NASEMSO News

Dia Gainor Appointed First Chair of National EMS Advisory Council

(04/08/08) Dia Gainor, Bureau Chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the State of Idaho and a Past President of NASEMSO, has been appointed the first chair of the 25-member National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC). She has been an active participant in many national-level EMS activities and is an expert in the field of quality improvement. Ms. Gainor is also well known for her work with the Intelligent Transportation Systems' Public Safety Advisory Group and with the Strategic Highway Safety Plan Peer Exchange. The purpose of NEMSAC is to provide advice and counsel to the Department of Transportation on national EMS initiatives, while offering a forum for the non-federal deliberation of national EMS issues.

NASEMSO Provides Issue Brief on Repeal of Emergency Responder Provisions in Ryan White Act

(04/04/08) NASEMSO has responded to a national “Call for Action” on the repeal of the emergency responder provisions in the Ryan White Act by publishing an Issue Brief on the topic to inform its members of the concern. The provisions apply to situations where the Designated Infection Control Officer of an emergency response agency determines through investigation that an employee (including volunteers) was exposed to a patient’s blood or body fluids and provides a signed written request to the receiving hospital for notification of the patient’s infectious status. The provisions also provide for automatic notification of the emergency response employee if a transported patient was found to have infectious tuberculosis. Although the repeal has been in effect for nearly six months, NASEMSO is not aware that any hospital has begun refusing to provide exposure incident information to EMS providers through their Designated Infection Control Officer. Instead of waiting for federal intervention by Congress in this matter, some states have already begun addressing the issue by implementing their own state level regulatory requirements to protect emergency responders.  One benefit of the repeal is that states would no longer have to seek a federal waiver to impose state notification laws that was required by previous versions of the Ryan White Act. To access the brief, click here.

NASEMSO Provides Access to CRS Funding Report to Congress

(03/12/08) Under the provisions of the Conference Report (H. Rep. 109-699) accompanying the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations Act, (Pub. L. 109-295), DHS is directed to submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States on the use of Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) and Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) funds for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Page 157 of the Conference Report states: “The Conferees remain concerned with the lack of first responder grant funding being provided to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) community and direct G&T to require in its grant guidance that State and local governments include EMS representatives in planning committees as an equal partner and to facilitate a nationwide EMS needs assessment. In addition, no later than January 23, 2007, the Department shall report to the Committees on Appropriations, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, on the use of Homeland Security Grant Program funds and Firefighter Assistance Grant funds for EMS.” This report, entitled “Support for the Emergency Medical Service Provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Grants and Training,” is submitted in response to this paragraph of the Conference Report. NASEMSO has finally obtained a copy of the report and is making it available here. Download report.

Plan Now to Attend the NASEMSO 2008 Mid-Year Meeting

(02/17/08) The program is now posted for the NASEMSO 2008 Mid-Year Meeting set for June 24-25 at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, Maryland. The NASEMSO Mid-Year Meeting purpose is to address EMS and homeland security legislative and regulatory issues; the EMS work force; NASEMSO project updates (pandemic flu, mentor program, air medical task force, intelligent transportation/ traffic incident management developments, model trauma plan); the National EMS Education Standards project; and more. Details and program available here.

NASEMSO Program Advisor Listed as Panelist in New Institute of Medicine Report

(01/31/08) NASEMSO Program Advisor Leslee Stein-Spencer was an invited panelist toward the development of a new "Letter Report on Research Priorities for Emergency Preparedness and Response" just released by the IOM. In response to the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (Public Law 109–417, 2006), the CDC identified an immediate and critical need to define research priorities for the Centers for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP) at schools of public health. These priorities will be used to help develop a research agenda and inform research funding opportunity announcements that must be issued and filled, according to congressional mandate, during the 2008 fiscal year. Download report.

Wall Street Journal Publishes NASEMSO President's Letter on Need for Innovative Approach to Solve Public Safety Communications Crisis

(01/24/08) The Wall Street Journal has published a letter to the editor written by NASEMSO President Fergus Laughridge in which he noted, "We are now many years past the disasters of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, and it remains painfully clear that without regulatory intervention, the marketplace, left to its own devices, will not solve our national public safety communications crisis. We need an innovative approach. The only way we can permanently solve this problem is by correctly aligning the interests of public safety with the commercial sector." The letter was published in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 24, 2008. Read his letter here. See it on the Wall Street Journal Web site here.

EMS News & Resources

Gail J. McGovern Selected as President and CEO of the American Red Cross

(04/09/08) Gail J. McGovern has been named President and CEO of the American Red Cross. She has held top management positions at AT&T Corporation and Fidelity Investments, has experience running large organizations in competitive industries, and has a track record for improving business performance and service delivery to the public. McGovern joined the faculty of the Harvard Business School in June 2002, where she teaches marketing in the MBA and Executive programs. She was recognized by Fortune magazine in 2000 and 2001 as one of the top 50 most powerful women in corporate America. press release

Dept. of Justice Provides Addendum to Recent Federal Guidance on Pan Flu

(03/27/08) The U.S. Dept. of Justice has provided an addendum to the recently released guidance on state pandemic flu plans. The appendix and related documents are provided here for download:
Appendix B.15 (core of DOJ guidance).
Chapter 8 (Law Enforcement, Public Safety and Security), National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan.
Letter from the National Guard Bureau outlining procedures for obtaining support.
Letter to governors outlining procedures and requirements for obtaining support from U.S. military personnel.

New Guidelines for State Pandemic Planning

(03/21/08) The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled a comprehensive pandemic influenza guidance document for states this week. Guidance materials outline three overarching strategic goals that states' plans should address: ensuring continuity of state government and agency operation, protecting citizens, and maintaining critical infrastructure and key assets. Several operating objectives are included in each goal. For example, for maintaining critical infrastructure, states are encouraged to build private-public partnerships and beef up protection and information sharing. Objectives for incorporating EMS and 9-1-1 into state planning activities are included as Appendices B-12 and B-13 and follow guidance documents coordinated by NASEMSO through a cooperative agreement with NHTSA in 2007. Download document.

HHS Releases Federal Guidance to Assist States in Improving State-Level Pan Flu Operating Plans

(03/12/08) The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services has asked NASEMSO members to review and comment on the draft federal guidance to assist states in improving state-level pandemic influenza operating plans. Deadline for submission of state plans is June 16. Also, the agency is offering a Webcast Series on Pandemic Influenza. NASEMSO members are invited to join in for live discussions in the first of three web seminars ("webinars") on Mar. 13. Learn more.

FEMA Releases FY 2008 National Incident Management System (NIMS) Compliance Package

(03/10/08) The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has posted the Fiscal Year 2008 NIMS compliance package. Meeting NIMS compliance objectives forms the basis for NIMS compliance determinations for states, territories, tribal nations and local government. NIMS compliance directly impacts elibility for Federal Preparedness Awards under Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSDP) 5, Managing Domestic Incidents. Posted are:

• NIMS Compliance Memorandum
• NIMS Compliance Objectives and Metrics For States and Territories
• NIMS Compliance Objectives and Metrics for Tribal Nation
• NIMS Compliance Objectives and Metrics for Local Governments

REAL ID Extensions Granted to States by DHS

(03/08/08) In a recent press release, U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security has recognized that states cannot meet the full requirements of the REAL ID Act by May 11, 2008, so it will grant extensions for those states that request them up to Mar. 31, 2008. The extension is good through Dec. 31, 2009. In addition, states that meet certain benchmarks for the security of their credentials and licensing processes will automatically be granted a second extension until May 11, 2011, to complete full implementation of REAL ID. If an individual chooses to present a state-issued driver’s license or identification card for an official purpose as of May 11, 2008, that driver’s license or identification card must be issued by a state that is complying with the REAL ID Act. Learn more.

U.S. Senate Approves IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Bill

(02/27/08) The U.S. Senate has approved S. 428, the IP-Enabled Voice Communications and Public Safety Act, the companion bill to HR3403, the 9-1-1 Modernization Act. Learn about the primary effects of the bill.

Nominations Are Open for EMSC National Heroes Awards

(02/24/08) The EMSC National Resource Center (NRC) is seeking nominations for the 2008 EMSC National Heroes Awards (NHA). The awards are presented to individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the EMSC program. Nominations are due April 4, 2008.
2008 NHA nomination form | NHA brochure

FLEX Grant Guidance Released

(02/16/08) The Office of Rural Health Policy recently released grant guidance related to the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (MRHFP, referred to as the Flex Program.) The FLEX Program is an ideal mechanism for improving and sustaining access to appropriate healthcare services of high quality in rural
America, supporting conversion of small rural hospitals to critical access status, helping develop rural health care networks, and strengthening and integrating rural Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Not only is the FLEX Program an excellent funding opportunity for rural EMS programs, but most states are currently re-writing their State Rural Health Plans. This is an excellent opportunity to partner with the State Offices of Rural Health and others to assure the challenges and needs of rural EMS are integrated into the larger plan. Application deadline is Apr. 17, 2008. FLEX Program Grant Guidance. More details here.

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