Rural emergency medical services (EMS) resources via the Rural Assistance Center

Rural emergency medical services (EMS) resources related to rural health and human services, with information provided by the Rural Assistance Center

News: Aid a Concern for Emergency Services
Fri, 02 May 2008 10:36:31 CST
Press and Sun Bulletin article reports that the challenges facing volunteer fire and EMS are creating havoc throughout the Southern Tier of New York and newly announced state budget cuts are expected to cause additional hardships for departments seeking to recruit, train and retain new members.

News: Hospitals to Use Faraway Doctors to Monitor Patients
Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:23:09 CST
NBC4 Washington, D.C. article tells of a program called Maryland eCare that is intended to address a shortage of emergency room physicians at six rural hospitals by using doctors in Delaware to monitor intensive care patients electronically.

News: The Price of a Pickup Truck
Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:20:14 CST
Daily Yonder article tells how crashes involving pickups are twice as likely to cause a fatality than wrecks involving only SUVs or passenger cars.

News: More Emergency Rooms Open Away from Hospitals
Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:40:04 CST
USA Today article reports that high-tech emergency departments, staffed with doctors and nurses, but often miles from a hospital are increasing rapidly nationwide.

News: CMS Funds 20 States to Help Medicaid Patients Escape the Need for Emergency Room Services
Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:28:32 CST
Senior Journal article reports that senior citizens and others who depend on Medicaid for their medical care may soon have better access to this care without going through hospital emergency rooms.

News: State Faces a Shortage of Ambulance Services
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:19:09 CST
NewsOK.com article tells how rural ambulance service in Oklahoma needs to be rescued.

News: Rural EMS in Financial Straits
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:16:11 CST
Recordnet.com (CA) article tells how State and federal funds for Emergency Medical Services are shrinking in California, but the workload continues to grow.

News: Returning Veterans to Help Paramedic Shortage
Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:08:24 CST
KARE 11 TV, (MN) article reports that U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that she is introducing federal legislation this week that is designed to relieve the shortage of emergency medical personnel, especially in rural areas, by streamlining civilian paramedic training for returning veterans who already have emergency medical experience from the military.

News: USFA and the National Volunteer Fire Council Release Report on Emerging Health and Safety Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 09:38:24 CST
The U.S. Fire Administration in partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council has completed a study of emerging occupational health and safety issues in the volunteer fire and emergency services that also provides information on initiatives, programs, and strategies for reducing fatalities among volunteer firefighters.

Organization: Angel Flight West
Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:25:40 CST
Provides free non-emergency air transportation to medical treatment for people who cannot afford public transportation, or who cannot tolerate it for health reasons. Available only in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. For longer flights or flights originating in other regions, go to the Angel Flight America National Patient Travel Center Web Site.

Tool/Web Site: EMS.gov
Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:17:06 CST
Contains news, functions as a portal to other EMS Web sites and resources, and contains background and updates on Federal initiatives and programs. -- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Emergency Medical Services Division

Publication: Characteristics of Frequent Emergency Department Users
Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:22:18 CST
Examines the demographic and health characteristics of people who frequently use hospital Emergency Departments (ED) and how the risk of being a High ED User varies based on these characteristics. -- Kaiser Family Foundation

Publication: Trauma Systems Save Rural Lives
Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:50:52 CST
Discusses organized trauma care systems, which are critical to reducing mortality and morbidity in rural areas. Highlights include how access to trauma care varies by state, how rural hospitals play a role in trauma care, and a future goal of having coordinated care nationwide. -- Rural Assistance Center

Organization: Western EMS Network
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:23:56 CST
Provides rural and frontier EMS agencies in MT, WY, ID, WA, AK, OR, NV, UT, AZ, NM and CA a network which includes purchasing equipment together on national contracts.

Publication: Future of Emergency Care: Dissemination Workshop Series
Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:11:53 CST
Summarizes the proceedings of three one-day regional dissemination workshops, conducted in Salt Lake City, UT; Chicago, IL; and New Orleans, LA. Topics include pediatric emergency care and care in rural areas; workforce issues and hospital efficiency; and EMS issues and disaster preparedness. -- Institute of Medicine

Publication: Improved EMS Delivery can Reduce Fatalities on Rural Roads
Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:47:33 CST
One of a series of guides to help states improve rural highway safety. -- National Cooperative Highway Research Program

Event: NNAEMSA 2008 Educational Conference
Fri, 19 Oct 2007 09:24:40 CST
Las Vegas NV August 4, 2008 -- National Native American EMS Association

Event: NAEMT Annual Meeting and Expo
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:09:41 CST
Las Vegas NV October 13, 2008 -- National Association of EMTs

Funding opportunity: NAEMT Scholarship Program
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:05:02 CST
To allow for the advancement of EMS personnel. -- National Association of EMTs

Event: NAEMSE 13th Annual Educational Symposium
Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:48:27 CST
St. Louis MO September 9, 2008 -- National Association of EMS Educators

Map: Map Tool to Assess Timely Access to Trauma Centers
Tue, 09 Oct 2007 11:39:07 CST
Depicts Level I/II trauma center coverage throughout the United States. Identifies the availability of helicopter or ambulance for transport method.

Event: Rural and Frontier EMS Summit at the Lake
Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:52:11 CST
Coeur d' Alene ID May 21, 2008 -- Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation

Publication: Equipment for Ambulances
Thu, 04 Oct 2007 12:25:06 CST
Provides a list of standardized equipment for ambulances to optimize prehospital delivery of care and includes resources needed for appropriate terrorism preparedness. -- American College of Emergency Physicians

Publication: Rural Emergency Department Staffing: Potential Implications for the Quality of Emergency Care Provided in Rural Areas
Tue, 04 Sep 2007 09:59:50 CST
Reports results of a study of rural emergency department staffing and discusses potentialimplications of staffing for the quality of emergency care provided in rural areas. -- Upper Midwest Rural Health Research Center

Publication: Around the Country: EMS Co-op Helps Rural Providers
Mon, 20 Aug 2007 14:39:26 CST
Highlights the North Central EMS Cooperative (NCEMSC), a Minnesota-based, EMS co-op that provides a mechanism to achieve cost reductions for members. -- Rural Assistance Center

Publication: Rural Ambulance Crashes Literature Review
Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:56:46 CST
A review of the published research pertaining to ambulance crashes with a special emphasis on the rural environment. Provides an overview of the magnitude of the risk that rural ambulance operators face every time they respond to an illness or injury. Includes citations to the literature, with annotations. -- Office of Rural Health Policy

Publication: Rural EMS Managers Awareness Program
Thu, 02 Aug 2007 13:41:17 CST
Guide to provide new emergency medical services (EMS) agency managers with anorientation to the broad scope of an EMS system. Includes background information and covers 14 components of the EMS system. -- Office of Rural Health Policy

Publication: Quality Through Collaboration: The Future of Rural & Frontier EMS in the U.S. Health System
Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:11:49 CST
Compares the findings of the Institute of Medicine's Future of Emergency Care reports with previous work on Rural Health and with the Rural and Frontier EMS Agenda for the Future and HRSA Model Trauma System Planning and Evaluation document. Identifies similarities and overlaps of the recommendations and approaches. -- Health Resources and Services Administration

Organization: National EMS Information System Technical Assistance Center
Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:43:37 CST
Offers technical assistance on the implementation and tracking of National EMS Data.

Publication: Community-Based Needs Assessment: Assisting Communities in Building a Stronger EMS System
Tue, 29 May 2007 09:36:11 CST
Outlines a community planning process for rural EMS systems that that engages local stakeholders to facilitate appropriate planning and decision making at the local level. -- Office of Rural Health Policy