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NAEMSP | Rest in Peace E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, FAEMS

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News.

NAEMSP is deeply saddened by the news that E. Brooke Lerner, PhD, FAEMS has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Over the past two decades, Brooke has dedicated her career to the advancement of prehospital care, from spending time in the field as a paramedic to serving on the NAEMSP Board of Directors and joining her alma mater, the University of Buffalo, as a tenured professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Emergency Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

 

Said NAEMSP President José G Cabañas MD, MPH, FAEMS: “We pay tribute to the extraordinary legacy ‎of Dr. Brooke Lerner. Her service to our profession and NAEMSP was marked by honor and distinction, ‎including the mentorship of countless clinicians devoted to building effective prehospital systems of ‎care. Brooke’s transformative work played a pivotal role in advancing trauma and pediatric emergency ‎care, leaving behind a body of work that was instrumental in enhancing prehospital care standards. ‎May her enduring legacy serve as an inspiration to all of us, reminding us of the profound impact one ‎person’s selfless dedication can have in elevating the practice of EMS medicine.”‎

 

Throughout her career, Brooke focused on research in a subspecialty with a relatively small literature ‎base, authoring over 135 peer-reviewed publications and completing many federally funded grants to ‎conduct EMS research. Much of her research addressed acute injury care and field/disaster triage, and ‎she led the current national guideline for mass casualty triage.‎

 

Brooke also dedicated much of her time to pediatric emergency care, especially through the federally ‎funded Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), where she led the ‎organization’s only prehospital node and served on its Executive Committee.‎

 

Following her diagnosis, Brooke worked with NAEMSP and the GMR Foundation to establish the E. ‎Brooke Lerner Research Fund with the goal of supporting early career EMS researchers. “I’ve spent my ‎career on improving prehospital care, and I wanted to leave something behind to keep that legacy ‎moving forward,” Brooke said, speaking of the fund shortly after its creation.‎

 

In 2013, Brooke received NAEMSP’s Keith Neely Award, and ten years later, she was recognized with ‎the Ronald D. Stewart Award for her illustrious career in EMS. It would be impossible to recount all the ‎invaluable contributions to emergency medical services made by Brooke Lerner, and more impossible ‎still to describe the impact she made on each person she met. NAEMSP will remember Brooke with the ‎utmost admiration and is profoundly grateful for everything she has done to advance EMS.‎

NHTSA | Updated Ground Ambulance Crash Safety Materials Available

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations, Patient Care.

EMS News

Updated Ground Ambulance Crash Safety Materials Available

Comprehensive Analysis and Safety Recommendations for Ambulance Crashes
Ground ambulance crashes remain one of the leading causes of death on the job among EMS personnel. NHTSA Office of EMS and NEMSIS have released updated resources demonstrating the significant impact of proper restraint use for both patients and clinicians on the outcome of ambulance crashes.

These new materials, now available on ems.gov, provide an in-depth look at the latest data and recommendations to improve ground ambulance safety. Expanding on the initial 2011 study, this report examines NCSA crash data over a seven-year period and information gathered from investigations of fatal ambulance crashes.

Significantly, the data underscores a prevalent underutilization of proper restraint mechanisms in ambulance crash incidents. These findings offer observations that agencies can incorporate into training and protocol development. By leveraging these resources, organizations have the potential to establish more robust safety standards, directly benefiting both clinicians and patients.

New Resources Available:

Analysis of Ground Ambulance Crash Data from 2012-2018: Delivers updated data and trends in ground ambulance-involved crashes

Ground Ambulance Crashes Presentation: 2012-2018 Data: Provides a visual overview of recent data and key safety recommendations

Ground Ambulance Infographic: 2012-2018 Data: Offers a concise, graphical summary of safety statistics

 

View Safety Resources

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Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations, Patient Care, Regulatory.

Press Release from the Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition

PREHOSPITAL BLOOD TRANSFUSION INITIATIVE COALITION BEING FORMED

Contact:

Bill Skillman
bskillman@veli.co
781 315 7537

In cities, towns and rural communities across the US people are dying unnecessarily from severe bleeding arising from limited supply of blood products and lack of blood transfusions after injury or other causes of hemorrhagic shock. Bleeding to death from uncontrolled hemorrhage remains the leading cause of preventable deaths among victims of trauma with nearly half of these patients dying in the prehospital setting.  Unfortunately, in the vast majority of cases, blood products are not available on emergency medical response vehicles because of reimbursement limitations and local regulations which vary by state.

The Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative Coalition (PHBTIC) is being established to address these problems. “A growing number of ground and air medical EMS programs have successfully initiated blood programs in recent years, but more needs to be done to ensure patients in the U.S. who need prehospital transfusion are able to receive it, regardless of where they live” notes John Holcomb, MD, Professor of Surgery at University of Alabama at Birmingham, an internationally renowned trauma surgeon and expert on civilian and military hemorrhage control and resuscitation.  The Coalition, led by a steering committee, is building a multi-disciplinary, collaborative initiative to advance four pillars of focused activity to promote prehospital blood transfusion programs:

  • Establish reimbursement for blood products transfused in the prehospital setting.
  • EMS scope-of-practice allowing the initiation of prehospital blood products in states where it currently is not allowed.
  • Strategic preparedness for homeland defense and mass casualties.
  • Outreach and education, including regulatory, protocols, and best practices for programs based on experiences of agencies currently conducting programs.

“Our group represents a diverse community of prehospital and hospital-based medical professionals, as well as industry, blood collection, and government partners, whose focus is on improving outcomes of all patients suffering hemorrhagic shock in a data-driven fashion” say Eric Bank, LP, NRP, Assistant Chief of EMS HCESD 48 Fire-EMS and Randi Schaefer, DNP, RN, Clinical Consultant and Scientific Advisor.

The Steering Committee has already reached out to national stakeholder organizations in the EMS, trauma, blood and industry communities and are soliciting others with an interest in ensuring blood products are available in all emergency settings to join the Coalition. They will be scheduling an initial meeting of the Coalition in the coming weeks. Those interested are encouraged to contact Jon R Krohmer, MD at jrkrohmer@gmail.com

Visit Website

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Nominations Open for the Vanguard Awards & EMS Next! 🏆🚑

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Awards.

Celebrate EMS Excellence

Nominations are Open Now for Vanguard & EMSNext Awards

Vanguard and EMS Next honorees will be recognized at the American Ambulance Association Annual Conference & Trade Show, as well as on the AAA website and social media platforms. Winners will also receive complimentary registration to the AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show.

2024 AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show
Gaylord Opryland
April 22–24, 2024
Nashville, TN

Nominations close January 1, 2024.
However, capacity is limited, so early submission is encouraged.

Nominate A Vanguard
Nominations are open for the second annual American Ambulance Association Vanguard Awards! The Vanguards honor those who blazed the trail for fellow women EMS professionals.
Nominate An EMSNext
Know a younger and/or diverse rising leader? Nominations are open for the EMSNext recognition and development program!

Clarion Ledger | Ambulance ‘response times’ miss the big picture: health outcomes

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

Congratulations to the board of the Mississippi Ambulance Alliance on the publication of their insightful op-ed in the Clarion Ledger.

“Response Times” are the loudest complaint, both locally and around the country — regardless of whether a private or public ambulance is responding. Everyone is, understandably, mad the ambulance isn’t right here, right now. And in many if not most instances, the ambulance providers agree — they want to be on scene sooner.

But that system is showing its fragility everywhere.

Read the Full Op-Ed

NAEMSP | Board Nominations Open

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

 

Dear NAEMSP members,

 

The subspecialty of EMS continues to evolve every day. As a member of NAEMSP, I hope you feel a part of this continued evolution. Our members — you! — work each and every day to advance EMS and improve the lives of our colleagues, patients, and communities.

 

As you may be aware, applications are currently open for the 2024-2026 slate of NAEMSP’s Board of Directors. Four positions are available: three Physician Members-at-Large positions, and one Professional Member-at-Large position. I am writing to encourage you all to consider applying for these open positions and helping us guide the future of NAEMSP and EMS as a whole.

 

The application deadline is September 1 — just a few days away. The link below will take you straight to the application page.

 

I hope to see your application soon!

 

Warmly,

JerrieLynn Kind

Executive Director, NAEMSP
Apply for NAEMSP’s Board of Directors

GAPBAC | Follow Up from Committee Meeting #2

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Advocacy Priorities, Executive, Government Affairs, Private Insurance, Regulatory.

Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee Public Meeting #2 (August 16, 2023)

The Ground Ambulance and Patient Billing (GAPB) Advisory Committee Second Public Meeting was held on August 16, 2023. Materials for this meeting are available for download on the CMS.gov GAPB website.

As we continue this webinar series, we look to you as industry experts to provide feedback and recommend information that would be beneficial in future webinars. Written public comments for consideration by the Advisory Committee may be emailed to:  GAPBAdvisoryCommittee@cms.hhs.gov .

Public comments on the specific topics listed in the GAPB Advisory Committee Public Meeting #2 Agenda, should be submitted by September 5, 2023 for consideration by the GAPB Advisory Committee.

 

Support EMS Professionals Impacted by the Maui Fires

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in News, Press.

Our hearts are broken for Maui residents and businesses impacted by this month’s unprecedented wildfires.

Sadly, many EMS colleagues in the area have suffered total losses of their homes due to the flames.

Global Medical Response and other organizations are working round-the-clock to find alternate shelters and otherwise support these families.

If you would like to contribute to the GMR Employee Foundation to support our Global Medical Response colleagues, the donation will be matched 100% through September 10.
Donate Now to the GMR Employee Foundation

Donate to the Hawaiian Red Cross
Make a one-time or recurring donation to the broader relief effort through the Red Cross.

CAAS GVS3 Feedback Requested!

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Operations.

From CAAS GVS Version 3.0 – Revision Input

CAAS has formed a Ground Vehicle Standards Committee to review the existing CAAS Ground Vehicle Standard V3.0, and to develop proposed revisions or additions to the Standard as necessary. To ensure that anyone with an interest in the emergency medical transportation industry has a voice in the Standard revision process, CAAS has developed a mechanism for interested parties to submit feedback and suggestions relative to ground vehicle standards. Interested parties should complete the online form below. All submissions will be reviewed by the Ground Vehicle Standards Committee prior to development of Version 4.0.

CAAS GVS will be taking input until July 1 of 2024, for the next Version 4.0 to be published in July of 2025.

Provide Feedback>>

 

NEMSAC | Meeting August 9-10

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

 

EMS News

Register Now: National EMS Advisory Council Meeting August 9-10
The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) will host a hybrid meeting on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 1:00 pm ET, and Thursday, August 10, 2023, at 12:00 pm ET. The meeting will highlight EMS program updates, share new initiatives and innovations and provide an opportunity for facilitated discussion and public comment. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the meeting virtually.

Location:
Yours Truly Hotel DC
1143 New Hampshire Ave NW,
Washington, DC 20037
Virtual webcast available

Register Now

Items on the agenda include:

  • Updates from OEMS and FICEMS Chairperson
  • NRSS and Post-Crash Care update
  • Subcommittee reports on advisories in progress, including:
    • Adaptability and innovation
    • Equitable patient care
    • Preparedness and education
    • Professional safety
    • Sustainability and efficiency
    • Integration and technology
    • Ambulance crashes
  • Guest Presentations
    • Day 1: Prehospital Blood Transfusion Initiative with Jon Krohmer, MD
    • Day 2: Medical Countermeasures for First Responders with Judith Laney, PhD

Registrants who wish to address the Council during the public comment periods can submit comments in writing to NHTSA.NEMSAC@dot.gov by August 5, 2023. Questions and comments for the Council may also be presented using the live chat feature.

About NEMSAC

NEMSAC meets several times a year to discuss concerns facing the EMS community. Members of NEMSAC provide counsel and recommendations regarding EMS to the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

NHTSA is committed to providing equal access to this meeting for all program participants. Persons with disabilities in need of accommodation should send their request to Clary Mole by phone at (202) 868-3275 or by email to Clary.Mole@dot.gov no later than July 27, 2023. A sign language interpreter and closed captioning services can be provided through the Zoom meeting platform upon request.

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Contact Us

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

 

AAA Encourages CMS to Consider Revised Innovation Model for Treatment in Place

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

Washington, DC— While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to end the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model two years early on December 31, 2023, the American Ambulance Association (AAA) remains committed to working with CMS on all future efforts to design programs that fully utilize the ground ambulance services in the delivery of mobile healthcare services. CMS made the decision to end the model “due to lower than expected participation and lower than projected interventions.”

The AAA is encouraged that CMS has stated that, “the lessons learned from the ET3 Model can aid in the development of potential future initiatives.”  Our members are committed to supporting such future efforts to make sure that the requirements support true treatment in place and recognize the unique needs of rural ground ambulance services and the communities they serve.  Moreover, we encourage CMS to work with the AAA to move forward with alternative destination as a permanent policy based not only on the lessons learned from the ET3 model, but also those garnered as a result of the Public Health Emergency (PHE) waiver. The AAA continues to support efforts to refine the Medicare ground ambulance emergency benefit to support delivering pre-hospital services to the patients who need them at the time they need them and where they need them.

7/27 CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Regulatory.

From CMS on July 19, 2023

CMS Open Door Forum

The next CMS Ambulance Open Door Forum scheduled for:

Date:  Thursday, July 27, 2023

Start Time:  2:00pm-3:00pm PM Eastern Time (ET);

Please dial-in at least 15 minutes before call start time.

Conference Leaders: Jill Darling, Maria Durham 

**This Agenda is Subject to Change**

  1. Opening Remarks

Chair- Maria Durham, Director, Division of Data Analysis and Market Based Pricing

Moderator – Jill Darling (Office of Communications)

Announcements & Updates

  1. Ground Ambulance & Patient Billing Advisory Committee Meeting Announcement
  2. Update on Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) Model
  3. Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System (GADCS): Proposed Changes in the CY 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
    1. Slide presentation will be available at: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/ambulance-fee-schedule-zip-code-files/ambulance-events
  4. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023:  Division FF, section 4103: Extension of Add-On Payments for Ambulance Services

III. Open Q&A

**DATE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

Next Ambulance Open Door Forum: TBA

ODF email: AMBULANCEODF@cms.hhs.gov

———————————————————————

This Open Door Forum is open to everyone, but if you are a member of the Press, you may listen in but please refrain from asking questions during the Q & A portion of the call. If you have inquiries, please contact CMS at Press@cms.hhs.gov. Thank you.

NEW and UPDATED Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:

This call will be a Zoom webinar with registration and login instructions below.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://cms.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_Sq7TP07ESqiGuvE0M00xIg

Webinar ID: 161 099 7532

Passcode: 131371

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. You may also add the webinar to your calendar using the drop-down arrow on the “Webinar Registration Approved” webpage after registering. Although the ODFs are now a Zoom webinar, we will only use the audio function, no need for cameras to be on.

For ODF schedule updates and E-Mailing List registration, visit our website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/.

Were you unable to attend the recent Ambulance ODF call? We encourage you to visit our CMS Podcasts and Transcript webpage where you can listen and view the most recent Ambulance ODF call. The webinar recording and transcript will be posted to: https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Outreach/OpenDoorForums/PodcastAndTranscripts.html.

CMS provides free auxiliary aids and services including information in accessible formats. Click here for more information. This will point partners to our CMS.gov version of the “Accessibility & Nondiscrimination notice” page. Thank you.

CMS Open Door Forum Footer

Savvik | Summer Deals

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in AAA HQ, Member-Only, Operations, Patient Care.

View our Contracts!
You Asked. We Listened.
Bulk Buys are here! The 5.11 Stryke and Taclite EMS Pants are discounted nearly 40% off retail until July 14th!

Built from the ground up by 5.11 exclusively for First Responders, both the Stryke and the Taclite series offer serious performance and style, as well as a protective Teflon coating and ripstop material so they can handle even the toughest shift.

Grab yours today!
Shop Now!
Learn More

NHTSA’s Office of EMS Contributes to New Study Analyzing Suicide Among EMS and 911

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in Employee Wellness.

EMS News

NHTSA’s Office of EMS Contributes to New Study Analyzing Suicide Among EMS and 911
National Violent Death Reporting System data indicates that first responders made up 1% of all suicides from 2015-2017. As part of NHTSA’s Office of EMS’ (OEMS) ongoing efforts to support the mental health of first responders, the Office participated in a new study characterizing suicides among first responders and identifying potential opportunities for additional data collection. OEMS Specialist Kate Elkins, MPH, CPH, NRP, CHES, co-authored the study drawing on her experience at OEMS and the National 911 Program, as well as her background in emergency medical services, disaster response, public health and injury prevention.

Published in The Journal of Safety Research, “An analysis of suicides among first responders ─ Findings from the National Violent Death Reporting System, 2015–2017,” examines the factors contributing to higher suicide rates among first responders, including EMS clinicians. Risk factors and selected sociodemographics and characteristics were compared.

READ MORE

The study provides a small glimpse into the stressors contributing to suicide and indicates that more detailed research could inform suicide prevention efforts and interventions among the first responder workforce.

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

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Contact Us

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

 

                       ems.gov

 nhtsa dot

NCSL EMS Legislative Database

Written by AAA Staff on . Posted in State-Level Advocacy.

EMS News

National Database of EMS Legislation Now Available

Up-to-date, real-time information about state-enacted EMS legislation at NCSL.org
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) have worked together to create an online resource called the EMS Legislative Database, which provides up-to-date, real-time information about enacted EMS legislation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

The EMS Legislative Database offers a summary of key enacted EMS legislation in an easy-to-use resource allowing you to search legislation by year, state, topic, keyword, status or primary sponsor. New legislation is added weekly.

Visit Database

Searchable topics include:

  • Administration: EMS as an Essential Service, Quality Assurance and State EMS Office
  • Funding: Changes in Funding Structure, Fees, Service fees and Surcharges
  • Rules: Aeromedical Services, EMSC Activities, Good Samaritan Laws and Progress/Impacts to NEMSIS
  • Systems: STEMI, Stroke and Trauma
  • Workforce: Classification of EMS and 911 Providers, Interstate Compacts and Licensure of EMS Professionals

In 2022, at least 39 states and territories enacted 113 bills to address various challenges in the EMS community, including the supply of EMS clinicians, limited funding, violence against EMS clinicians, long ambulance offload times and supply chain delays.

For more information about the EMS Legislative Database, 2022 Legislation updates or the State EMS Bill Tracking Database visit www.ncsl.org or contact Annie Kitch with NCSL at annie.kitch@ncsl.org and Kate Elkins with the NHTSA Office of EMS at katherine.elkins@dot.gov.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

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