast with EMS Chief Nick Adams, where they explore the legal and ethical complexities of emergency care. Samantha is an active member of the State Bars of Georgia and South Carolina. She received her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2003, and her Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration from the Georgia State J. Mack Robinson College of Business in 2014.

When “You Don’t Need to Go” Becomes “You’ve Been Served”: Avoiding Legal Liability for Provider-Initiated Refusals

Yes, I understand

EMS providers are highly trained and clinically skilled. But there is an emerging trend of lawsuits arising from EMS providers encouraging (sometimes coercing) patients to refuse transport. Disturbing videos on Ring and other surveillance cameras show providers actively telling patients not to go to the hospital but providing no alternatives or inappropriate advice. Providers must tread carefully when suggesting non-transport, ensure appropriate assessments, and ensure that the patient and/or family share the decision-making.

Nick, an EMS Division Chief with over two decades of emergency response and quality assurance experience, and Samantha, an attorney for one of the largest hospital-based EMS systems in the Southeast, examine the clinical, legal, ethical and operational implications of provider-initiated refusals. Using actual incidents and reported legal cases, Nick and Samantha offer tips and tricks for responders to protect themselves and their services from legal liability in the event of a provider-initiated refusal.

Co-Presenter (2 Presenters)

Thursday, October 01 10:30–11:30 AM
Room W330 A-C
Faculty

Nicholas Adams

MPA, CEMSO, NREMT-P
EMS Division Chief
Cobb County Fire & Emergency Services

Nicholas “Nick” Adams, MPA, CEM, Paramedic, is the EMS Division Chief for Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, leading one of Georgia’s largest Medical First Responder systems. A paramedic for more than 28 years, he is nationally recognized for expertise in EMS legal issues, system design, and clinical operations. Nick has led initiatives in opioid harm reduction, community paramedicine, prehospital blood administration, and EMS documentation improvement. He advises agencies across the country, contributes to medical publications, and speaks on EMS law, telemedicine, and operational leadership. He co-hosts The Standard of Care podcast with attorney Samantha Johnson, examining the legal and ethical challenges of emergency care. Nick holds a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management and a Master of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University.

Faculty

Samantha Johnson

Esq., MBA, MHA
Senior Associate General Counsel
Grady Health System

Samantha Johnson, Esq., MBA, MHA is a Senior Associate General Counsel for Grady Health System, where she advises, educates, and represents Grady’s hospital-based EMS division. Samantha is an accomplished author and speaker, focusing on legal issues for emergency medical services, EMTALA, guardianships, and healthcare law and ethics. She is the co-host of FlightBridgeED, LLC’s “The Standard of Care” Podcast with EMS Chief Nick Adams, where they explore the legal and ethical complexities of emergency care. Samantha is an active member of the State Bars of Georgia and South Carolina. She received her law degree from the Georgia State University College of Law in 2003, and her Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration from the Georgia State J. Mack Robinson College of Business in 2014.
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