NASEMSO Update - November 2014

The following highlights are excerpts from the November 2014 issue of the Washington Update: https://www.nasemso.org/NewsAndPublications/TheWashingtonUpdate/documents/WU201411.pdf. Topics covered include: NASEMSO Releases National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines, New Initiative on EMS Performance Measures Announced, and NIOSH Offers Free Training on Emergency Responder Health Monitoring.

NASEMSO Releases National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines
Following the conclusion of a two-year project initiated by the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) Medical Directors Council, the National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines have now been completed and are available to the public. The project was developed for the purpose of helping state EMS systems ensure a more standardized approach to the practice of prehospital patient care and to encompass evidence-based guidelines as they are developed. The guidelines are not intended to be mandatory or to determine local scope of practice. Rather, the goal is to provide a resource to prehospital clinical practice, maximize patient care, safety and outcomes.

The prehospital guidelines may be used as presented or adapted for use on a state, regional or local level to enhance patient care and benchmark performance of EMS practice. They are intended to be a core set of guidelines, at least initially, with the goal of adding more guidelines in the future. The project was funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of EMS and the Health Resources Services Administration, EMS for Children Program. The guidelines may be downloaded at https://www.nasemso.org/Projects/ModelEMSClinicalGuidelines/index.asp.

New Initiative on EMS Performance Measures Announced
NASEMSO announces a cooperative agreement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop a comprehensive set of EMS performance measures. The two-year project, funded by NHTSA, will engage a wide range of EMS stakeholders to develop performance measures that are relevant to EMS agencies, regulators, and patients. The measures will be based on the latest National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) version data and will allow local and state EMS agencies to use their own data meaningfully. The project will facilitate an inclusive and open development process, with participation from dozens of EMS and healthcare experts and organizations and multiple opportunities for input and public comment.

NASEMSO will be discussing performance measurement in EMS and this project in greater detail at a National EMS Performance Measurement Stakeholder Summit on December 2 from 1:00-4:00 pm in Washington DC immediately preceding the National EMS Advisory Council meeting. EMS industry representatives and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend. The location will be the American Immigration Lawyers Association Conference and Meeting Center at 1331 G Street NW; the agenda will be announced soon.

NIOSH Offers Free Training on Emergency Responder Health Monitoring
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has introduced free online training for its Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) program. NIOSH worked with the U.S. National Response Team (NRT), and a number of federal agencies, state health departments, labor unions, and volunteer emergency responder groups to develop the Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS) system.

The ERHMS provides guidelines for protecting emergency responders over a full range of emergency types and settings. It is for use by all who are involved in deployment and protection of emergency responders. This includes incident management and response organization leadership, health, safety and medical personnel, and emergency responders. Training is free and provides the necessary tools for implementing health monitoring and surveillance of emergency response workers. Important procedures for pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment are outlined. For more information: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/erhms/.