EMS World Magazine is the most authoritative source in the world for clinical and educational material designed to improve the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care.
Issue link: https://emsworld.epubxp.com/i/131347
Earn Your Bachelor's Degree in Crisis and Disaster Management Courses include: • Emergency Preparedness and Response • Disaster and Society • Disaster Health Management • Terrorism and Homeland Security • Crisis and Disaster Psychology • Hazardous Analysis and Risk Assessment • Community Disaster Mitigation and Recovery www.EvergladesUniversity.edu • 100% online degree programs are available through the Boca Raton Main Campus • Students take one class at a time for more focused learning • Financial aid is available for those who qualify Boca Raton Campus (Main Campus) 888.226.0902 5002 T-REX Avenue, Suite #100, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Orlando Campus (Branch Campus) 866.314.4540 887 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 Sarasota Campus (Branch Campus) 888.785.8689 6001 Lake Osprey Drive, Suite #110, Sarasota, FL 34240 For More Information Circle 23 on Reader Service Card Stress? Trauma? Addiction? Call for backup. A trauma and addictions program for EMTs and other uniformed service professionals EMTs are trained to call for assistance— but it can be hard when the situation is personal. Now, exclusive, strictly confdential support is available at the Brattleboro Retreat. Admissions 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. Brattleboro, Vermont brattlebororetreat.org/ems Call 802.258.3700 For More Information Circle 24 on Reader Service Card EMS STANDARDS Putting It in Law A few states have addressed the matter up front: Hawaii, North Carolina and, more recently, Pennsylvania. Hawaii has a true state-operated, all-inclusive EMS system.The state EMS offce, part of the state health department, is responsible for establishing emergency medical services throughout the state, including emergency air-medical services (HRS 321-224). The department can contract with counties for it, and "shall operate emergency medical ambulance services or contract with a private agency in those counties which do not apply [to be the provider]" (HRS 321.228). The state EMS offce contracts with someone (county or private entity) to provide the service, receives all patient care reports, bills for the service and receives all revenue generated by patient transport. North Carolina's approach is a bit different. State statute requires counties to comply with the administrative rules promulgated by the state offce of EMS (NCGS & §; 153A-250(e)). The state's administrative rules require that counties shall establish EMS systems (as defned), and that there be a single level of care throughout the county, 24 hours per day (10A NCAC 13P .0201(a) et seq.). A city may not serve as a provider of EMS or franchise ambulance services unless permitted by its county (NCGS & §; 153A-250(c)). Pennsylvania has taken a slightly different approach. In 2008, the state amended sections of its code (Act 2, 7, 8 and 9 of 2008) that spell out the responsibilities of various classes of boroughs and townships. Townships are responsible for "ensuring that fre and emergency medical services are provided within the township by the means and to the extent determined by the township." In other words, townships must make provisions for fre and EMS, but the extent (level of service) and means (by providing it themselves or contracting with another entity) is up to them.The act also provides for an accounting of township funds provided to external entities. It is interesting (perhaps alarming?) to note that these acts do not apply to cities! In most states, however, there is nothing "mandatory" about EMS. Communities decide for themselves if they will have EMS and, if so, what, when and how it shall be delivered. As with many items that aren't "hot buttons" with citizens, EMS is often overlooked, neglected and underfunded until a crisis arises—at which point lives may be in jeopardy.