EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System Review4. State pilot of prevention programs – The NJOEMS should select preventionprograms to pilot throughout the state. They should involve both public and providerprevention activities.5. OEMS as a clearinghouse for prevention activities – There are likely manyprevention programs already available that if accessible, could benefit all EMSorganizations. This could save time and focus on the delivery of programs. TheNJOEMS can find and offer the best of these programs throughout the state.Public Access – The focus groups looked at public access beyond 911, taking a morein-depth approach. Expanding the traditional role of 911 is in accord with the NHTSA EMSAgenda for the Future. It includes the ability to assure 911 access in the face of new technologiesand when challenged to provide access to those few areas that cannot afford the service. 40The focus groups discussed 30 ideas and identified the top five as:1. Primary access points and dispatch regionalization – Most focus group participantsendorsed a bill passed by the legislature that calls for the consolidation of primaryaccess points to 21 countywide centers. This has occurred in nine of the southernNew Jersey counties and has met with success. 41 Many focus groups felt that thismust now extend to countywide primary dispatch points (PDSPs). While the primaryaccess point consolidation is a good first step, it does not eliminate one or moretransfers from the primary access point to the actual agency that dispatches the call.This is especially true where the primary access points are police agencies andmultiple transfers are required until the caller is connected to an emergency medicaldispatcher.Recommendation 18: Aggressively move toward compliance with the consolidatedcountywide 911 centers. This includes the consolidation of both primary access point andprimary dispatch point agencies.2. Enforce Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) compliance – Dispatch centers thatdispatch EMS calls are required to be staffed by emergency medical dispatchers.These dispatchers must have completed a New Jersey approved EMD program or oneof the nationally recognized EMD programs, depending on which program is used.40 NHTSA. (1996). EMS Agenda for the Future. p. 41.41 Heldrich Center for Workforce Development (2006). New Jersey 9-1-1 Consolidation Study: Saving Lives,Increasing Value: Opportunities and Strategies for Consolidating New Jersey’s 9-1-1 Emergency Services. NewBrunswick, NJ: Rutgers University.TriData, a Division of 61September 2007System Planning Corporation