EMS News Briefs from Mike McEvoy

EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, Ph.D., NRP, RN, CCRN
NYSAFC EMS Committee

News from the State EMS Council (SEMSCO)

This column will keep you up to date on news affecting EMS providers, educators, chiefs, and administrators. You’ll read about significant developments in EMS policy, regulations, and legislation here. Our current representation in practically every venue affecting EMS in New York allows us not only to know what’s happening, but to also have a voice in the process. We welcome submissions addressed to the NYSAFC EMS Committee by email or mail to the association office.
 
Circling back to the previously discussed concern about course sponsors running classes outside their home regions, the Bureau has programmed the course application portal to automatically notify the REMSCO where a course is being taught immediately on receipt of any course application. These emails go to the EMSCO chair of record for each region.

The Education Standards Workgroup assembled in April did a yeoman’s job creating a succinct worksheet of 2021 updates to the EMS Educational Standards. Broken down by level, the final spreadsheet will be tidied up, sent to the Bureau, and distributed to course sponsors. The brief, bulleted nature of the document will allow instructors to readily add the new material to their courses. The goal (accomplished) was to make it short enough that people will actually read it. Yay!

T&E relooked at AEMT endotracheal intubation, passing a motion to request SEMAC bring NYS AEMT protocols in line with the National EMS Educational Standards by January 1, 2023. SEMAC will hear this (provided they have a quorum) in September.

Vital Signs is in Albany this year, October 27-30, at the Empire State Plaza. Scope out the details here. Two exciting new things to check out – a 3-day NAEMSE Instructor Course live on-site AND, on October 28, a physician-led full day program, “The Future of EMS: Looking at Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” will debut. Hotels and registration are open. Hope to see you there!

On the topic of EMS mental health, did you know the Bureau set up a webpage precisely on this topic? Word on the streets, and commentary from ordinarily highly critical EMSers, is that the page rocks. Access it here.
 
About the Author:
Mike McEvoy, Ph.D., NRP, RN, CCRN is the EMS coordinator for Saratoga County, a paramedic supervisor and the CME coordinator for Clifton Park-Halfmoon Ambulance Corps, a firefighter and the chief medical officer for West Crescent Fire Department. He works in the Cardiac Surgical ICU at Albany Medical Center and chairs the hospital resuscitation committee. Appointed to the State EMS Council in 2018, McEvoy previously served from 2002-2014 and was Council chair in 2005. He currently chairs the IAFC EMS Section. For those worried about monkeypox, Mike advises that there is no need to go bananas. Contact Mike McEvoy here.