Nicole A. Carlton, Commissioner
Nicole A. Carlton, Commissioner, Division of Emergency Medical Service, is responsible for the oversight of approximately 333 employees and an annual budget of more than $30 million.
The Division of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) is the primary provider of advanced life support pre-hospital medical care in the City of Cleveland, transporting more than 75,000 patients annually. Cleveland EMS responds to over 105,000 medical calls for service and is recognized as one of the premier EMS systems in the country.
Commissioner Carlton began her career with the City in 1993 as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), and was assigned to the ambulance and the communication's center. She has worked in the positions of Communications Center Crew Chief and as Communication's Section Quality Assurance Sergeant.
She oversaw the civilianization of the communication's center where she assumed a lead training role in the extensive training and quality assurance of the civilian Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs).
She was appointed to the Community Education and Training Section, and implemented the City's Public Access to Defibrillation Program through initial training and installation of the first AEDs in the City-owned buildings including Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
She pursued the vision to improve the Community Education Program by extensively expanding the health screening and public education programs.
In January, 2003, she was promoted to the position of Field Operations Captain, where she oversaw the field ambulances and communication's center. She was then appointed to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Operations in February, 2004.
As the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, she oversaw daily operations of the division and was directly responsible for staffing personnel, communications, supply/logistics, budget, hiring, supervision, discipline, and retention of personnel, as well as equipment, resource allocation, development, implementation and enforcement of policies and procedures.
She personally oversaw the planning and operational medical plans for the International Children Games (2004), Dew Action/Gravity Games (2004 and 2007), Greater Cleveland Grand Prix (2004 through 2007), and several Presidential Visits. Under her guidance, the Division of EMS implemented state-of-the-art electronic patient care reporting and Mobile Data terminals in all response vehicles resulting in decreased response time to emergency calls.
She was appointed to Acting Commissioner in November, 2011 and Commissioner of the Division of EMS in April, 2016. Under Commissioner Carlton's leadership, the Division of EMS continues to provide quality pre-hospital care by utilizing state-of-the-art technology.
The Division of EMS continuously strives to improve the quality of patient care by providing pre-hospital care continuing education programs and a quality assurance program under the direction of the Department of Public Safety Physician's Advisory Board. The Community Education program reaches more than 20,000 people annually with blood pressure, glucose screenings, cholesterol level checks and CPR/AED/First Aid training.
The Division of EMS took the regional lead on the training, planning and response preparation for the emerging infectious disease (Ebola) public health concern, as well as the implementation of a first aid program and naloxone program for the Division of Police by providing the operational protocol, equipment and training for all Divisions of Police personnel.
Carlton forged an agreement with all of the regions hospital systems to eliminate hospital restrictions for ambulance transports. The Cleveland Region is only the second community in the nation to eliminate ambulance transport restrictions.
As the opioid epidemic emerged, Commissioner Carlton worked collaboratively with Project DAWN to be the first public safety entity in the country to dispense naloxone kits to the community.
The kits were dispensed to individuals seeking the kits for themselves, a family member, friend, or loved one at risk for opioid related overdose. Over one thousand kits have been dispensed and hundreds of lives saved since the beginning of the program.
Through Carlton's leadership, the City, in conjunction with the four hospital systems, showcased Cleveland's world class health care during the 2016 Republican National Convention. The level and scope of medical care provided to the delegates, visitors, public safety personnel and service animals was unprecedented.
Carlton's medical teams treated over 1,000 patients during the four day event. Her knowledge and experience make her a national leader on planning and managing large scale national events.
Carlton lives in the City of Cleveland's Old Brooklyn neighborhood, and has a son, Joshua and daughter, Victoria
