IAFC NEWS ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: IAFC Government Relations Department
703/273-0911
EMS Section requests member input on “Scope of Practice”
Section will meet in December to discuss comments
Fairfax, Va., November 16, 2004…On Dec. 3-4, the EMS Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will host a meeting at IAFC headquarters in Fairfax, Va. to discuss the association’s comments on the draft revised EMS Scope of Practice (SOP) Model, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The EMS Section would like interested fire departments to review the document and submit comments to the IAFC for consideration at the meeting. In addition, comments can be forwarded directly to the project managers through Jan. 30, 2005.
Scope of Practice: What Is It and Why Should I Care?
The Scope of Practice Model is the second stage of a three-stage process led by NHTSA to revise and update the EMS curriculum. The roots of this process go back to the early 1990s, when the EMS Agenda for the Future was published. Subsequently, NHTSA published the EMS Education Agenda for the Future. The EMS Education Agenda for the Future details this process. Both of these documents can be downloaded from the NHTSA Web site at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/products.htm.
The first step was to define the EMS "Core Content." The “Core Content” defines the knowledge, skills and abilities that EMS providers might have and be allowed to do. It defines the entire universe of all possible EMS practices and procedures. Because medicine advances at such a rapid pace, the profession must regularly examine what providers are allowed to do.
The second step in the process is the creation of the "Scope of Practice." The Scope of Practice takes the knowledge and skills outlined in the Core Content and builds an EMS provider framework around it. In other words, it delineates what providers at each level (e.g., EMT, paramedic) will be trained to do. It serves as the foundation for state licensure, and states will use it to write their laws and regulations for EMS providers. The current draft document was generated by consensus among a wide variety of stakeholders including paramedics, EMTs, doctors, state regulators and EMS administrators. The IAFC was represented at these meetings by EMS Section Chairman, John Sinclair; Treasurer, Dave Becker; and EMS Program Manager, Matt Spengler.
The final step will be to create an EMS curriculum based on the adopted Scope of Practice.
Substance of the Proposed Changes
The draft SOP is available for review at www.emsscopeofpractice.org. In order to comment fully on the document, the IAFC recommends that the fire chief or an appropriate staff member review the document. Perhaps the most significant change involves changes to EMS provider names and the interventions proposed for each of the various levels. Although the draft does not list the hours of training that would be required to ensure competency, there will almost certainly be adjustments to accommodate the changes in the interventions. The proposed interventions for each level are detailed in the scope of practice model.
The EMS provider levels proposed are:
· Emergency Medical
Responder
· Emergency Medical Technician
· Paramedic
· Advanced Practice Paramedic
In addition, please keep the following issues in mind as you review the draft SOP.
Names of Providers:
· Is a common titling system
preferable to individual names for each level of provider?
· Are the proposed names descriptive and useful for public
understanding?
· Do the proposed names describe a progression of the professional
preparation associated with each level?
Skills by level:
· Are the skills descriptions
reasonable and appropriate?
· Will the increased training for the EMR and EMT be
feasible?
· Is the education required for the Paramedic and APP levels
reasonable?
Number of levels:
· What number of levels is
appropriate? Should there be more or less?
· Should an additional level be created and placed between the proposed
EMR and EMT? What skills should such a provider have?
Advanced Practice Paramedic Level:
· Is there a need for this
level?
· Is it feasible for the health care education system to meet
anticipated needs?
· Will physicians be willing to provide medical
direction?
· Can reimbursement for this level of provider be commensurate with
services provided?
It is very important that you voice your opinion on the draft of the SOP Model. In addition to the IAFC meeting in December, comments are being accepted by project managers until Jan. 30, 2005. The team that drafted the SOP will meet in the spring of 2005 to review the comments and work toward a final document, which is due to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by September 2005.
Comments for the IAFC meeting can be directed to Matthew Spengler, IAFC EMS Program Manager, at mspengler@iafc.org. Comments can also be sent directly to the project managers by contacting Amy Starchville at NASEMSD, 201 Park Washington Court, Falls Church, VA 22046-4527.
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