COLLABORATION NEMSAC Update
Exciting Projects That Affect Us By Mike Hastings, MSN, RN, CEN The most recent meeting of the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council was held in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29-30. I was honored to represent emergency nurses on this distinguished panel as we discussed emergency medical services issues. The meeting was geared toward wrapping up some previous committee projects. These projects included Advisory on Leadership Developmental Planning in EMS; Advisory on NEMSIS: Achieving its Full Potential for
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Advancing Healthcare, Compiling Evidence to Discuss the EMS Education Agenda for the Future, Improving Internal NEMSAC Process, and providing feedback on the EMS Culture of Safety Strategy Document. We also heard about some of the work the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is doing related to EMS. Some of these projects are very exciting for us in the emergency department, including promoting integration between EMS documentation and the hospital’s medical record, promotion of evidence-based guidelines and
statewide implementation of prehospital care guidelines. The last project has a goal of ensuring that no matter what service picks up a patient, the patient would receive the same treatment. Pilot projects are in place for two of these projects. Our next meeting will be held around April. As the committee continues its work, I will continue providing updates through ENA Connection. If you have any questions or feedback, send me an e-mail at mhastings2@kumc.edu. NEMSAC meeting details are also available at www.ems.gov/NEMSAC.htm.
Offering educational and networking opportunities for professionals caring for emergency patients. April 2013 For more information, visit www.ena.org.