WASHINGTON, DC — The International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC) represents senior EMS officials responsible for out-of-hospital EMS response in the United States of America, Canada and other countries. Annually, the IAEMSC membership is responsible for the oversight and management of millions of responses to medical emergencies throughout the world in the urban, suburban, rural and frontier environments.
The delivery models of local pre-hospital EMS systems are diverse. Frequently, the local pre-hospital EMS organizations operational capability is based upon efficiency of operations, and the resources available to sustain day-to-day service. Therefore, it is vital that EMS operational officials be consistently engaged in the development and conduct of coordinated local, regional, state and federal pre-hospital EMS response strategy and tactics. The proposed companion bills will allow New Jersey to take a significant step forward in improving and managing the provision of emergency medical services to the citizens.
Therefore, it is the position of the IAEMSC to support the proposed New Jersey legislation (S-818 and A-2095) as a fundamental move to support and improve EMS in New Jersey. The legislation, as currently articulated, would accomplish the following:
- Municipal Authority - New Jersey municipalities are finally granted official authority over EMS in their jurisdiction; the same as for community police and fire service.
- Minimum Level of Staffing - Two emergency medical technicians (EMTs) as the standard of care for every ambulance in the state. This would be a uniform standard regarding response to, and treatment and transport of, EMS patients to ensure appropriate care for all of New Jersey’s citizens.
- Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board (EMCAB) - It establishes, through consolidation of numerous groups, task forces and advisory boards, a governing body - the EMCAB, which will include industry leaders serving to advise the Department of Health and Senior Services on prehospital issues, medical care and the establishment of provider standards. Expert members from their field will serve without compensation.
- EMS Training Fund - This fund will be more inclusive and train all providers, providing high caliber education in order to meet certification requirements.
- Licensing of all Ambulances - This will allow the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services to utilize the most up-to-date medical protocols and standards for all of our citizens. It will also help with ease of implementation to allow NJ to move forward on aggressive new medical treatments.
- Statutory Authority- The EMS Task Force will gain authority to continue its great work on issues including disasters and terrorism, and to come together quickly in whatever situations our state and its citizens may face.
