August 2006

The last EMSCC Meeting in August was pretty uneventful.

Robin Shively reported that the Health Alert Network had 670 out of 800 agencies signed up and that the department is still striving for 100% participation.

House Bill 6300 regarding Instructor Coordinators was supported in its current form.

Senate bill 1274 on AED’s is being supported by the department with the change of not requiring AED’s on ALS units. A motion to support this bill failed.

Robin Shively reported on the Office of Highway Safety and Planning funding and how the department plans to utilize them.

She stated that the Trauma Rules had been sent to the Office of Administrative Rules and they will make grammatical changes and then they will begin the process.

Kangas reported that there is currently a four-bill package that includes language to support he trauma funding. Kangas stated that if this passes, the money would make its way from the Crime Victims Funds to the department and that he would send out a more detailed explanation to the EMSCC members via email.

Shively reported that the department is looking at having computer adaptive testing up and running by July of 2007. Shively stated that contracts for testing will go out to bid after January 1, 2007. She felt certain UPEMS and SWMS would apply for the contracts.

Shively gave a breakdown of personnel and agency complaints received by the department, and pointed out the increase in criminal convictions for initial and renewal applications.

Dates for upcoming meetings were discussed and then we were adjourned.

July 2006

The EMSCC Approved the Trauma rules that were presented to them by the Tim Kangas. It was pointed out to us that Michigan is one of 5 states that currently has no trauma system in place. It was agrees that this needs to be completed as soon as possible. A state wide set of hearing swill take place and then the results and comments will be brought back tot he EMSCC.

HRSA Grants were due in July as of the May meeting no amounts had yet been set.

There has been legislation introduced to put an AED on every life support agency vehicle in the state of Michigan (excluding advanced levels). We should hear more about this soon.

Also there is pending legislative changes on HB6300 regarding Instructor Coordinators and their filed experience. Watch for these changes closely.

Otherwise most of the committees took the summer off.

We will give you more updates as the new work year begins in September.

June 2006

There are more HRSA grants in the works. More information regarding that will be available soon.

The state of Michigan is receiving between 50-75 applications per month that require criminal background checks. They are developing guidelines for people who fit into “gray areas”. EMS would like to form a committee of experts to meet via conference call to discuss applications they have questions on. A sub committee was formed for this.

The Trauma Administrative rules are completed and will be going to Public hearing. They will then be brought back to the EMSCC for a final review before they go to the final stages for approval.

Just a reminder: you have to renew with the practical credits if you renew your licenses after January 1, 2007. You cannot get these credits online.

The next EMSCC meeting will be August 25, 2006, at 9:30 am.

February 2005

There was no meting in January. The next meeting will be February 25, 2005, at 9:30 am, at MCEP Board of Directors Room, 6647 W. St. Joseph Highway, Lansing Michigan.

At the December 18th meeting we were given an update telling us that HB6102, 6103, & 6104 had passed the house and senate.

There was a scope of practice paper distributed with concerns regarding the impact on rural areas. It was moved that a step-by-step process of review take place and this was completed. The recommended changes included: not a creating an Advanced Paramedic Level, including the EMT Specialist Level, and then mostly putting in information to make all the suggested levels match the treatments allowed.

K. Don Edwards was nominated and accepted the position of Chairperson of the EMSCC, Venetia Bryers was nominated and accepted the Vice Chair position.

It was reported that here was no news from the EPI pen request.

It was reported that there are three positions coming open in the state EMS section. More will be available about them soon on the state of Michigan job postings site.

There was not much more to report. The discussion regarding the Scope of Practice took the most of the meeting.

Remember anyone is welcome to attend these meetings, so if you are interested at all, please come and join us.

July 2004

Not much summer news to report. We did not have a June meeting due to people being on vacations and things. Therefore not enough bodies to make a quorum.

The new rules are in effect. They went into effect May 19th and are currently being sent to med controls, ambulance services, and EMSCC members. You may also go on line to Michigan.org and download them.

Committee (adhoc) meetings have gone as scheduled, including education and med control. If you would like an update on these or would like the future dates and locations and times you can contact the state offices and speak with either John Hubinger or Robin Shively.

The other big news is that EMS has once again been changed to another department.

We are no longer dealing with Rae Ramsdell or Melanie Brim. Instead we are back in Michigan Department of Community health and working through Robin Shively and John Hubinger you can find the information on the state of Michigan web site.

As we have more news available I will send new information to be added here. Have a wonderful month of July and a great and safe summer.

Evelyn D. Barnum, EMSCC Representative