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Funding Opportunity for Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence     

Applications for up to two pilot sites accepted until August 27, 2019 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) sought ideas earlier this year from the healthcare and pediatric care community for more comprehensive and enhanced pediatric care during disasters. ASPR is now pleased to release the Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support the creation of up to two Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence that will serve as pilot sites.

Children represent 25 percent of the U.S. population and face specialized medical issues due to their unique development and physiological characteristics. Pediatric care requires specialized equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals. While specialized pediatric hospitals provide excellent care for children on a day-to-day basis, special consideration needs to be given to providing pediatric care during public health emergencies and disasters.

ASPR envisions this FOA as part and parcel of a multiyear plan to address known gaps in disaster care for pediatric patients by augmenting the existing clinical capabilities within states and across multi-state regions. Future elements of the vision would include field equipment, mobile medical facilities, telemedicine, and training and education. Applicants must be a public or private hospital and/or corporate health system. Applications must be submitted by August 27, 2019.

The NHTSA Office of EMS collaborates closely with its federal partners, including ASPR, to support local EMS systems and help improve emergency medical care across the country. Please contact ASPRStakeholder@hhs.gov with any questions about this funding opportunity, and visit EMS.gov for more information about federal initiatives supporting EMS. 

Join the Effort to Prevent Another Child from Dying in a Hot Car     

On July 31, recognize National Heatstroke Prevention Day by educating your community about the dangers of leaving children in hot cars

Responding to a call for a child who dies of heatstroke in a hot car is one of those events that EMS and other public safety professionals never forget, and those who haven't experienced it hope they never do. Since 1998, more thank 800 children have died from heatstroke in hot cars in the U.S., including 52 in 2018. On average, one child dies from heatstroke inside a vehicle nearly every 10 days in the U.S.

Most cases occur when a child is mistakenly left inside or gets into a vehicle unattended – and then becomes trapped. It doesn't take an especially hot day for a child to die from heatstroke. When the outside temperature is as low as 60 degrees, the temperature inside a vehicle can reach all the way up to 110 degrees. If a child's body temperature reaches 107 degrees, that child will die from heatstroke.

The Office of EMS encourages the EMS community to join NHTSA's efforts to educate parents, caregivers and the public by sharing campaign materials available on https://www.nhtsa.gov/heatstroke and remembering to #checkforbaby on and off the clock.

To promote further social awareness and amplify the conversation about this vitally important safety issue, NHTSA will host a "Tweet-Up" on National Heatstroke Prevention Day. Every 15 minutes, beginning at 7 a.m. ET on July 31, NHTSA officials will post stats, prevention tips and heatstroke awareness messages using the hashtags #heatstrokekills and #checkforbaby on all the agency's social media channels. Share these messages with your colleagues and community members to make sure they know the dangers of heatstroke.

More information including downloadable campaign materials and fact sheets are available online. For questions about the campaign, please contact Mike Joyce at Mike.Joyce@dot.gov or 202-366-5600. 

Provide Your Feedback on the Draft Revisions to the National EMS Education Standards    

Public comment on the first draft of the revised National EMS Education Standards open until September 20 

The first draft of proposed revisions to the National EMS Education Standards is now available for public comment. Members of the EMS community and the public are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback to the team leading the effort. Find more information about how to download the draft and provide comments here.

"For a decade, the National EMS Education Standards have guided how we prepare EMS clinicians to serve their patients and communities. This is a chance for members of the EMS profession to share thoughts on how the standards must evolve alongside the needs of those communities," said Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS, which is funding the project in partnership with the Health Resources & Services Administration EMS for Children Program.

The effort to revise the National EMS Education Standards is being led by a team of experienced EMS professionals convened by the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE). The team has engaged with stakeholders across EMS and healthcare to create this first draft of the standards. Following this initial public comment period, all comments received will be reviewed and another draft will be released for public comment in early 2020. We anticipate a final publication of the revised National EMS Education Standards by Spring 2020. 

The revision comes on the heels of the release of the 2019 National EMS Scope of Practice Model, which drove the proposed changes. Download and read the 2019 National EMS Scope of Practice Model here.

NHTSA Announces Funding Opportunity to Develop Prehospital Pain Management Evidence-Based Guideline

Every day EMS Clinicians treat patients suffering from pain. According to the National EMS Database, more than 5 million EMS patients reported pain as their primary symptom in 2016. Finding safe, effective, and evidence-based methods of treating pain is essential for achieving the vision of a people-centered approach to EMS described in EMS Agenda 2050.

To meet that goal, NHTSA has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity requesting applications from organizations interested in leading the development of an evidence-based guideline for the pharmacologic management of acute pain by EMS in the prehospital setting. NHTSA, in partnership with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), has already funded an extensive literature review on the topic. AHRQ is scheduled to publish a report, Comparative Effectiveness of Analgesics to Reduce Acute Pain in the Prehospital Setting, in early September.

The development of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for prehospital emergency care has been a priority of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and its federal partners for more than a decade. In that time, NHTSA has published a National Prehospital EBG Model Process and supported the creation of several guidelines. More information about EMS evidence-based guidelines and the model process can be found on the new EBG resources page on ems.gov.

The prehospital pain management EBG development funding announcement is available on grants.gov. Click on the "Related Documents" tab and download the entire announcement for details about the opportunity and eligibility to apply. The application period closes on September 13, 2019.

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Next NEMSAC Meeting September 17-19

The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMASC) invites you to join its next meeting September 17-19. A tentative agenda is available online. Be sure to register beforehand here. If you are interested in viewing the live webcast, it will be broadcast during the meeting here.  

When 
Tuesday, September 17th from 9am - 4:30pm EDT
Wednesday, September 18th from 9am - 4:30pm EDT
Thursday, September 19th from 9am - 4pm EDT

Where
Grand Hyatt Washington
1000 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

Public Comment Period
September 17th from 11-11:30am EDT
September 18th from 10:45-11:15am EDT

Those interested in addressing the Council during the public comment period must email Sharon Peoples at sharon@jdc-events.com to sign up as time is limited. 

For further information, contact Eric Chaney, DOT, Office of Emergency Medical Services at eric.chaney@dot.gov or (202) 366-0257. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
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Newly Published Systematic Review Examines Effectiveness of Different Pain Management Options in the Prehospital Setting

EMS clinicians frequently care for people suffering from acute pain. Adequate pain relief is integral to providing people-centered care and has been known to reduce anxiety and cardiac complications in some patients. With multiple analgesic options available, EMS systems face choices when deciding how best to treat acute pain in the prehospital environment.

To help EMS systems develop evidence-based practices, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of EMS collaborated with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to support a review of the evidence and effectiveness of a number of analgesic options. The reviewers, a team from the University of Connecticut Evidence-based Practice Center, analyzed more than 60 published studies and looked at treatments including opioids, ketamine, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen.

Based on their analysis, the authors concluded that intravenous ketamine, NSAIDs or acetaminophen provide similar relief to opioids, but each medication type has different side effects. They acknowledged, however, that most studies were concluded in emergency department settings and looked at IV administration of medications. They encouraged further research examining the effectiveness and safety of other routes and specifically in the prehospital setting.

"System leaders and clinicians must account for multiple factors when choosing treatment options–including safety, effectiveness, cost and availability," said Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS. "This report is a great step forward in the EMS community's move toward evidence-based practice."

NHTSA recently released a Notice of Funding Opportunity requesting applications from organizations interested in leading the development of an evidence-based guideline (EBG) for the pharmacologic management of acute pain by EMS in the prehospital setting. The new AHRQ report, which will also be published in the peer-reviewed journal Prehospital Emergency Care, will greatly inform the development of that EBG.

The development of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) for prehospital emergency care has been a priority of NHTSA and its federal partners for more than a decade. In that time, NHTSA has published a National Prehospital EBG Model Process and supported the creation of several guidelines. More information about EMS evidence-based guidelines and the model process can be found on the new EBG resources page on ems.gov.

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Share Your Thoughts on the Words Used to Describe the EMS Profession

Provide Public Comment on Nomenclature of the EMS Profession Draft White Paper Before October 25

Earlier this year, representatives from EMS stakeholder and membership organizations across public safety and healthcare gathered to discuss how the EMS profession describes itself and its activities.

Based on these discussions, which were convened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Office of EMS and the Health Resources and Services Administration's EMS for Children program, a draft white paper was developed. The white paper summarizes the issue of using different words to refer to the practice of EMS and the people who provide EMS services.

The white paper draft is now available for public review and comment. Following the public comment period, the group of stakeholder association representatives will review and discuss the feedback received from the community before finalizing and releasing the white paper.

The white paper outlines the conversations of the stakeholder group representatives, capturing the diverse range of opinions held across the profession. Over the course of the meetings, this working group tackled topics such as whether the general public understands what EMS is and whether or not "emergency medical services" continues to best describe the profession.

Anyone wishing to provide comments on the summary document can download it here and send feedback via email to EMS.Nomenclature@redflashgroup.com. Comments referring to specific portions of the draft should use the page and line numbers for reference. Visit the project website on EMS.gov for the more information.

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NHTSA Seeks Experienced Candidate to Fill EMS Specialist Role

Applications accepted until Monday, October 14th

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking qualified candidates to apply for an open position with the Office of EMS. The NHTSA Office of EMS advances a national vision for EMS through projects and research, fosters collaboration among federal agencies involved in EMS planning, measures the health of the nation's EMS systems and delivers the data EMS leaders need to help advance their systems.

Experienced job seekers looking to join the team and serve in a hands-on role overseeing projects of national significance to improve emergency medical services, highway safety and pre-hospital health care are encouraged to apply. 

Duties incude:

• Working with the technical complexities and policy issues of comprehensive EMS systems, 911 systems, highway safety, trauma and other time-sensitive care systems, at the local, state and federal level
• Collaborating with officials at all government levels and with private industry and special interest groups related to emergency medical services, 911 systems and highway safety issues
• Participating in national EMS performance measure initiatives by interfacing with national EMS performance measures organizations, establishing performance measurement parameters and initiating an ongoing and performance improvement strategy

Applications will be accepted until October 14. More information on the position and how to apply is available on USAJOBS.gov. Members of the public can apply here. Federal employees, individuals with disabilities, veterans, military spouses and others who may qualify under a special hiring authority can learn more and apply here. 

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Deadline Extended: NHTSA Seeks Experienced Candidate to Fill EMS Specialist Role

Applications accepted until Wednesday, October 30th

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking qualified candidates to apply for an open position with the Office of EMS. The NHTSA Office of EMS advances a national vision for EMS through projects and research, fosters collaboration among federal agencies involved in EMS planning, measures the health of the nation's EMS systems and delivers the data EMS leaders need to help advance their systems.

Experienced job seekers looking to join the team and serve in a hands-on role overseeing projects of national significance to improve emergency medical services, highway safety and pre-hospital health care are encouraged to apply. 

Duties incude:

• Working with the technical complexities and policy issues of comprehensive EMS systems, 911 systems, highway safety, trauma and other time-sensitive care systems, at the local, state and federal level
• Collaborating with officials at all government levels and with private industry and special interest groups related to emergency medical services, 911 systems and highway safety issues
• Participating in national EMS performance measure initiatives by interfacing with national EMS performance measures organizations, establishing performance measurement parameters and initiating an ongoing and performance improvement strategy

Applications will be accepted until October 30.

• Members of the public can apply here.
• Federal employees, individuals with disabilities, veterans, military spouses and others who may qualify under a special hiring authority can learn more and apply here. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
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888-327-4236

WEBINAR

The Future of Evidence-Based Guidelines in EMS

Hosted by NHTSA’s Office of EMS on Tuesday, November 19 at 2pm ET / 11am PT

Earlier this year, several EMS organizations collaborated to publish evidence-based guidelines (EBG) for the EMS administration of naloxone, adding to the growing number of EBGs available to help EMS clinicians provide care based on the latest research and best practices endorsed by experts in the field. In recent years, EBGs for external hemorrhage control, prehospital pediatric seizure management and other topics have helped move the profession toward the evidence-based, people-centered approach described in the EMS Agenda 2050. 

In this EMS Focus webinar, you'll hear from leaders involved in the efforts to create prehospital EBGs and model protocols. 

In addition, panelists will share:

• How the naloxone EBG was developed, including what research was considered and why
• Suggestions for how to incorporate the naloxone EBG and others into protocols and practice at the state and local levels
• What moving toward an evidence-based practice means for the EMS profession - and what you can do to support that effort 

Panelists Include:

Christian Martin-Gill, MD, MPH, Chair, Prehospital Guidelines Consortium

David Niebuhr, MD, MPH, MSc, Medical Officer, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 

Kenneth Williams, MD, Medical Director, Rhode Island Center for EMS

Max Sevareid, MPH, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS

Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions during any point of the discussion. The webinar and Q&A will last approximately one hour. Sign up to get email updates about this webinar series, new projects and more.

About EMS Focus

EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit ems.gov for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236

Next FICEMS Meeting December 12

The Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) invites you to join its next meeting on Thursday, December 12.  A tentative agenda is available online. Be sure to register beforehand for the live or webcast meeting here.  

When 
Thursday, December 12th from 2-4pm EDT

Where
InterContinental Washington D.C. - The Wharf
801 Wharf Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024

Public Comment Period
Those interested in addressing the Council during the public comment period must email Sharon Peoples at sharon@jdc-events.com to sign up, as time is limited. 

For further information, contact Eric Chaney with the NHTSA Office of EMS at eric.chaney@dot.gov or (202) 366-0257. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
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888-327-4236

Public Input Requested as NHTSA and AHRQ Kick Off Systematic Review of Prehospital Airway Management

Key questions will drive the review of published research and help shape an evidence-based guideline for prehospital airway management

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), in partnership with the NHTSA Office of EMS, has released draft questions that will guide a subsequent review related to prehospital airway management. This is the first step in the process of examining the scientific literature regarding prehospital airway management and then developing an evidence-based guideline (EBG). 

Find more information and provide feedback on the key questions here. The public comment period on these key questions is open until December 20, 2019. 

Prehospital airway management is critical to patient survival. The purpose of this systematic review and EBG development is to establish a uniform and standardized approach to airway management in the prehospital setting when administering artificial ventilation through the use of bag valve mask or through advanced airway techniques. 

Evidence-based guidelines are a key component of the vision of a people-centered EMS system described in EMS Agenda 2050. To find out more about EBGs, visit the new EBG page on ems.gov and check out the recent EMS Focus webinar on the naloxone EBG and the future of evidence-based guidelines. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236

Upcoming Vehicle-to-Everything Technology Webinar

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites you to participate in a webinar on January 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM EST, about the importance of an advanced vehicle safety technology called "vehicle-to-everything" communications (or "V2X" for short) and the promise it holds to protect and improve safety for first responders and the general traveling public.

NHTSA recently released a research report about an immediate potential risk to V2X communications at this link. V2X is a wireless technology that allows vehicles to share critical safety information with other road users (including pedestrians and bicyclists) as well as with highway infrastructure. V2X works by sending wireless communications on the 5.9 GHz "Safety Band," which is a 75 MHz band of wireless spectrum reserved for transportation safety purposes. 

In 2017, an estimates 46,000 crashes occurred involving emergency response vehicles, leading to nearly 17,000 injuries and 143 fatalities. As you know, first responders put their own lives on the line to save Americans and we have a duty to protect them. V2X technology, when applied to emergency response vehicles and traffic signaling infrastructure, can help prevent these tragic crashes.

As part of NHTSA's mission, we want to work collaboratively with members of the first responder community to improve safety. We encourage you to learn more about V2X technology and the safety benefits it offers, as well as the important role that spectrum plays in enabling this technology, at the webinar on January 7, 2020 at 1:00 PM EST. Please register below and submit any questions to Special Assistant Mitchell Kominsky at mitchell.kominsky@dot.gov. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236

WEBINAR

Creating and Using Evidence-based Quality Measures in EMS: The National EMS Quality Alliance

Hosted by NHTSA’s Office of EMS on January 30 at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT

In 2019, the National EMS Quality Alliance (NEMSQA) was created to continue the work of EMS Compass, a two-year national initiative that created a process for developing evidence-based quality measures for EMS. A collaboration of several national EMS organizations, NEMSQA recently released its first set of measures after a robust and rigorous process. These national measures, which use data elements from the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS), will help EMS agencies across the country measure and benchmark their performance in key operational and clinical areas and improve the effectiveness of the care provided to patients and communities. 

In this EMS Focus webinar, you'll hear from leaders of NEMSQA who were involved in the development, testing, and implementation of these EMS performance measures. 

In addition, the panelists will share:

• What the NEMSQA measures are and how they can be assessed using your EMS data 
• How NEMSQA enhances the value of EMS systems and how members of the EMS community can participate in and support NEMSQA's future efforts
• How EMS organizations are using the measures to evaluate and improve care in their communities

Panelists Include:

Michael Redlener, MD, FAEMS, Vice President of the Board, NEMSQA, and Medical Director for EMS Quality at Mount Sinai Hospitals

Jeff Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, FAEMS, Member, NEMSQA Steering Committee, and Medical Director for Williamson County EMS and Marble Falls Area EMS

Brooke Burton, NRP, FACPE, Member, NEMSQA Board, and Division Chief of Quality, Falck – Alameda 

Max Sevareid, MPH, EMS Specialist, NHTSA Office of EMS 

Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions during any point of the discussion. The webinar and Q&A will last approximately one hour. Sign up to get email updates about this webinar series, new projects and more.

About EMS Focus

Every quarter, EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit the EMS Focus website for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236

Awareness only - 2019 Novel (New) Coronavirus (2019 nCoV0)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (2019 nCoV) in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, with exported cases to Thailand and Japan. A CDC website has been established and is being updated daily at http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/novel-coronavirus-2019/html.

Based on current information, the risk from 2019-nCoV to the American public is currently deemed to be low. The CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) has issued an interim HAN advisory to inform health care providers about 2019-nCoV at https://emergency.cdc.gov/han/han00424.asp.

The CDC and the Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will implement enhanced health screenings at three airports (SFO, JFK, and LAX) to detect ill travelers traveling to the United States on direct or connecting flights from Wuhan, China. 

At this time, emergency medical services personnel should continue to follow their routine protocols and policies regarding patients with potentially infectious diseases. There is no need to modify those practices and no need to initiate any specific field or communications centers / EMD screening or other procedures.

We will continue to follow this closely and will update you as needed.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

EMS Spectrum Communications Issues for First Responders Webinar this Friday

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) invites you to participate in a webinar this Friday, January 17, 2020 at 1:00 PM EST, about the importance of an advanced vehicle safety technology called "vehicle-to-everything" communications (or "V2X" for short) and the promise it holds to protect and improve safety for first responders and the general traveling public.

In 2017, an estimates 46,000 crashes occurred involving emergency response vehicles, leading to nearly 17,000 injuries and 143 fatalities. As you know, first responders put their own lives on the line to save Americans and we have a duty to protect them. V2X technology, when applied to emergency response vehicles and traffic signaling infrastructure, can help prevent these tragic crashes.

Earlier today, DOT Secretary Elaine Chao announced a $38 million multi-modal First Responder Safety Technology Pilot Program. This Pilot Program would allow eligible applicants to equip emergency response vehicles and related infrastructure (such as traffic signals) with V2X technologies, to enhance the safety of first responder vehicles and the traveling public. We plan to briefly discuss this Pilot Program in the upcoming webinar.

As part of NHTSA's mission, we want to work collaboratively with members of the first responder community to improve safety. We encourage you to learn more about V2X technology and the safety benefits it offers, as well as the important role that spectrum plays in enabling this technology. Please register below and submit any questions to Special Assistant Mitchell Kominsky at mitchell.kominsky@dot.gov. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
West Building
Washington, DC 20590
888-327-4236

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Update

Chinese health officials have identified a new (novel) coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as the cause of an outbreak of pneumonia in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which has led to a number of confirmed and suspected cases and several deaths in China. There have been cases identified in several Asian countries and two confirmed cases with other potential cases under investigation in the United States. A multi-agency Federal response is ongoing at this time to monitor the outbreak and implement preparedness and response activities. Among those agencies, the CDC is following and addressing the clinical aspects of this issue. The most up-to-date information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

At this time, the potential risk of infection of the US population, including health care practitioners such as EMS clinicians is low. The CDC is conducting health screenings at a number of airports around the U.S. (JFK, SFO, LAX, ORD, ATL) by actively assessing passengers at those ports of entry determined to be at possible risk. EMS agencies that service those airports have already been contacted by the CDC Quarantine Stations at those airports. A number of EMS agencies around the country have initiated protocols and policies to address concerns regarding appropriate procedures for EMS clinicians to follow. The Office of EMS is working closely with Federal agencies for awareness of needs of the EMS and 911 community.

Coronaviruses are common throughout the world and typically cause mild to moderate illness. The 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a member of this family, which includes SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV which can lead to severe illness. Limited human-to-human transmission has been observed with an incubation period of about 6 to 14 days. Known and suspected systems include fever, difficulty breathing, cough and potentially other mild to severe respiratory symptoms including severe pneumonia. Available treatment is currently limited to supportive care. 

While the risk to the U.S. population is low, this is a serious and evolving situation. At this time, specific screening protocols for 911 or emergency medical dispatch are not required. If a caller volunteers information about travel to China within the past 2 weeks or close contact* potential exposure to a patient / person under investigation (PUI), that information should be relayed to responding field crews.

Routine exposure control precautions will offer protection to first responders. EMS clinicians are advised to maintain a high index of suspicion in patients who present with fever and respiratory symptoms with a travel history to Wuhan, China.

SPECIFIC EMS MANAGEMENT AND TRANSPORT CONSIDERATIONS:

1. If the patient exhibits symptoms of an acute febrile** lower respiratory infection (fever, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, cough):
        a. Place a surgical mask on the patient AND
        b. Obtain a detailed travel history to affected countries within the past 14 days*** or close contact with someone under investigation for 2019-nCoV
2. If there is a history consistent with concern for potential 2019-coronavirus (2019-nCoV), initiate standard contact and airborne precautions (gloves, gown, N95 respirator) and eye protection (goggles) for EMS clinicians.
3. Notify the receiving hospital (according to local protocols) of potential infection as soon as possible to allow for emergency department preparation.
4. Use caution with aerosol generating procedures.
5. Properly doff and dispose of PPE according to protocol.
6. Cleaning and disinfection using EPA registered disinfectants with known effectiveness against human coronaviruses.
7. Waste management per policy for medical waste (red bag).

*Close contact is defined as being within about 6 feet, or within the same room or care area, of a patient with confirmed 2019-nCoV without wearing PPE for a prolonged period of time OR having direct contact with 2019-nCoV patient secretions.

**Fever may not be present in all patients; those who are immunocompromised, very young, elderly or taking fever-lowering medications.

***The list of affected countries may change over time and can be confirmed at the CDC site: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

Continue to work with your agency infection control staff and local hospitals, emergency department and public health agencies to coordinate all response activities and notifications.

We will continue to follow this event and work with our Federal partners to provide updated information to the EMS and 911 communities.

For more information, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

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CDC Interim Guidance for EMS Systems and 911 PSAPs for 2019-nCoV in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published Interim Guidance for EMS Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States (Interim Guidance). The Interim Guidance can be accessed at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-for-ems.html. The Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS) encourages all EMS and 911 stakeholders to review the Interim Guidance.

The CDC continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by 2019-nCoV that was initially detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The most up-to-date information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/.

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Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

NHTSA Program Helps States Improve EMS Systems

State EMS systems consist of a complex network of entities that coordinate a vast number of resources focused on one important goal–saving lives. NHTSA convenes expert panels to assess those systems at the request of state EMS officials in order to help them make improvements.

Read More

NHTSA to Host Webinar on EMS Performance Measures

Building on the work of the EMS Compass initiative, the National EMS Quality Alliance, a new coalition of EMS stakeholders, has released performance measures to help EMS organizations benchmark and improve. 

Read More

New Strategic Plan, Overdose Epidemic and More Discussed at FICEMS Meeting

Members of the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS gathered in Washington in December to discuss the issues facing local and state EMS systems and how federal agencies can support them.

Read More

EMS Education Standards Revision Continues

A decade after the publication of the original National EMS Education Standards, the EMS community is continuing to revise and update the standards to meet the evolving needs of the patients and communities they serve.

Read More

2019 Year in Review

Take a look at some of the most critical efforts and initiatives that helped move EMS forward in 2019. 

Read More

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

Next NEMSAC Meeting January 14-16

The National EMS Advisory Council (NEMSAC) invites you to join its next meeting January 14-16, 2020. A tentative agenda is available online. Be sure to register beforehand for the live or webcast meeting here.  

When 
January 14 from 9:00am - 5:00pm EDT
January 15 from 9:00am - 12:00pm EDT
January 16 from 9:00am - 4:00pm EDT
Where
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE
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Public Comment Period
Those interested in addressing the Council during the public comment period must email Sharon Peoples at sharon@jdc-events.com to sign up, as time is limited. 

For further information, contact Eric Chaney with the NHTSA Office of EMS at eric.chaney@dot.gov or (202) 366-0257. 

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
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nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

Federal Agencies Host Summit on Integrating Prehospital and Hospital Data

Meeting attendees discussed importance of bidirectional information sharing and overcoming barriers to implementing data interoperability

Representatives of state and local authorities, professional societies, health systems, hospitals, health information exchanges and private sector companies gathered in Washington last month to discuss the exchange of health data and information between EMS and other healthcare entities. The summit, hosted by the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS (FICEMS), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of EMS, featured presentations and panel discussions highlighting challenges and opportunities related to bilateral data exchange. Participants also engaged in conversations about how to remove barriers to the sharing of relevant, accurate and actionable information.

VIEW MEETING AGENDA AND OTHER MATERIALS

"What we heard loud and clear was that both hospital system and EMS leaders recognize the potential benefits of more timely and accurate information sharing–to both patients, clinicians and the entire healthcare system," said Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS.

In addition to hearing from leaders across the country who have found ways to improve information sharing, summit attendees shared their priorities for making health data better serve patients and clinicians in prehospital, hospital and other healthcare settings. While technological challenges certainly were on people's minds, there was also wide agreement that technology was just one of several barriers.

"I look forward to a very exciting future as we continue to overcome some of these obstacles, and I'm really glad that we didn't just get focused on the technology today, because what I also heard was that it's not just the technology: it's the culture, it's the expectations, and it's the legal and policy framework," said Andrew Gettinger, MD, chief clinical officer for the ONC. "We will continue to work to solve problems."

FICEMS will continue to discuss ways that federal entities can support efforts to better integrate data and create a more seamless, people-centered EMS system, as outlined in EMS Agenda 2050.

An overview paper prepared for summit attendees as well as the summit agenda and presentation slides from the summit are available at www.ems.gov/projects/data-integration.html. A full report on the summit will be available soon.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
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Strong Support for EMS Among the Public, NHTSA Survey Finds

Respondents say they consider EMS an "essential service" and maintain high levels of trust in EMS clinicians

In a survey of people across the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that 99% of the respondents had confidence in the abilities of EMS clinicians who would respond if 911 had to be called. That finding and others are discussed in a recently published NHTSA Traffic Tech brief, "The 2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey: Emergency Medical Services."

Other findings of the survey, which included responses from more than 5,000 people, include:

• Among respondents who had ever placed an emergency call, 54% reported their most recent call had been to request an ambulance, rescue squad or EMS.
• Over 90% of respondents considered EMS to be an essential government service.
• 72% of all respondents reported they were willing to pay $5 or more in fees or taxes to fund improved EMS equipment and training.

"People across the country recognize the critical role of emergency medical services and EMS clinicians in preventing death and disability from motor vehicle crashes and other causes of injury and illness," said Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS.

The Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey has been conducted seven times since 1994 and asks respondents about attitudes, knowledge and behavior related to seat belt use, child passenger safety, emergency medical services and other topics related to vehicle occupant protection. The most recent survey was administered in 2016 and 2017.

The survey also asked questions related to the use of 911 systems. Some of the findings included:

• More than 90% of respondents expected to receive pre-arrival instructions from 911 operators while waiting for an ambulance.
• More than half of respondents did not know if a 911 call center could identify a caller's location without being explicitly told by the caller.

Read the "2016 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey" to view the full report.

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Provide your input on the latest draft of the National EMS Education Standards

The second draft of proposed revisions to the National EMS Education Standards is now available for public comment. Members of the EMS community and the public are invited to review the document and provide feedback to the team leading the effort by Tuesday, March 17, using this online form. 

The revision of the National EMS Education Standards is being led by a team of experienced EMS professionals convened by the National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) with support from the NHTSA Office of EMS and the HRSA EMS for Children program. The team has engaged with stakeholders across EMS and healthcare to create this second draft of the standards, and a final publication of the revised National EMS Education Standards is anticipated by late 2020. The revision effort follows on the heels of last year's publication of an updated National EMS Scope of Practice Model.

Please contact the project team with questions or additional input on this project at educationstandards@redflashgroup.com.

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SAMHSA Announces 2020 Rural EMS Training Grant Opportunity

Eligible applicants from rural EMS agencies are encouraged to submit applications before March 30

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment plans on awarding up to $5 million this year to rural EMS agencies for recruiting and training personnel. Applications are due March 30 and can be found, along with more information, on SAMHSA's website.

In recognition of the great need for emergency services in rural areas and the critical role EMS personnel serve across the country, SAMHSA plans on funding up to 25 projects, with a maximum of $200,000 per grant awardee in any year of the proposed project. Projects can be funded for up to four years. Eligible applicants include rural EMS agencies operated by a local or tribal government (fire-based and non-fire based) and non-profit EMS agencies.

Find more information on terms, conditions, applicant/application requirements and grant proposal budgets here.

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WEBINAR

What EMS and 911 need to know about COVID-19

Special EMS Focus webinar on Monday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m. ET /10 a.m. PT will highlight expert guidance on coronavirus for public safety

The NHTSA Office of EMS will host a special edition of EMS Focus, a Federal webinar series, to discuss the latest updates on COVID-19, the novel coronavirus that has now infected thousands of people worldwide. Representatives of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) have been invited to participate on the webinar panel.

The speakers will update EMS and 911 personnel on the latest guidance for first responders who may take 911 calls or treat patients with potential COVID-19 infections, what PPE is required for responding to these patients and recommendations for transporting and treating people possibly infected with COVID-19. The webinar will be moderated by Jon Krohmer, MD, director of the NHTSA Office of EMS.

About EMS Focus

EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit ems.gov for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings.

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1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
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