NASEMSO Releases 2020 Specialty Systems of Care Assessment

(Falls Church, Va.) “Specialty Systems of Care: An Analysis of Statewide Practices Related to Time Sensitive Emergencies” is a new compilation from the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) that focuses on the legal authority of states to organize and implement specialized systems of care for time sensitive emergencies such as stroke and chest pain. These elements are important to the matching of EMS and medical resources to patient needs and outcomes over a specified geographic area. The data was compiled from multiple interactions with state EMS officials, affiliated partners, and independent research to fill in several informational gaps from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The evaluation resulted in several key findings:

• Efforts to improve cardiovascular care is occurring in all 50 states and the District of Columbia at varying levels.
• Formal systems of care coordination at a statewide level involved 82% of all states.
  • Not all systems of care coordination is directed by the state lead agency for EMS.

Overall, findings were that systems of care coordination among the states is complex and multifaceted. State EMS authorities share responsibilities with other state agencies, regional boards and coordinating bodies, and community partnerships. Recognition of an event and the time to treatment is of utmost importance and a high priority to the EMS and emergency care community. However, limited federal support and funding from charitable foundations that has become available to compliment this effort are focused more on prevention, disease management, and hospital care than EMS response and systems coordination. The existence of multiple definitions, multiple standards, and multiple data registries has created some national diversity in how states coordinate specialty care.

The report is available from the NASEMSO website.