EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System ReviewMedical oversight is provided by individual Medical Directors for each agency throughthe Regional Physician’s Advisory Board (RPAB). The state is divided into ten regions, eachwith one representative, who work with the State EMS Medical Director who sets protocol andestablish minimum standards that serve as guidelines to develop individualized protocols bestsuited to each agency’s needs.Legislatively, all of the actions performed by the Division of EMS are identified in OhioAdministrative Code 4765: State Board of Emergency Medical Services, which has 19 chaptersdefining the exact scope of the Division’s authority and the organization of the agency.Operations in the Ohio Division of EMS are funded through three main sources. In 2005,the State provided operating funds of $3,189,690. Federal funds totaled $5,917,333, while grantsfrom other organizations brought in $9,355,138. The State also provides grants to EMSorganizations in Ohio through money collected in seatbelt fines, approximately $5 million everyyear.VirginiaThe Virginia Office of EMS is part of the Virginia Department of Health. A 27-personadvisory board provides direction to an agency that provides training and support to EMSagencies statewide. The state is divided into 11 regions, each with its own EMS Council. Thesecouncils work with the state to assure sufficient training is made available, in each region, forALS and BLS providers. Training can be obtained through the state, through Regional EMSCouncils, and through private organizations. The OEMS is responsible for accrediting all EMStraining programs. The Commonwealth of Virginia certifies EMS agencies and also maintains alist of all certified First Responder, BLS, and ALS providers throughout the state. VirginiaOEMS also has a section dedicated to aiding localities with grant preparation.There are several regulations in Virginia legal code that relate to EMS in the state. EMSvehicles, ground and air, transport and non-transport, are regulated by the OEMS and must meetstate standards. Each EMS agency is required to have an operational medical director, who mustmeet standards set forth in Virginia code. This code, 12 VAC 5-31-590, is very specificregarding responsibilities of the medical director and conflict between an agency and a medicaldirector. State code also requires a Quality Management Program to be integrated into all areasof operation.TriData, a Division of 24September 2007System Planning Corporation