News & Events

News

Model Clinical Guidelines Version 3 Now Available

March 21, 2022

The NASEMSO Model EMS Clinical Guidelines project team is delighted to unveil Version 3 of the National Model EMS Clinical Guidelines. In completing Version 3, the project team has reviewed and updated all existing guidelines, as well as added four new guidelines. Version 3 of the Guidelines, similar to the original version released in 2014, was completed by a team of EMS and specialty physicians comprised of members of the NASEMSO Medical Directors Council and representatives from six EMS medical director stakeholder organizations. In addition, all guidelines were reviewed by a team of pediatric emergency medicine physicians, pharmacologists and other technical reviewers.

Andy Gienapp, MS, NRP, Joins NASEMSO as Deputy Executive Director

February 1, 2022

Andy Gienapp, MS, NRP, joined the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Officials (NASEMSO) as the deputy executive director, a newly created position. In this role, Gienapp will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to promote and expand NASEMSO’s presence and capacity as a national leader in emergency medical services. His immediate tasks will be managing the NASEMSO Workforce project and Strategic Plans for State EMS Offices project. To read NASEMSO’s full statement click here.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Announces Comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy

January 27, 2022

The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary today announced the federal government’s new comprehensive National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS), a roadmap for addressing the national crisis in roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Almost 95 percent of the Nation’s transportation deaths occur on its streets, roads, and highways. While the number of annual roadway fatalities declined for many years, progress plateaued over the last decade and now alarmingly fatalities have risen during the pandemic. The NRSS provides concrete steps that the Department will take to address this crisis systemically and prevent these tragic and avoidable deaths and serious injuries. Bolstered by historic funding included in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the NRSS is the first step in working toward an ambitious long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities. To read more about the key actions, click here.

Evidence Based Guidelines for Prehospital Pain Management

January 26, 2022

NASEMSO is pleased to announce the completion of Evidence Based Guidelines for Prehospital Pain Management, which have now been published in Prehospital Emergency Care. The 18-month project was conducted in collaboration with the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) EMS Committee. The Principal Investigator was Dr. George LIndbeck. In addition, the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) will offer a webinar on the pain management guidelines on March 9, 2022, 1:00 PM ET. The presentation is designed for EMS educators, prehospital clinicians, EMS medical directors and anyone with an interest in addressing acute pain of patients in the prehospital setting. Pediatric pain management will be included as well as person-centered approach to pain management and shared decision-making with patients. Speakers will briefly discuss how the GRADE process is used to develop evidence-based guidelines. For more detailed information about these guidelines and how they were developed, see the manuscripts recently published in Prehospital Emergency Care at  EBGs for Pain Management: Recommendations and EBGs for Pain Management: Literature and Methods. More information about the project is available at NASEMSO Prehospital Pain Management EBGs

Join NAEMSE, NASEMSO, NAEMSP, and ACEP for a webinar from 1:00-2:30 pm ET on March 9, 2022!

*Please note that this special event is not eligible for CEU*

NASEMSO Mourns the Loss of Jim DeTienne

January 4, 2022

Jan. 3, 2022 (Falls Church, Va.) – The National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) is mourning the loss of James “Jim” DeTienne following a brave battle with multiple cancers. Jim, an association past president, was frequently described as an EMS champion, mentor, colleague, and friend. To read more, click here.

NASEMSO 2021 Annual In Person Meeting Canceled

September 16, 2021

Sept. 9, 2021 – The NASEMSO Board of Directors made a difficult decision about proceeding with the Annual Meeting scheduled for November 14-18. The unabating pandemic, the workload the pandemic has placed on many state EMS offices, and state travel restrictions have severely affected likely turnout. After reviewing poll results from state directors which indicated few would be able to attend, the Board reluctantly voted to cancel the meeting in Reno. The decision had to be made at this juncture to avoid penalties from the hotel.

We fully intend to proceed with the NASEMSO Annual Meetings 2022 and 2023. Please click here to view those dates and to mark your calendars to attend.

Model Clinical Guidelines Version 3 – Now Available for Public Comment

September 1, 2021

The NASEMSO Model EMS Clinical Guidelines project team is delighted to unveil the draft Version 3 of the Model EMS Clinical Guidelines.

In completing Version 3, the project team has reviewed and updated all existing guidelines, as well as added five new guidelines. Version 3 of the Guidelines, similar to the original version released in 2014, was completed by a team of EMS and specialty physicians comprised of members of the NASEMSO Medical Directors Council and representatives from six EMS medical director stakeholder organizations (AAEM, ACEP, AAP-COPEM, ACS-COT, AMPA, and NAEMSP). In addition, all guidelines have been reviewed by a team of pediatric emergency medicine physicians, pharmacologists and other technical reviewers.

As part of the process we invite you to provide public comment on this draft version by completing the form below before September 24, 2021.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T7TVVLN

NASEMSO Joins National Organizations on Approach for Protecting EMS Workers During Pandemic Surge

August 26, 2021

Several national EMS and fire associations have joined forces to issue a “Joint Statement on Protecting and Preserving the EMS Workforce in the Face of COVID Surge.” The statement advocates for a multilayered approach that includes adequate PPE, implementation of response and safety protocols, and evidence-based education on vaccines to help the EMS workforce make informed decisions. It can be viewed here.

NASEMSO Partners with ASTHO on EMS Innovative Practices in Responding to Opioid Crisis

August 10, 2021

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and NASEMSO engaged in a consensus-building process to identify innovative strategies by EMS providers in response to the opioid crisis. Following a 2-day meeting in March of 2020 of public health officials and EMS representatives, a nationwide survey was developed and distributed by state EMS officials to EMS providers in their respective states and territories. 1140 responses were received from 48 states and territories in the fall of 2020. The results were analyzed and compiled into the July 2021 ASTHO report, Innovations in Overdose Response: Strategies Implemented by Emergency Medical Services Providers. The report states, “EMS agencies are uniquely positioned to link patients with treatment and recovery services if desired.” ASTHO found that the most frequent strategies in which EMS providers link patients to care include using a system of care approach; transporting patients to places other than the ED when appropriate (such as treatment centers); administering buprenorphine in the field to the opioid dependent patient; use of quick response teams for post-overdose response; use of safe stations (fire stations where people who use drugs can access care 24/7 without fear of arrest); and mobile integrated healthcare. The report is available at State Public Health | ASTHO.

2021 NPSTC Award Recipients

July 8, 2021

Every year the National Public Safety Telecommunications Commission (NPSTC) recognizes the hard work and commitment its hard-working volunteers demonstrate through important work on behalf of public safety telecommunications while working full-time jobs. The 2021 winners received their awards at the NPSTC Governing Board meeting on June 17th. The NPSTC Chairman’s Award was conferred on Chief Kevin McGinnis. The NPSTC Chairman’s Award, created to recognize one individual who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, was presented to Kevin for his consistent unwavering support and dedication to NPSTC and the public safety communications community. Chief McGinnis has served as past Chairman of the SAFECOM program, member of the FirstNet Board of Directors and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the NPSTC Governing Board. He is a past recipient of the DeMello award in 2017. NPSTC’s highest level award, the DeMello Award was created in 2006 to honor the achievement of Richard DeMello, one of the founding fathers of NPSTC and a member of the RCA, who was instrumental in bringing all the frequency coordinators together to form NPSTC. NPSTC grants this award to an individual in public safety communications who has demonstrated the highest levels of personal and professional conduct and performance in the local, state, and national public safety communications arena.