|  | Healthcare Industry | Urgent Care

EMS Regulatory Laws

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provide urgent, time sensitive critical care to citizens around the nation, Activated by a call for help, EMS provides a range of emergency medical attention to patients. EMS are easily recognized by the host of emergency vehicles and helicopters that arrive to the scene of a serious incident. To coordinate the national agenda of the EMS to state and local agencies, there are several initiatives that reinforce the vision and goals of the EMS.

  1. Star of Life

    • All EMS services must be branded with a blue "star of life" symbol. Derived from the American Medical Association's personal medical identification symbol, each bar on the star of life represents a core component of the services that the EMS provides. The functions represented are: detection, reporting, response, on-screen care, care in transit and transfer to definitive care. These six functions allow the EMS to provide emergency medical care to any individual in need, as well as coordinate their efforts with hospitals, local law enforcement, highway transit authorities and other essential agencies.

    NHTSA

    • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has supported the development of the EMS for over 40 years. The NHTSA collaborates with federal and national programs such as the Department of Commerce, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Their advocacy was key in creating and implementing several initiatives that all EMS systems use. The NHTSA provides a national standard curriculum for local EMS providers to adhere to, an agenda for the future use of EMS and the deployment of the an enhanced version of 9-1-1.

    State Agencies

    • State EMS agencies are to project the agenda of the NHTSA unto local EMS providers. State EMS agencies operate and coordinate a statewide communication system that connects local hospitals and trauma centers with EMS providers in the field. State agencies also give protocols and regulations to EMS providers, identifying the scope of EMS's practice in the state. In the event of a disaster or mass emergency, the agency also plans and coordinates a course of action to provide assistance to the masses.

    FICEMS

    • The Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) is a committee created by federal law. The committee ensures cooperation between federal agencies and state, local and regional EMS and 9-1-1 systems. They recommend new programs to local systems, provide grant programs and implement new technological innovations to existing connected emergency systems. They also consult and give advice regarding matters of implementing coordinated state emergency medical services programs. There are several important officials included in the committee. The Administrator of the NHTSA heads the committee. The Chief of the Federal Communications Commission is also a part of the committee, as well as the director of the preparedness division of Homeland Security.

Urgent Care - Related Articles