VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach has revolutionized emergency response by putting doctors directly alongside paramedics on 911 calls, bringing hospital-level care to residents' front doors.

The EMS Duty Physician Program, launched in 2019, allows local doctors to volunteer their time serving the community with Virginia Beach EMS crews. When residents dial 911, they might receive not just an ambulance, but a physician ready to provide immediate medical expertise.

Dr. Joe Lang, an emergency medicine doctor, dedicates one eight-hour shift monthly to the program, responding to critical calls from heart attacks to serious crashes.

"It's been very positive for me. I really enjoyed working with the medics and working with the city," Lang said.

The program now includes more than 20 volunte

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