Summer 2009 Issue.Indd
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Non-profi t organization U.S. Postage PAID Serving our nation’s EMS practitioners Clinton, MS Permit No. 20 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Foundation P.O. Box 1400 Clinton, MS 39060-1400 Printer will drop in FSC logo here t the end of April, members of the NAEMT Board of ment for associations and structures our investments to ensure ADirectors came to Kansas City, Missouri, from all corners the maximum possible return while assuring adequate protec- of our nation for their mid-year meeting, where they consid- tion of our assets. “Th e Finance Committee and staff devel- ered issues aff ecting the EMS profession, NAEMT members oped the policy on operational and reserve funds to guide the and the operations of the association. Actions taken by the association through these troubled fi nancial times,” says Rick Board at the meeting included: Ellis, NAEMT Treasurer. “We took a conservative approach on investing to help reduce the chance of loss. As we continue Adoption of a new position statement calling for the to grow, we need to remain vigilant about controlling expenses expansion of the Public Safety Offi cer Benefi ts (PSOB) and making wise investments to ensure NAEMT remains program — fi nancially solvent.” See article on page 18. Th e Support of the concept of an annual EMS on Capitol Hill limitations of this Day — While NAEMT has made visits to Capitol Hill for program unfairly many years in conjunction with the Congressional Fire Services aff ect many of our Institute’s Dinner, the Board agreed that EMS, with representa- members, notes tion from all sectors of the profession, needs visibility with our Connie Meyer, congressional leaders. “Th is has been discussed for several years, President-Elect, and it’s time to move forward,” says Jerry Johnston, NAEMT who shares this Immediate Past President. “Th ose on the Hill need to see repre- personal example: sentatives from all the EMS factions with a strong and unifi ed “My husband voice.” Added Meyer, “It is time for EMS to have its own day works for a on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of EMS as the safety net for hospital based healthcare in the U.S.” EMS service providing 911 response. I work for a public Ratifi cation of the slate of new candidates for the (county based) service as well as serving as a volunteer fi rst Board of Trustees of the NAEMT Foundation — Th e responder in the county. Both my positions are covered under Bylaws of the NAEMT Foundation recently were modifi ed to the PSOB but his is not.” increase involvement of NAEMT members in the work of the Agreement to send a letter to the American Ambulance Foundation. Association in support of its federal grant request for Other items — Th e board also received a report on the work EMS personal protection equipment — Th is grant is to to date of the Special Committee on Elections and Candi- provide PAPR (powered air purifying respirators) for personal dacy, a status report on the project sponsored by the National protection — important equipment for EMS practitioners, Fire Protection Association from Johnston, who represents especially in light of threats such as an infl uenza epidemic. Th e NAEMT on this project, and a report from Meyer, one of respirators provide protection without having to do fi t testing. NAEMT’s representatives to Advocates for EMS, on advocacy Adoption of a new operational policy governing the activities. administration of NAEMT’s operating and reserve funds Board members also discussed in depth the impact of the new — Th e board approved the policy developed by the Finance EMS scope of practice model and national education standards Committee. It incorporates best practices in fi nancial manage- on the EMS profession and NAEMT. Serving our nation’s EMS practitioners A quarterly publication of the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Summer 2009 The EMS Agenda for the Future Implements a Systems Approach by Dan Manz here is an old adage in rural New In 1996, the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration and the Health TEngland: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fi x it.” Aft er Resources and Services Administration published the EMS Agenda for the careful consideration, I’ve concluded that EMS Future (Agenda). Th e Agenda created a common vision for the future of EMS education in the United States actually is broken and is designed for use by government and private organizations at national, and needs to be fi xed. state and local levels to help guide EMS Th e good news is that planning,p decision making, and policy collectively, we are in the includingin EMS education. midst of implementing the In 2000, the Agenda was followed necessary fi xes and are setting byb the EMS Education Agenda for the the stage for the professional The universe of EMS Future:F A Systems Approach (Education and public recognition EMS knowledge and skills AAgenda). Th e purpose of the Education practitioners so richly deserve. AAgenda is to establish a system of EMS Delineation of provider ededucation that more closely parallels that Agenda creates common practice levels oof other allied health care professions. vision for future Since the release of the Education Th e reason EMS education Replaces the current national standards curricula AAgenda, we have accomplished much. is broken relates to our Th e National EMS Core Content, historical reliance on National NNational EMS Scope of Practice Model, Standard Curricula (NSC). anand National EMS Education Standards Th e NSC have driven not hhave all been completed. Work continues only how EMS practitioners oon implementation of the National EMS are educated, but also exactly CCertifiertifi cation cationanand d NNationalational EMS EducatiEducationo Program Accreditation components. what their states allow them to dfilldo professionally. Other allied health professions use an Guidelines steer improvements approach that fi rst identifi es the domain of the EMS stakeholders — including NAEMT — that participated in developing profession (core content). A determination is the Education Agenda then made based upon the core content as to believe that: what those at various levels within the profession An established na- INSIDE will be authorized to do (scope of practice). tional EMS education Only aft er those decisions have been made is system would align NAEMT adds new tagline the necessary educational preparation (education EMS with other health to logo standards) created to guide educators in professions and en- preparing candidates to enter the profession. NAEMT awards newest hance the professional scholarship Th e competency of candidates to practice credibility of EMS is verifi ed using a national certifi cation practitioners. Ten ways to engage in examination, and the educational programs YOUR association meet national accreditation standards. States National EMS issue licenses to individual practitioners Education Standards New position statement authorizing their practice based upon this type should replace the supports extending federal benefi ts of combined system. Continued > > 10 800-346-2368 | www.naemt.org 2 NAEMT DISPATCHES Thank you to our sponsors Sponsorship is vital to NAEMT programs and services. Without the support of our corporate sponsors, we could not continue to carry out our critical mission of representing and serving EMS practitioners nationally. When a company chooses to sponsor NAEMT programs and services, it visibly demonstrates support for the life-saving eff orts of EMS practitioners throughout our nation. On behalf of our members, NAEMT thanks our sponsors and welcomes our newest sponsors: EVS, Ltd., which off ers integrated child safety seats for EMS transport, and Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, the nation’s EMS industry law fi rm. Corporate Partner The College Network Diamond EMS1 Presidential Masimo Corporation Silver Medtec Ambulance Meridian Medical Technologies Annual AllMed Braun Industries EVS, Ltd. HPSO Monster Medic Page, Wolfberg & Wirth Water-Jel 800-346-2368 | www.naemt.org NAEMT DISPATCHES 3 NNAEMTAEMT addsadds nnewew ttaglineagline toto logologo n May, aft er careful consideration, the NAEMT board of directors voted unanimously to add a tagline to the NAEMT Ilogo to better defi ne who it is that the association serves. Th e new tagline, Serving our nation’s EMS practitioners, makes its debut on the cover of this issue of NAEMT News. With use of the term “EMS practitioners”, the new tagline better describes the whole of the association’s membership, which includes paramedics, emergency medical technicians, fi rst responders and other professionals working in pre-hospital emergency medicine. According to the Random House Dictionary, the word practitioner refers to 1.) a person engaged in the practice of a profession or occupation, such as a medical practitioner, or 2.) a person who practices something specifi ed. Both defi nitions apply to trained EMS personnel, who are required to hold certifi cation and continue their education to practice in the fi eld. Th e term practitioner particularly suggests a medical setting, conveying knowledge, credibility, skill, experience, sound judgment, wisdom and respectability. “Th e term ‘practitioners’ recognizes pre-hospital medicine as an independent practice of medicine, of which we are all practitioners, regardless of certifi cation, license or level of training,” says NAEMT Medical Director Paul R. Hinchey, MD, MBA, EMT-P. By adding the new tagline, NAEMT conveys the utmost respect it has for its EMS practitioner members and their work, and the respect those members deserve from other professionals and the public. SAFETY IN MOTION. ACTIONSAFE.™ Medtec introduces ActionSafe – Our innovative crash-stable ambulance interior is designed to keep your patient – and you – safer. In a bold new envelope of protection, Medtec’s ergonomic ActionSafe configurations allow easier access to controls, supplies and the patient. Cabinets are flared away from head impact zones.