EMS
EMS Update: Community Paramedicine, Chapter 13
California’s emergency medical responders have won a major new vehicle through which to improve patient outcomes — community paramedicine.
This innovative concept gives specially-trained firefighter-paramedics the ability in certain circum-stances to direct patients to alternative destinations that can provide the right care. Proven through years of pilot programs, community paramedicine improves patient outcomes and has the potential to decrease long ER wait times.
CPF has been involved in a years-long effort to bring this critical tool to fire departments around the state. This effort was finally rewarded with passage of the Triage to Alternate Destination Act — AB 1544 — which was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
In the wake of CPF’s landmark legislation, a Community Paramedicine Advisory Committee met for the first time in February to start the conversation on program objectives and statewide implementation. CPF has multiple representatives on this committee to further develop the program and services that can help meet specific needs of the local EMS agencies.
Meanwhile, the controversial and long-delayed draft updating EMS system regulations — Chapter 13 — has been withdrawn, a well-deserved and overdue action. The draft, six years in the making, was issued last year for comment, and it quickly became apparent that many of the proposed changes were either outdated or drew backlash from stakeholders.
With CPF and others pushing hard, the state Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA) withdrew the draft and the process is going back to the table. CPF will continue to press to ensure these regulations reflect the goal of high-quality patient care, as well as ensuring hat fire service EMS is not imped-ed by excessive bureaucratic overreach.