In an effort to further coordinate federal efforts in emergency medical services, members of the Federal Interagency Council on EMS (FICEMS) reached consensus on a strategic plan that clearly maps action steps for federal support of optimal emergency medical services nationwide.
FICEMS members approved and released the five-year plan, which provides a framework to synchronize inter-agency efforts and strengthen EMS practices, principles and strategies throughout the U.S.
The plan includes new vision and mission statements for FICEMS as well as six overarching goals and 30 specific objectives. At the meeting, members identified four areas for immediate action:
1. Supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based guidelines (EGBs) according to the National Prehospital EBG Model.
2. Promoting standardization and quality improvement of prehospital data by supporting the adoption of systems compliant with National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) standards.
3. Improving EMS system all-hazard preparedness, including pandemic influenza, through support of coordinated, multidisciplinary planning.
4. Working with state EMS offices to support the transition of military EMS providers to civilian practice.
Many collaborative efforts are already underway, including standardization and quality improvement of data, as well as the White House’s priority initiative to support transition of military veterans into civilian positions. Since mandated by Congress in 2005, FICEMS has coordinated federal agency efforts to support local, regional, state, tribal and territorial EMS and 9-1-1 systems.
The 33-page plan consists of six overarching strategic goals and was developed through the efforts of the Technical Working Group, a working body of FICEMS members that meets monthly to coordinate federal EMS efforts. The new vision and mission statements provide an anchor for the strategic goals and objectives that appear in the strategic plan:
• FICEMS vision statement: A federal interagency committee that enhances coordination and ensures the strategic alignment of EMS priorities among federal agencies to ensure quality patient care.
• FICEMS mission statement: Ensure coordination among federal agencies, supporting local, regional, state, tribal and territorial emergency medical services and 9-1-1 systems, to improve the delivery of EMS services throughout the nation.
“The mission and vision statements clarify the role of FICEMS and its intention to support the needs and efforts of the EMS professionals across the nation who deliver care to their communities daily,” says Ed Gabriel, outgoing FICEMS chair and principal deputy assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. “The long-term strategic goals will help EMS grow in terms of data collection and quality, the development and sharing of best practices for prehospital care and the development of evidence-based guidelines for system implementation.”
The plan’s strategic goals include:
1. Coordinated, regionalized and accountable EMS and 9-1-1 systems that provide safe, high-quality care by developing EMS performance measures; identifying and disseminating best practices; measuring EMS care and outcome relationships; promoting best practices to reduce regional care disparities; and partnering with state regulatory agencies for regionalized accountable care systems.
2.Data-driven and evidence-based EMS systems that promote improved patient quality by supporting the development and implementation of EBGs; standardization and improvement of prehospital EMS data and the linkages between NEMSIS and other sources of measurement of clinical effectiveness; outreach to stakeholders to support the development of a culture of evaluation and scientific evidence for prehospital care; and the development of key performance indicators for EMS.
3. EMS systems fully integrated into state, territorial, local, tribal, regional and federal preparedness planning, response and recovery by developing consistent and reliable measures of EMS system preparedness; providing rapid guidance on emerging EMS issues; improving preparedness through coordinated, multidisciplinary planning; addressing preparedness gaps identified in the National EMS Assessment; and developing training and exercise standards to promote interoperability.
4. EMS systems that are sustainable, forward-looking and integrated with the evolving health care system by fostering EMS participation in regional and state health information exchanges; encouraging the development of innovative delivery models for EMS systems that might result in reimbursement modifications; providing coordinated federal support for enhanced EMS and 9-1-1 technology; applying lessons learned from civilian and military incidents; and addressing special geographic concerns for limited EMS access.
5. An EMS community in which safety considerations for patients, providers and the community permeate the full spectrum of activities by promoting measurement and prevention of occupational injuries, deaths and exposures to the EMS workforce and promoting the use of safety equipment by EMS personnel; evaluating factors that threaten patient safety; supporting the use of anonymous reporting to record errors, events and near misses; and evaluating FICEMS’ role in supporting the development of a strategy for a national culture of EMS safety.
6. A well-educated and uniformly credentialed EMS workforce, supported by promoting implementation of NHTSA’s EMS Agenda for the Future for uniform EMS education, national certification and state licensing; supporting efforts to enhance interstate recognition and reciprocity of EMS personnel; working with state EMS offices to support the transition of military EMS to civilian practice; and promoting the implementation of the EMS Workforce Agenda for the Future.
This article was submitted by the NHTSA’s office of EMS. To read the entire FICEMS Strategic Plan, visit EMS.gov.
