Author: Greg Margolis and Kevin Horahan, Division of Health System Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
EMS practitioners work hard to protect health and save lives. No matter the time or place, emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners - paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) - come when called because they are dedicated to your life.
Active career, part time, and volunteer EMS practitioners demonstrate extraordinary dedication in everyday acts of caring and moments of exceptional bravery, sacrifice, and heroism. Many former EMTs and paramedics remain dedicated to public service, in other roles, for life. With each passing year, EMS becomes a more important part of our nation’s health care system.
In recognition of the dedication these professionals exhibit day to day and the critical role EMS plays, the ASPR Division of Health System Policy and our Emergency Care Coordination Center are moving forward with new and continuing initiatives designed to support state and local partners in delivering emergency medical services.
With the Affordable Care Act expanding coverage and changing how we deliver healthcare, EMS practitioners are becoming more involved in prevention and chronic disease management. So we’re connecting with partners to link EMS records with electronic health records systems and health information exchanges.
We’re also providing guidance and other materials to assist providers faced with active shooter events; and we’re analyzing the legal and regulatory barriers to expanding EMS practice.
ASPR has an active role on the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) and while ASPR’s Principal Deputy chaired the committee, FICEMS released its first strategic plan further aligning the federal efforts to support EMS.
At ASPR we understand the connection between EMS and resilience. We’ve seen how EMS positively impacts not just cities and towns but our entire nation. We also know that an integrated system is better positioned to save lives and protect health and that effective, integrated systems respond better and bounce back faster.
Community paramedics and mobile integrated health care providers are developing stronger relationships with primary care and public health, consistent with the National Health Security Strategy goals to build community resilience and strengthen and sustain health and emergency response systems. They do all this while managing the daily emergencies and preparing for and responding to large incidents and disasters.
At ASPR we want to continue to see EMS grow and improve. If you’re an EMT, paramedic, emergency medical dispatcher, nurse, physician and involved in EMS in other ways, learn more about what we’re doing to help you as you help our communities across the country.
EMS is dedicated for life, and ASPR is dedicated to you.
