EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System ReviewIdentification of Top PrioritiesAfter the focus groups finished the initial evaluation of each element of EMS, they beganto identify and prioritize issues for each component. Below are their priorities. We include someadditional information discovered by TriData. Recommendations regarding air medical EMS,legislation and regulation, ALS delivery, and the EMS workforce are contained in separatechapters.EMS System Integration – The focus groups identified 30 recommendations, with thetop six as the following:1. Scope of practice expansion – Paramedics and EMTs should be able to practiceadditional skills in different healthcare settings. This includes hospitals, freestandingemergency centers, physician offices, mass gathering sites, and similar situations.2. Municipal recognition of 911, emergency management, public safety –Municipalities should recognize that 911 and emergency management are integralparts of public safety.3. Better hospital/EMS interface – Better communications between EMS and otherhealthcare agencies will help integrate information systems, best practices, and publichealth needs. This would allow the healthcare system to determine the best fit forEMS.4. Recognize EMS as a public safety element – Municipalities must recognize EMS asan essential element of public safety similar to fire services and law enforcement.5. Oversight of system integration – NJOEMS should oversee all aspects of systemintegration including expanded scope of service or practice,6. Alternative treatment paths – The current delivery model of taking all patients to anemergency department is outdated, costly, and may not provide the best care.Mechanisms should be introduced to divert certain 911 calls to alternate answeringpoints. EMS providers should be empowered to transport or refer patients to moreappropriate facilities instead of just the emergency department.Each of these issues is appropriate to consider. Many will be developed further indifferent sections of the report. The issue of alternative pathways is critical in light of healthcareaccess and economics. In the 1980s, Pinellas County, FL studied their community to determinewhat their citizens wanted from EMS. They determined four specific needs:TriData, a Division of 49September 2007System Planning Corporation