EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System ReviewRecommendation 9: NJOEMS should begin a dialogue with CMS to facilitate thechanges to the Medicare collection process. Organizations including the NJSFAC, NJMTA, andsimilar groups should assist with the process. NJOEMS and several organizations havepreviously approached this, but the approach should change. Instead of applying for exceptionsor protesting, focus should be centered on working within the system.Human Resources – This component evoked some of the most passionate discussionsof the focus groups. There were 22 major ideas identified by the focus groups with the top 5being:1. Access to pensions/career ladder – Many EMS providers including most MICUparamedics do not have a guaranteed pension fund similar to other public safety andgovernment employees. As the first generation of New Jersey paramedics reachesretirement age, many are unable to retire. During the focus groups, the facilitatorasked if anyone could name five paramedics who retired after completing years ofservice with a full pension. No one was able to complete this task.2. Pay and benefit parity with police and fire – Traditionally, EMS providers do notreceive salary or benefits equivalent to other public safety counterparts. On average,fire-based EMS providers earn 33 percent more than their commercial/hospital-basedcounterparts. Fire and police providers also have better vacation, sick leave,investment, and injury protection benefits.3. Recruitment and retention initiatives – NJOEMS should lead an extensive recruitingand retention targeted at increasing both EMS career and volunteer ranks. Thisincludes beginning the recruitment process in middle and high schools. There mustalso be a realization that social and economic issues are changing the landscape ofvolunteer EMS. Increased training requirements, legal issues, infectious andcontagious disease exposure, greater expectations, more families relying on twoearnerincomes, and population shifts may permanently change what can be expectedfrom the volunteer EMS system.4. Establish a paramedic training fund – This can be accomplished by allowing theparamedics to start a training fund or benefit from the existing EMT training fund.5. Performance-based licensing – Paramedics should be licensed to practice their skillsin any appropriate medical environment.These human resources topics will be covered further in the Workforce chapter.TriData, a Division of 55September 2007System Planning Corporation