25 leaders from across the nation to serve
The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has appointed 25 EMS leaders from across the nation to serve on the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC). The Council, first chartered in 2007, provides expert EMS advice to the Department of Transportation and the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) on matters relating to all aspects of development and implementation of EMS. Members meet quarterly in Washington, D.C., to discuss recommendations on key issues in EMS. These recommendations help define EMS issues; provide input for national EMS strategic planning and support of EMS systems at the federal level; and offer advice on issues regarding EMS standards, guidelines, benchmarks and data collection.
The appointments come after an extensive application process, says Drew E. Dawson, director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). More than 80 applications were received by the March deadline. On June 13, LaHood made the appointments. Previous members of the council are required to reapply at the end of their term.
Dawson says that the appointments reflect a balanced representation of interests from across the EMS community. Each appointee was seleced based on their experience and expertise in one or more of 21 sectors, ranging from air medical EMS to EMS data management. “We are lucky they are willing to volunteer their time,” Dawson says. “It’s a great group of folks.”
The Council has five standing committees that draft advisories and recommendations for the full council’s consideration. After comprehensive deliberation and opportunity for public input, the council may agree on a recommendation and submit it to either NHTSA or FICEMS. “The recommendations help guide our programming at NHTSA and elevate the national conversation on important EMS issues,” Dawson says. “We are very proud of the work NEMSAC has produced.”
This past year, the council made several important recommendations, including the following:
- NEMSAC Response to FICEMS on model uniform care criteria for MCI triage;
- Systems Committee Advisory on evidence-based guidelines for EMS system design;
- Medical oversight and research committee advisory on the next steps for prehospital evidence-based guidelines; and
- Finance committee advisory on performance-based reimbursement.
A copy of the full recommendations is available at www.ems.gov.
Among the 25-member council, 12 are new members and 13 are returning. The new appointments are:
- Katrina Altenhofen, MPH, paramedic–Volunteer EMS
- Roger A. Band, MD–EMS researchers
- Raphael Barishansky, MPH–emergency managers
- Manuel Chavez, EMT-P–At large
- Carol Cunningham, MD, FACEP, FAAEM–EMS medical directors
- Patricia Dukes, AS, MICT–At large
- Thomas Esposito, MD, MPH, FACS–Trauma surgeons
- Michael A. Hastings, MS, RN, CEN–Emergency nurses
- John Kuo–State highway safety directors
- David Lucas–Dispatcher/9-1-1
- Nick Nudell, BA, NRP–Data manager
- John Sinclair–Fire-based EMS.
Returning members include:
- Leaugeay Barnes, BS, NRP, CCEMT-P–EMS educators
- Arthur Cooper, MD, FACS, FAAP–At large
- Marc Goldstone, JD–Hospital administration
- Kyle R. Gorman, MBA, EMT-P–Local EMS service directors/administrators
- Thomas Judge–Air medical
- James McPartlon–Private EMS
- Kenneth Miller, MD, PhD–Emergency physicians
- Terry Mullins, MBA–State EMS directors
- Daniel Patterson, PhD, MPH–Public health
- Aarron Reinert, Chair–At large
- Scott Somers, PhD–State & local legislative bodies
- Gary L. Wingrove–Hospital-based EMS
- Joseph Wright, MD, MPH–Pediatric EMS
Five members will be serving a third term. They are Judge, Reinert, Wingrove, Gorman and Wright. Reinert will serve as chairperson for the 2013 term. Each member serves a two-year term. Members serve without compensation from the federal government; however, they receive travel reimbursements and per diem.
The first meeting of the 2012 council will probably be in September, Dawson says. The meetings are open to the public. Check www.ems.gov for announcements.
