• New and enhanced service lines
• New and/or expanded revenue streams
• Cost reductions due to fewer unnecessary responses and transports to ED
• Stronger collaborative relationships with communities, payers, hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare professions

Individual practitioners will also benefit. The creation of the paramedic practitioner creates:

• Self-satisfaction of achievement and providing higher level of medical care and service
• A pathway to a career as an advanced clinical practitioner
• Potential for higher pay
• Professional recognition

According to McKinsey and Company, the projected educational pipeline for health professionals is expected to fall well short of meeting the increased demand for qualified healthcare professionals by over 1.8 million graduates by 2031. Creating a new graduate-prepared paramedic practitioner could help to fill the gap (Carrus, C. et al, 2023).

Our international colleagues in the United Kingdom are facing similar demands on their healthcare system and have already developed and deployed paramedic practitioners with success (Eaton, G., 2023). We see no reason why a similar approach in the United States would not be effective.

The approval of the advisory is the first step on a long road to professionalization of Paramedicine as a healthcare discipline. Healthcare in general, and EMS specifically, are very complex systems that interact with many other systems and those interactions must be studied as the draft advisory and recommendation suggests before a suitable path forward is determined. Likewise, the structure and training of the proposed Paramedic Practitioner deserves thoughtful consideration. However, there is no justification for not proceeding. Such reticence would indicate a profound lack of vision and a surrender to the tyranny of present conditions. By contrast there is virtually no risk in seriously investigating this path towards a graduate prepared Paramedic Practitioner as the advisory suggests.

Sincerely,

Brooke Burton President
 

References

Carrus, C. et al. (2023). McKinsey and Company, McKinsey’s Healthcare Practice. Retrieved October 22, 2023 from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/how-health-systems-and-educators-can-work-to-close-the-talent-gap.

Eaton, G. (2023). Addressing the Challenges Facing the Paramedic Profession in the United Kingdom, British Medical Bulletin. Retrieved November 6, 2023 from https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldad024.

H.R. 2354 and is online here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/2354?r=1&s=1

The bill's short title and legislative text should be posted on Congress.gov sometime next week.

The revision of the CAAS Accreditation Standards was an extensive process conducted by the Standards Review Committee, a diverse and comprehensive team of EMS, Fire, and healthcare professionals that has dedicated over 250 work hours and engaged with subject matter experts and materially impacted stakeholders across EMS and healthcare to create this first draft of the v4.0 CAAS Accreditation Standards. 

These standards were developed in accordance with the standard establishing policies set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI.)  CAAS is an ANSI Standards Developing Organization (SDO) committed to the development of Ambulance Accreditation Standards in a fair, balanced, accessible, and responsive manner.

This is the first public comment period, and we encourage you to review and provide your feedback to the CAAS Standards Review Committee using this online form.  This public comment period will be open from March 26, 2021 until May 25, 2021.  

Access CAAS v4.0 Accreditation Standards – First Draft and Public Comment Form

We ask that you submit one form for each standard comment you have – please do not comment on multiple standards in one form.  We want to be able to review the feedback in an organized manner.

If you have any questions on the proposed standards or the standard setting process, please contact us at caas-staff@tcag.com.  We look forward to your feedback.

The Journal will accept submissions on a variety of clinical and non-clinical topics. It will provide a much needed forum for articles addressing leadership, system design, finance, quality improvement, education, public policy, clinical care, and other related topics. The International Journal of Paramedicine will strive to highlight the academic and professional contributions of paramedics.

The Journal team is still being assembled, but several top positions have already been filled. The organizations have appointed Mic Gunderson, EMT-P (Ret.), FAEMS to serve as Editor-in-Chief. Mic has been in EMS for over 45 years and has an extensive academic publishing background dating back to the 80’s with launching the Tampa Bay EMS Journal and the Journal of Prehospital Medicine. The latter was incorporated into efforts with NAEMSP and WADEM, where he was deeply involved in the launch of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. He led the EMS Management Journal for NEMSMA in the early 90’s as well as an academic EMS journal in South America.

Our Managing Editors are Walter Tavares, ACP, PhD, and Mike Touchstone, BS, FACPE, EMT-P. Walter is a Scientist and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto and an Advanced Care Paramedic with York Region Paramedic and Senior Services. Mike is a Deputy Chief for EMS Operations in the Philadelphia Fire Department and a former NEMSMA President.

Several of the Associate Editors have also been designated – Elizabeth Donnelly, PhD, MPH, NREMT – Associate Professor, University of Windsor (ON, Canada); Brett Williams, PhD, FACP, Head of Department, Department of Paramedicine, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia); Renée MacPhee, PhD – Associate Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University (ON, Canada); and Scot Phelps, JD, MPH – Paramedic Program Director, Union County College (NJ, USA).

NEMSMA President, Sean Caffrey, comments, “NEMSMA has been a partner with a number of publications throughout the field of paramedicine and is excited to work with the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada to develop this new publication that will fill a key gap between peer-reviewed clinical publications and the industry press. We further hope this new outlet for paramedic-led scholarship will advance our profession for generations to come.”

PCC President, Randy Mellow states, “The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada are eager to collaborate with NEMSMA on the International Journal of Paramedicine. The PCC has benefited from a long-standing partnership with NEMSMA, and we are confident that the Journal will fulfill a broader need for literature that applies to paramedic leadership both in Canada and the United States.”

A Call for Editors to find additional individuals interested in volunteering to serve in other key roles on the core Journal team will be issued soon. A Call for Papers will be also be sent out in the coming weeks and will include details on the types and requirements for manuscript submissions.

For additional information about the Journal, contact Mic Gunderson, Editor-In-Chief, at mic.gunderson@gmail.com.

For information regarding the National EMS Management Association, contact Pat Songer, Executive Director, at psonger@nemsma.org.

For information regarding the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada, contact Kelly Nash, Executive Director, at ed@paramedicchiefs.ca.

• NEMSMA Partner (Non-Voting) - $135/year or $40/quarter
• Group Member - $450/year for up to 4 members
  • Additional Group members at $135 each
• Student Member - $85/year or $30/quarter

Regular membership is available to any current or former leader in the field of paramedicine. Regular members may self-select into this category. Non-voting partner membership is available for the same price to individuals not serving in EMS leadership roles who wish to support NEMSMA’s efforts. Group membership provides a volume discount to organizations and includes up to 4 regular or partner members. Additional members may be added for a reduced fee. Finally, individuals actively enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program may join as student members. NEMSMA has also added an autopay option that can be billed annually or in quarterly installments.

This new simplified structure will go into effect in 2021. Members in discontinued categories will be offered the opportunity to renew into a new category of their choice. For most members, membership dues will stay the same or be reduced. NEMSMA dues are comparable to those of other professional organizations in EMS, health care, fire services and law enforcement.

The primary value of NEMSMA membership is networking and professional development. NEMSMA members are active leaders in the field of paramedicine from a broad spectrum of organizations. We work closely with other EMS industry associations and partners to ensure today’s emergency services leaders have the knowledge and skills to succeed. NEMSMA also connects leaders to a variety of educational programs and offers a voluntary certification program for paramedic officers administered by the American College of Paramedic Executives (ACPE).

NEMSMA Board of Directors 2020 - 2022 Term

Each year, NEMSMA holds an election for several Board of Directors’ seats which come to term. This year, those currently held by four (4) board members are due. Nominations for these seats are now open and those interested should submit their name, or the name of a member in good standing whom they would like to nominate, to the address or e-mail listed below, by Friday, May 15^th, 2020. Submissions must include the name, email address, and daytime contact phone number of the nominee.

Eligible candidates must be a current individual full member or primary group member of NEMSMA in good standing. They must either self-nominate, or be nominated by another full member of NEMSMA who is in good standing. NOTE: Membership in good standing must be effective not later than May 16^th, 2020, and current memberships must not expire prior to July 1^st, 2020.

Length of a term as a board member is either one year or two years based on which seats are open.  For this election, there are four (4) open seats all for two (2) year terms. This year, nominations are open from May 1^st to May 15^th. Elections will be held on line, from June 10^th to June 24^th.

Nominees are required to submit: 1) a photograph (head shot); 2) a professional summary – 400 to 500 words; 3) a position statement explaining why they seek Board membership; and, 4) a letter of reference from a current NEMSMA member in good standing, all prior to May 30^th, 2020. This information will be disseminated to voting-eligible members to assist them in making their selections for the election. Election votes by members will be due by June 24^th, 2020 and conducted electronically. The elected nominees will take office on July 1^st, 2020. 

The Board of Directors is vested with the general management and oversight of the Association's affairs. The Board of Directors supervise all funds, approve all budgets of the NEMSMA, including those of committees, appoint an auditor when deemed necessary,  elect the officers of the Association, and appoint other officials of the Association. Board Members are expected to attend all regular, electronic and special meetings of the Board of Directors unless permission for absence is requested from, and granted by, the President. The seat of any Board Member who is absent without prior permission from two (2) consecutive regular or special meetings within two (2) years may be declared vacant by a majority of directors present at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Currently, standing committees have a Board member liaison as part of the committee, who acts as a contact between the committee and the board.  The Board member guides committee chair work and assures completion of committee goals and tasks. Other Board members serve in the capacity of one of several officer positions; Past-President, President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. Candidates for Board membership should expect to be heavily involved in officer and committee work and be prepared to dedicate substantial personal time to the affairs of the Association.

Please direct nominations, photos, and bio/platform statement to: NEMSMA Past President, Vince Robbins at Vince.Robbins@NEMSMA.org and list “NEMSMA Board Nomination for ___________” in the subject line.  All submissions will receive confirmation e-mail within 48 hours of submission. 

Thank you

1. Go to https://www.phe.gov/esarvhp/pages/registration.aspx
2. Select the state in which the individual wishes to serve 
3. Click the Registration button and complete the online form
4. Please be patient with the state coordinators as they are in the midst of processing, vetting and assigning volunteers

 
The National EMS Management Association Board of Directors elections are right around the corner. Several seats on the Board of Directors come up for election each year. This year's elections will be held in June 2020 with nominations to open on Friday, May 1st, 2020 until Friday, May 15th, 2020

We are looking for engaged EMS leadership who are interested in making a difference on a national level and would like to serve on the NEMSMA Board of Directors. On May 1st you will see additional communications from NEMSMA regarding qualifications required to run for the Board, responsibilities of Board Members and information on next steps if you are interested in running for an open position. We encourage all members to review the qualifications and responsibilities and consider becoming more involved in the Association.

For those who may not be ready to run for the Board of Directors, there are several other roles which need membership participation, such as committee members and committee chairs. These roles do not require election to the position and if you are interested, or want to find out more about the different possibilities, please feel free to contact the Committee’s Board liaison at any time. You can find all contact information at the bottom of this e-mail.

If you have any questions about the election or becoming a committee member, please feel free to reach out to Dr. Hezedean Smith (hsmith@cityoforlando.net) or Vince Robbins (vince.robbins@verizon.net) at any time.

• More than 18,200 local EMS agencies respond to 911 calls for medical emergencies and injuries, utilizing nearly 73,500 ground vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines.
• Local EMS agencies respond to nearly 28.5 million 911 dispatches every year in 41 states.
• More than 750 services are licensed by state EMS offices to fly patients, using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft to provide rapid transportation to critical care.
• More than 1.03 million personnel are licensed as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and other levels of EMS patient care capability within all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.
• More than 9,300 physicians serve as local EMS Medical Directors, assuring that contemporary and quality care is provided to patients.
• Sixty percent of 53 state EMS offices participated or expect to participate in mass casualty exercises involving a biological threat during the 18-month evaluation period.
  
  
  The report is available from NASEMSO at www.nasemso.org/2020-assessment.
  
  The 2020 National EMS Assessment was produced with support from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (NHTSA), Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) through a cooperative agreement. The document reflects the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NHTSA.
  
  The National Association of State EMS Officials is a leading national organization for EMS and a respected voice for national EMS policy with comprehensive concern and commitment for the development of effective, integrated, community-based, universal and consistent EMS systems. Its members are the leaders of their state and territory EMS systems.

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