Spent two days at the National Institutes of Health campus in Bethesda with 120 others, participating in the NATIONAL EMS & 9-1-1 STAKEHOLDERS MEETING (earlier post)

The goal of the meeting:

… the FICEMS leadership will present a brief overview of current Federal EMS and 9-1-1 related activities, respond to questions and listen to the opinions and ideas of national organizations and interested individuals about national EMS priorities and future directions. We propose the meeting as one way to improve communications between EMS stakeholders and Federal agencies. The meeting summary will be provided to FICEMS and to the National EMS Advisory Council. (link here)

SILOS, SPECIALISTS AND TURF

FICEMS is the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS. Inaugural meeting December 8, 2006. FICEMS is charged with coordinating Federal Emergency Medical Services (EMS) efforts for the purposes of identifying State and local EMS needs, recommending new or expanded programs for improving EMS at all levels, and streamlining the process through which Federal agencies support EMS.

FICEMS members are high-level federal officials (and one state ems director) that meets twice a year. A Technical Working Group (TWG) is comprised of mid-level managers and technical experts that meets quarterly.

One of the TWG assignments is to Examining the recommendations of the 2006 Institute of Medicine report: The Future of Emergency Care in the United States Health System

See the unofficial minutes of the first FICEMS meeting HERE .

Read Mannie Garza’s report “FICEMS Gets Down to Work” from the August 2007 issue of EMS Insider (HERE). Six committees formed and action plans detailed.

NEMSAC is the National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC). Formed in April 2007 as a nationally recognized council of EMS representatives and consumers to provide advice and recommendations regarding EMS to NHTSA.

The NEMSAC provides a forum for the development, consideration, and communication of information from a knowledgeable and independent perspective of a strategy for advancing EMS systems nationwide.

The inaugural group received a two year appointment. They were very productive, check out their website (HERE). Their final activity was producing the December 2009 report EMS Makes A Difference: Improved clinical outcomes and downstream healthcare savings. You can download a copy of the 34 page .pdf item (HERE)

The process for re-appointments to NEMSAC has been delayed, so the Council is temporarily inactive.

LISTENING TO OPINIONS AND IDEAS OF NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS

After a morning orientation, the participants were asked to brainstorm in four general areas of ems. My group was covering technology. We were asked to write as many idea “nuggets” as we could within our area, at least three to five.

Idea “nuggets” were posted, discussed and grouped into “buckets.” Some issues were mentioned by many participants.

The afternoon of day one was reporting out of each group on what buckets (themes) developed. There were 60 some themes posted.

The last day one activity was a “silent auction” where every participant listed eight of the themes that they wanted to explore on day two.

HOW TO RESOLVE, IMPLEMENT OR ACHIEVE A THEME

Day two the results of the silent auction were revealed. The four groups were provided with three themes. They were asked to develop recommendations that would address the theme.

My group looked at:

• How to implement the vision for the next generation of EMS
• National Responder Database
• EMS Academy

Vigorous discussions, real-life examples and issues.  The focus was on what to recommend FICEMS and NEMSA.  Some wrestling with what is ideal versus what is probably achievable within the federal government.

NO CONSENSUS, NO ADVISING, JUST TALK

Congress established the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in 1972. Amended in 2009, it establishes a specific process for federal advisory committees. This link takes you to a 29 page overview from the Congressional Research Service, written by Wendy R. Ginsberg in 2009 (HERE).

What this means is that NEMSA is a FACA-compliant advisory committee to NHTSA. The two day workshop was NOT functioning as an advisory committee.

More like a listening session. A way to see if the issues important to the federal government are the same issues important to the interested individuals and organizations.

The results will be sent to FICEMS and, when re-established, NEMSAC.

Not sure what the impact will be to the federal advisory process.  I got as much of the side discussions between the work sessions.

Mike “FossilMedic” Ward