Rice University EMS History

The concept of a university based Emergency Medical Services at Rice University began shortly after Mark Escott (Jones '96) matriculated in 1991. This was a difficult concept to sell to the University, which lies across the street from the largest medical center in the world. After examining the response times of the municipal EMS service, which averaged around 9-10 minutes, the University was convinced that in a serious emergency this delay could be life threatening. Shortly after the matriculation and support of Noah Reiter (Jones '00), the program was funded in 1995, and REMS was established. The first Rice University Emergency Medical Technician training course was held in the Spring of 1996 in order to create a staff of students to respond to emergencies. After years of roadblocks, discussions with local EMS providers, meetings with administrators, data calculations, budgeting, and development, REMS began emergency response operations on October 4, 1996. Just eight days later, the need and success of the REMS program became apparent, and its fate as a permanent University department became sealed.

On October 12, 1996 REMS responded to its first cardiac arrest, which resulted in the service's first CPR save. The incident occurred at a wedding reception at the Faculty Club, during which an elderly female collapsed on the dance floor in sudden cardiac arrest. A REMS EMT (a graduate of Rice's first EMT class in the Spring of 1996) was working as a waitress in the Faculty Club, witnessed the arrest, and began CPR within 30 seconds of the arrest. The REMS duty crew and supervisors arrived approximately 1½-2 minutes later to continue efforts, with the Houston Fire Department and their EMS Medical Director arriving shortly thereafter, and the patient was defibrillated. The patient regained spontaneous respirations while on scene, was extubated while en route to the ER, and was talking upon arrival. From this incident, the REMS staff involved and the REMS program received recognition from the Houston City Council for our lifesaving services in the form of a City Proclamation, as well as University Commendations from the President of Rice University.

Two months later to the day, REMS held a save reception to honor those who participated in the event. Ironically, that very evening REMS ran it's second cardiac arrest, resulting in another save, this time in front of the Board of Governors, University contributors, and the University President at a gala to honor the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Governors. REMS was on scene within 1 minute of the patient's collapse. This time the patient never had to be intubated and was awake and talking while still on scene. Again the patient made a complete recovery.

The third REMS CPR save came on April 5, 1999 at approximately 4:45 in the evening. While watching a student recital at the Shepherd School of Music, a trumpet professor collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest. Bystanders initiated CPR immediately and called REMS. The REMS Supervisor arrived on scene within 45 seconds of dispatch and the patient was defibrillated approximately 1 minute later. Again, the patient never had to be intubated. This event marked the first successful defibrillation of an individual in the City of Houston (and possibly even the State of Texas) using an AED outside of the municipal EMS service. At a reception to honor REMS and bystanders, representatives from the American Heart Association spoke and praised the efforts of REMS as a leader in the fight for wider access defibrillation programs. They said that this save will be remembered as the first of its kind, and will do a great deal to aid the efforts of the AHA to pass legislation to limit the liability of companies who sponsor such programs.

REMS accomplished its fourth cardiac arrest save immediately following the 87th commencement of Rice University in May of 2000. A student's grandmother went into cardiac arrest at a reception in one of the residential colleges. This patient enjoyed a thorough neurological recovery after approximately one week in the hospital. In five years of service, REMS has saved four of seven victims (57%) of sudden cardiac arrest.

REMS has demonstrated its excellence in its wide variety of other EMS operations. REMS, in addition to its daily responses, participates in many university special events, to ensure the safety of our community. This includes varsity athletic events such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer games, intramural events such as rugby, and powderpuff, as well as university special events such as matriculation, commencement, and the annual Beer Bike event. REMS also works in conjunction with the Rice Police Department, Houston Police Department, FBI, US Secret Service, and US Department of State to provide medical operations support for visiting dignitaries such as Kofi Annan, Yassir Arafat, former President George Bush, Attorney General Janet Reno, President Mikhail Gorbechev, Nelson Mandela, as well as numerous other world figures. This has not only provided these dignitaries and guests with EMS when needed, but has also provided our members with a very special chance to work in close proximity with these world leaders.

The REMS call volume has steadily increased since the agency's inception in October of 1996. Overall, REMS has treated more than 3,000 patients in the past seven years. The annual call volume for 2002 was 688, continuing the upward trend.

Most of all, REMS has demonstrated its excellence by maintaining a high quality of care and professionalism, as evidenced by our continuous high marks from our most valuable critics, our patients. Due to this success, in just five years, the university supports REMS annually with over $100,000 in equipment, a full time EMS Director, 3 EMS Supervisor stipends for students, and an accredited EMT-Basic and EMT-Intermediate Education program for Rice University credit.