Fifty years ago, Parkland Health launched a small but ambitious program to support paramedics in the field with real-time medical direction. Today, that program — known as BioTel — has grown into one of the most sophisticated EMS support systems in the country, serving 13 fire-rescue agencies and more than 2 million North Texans.
This year Parkland Health is celebrating five decades of BioTel: a behind-the-scenes powerhouse that connects skilled paramedics with nurses, physicians, and emergency medicine experts 24/7. It’s a major milestone for one of the state’s most respected teaching hospitals, and a clear example of how THOT members serve as innovation hubs and community anchors.
“BioTel began as a small program 50 years ago and today is a critical resource for hundreds of EMS providers serving thousands of patients in North Texas,” said Courtney Edwards, DNP, MPH, RN, director of Trauma Community Outreach and BioTel EMS. “It’s a resource that not many people know about but that provides behind-the-scenes lifesaving service 24/7.”
Originally launched in partnership with UT Southwestern and Dallas Fire-Rescue in 1975, BioTel was designed to support the city’s newly trained paramedics with real-time medical consultation. That mission hasn’t changed, but the scope and technology have. BioTel now provides continuous support for complex calls, hospital destination decisions, cardiac arrest protocols, resuscitation efforts, and even specialized dispatches for Parkland surgical teams during extreme emergencies.
Unlike most centralized medical control models, BioTel gives paramedics in the field immediate access to specially trained nurses, emergency medicine residents, and physicians. This responsiveness ensures paramedics are never alone in critical decision-making moments, and it improves outcomes for patients across the region.
Setting the Standard, Then and Now
As a member of the Teaching Hospitals of Texas, Parkland Health has always led with a vision that combines service, education, and innovation. BioTel is just one example of how public teaching hospitals plant deep roots in their communities, responding to local needs while developing new models of care set the standard nationally.
“Parkland’s BioTel program is a model of what teaching hospitals do best — create, sustain, and evolve systems that serve communities for generations,” said Maureen Milligan, PhD, CEO of Teaching Hospitals of Texas
Honoring EMS Week 2025
As we look back on EMS Week, we recognize the dedication and courage of emergency medical services professionals across Texas. These are the frontline responders who show up in life’s most critical moments and they deserve systems like BioTel that support their work, enhance their safety, and elevate patient care.
Parkland Health’s 50-year investment in BioTel represents the very best of what THOT members bring to Texas: sustained innovation, deep community ties, and a commitment to improving how care is delivered — day after day, decade after decade.
