EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System ReviewRecommendation20. The NJOEMS in conjunction with the NJ EMS Council should determine response timestandards for EMS that apply to all agencies. To facilitate this, dispatch centers should berequired to collect and report EMS response time intervals.21. Within five years, all EMS response units should be equipped with AVL. 6322. Transfer responsibility and oversight of EMD licensure/certification to NJOEMS. EMDshould be codified as a license/certification similar to EMT-B.23. Increase emphasis on the quality management aspects of MPD. Consolidated PSDPcenters should make this recommendation easier to implement.24. All BLS ambulances, regardless of delivery platform, must be staffed with at least two NJcertified/licensed EMT-Bs. First responder or other certification programs should not takethe place of a state approved EMT-B program.25. Add the administration of oxygen-nebulized or metered-dose inhaled beta agonist agentsto the EMT-B scope of practice.26. NJOEMS should create a statewide EMS database using the NEMSIS minimum data set. 6727. NJOEMS should create a statewide PCR that can be used by all ALS and BLS units. Useof this report should be required for all EMS units. Reporting of aggregate data should notbe accepted as a substitute for the statewide PCR.28. All EMS patient care encounters must be documented on an official patient care report. Acopy of all patient care reports must be left at the receiving hospital. Emergencydepartments must place a copy of the PCR or download the PCR data into the patient’schart. Under no circumstances should EMS PCRs be discarded.29. EMS services must adopt an approved statewide PCR to receive any state funding. 6730. Primary access points and primary dispatch points centers must employ appropriatehardware and software necessary to provide accurate data and populate data fields on thePCR.31. Change EMS legislation and regulations to move operational and technical issues outsideof the legislative and regulatory process. Operational and technical issues should be theresponsibility of the NJOEMS and the state EMS medical director.32. Move all EMS issues out of the Highway Safety Act and into EMS Legislation. Accept theabove suggestions for the new legislation.33. The state EMS protocol should state the instances where online physician direction isrequired. There is no evidence that supports requiring physician contact for every patientencounter. Using nurses or physician assistants for ALS online direction is notrecommended.34. Restructure the state EMS system as described above. Immediately appoint the seniorstaff and have them begin a one to two year transition process for the NJDEMS.35. Implement a regional EMS system within the NJDEMS, with one region for northern,central, and southern New Jersey.36. Encourage the development of county-level EMS oversight. 9037. Accept the above six principles as a plan for upgrading the state EMS information system. 9138. Select often used helicopter landing areas and using the above variables, pre-determinethe closest units. Upgrade REMCS and helicopter units with the appropriate trackingdevices that can determine the closest units.39. If the NJOEMS wishes to enact a protocol for commercial helicopter dispatch, it should beprecise and easy to follow. Documentation should be kept to measure key time intervalsand patient outcomes.40. EMS helicopter units which are determined to have “self-dispatched” to emergenciesshould be subject to suspension. Repeated violations should be grounds for licensePage62636465666767677274808790101102103TriData, a Division of 131September 2007System Planning Corporation