Ebola Outbreak in Western Africa – EMS Response Issues - Click for info

With the growing media coverage about the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa the IAEMSC constituency has increasingly looked for policy and operational guidance. In an effort to satisfy these requests, the leadership has assembled this reference document for your use. It is important to be cognizant that presently this public health crisis is primarily limited to the Western Africa region and is not a direct threat to North America at this time. Nevertheless, given the globalization of the world, air transportation availability, and modern travel capabilities several IAEMSC members have had situations where an individual who had traveled to the region reported similar symptoms and required EMS assistance. As of this writing, there is one CDC confirmed case in the United States (http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/30/health/ebola-us/index.html).
 
As always we encourage you to have sustained discussions with your medical directors, infectious disease specialists, and health department members as you decide what steps are needed when reviewing this potential issue for your responders. In the mean time we have assembled this reference package to assist you with understanding the issues and provide recommendations on measures to be considered and implemented as needed. This document results from research conducted by IAEMSC members and references published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HHS ASPR, Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC), New York State DOH, and the NYC Regional Emergency Medical Services Council (REMSCO), Regional Medical Advisory Committee.
 
I'd like to thank the following personnel for their assistance with getting this reference package completed. They are: Chiefs Paul Maniscalco, Donald Hiett, David Porter, and Scott Cormier, as well as our CAO Theresa Farina for getting a quick turn around on this request. On short deadlines they have assembled an valuable reference for you review and use.
 
As this situation continues to evolve, just like the issues previously addressed with Influenza Pandemic and the Enterovirus D68, we will attempt to circulate the most accurate and up to date information to support your efforts to effectively manage and lead Emergency Medical Service operations in your jurisdictions.
 
Fraternally,
James
 
 
Click here to download IAEMSC Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Ebola Virus Infection

Registration now LIVE for the IAEMSC 2014 Annual Leadership Summit!

The IAEMSC is pleased to announce that the Leadership Summit will be held December 5-8, 2014, at the Embassy Suites Washington D.C. Convention Center.

For more information about the conference Click here

Take advantage of the Early Bird registration rates, as well as the deeply discounted hotel rates!

Reserve your spot NOW!

EMS Chief James Brothers Named the 2014 INTERMEDIX/IAEMSC Harvard EMS Fellow

The International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC) recently announced the selection of Battalion Chief/Paramedic James M. Brothers, Executive Officer of Emergency Medical Services Bureau, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services as the 2014 INTERMEDIX/IAEMSC Harvard Fellow recipient.

Chief Brothers was chosen from a very competitive pool of qualified EMS chief officers. Being awarded this fellowship is one of the highest honors for leaders in the field of Emergency Medical Services. Chief Brothers has made significant contributions to the discipline of EMS and is deeply committed to the advancement of the EMS profession.

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New IAEMSC leadership to serve two year term

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The International Association of Emergency Medical Services Chiefs (IAEMSC) announced the results of its 2014 election of officers. The latest association officers were seated on March 2 and will serve two year terms. Chief James L. Robinson of the Denver Health Paramedic Division was installed as IAEMSC President, following a two-year term as President-Elect and succeeds Chief William Sugiyama. The current IAEMSC leadership includes:

• President-Elect: Chief Rob Farmer, Lee County (FL) Dept. of Public Safety / EMS
• Vice-President: Chief Brendan Kearney, Boston (MA) EMS
• Secretary: Chief Paul Brennan, Lawrence General Hospital (Lowell, MA) EMS
• Treasurer: Chief Christian Callsen, Austin-Travis County (TX) EMS (Ret.)
• Board of Directors (At Large):
  • Chief Martin Van Buren (2015), Hennepin County (MN) EMS
  • Chief Dean Wilkinson (2015), Essex-Windsor (ON, Canada) EMS
  • Chief Robert McCaughan (2016), Allegheny Health Network (PA)
  • Chief David Porter (2016), Abbeville County EMS (SC)

As President-Elect Chief Farmer will assume the position of the IAEMSC President in 2016.

IAEMSC AND EMSLA JOINTLY SUBMIT
PAPER TO WHITE HOUSE

Consolidated Federal Leadership for Emergency Medical Services

An Essential Step to Improve National Preparedness: A perspective from EMS on the front line The International Association of EMS Chiefs and National EMS Labor Alliance have jointly submitted a document to the White House that identifies the challenges and problems resulting from a lack of a lead federal agency with responsibility for emergency medical services. The paper offers a unique solution that may be possible through exercise of existing authority established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002.

“This document was developed following a presentation and discussion on the status of national preparedness policy and the role of EMS at the annual IAEMSC Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. in October 2010”, said Lawrence E. Tan, President of the IAEMSC. “We were pleased to work together with the EMSLA toward the common goal of building and sustaining emergency medical services as a critical component of our nation’s preparedness and resilience.”

The International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC) is a professional association established to support, promote and advance the leadership of response entities and to advocate for the EMS profession. The IAEMSC membership consists of leaders from both career and volunteer EMS organizations, representing a diverse group of public and private EMS agencies that responded to over 3.3 million emergencies and transported over 2.78 million patients in 2008.

The National EMS Labor Alliance (EMSLA) was established over twenty-five years ago as an information-sharing network of organized EMS providers across the country. The EMSLA now has over 20,000 members, as a coalition of EMS organized labor groups representing EMS professionals across the spectrum of EMS service delivery models and across the nation on national EMS issues.

White Paper

our mission

The IAEMSC mission is to support, promote and advance the leadership of EMS response entities and to advocate for the EMS profession. IAEMSC membership is made up of leaders from both career and volunteer EMS organizations and proudly represents and embraces the diversity of EMS agencies throughout the world.

OUR values

IAEMSC is a diverse, exciting professional organization committed to improving the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical care.

IAEMSC is committed to serving Chief Officers representing the many various service types which exist in the Emergency Medical Services community.

OUR GOALS

• To represent the EMS Chief Executive Officers responsible for direct delivery of EMS to their communities,
• To effectively address the issues pertinent to the contemporary EMS Commander,
• To support the needs of patients, and providers by providing support to current EMS executives, mentoring future leaders, and advocating for all EMS systems.