NAEMT Survey: EMS Providers Want Federal Administration

EMS providers believe they should be federally represented by an agency similar to the U.S. Fire Administration, a recent survey by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians found.

"It's what we've been saying all along. We want representation," said Ken Bouvier, NAEMT president.

EMS is currently represented at the federal level by the EMS Division of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

While 92 percent of the survey respondents said that EMS is not adequately represented, 55 percent also said they didn't know enough about the activities of NHTSA's EMS Division to have a favorable or unfavorable view of them. The survey had 2,719 respondents from NAEMT membership.

Bouvier said he shared the survey with EMS Division Director Drew Dawson, who seemed appreciative of the information.

However, a NHTSA spokesman would not comment on the NAEMT survey nor allow Dawson to discuss it.

Bouvier said it's imperative that all players work together to bring about change. "We have to foster a good relationship to bolster the objective, the betterment of EMS."

Bouvier said he will use the survey results as his association pushes to improve various aspects of EMS. "We need better equipment, conditions and especially, funding. We're always short-changed on funding. We have to make sure we get more money."

For too long, EMS has taken a back seat when it comes to preparedness funds. Bouvier said the focus has always been on providing money for police and fire departments.

"We are not well prepared as recent studies have pointed out. We'd be overburdened with a major event."

NAEMT Survey Summary

2,719 respondents participated in the survey

Certification of survey respondents
Paramedic - 55 percent
EMT-Basic - 27 percent
EMT-Intermediate - 12 percent
Nurse - 5 percent

Respondents' type of employer
Private EMS agency - 24 percent
Fire department - 24 percent
Hospital - 17 percent
Stand-alone municipal service - 15 percent
Other - 14 percent
Military - 5 percent
Police - 2 percent

Population served by respondents' employer
25,000 to 100,000 - 29 percent
Less than 25,000 - 27 percent
100,000 to 250,000 - 14 percent
More than 1 million - 11 percent
250,000 to 500,000 - 10 percent
500,000 to 1 million - 8 percent

Responses to key questions:

EMS is adequately represented in the federal government.
Yes - 8 percent
No - 92 percent

What is your view of past activities of the Division of EMS within NHTSA?
Favorable - 20 percent
Unfavorable - 25 percent
Don't know enough - 55 percent

EMS is viewed as a separate but equal part of the public safety triangle (like fire and police).
Yes - 82 percent
No - 18 percent

EMS providers see their role as:
Healthcare providers - 93 percent
Public safety workers - 85 percent
Public health workers - 73 percent

Should the federal government create an EMS entity on par with the U.S. Fire Administration?
Yes - 93 percent
No - 7 percent

Establishing a Federal EMS entity similar to the U.S. Fire Administration would benefit EMS providers.
Definitely yes - 54 percent
Probably yes - 41 percent
Probably no - 5 percent
Definitely no - 1 percent