EMS System Review - State of New Jersey

State of New Jersey, DHSS, OEMSConsulting Services: EMS System Review• Monitor legislative developments (federal and state) concerning EMS.• Advise the Commissioner on proposed legislation and regulation.• Review, update and implement components of the Governor’s 1988 EMS FinalReport.• Receive reports and recommendations from committees.• Support EMS educational activities.• Develop a statewide public information/education program.The council has eight standing committees but may appoint ad hoc committees as needed.The standing committees include: operations, professional education/certification, legislative,system finance, public education, medical, trauma and pediatrics. 48The Mobile Intensive Care Unit Advisory Committee (MICU Advisory Committee)advises the EMS council and the Commissioner on matters involving ALS protocols andprocedures. The MICU Advisory Committee reviews all requested ALS changes as a precursorto beginning the regulatory approval process. Committee members include EMS physicians andEMS administrators who are often frustrated that their recommendations must go through anarduous approval process before the Commissioner can officially approve them. In many casesthe Commissioner and the MIC agree on issues but are constrained by the bureaucratic process.Trauma Care – New Jersey is fortunate to have a system of care for trauma care thatincludes Level I and II trauma centers strategically placed throughout the state. A recent test ofthe system occurred on April 12, 2007, with the serious injury of Governor Corzine and hisdriver after a vehicle crash. Rapid EMS response, air medical evacuation to a Level I traumacenter and sophisticated trauma care saved the governor and allowed him to return to his dutiesrelatively quickly manner. Governor Corzine’s experience was used to champion the renewal ofthe Federal Trauma Care System Planning Act, signed into law just a few weeks after theincident. 49 To date, however, this act has not been funded.New Jersey has designated three Level I and seven Level II trauma centers.Because of the large personnel and facility resources needed for patient care, educationand research, most Level I trauma centers in the U.S. are university-affiliated teaching hospitals.48 Jacobs, F.W. (2006). Reorganization of the New Jersey Emergency Medical Service Council. Executive Orderupdated 2006.49 The Abaris Group (2007). Evidence in Support of the Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act. TheTAG Line. 4(3) 1-5.TriData, a Division of 83September 2007System Planning Corporation