FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON EMERGENCY
MEDICAL SERVICES

Providing Federal leadership in supporting a comprehensive EMS system surpasses the expertise and funding of any single department and requires a strong, coordinated approach among Federal agencies. Recognizing the importance of viable EMS systems to the Nation’s health, safety, and security, the Bush Administration proposed and Congress established, through DOT’s reauthorization legislation, a Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services. The law requires the Secretaries of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish FICEMS and requires NHTSA to provide administrative support. The statutory responsibilities include the following:

• To ensure coordination among the Federal agencies involved with State, local, and tribal Emergency Medical Services and 9-1-1 systems;
  
  
• To identify State, local, and tribal EMS and 9-1-1 needs;
  
  
• To recommend new or expanded programs, including grant programs, for improving EMS
  and 9-1-1 systems;
  
  
• To identify ways to streamline the process through which Federal agencies support emergency medical services;
  
  
• To assist State, local, tribal, or regional EMS in setting priorities;
  
  
• To advise, consult and make recommendations on matters related to implementation of State emergency medical services programs; and
  
  
• To provide an annual report to Congress.

The first step in organizing FICEMS occurred in May of this year, when then Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta contacted the heads of the various departments and agencies that are statutory members of FICEMS and asked them to name high-level representatives from their organizations. The names have been submitted by these agencies and the first meeting of FICEMS will be set by NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason to occur in the fall of 2006. With the formal charge to advise, consult, and make recommendations directly to Congress, FICEMS can provide EMS with an important voice in Washington. NHTSA looks forward to supporting FICEMS and to continuing to assist with improved Federal interagency coordination of emergency medical services.

education

National EMS Education Standards Project

With the National EMS Scope of Practice Model completed and soon ready for public dissemination, the National Association of EMS Educators has been busy working on the proposed format for the National EMS Education Standards . Once the format is agreed upon by the project team and the national EMS community stakeholder organizations in late 2006, the template will be used to help guide the development of the first drafts of the Education Standards in early 2007.

For more information about the progress and status of the National EMS Education Standards project, please visit its Web site at www.nemsis.org. For more information on the implementation of the National EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach , please contact Dave Bryson.