Summit in Baltimore Evaluates Topic of Federal EMS Agency

   For many years now, several summits have ended with one conclusion--the need for a federal EMS agency.

   The White House has now asked for input, and requested that the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) evaluate options and report back by May 15.

   On March 2, at a summit in Baltimore, MD, FICEMS Chair Dr. Alexander Garza said the group was interested in hearing from stakeholders about their feelings on the issues. Specifically, people are being asked about what role the federal government should have as well as functions that should not fall under its domain.

   During the meeting, Garza said FICEMS will be accepting comments online and possibly at another venue before compiling its document. He noted that although the White House originally asked for the report by mid-March, the deadline was pushed back until May.

   Right now, a number of federal agencies have a hand in EMS. Bringing it under one umbrella would give the attention it deserves, officials say. What organizations and stakeholders don't agree about is who should take the lead.

   Some have said NHTSA's Office of EMS should be expanded and that its history and knowledge would make it a perfect fit. Others, however, say there's already a federal law specifying a federal EMS authority.

   Yet another suggestion that surfaced during a workshop on March 3 with Advocates for EMS and others would create a different entity: A joint union/management white paper on the need for one agency was requested by and delivered to the White House in December by the EMS Labor Association (EMSLA) and the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC). For more on that visit, see emsla.org.

   "This is about patient care, and the public we serve," says James Orsino, EMSLA president. "This is not a union or management issue."

   The organizations pointed out that their effort was to "outline a clear path for consolidated federal leadership of EMS in America and delineate actions for improving the effective, efficient and equitable delivery of EMS under all conditions and for all hazards."

   James Robinson, vice-president of IAEMSC, said the collaboration speaks volumes. "We did as requested. We identified issues and solutions not just problems."

   "Under Secretary of Emergency Preparedness and Response has the authority to establish and oversee a federal EMS administration. Leveraging this authority will have a resounding positive effect on the over 16 million patients transported by EMS agencies each year as well as the many others who benefit from EMS services other than transport each year," the groups wrote.

   Robinson and Orsino said while intense, it was interesting working to compile the report. "We knocked down walls. It wasn't about labor or management. It was all about us as EMS guys and more important, our patients," Robinson said.

   While EMS has made strides in the last few decades, they said the evolution has been "stifled by the absence of a central federal oversight administration. This void serves as the single greatest impediment to the stability of service and the advancement of the profession."

   Larry Tan, IAESMC president, said he is pleased that the Obama administration has taken the lead to promote discussion. "This is something that has been dormant for a long time," he said.