By Sarah Roebuck
EMS1
MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice has announced its approval and release of the “Biometric Criminal History Checks for EMS Personnel” Position Paper (2023-01).
The approval of the paper went into effect on Dec. 6.
According to the EMS Compact, the paper emphasizes the need for uniform FBI-compliant biometric criminal history checks for all U.S. EMS practitioner licenses.
The Commission said it strongly believes that biometric checks are crucial for EMS practitioners, who often interact with vulnerable individuals. This step enhances public safety, aligns EMS with other healthcare professions and upholds uniform protection standards while preserving professional integrity, a news release stated.
The Commission said it advocates for FBI-compliant biometric criminal history checks to be the nationwide standard for all EMS practitioners. Given the REPLICA’s adoption by 24 states, which requires such checks, the Position Paper suggests expanding this practice to all EMS personnel across the country. This is aimed at improving public safety, upholding professional ethics, fostering public trust and tackling specific challenges in EMS service.