EMS News Briefs from Mike McEvoy

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

EMS Sustainability Report Issued
A Technical Advisory Group to the New York State EMS Council released a powerful report, "New York State 2023 Evidence Based EMS Agenda for the Future." The 71-page report caps over a year of work by more than 65 experts from every sector of EMS, from 911 call centers to receiving hospitals. Twenty five key recommendations are offered at the start of the report with extensive coverage of the deliberations and data collected by the various workgroups that comprised the TAG. The New York State EMS system has markedly deteriorated over the past several years due to declining volunteerism, lack of public funding to cover costs of readiness, inadequate staffing, rising costs, insufficient insurance reimbursement, rising call volumes, a lack of performance standards, poor understanding of the EMS system by elected officials and the public, NYS home rule, and lack of transparency and accountability for EMS agencies. You can read the report here. Since its release, the document has garnered national attention as a frank, pointed, sometimes controversial, but clearly targeted set of solutions to EMS issues.

New DOH Policy Statements Issued    
The Bureau of EMS has issued seven new policy statements since January 1, 2023. Included are instructions for BLS participation in the iGel supraglottic airway demonstration project, revised requirements for EMS instructors, a change log of BLS Protocols, removal of endotracheal intubation from AEMT scope of practice, a revised oxygen tank care and maintenance policy, and delineation of scopes of practice by EMS provider levels. The statements can be viewed and downloaded here.