EMS World Hall of Fame: Warren, Schwettman, Zydlo

The short history of EMS has been driven by the wisdom, foresight, and innovation of countless individuals. As the field ages into its second half-century and its origins fade to the past, it’s worth commemorating the greatest pioneers of prehospital emergency medical services. This series honors these trailblazers. 

James Warren 

Columbus Heartmobile

James V. Warren was a prominent cardiologist and chair of medicine for almost two decades at Ohio State University. During his tenure in the 1960s he led creation of an early “Heartmobile” that delivered mobile coronary care in Columbus. 

Warren began talking about the issue with his local fire department as early as 1966. A coalition to drive the idea forward ultimately involved the Central Ohio Chapter of the American Heart Association, the Ohio Regional Medical Program, the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation, and local industrialist Dave Ellies. It came to fruition in 1969 when the Heartmobile program began as a joint effort between Columbus Fire and the OSU Medical Center. It was the first vehicle of its kind in the United States. 

The 25-foot Heartmobile was outfitted with ER equipment and resided in the “heart shack,” a small temporary building adjacent to the OSU Medical Center ED. When cardiac calls came in, physicians were paged and responded from the hospital’s coronary care unit. A doctor would accompany three off-duty firefighters into the field. 

Studies of mortality validated the truck’s benefit, and by 1971 Warren came to believe physicians were no longer needed. That year Columbus Fire took things over, leading to the development of paramedics in the state. 

The Heartmobile was retired in 1973 in favor of more traditional vans, and Warren died in 1990.

Jan Schwettman, Stanley Zydlo 

Northwest Community EMS System

In October 1971 Ohio physician James Warren appeared on NBC’s Today to promote his Heartmobile concept and the paramedics operating it. Among the viewers that morning was Illinois housewife Janet Schwettman. Schwettman had lost a neighbor to a heart attack just two months earlier and was galvanized to improve care for others like him. 

Schwettman began researching the subject and meeting with experts. A hospital executive suggested a regional approach, and by January 1972 Chicago newspaper editorials were promoting the mobile coronary care concept across area communities. Support and donations began to roll in. 

Schwettman allied with Stanley Zydlo, an emergency doc at Chicago’s Northwest Community Hospital who was similarly galvanized about the issue. She contacted half a dozen area fire departments and presented to boards representing a quarter million residents. The idea was favorably received everywhere, with some providing quick authorization and funding. 

Schwettman went to Northwest in January ’72 and won the support of its president for what would ultimately be a full mobile intensive care unit. Zydlo persuaded skeptical physicians, and the program was formally announced in March, with Zydlo as director of training. Within days more than 200 people from 17 communities committed. Training began in April, and other hospitals were recruited to join Northwest. 

Schwettman’s persistence then helped push through authorizing legislation for paramedics in Illinois. The Northwest Community EMS system ultimately went live by the end of 1972, the first in Illinois and the nation’s first multicommunity program. 

John Erich is the senior editor of EMS World.