The record-breaking Powerball jackpot, an estimated $1.5 billion, has captured our attention and thoughts of how that money could be used to improve EMS. Columnist Kelly Grayson outlined his spending plan, as did Editor-in-Chief Greg Friese. EMS1 readers shared their ideas for spending the jackpot.
We asked leaders of EMS advocacy and professional organizations how they would spend the jackpot to accomplish their organization’s mission and for the betterment of EMS. These organizations, if they have tax-exempt status, may be able to take the entire jackpot without paying any taxes. Whether you win or lose in the Powerball drawing,
We appreciate these responses from NAEMSE, NEMSMA, the National EMS Museum and the Code Green Campaign.
Improve prehospital provider education
The National Association of EMS Educators president John Todaro and the board of directors would use the moneys to establish:
- An Institute for Pre-hospital Education which would include state of the art educational opportunities for all levels of EMS educators. It would also include a technology and simulation center and research center to further the advancement of evidence based medicine.
- A grant program to grow and expand EMS degree programs.
- A scholarship program for EMS educators to advance their education and professional development.
In addition NAEMSE would fund EMS advocacy efforts and expand their international presence through educational opportunities.
Learn more about the National Association of EMS Educators.
Invest to support industry growth, clinical advancement and leadership training
If EMS were to win the Powerball jackpot, NEMSMA would be best off taking the cash value of the $1.3 billion, about $870 million, minus taxes leaving $540 million for EMS. Investing the $540 million will yield about $25 million each year to support EMS. Ten percent of that annual yield would be reinvested to allow for growth of the fund. Eighty percent of the annual earnings would go to a federal lead agency that can support the long-term functions of EMS and to find additional funding for EMS initiatives. The federal agency would be required to use a portion of the fund to support growth of our industry into a true profession (i.e. licensure verse certification).
As EMS providers continue to advance as clinicians, bringing the ER out into the field for emergencies and continued care such as home visits by community paramedics, we need to grow our future leaders. Ten percent of the annual fund would go to the National EMS Management Association programs and initiatives to help raise the bar for EMS leadership. Greater engagement is needed from EMS leaders to help advance our service delivery models, continue to expand our clinical skill sets and to raise the qualifications and skills required of EMS leaders to help grow as a profession.
Learn more about NEMSMA and its leadership competencies and training.
Preserve the past and grow the audience
The National EMS Museum shared this list of projects, priorities and opportunities for the Powerball jackpot. The museum would use the funds to:
- Create an endowment to support museum operations including obtaining a facility to house, display and maintain EMS-related collections.
- Fund collections care and conservation.
- Create world class exhibits that we can use for nation-wide traveling exhibitions.
- Increase our public outreach.
- Fund scholarships for EMS students who are interested in history.
View the National EMS Museums collections and see their traveling exhibits schedule.
Research and training on first responder mental health
The Code Green Campaign would take the lump sum (so $1.3 billion would end up being around $500 million after taxes) to do the following:
- Use $200 million to set up a trust, to ensure Code Green will be funded well into the future.
- Hire several paid staff.
- Research first responder mental health with a couple of full-time researchers.
- Fund mental health education at every first responder agency in the United States.
- Fund peer support programs.
- Provide free posters, resource cards, booklets and pamphlets to all EMS agencies.
- Fund several first responder specific in-patient treatment programs.
- Start our own conference focused on first responder mental health.
Learn more about The Code Green Campaign and its goals to raise awareness of the high rates of mental health issues, substance abuse and suicide among first responders and to provide education for responders on how to provide care for themselves and recognize issues in their peers.