What will 2010 bring for EMS?

[CBEMT]

I see the remote possibility of new protocol implementation that was supposed to happen in 2009.

Fire chiefs and fire unions still deciding what we get and what we don't, and when, and what will be mandatory and what will stay optional.

State EMS office still understaffed, and if they keep what they have we'll be lucky.

So, just more of the same here.

Edited January 3, 2010 by CBEMT

[WolfmanHarris]

For us potentially a hiring freeze.

No real changes in vehicles since replacement is mandated by the province at certain mileage.

Our collective agreement is up in the Spring, but usually it takes over a year to negotiate a new one, so no one is really expecting any big issues in that department.

New HQ will be completed since it's being built with Federal stimulus money.

Harmonized provincial medical directives will see practice set back by years if the drafts are any indication.

[Chief1C]

Same thing 2009 did. Nothing. What is time anyway? It just keeps going, it doesn't know what day it is, much less the year. Things just age, wear, and people come up with things as they learn. It gets dark, it gets light, time just keeps going, doesn't care what we do. If EMS is going to change in any way, each of us is what will have to change it. Otherwise it will just age and wear away to dirt and dust like everything else on this old planet.

Recently I received a letter, thanking me for joining and writing a letter on behalf of the PA Emergency Services Legislative Alliance. Our big change for 2009 was getting the first new EMS Act since 1985. It's not perfect, still needs some work, but it was passed.I had no part in it, just voiced my opinions via pen and paper to my local reps. Voices in the crowd may or may not mean anything, but you never know till you say what you have to say.

[armymedic571]

According to the President, we should get Hope and Change.......but I think that's pushing it......

for us here in central PA, we went to a mixed MICU/squad system from a squad system. This let us hire more Paramedics, but we had to lay off 9 EMT's. Because the new system went into effect on the first of Jan, guess when those EMT's got their pink slips.........YUP BOHICA.

Other than that, the new EMS act in PA is well, different. I am more interested in the new educational standards. Hopefuly, we go forwardds, and not backwards.

Whoops, there I go with hope and change again............