LANSING, Mich. — In northern Michigan, a new bill would expand rural EMS capabilities by letting paramedics use more of their advanced life support (ALS) skills on basic life support (BLS) units.
State law now requires round-the-clock advanced staffing to deliver ALS care. Rep. Dave Prestin’s proposal, House Bill 5249, would allow a BLS crew with a paramedic and an EMT to operate at a limited ALS level, enabling faster, potentially lifesaving treatment, UpNorthLive reported.
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“There is advanced life support analysis, our miniature version of an ER,” Green Lake Township Emergency Services Director Chief Daryl Case said. “At minimum staffing, you need to have a basic EMT and a paramedic, so that would be an advanced life support.”
Prestin said the change would give rural EMS crews more flexibility to deliver lifesaving care when full ALS staffing isn’t available.
“This bill that I’m going to introduce is really going to allow some of these BLS units that, if there is a paramedic and an EMT on that rig, and that rig has been licensed to restricted ALS, that they’re going to be able to work to their level with their scope of care,” Prestin said.
Under the legislation, agencies could apply for a new “adaptive care license” allowing BLS operations staffed by a paramedic and EMT to provide limited ALS care, with approval from their medical control authority. To qualify, an agency must already hold a BLS transport license, be owned or contracted by a local government, and provide transport only in response to 911 or other emergency calls within that jurisdiction.
The adaptive care license would be valid for four years, require ongoing medical oversight and quality monitoring, and would not replace a service’s regular BLS license, which must still be renewed annually.
Prestin added that the bill would improve patient care and cut risky lights-and-siren transports, making roads safer for everyone.
