|
||||||
|
||||||
Emergency Medical and Trauma ServicesEMS Personnel Practice Task ForceBackground: In 1996, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published the consensus document titled EMS Agenda for the Future. The intent of the Agenda was to create a common vision for the future of EMS and was designed for use by government and private organizations at the national, state and local levels to help guide planning, decision making, and policy regarding EMS. In 2000, this document was followed by the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach. The purpose of the Education Agenda is to establish a system of EMS education that more closely parallels that of other health care professions. The Core Content, Scope of Practice, and Education Standards were then completed. The National EMS Scope of Practice Model (NEMSSoPM) calls for the reconfiguration of EMS provider levels in the United States. While the NEMSSoPM describes the provider levels and general scope of practice for each level, states are responsible to accept and adopt scope of practice regulations within their existing regulatory structures. A document which compares the National Standard Curriculum, NEMSSoPM and Rule 500 (11/07) can be seen at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/em/EMTPractice/FinalScopeAnalysis11-15-07.pdf. In addition, the National EMS Education standards reflect the levels described in the NEMSSoPM and drive future textbook and course content. The National Registry is developing credentialing systems for the new levels to be implemented in 2011 – 2012. Colorado State Implementation: In October 2007, the EMT Practice Subcommittee of the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council (SEMTAC) developed recommendations for implementation by the State of Colorado of the National Emergency Medical Services Scope of Practice Model (NEMSSoPM), as published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Emergency Medical Services in February of 2007. The subcommittee met approximately every three weeks from several months and developed a set of recommendations. The final report can be viewed at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/em/EMTPractice/Final_Report.pdf. The twelve recommendations (pgs.3-4) were adopted by SEMTAC and recommended to the EMTS for implementation. The EMT Practice Subcommitte has been reconvened as the EMT Practice Task Force to work further on the implementation of these recommendations. The main objectives for future meetings are:
The Task Force will be chaired by Dr. Michele Sweeney & Mr. Richard Kinser. Regular meetings of this Task Force will be scheduled for the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:30am through September of 2010. National Resources: The National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) recognizes the complexities involved with implementing the National EMS Education Agenda. Throughout the country, EMS officials, educators and dedicated individuals have been working together to develop resource materials to aid states and education programs with the implementation and transition process. For a wealth of information please go to the NASEMSO web site at http://www.nasemso.org/EMSEducationImplementationPlanning/index.asp and the “Toolkit” section at http://www.nasemso.org/EMSEducationImplementationPlanning/Toolkit.asp.
Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment |
