NEMSMA will hold its annual meeting in conjunction with EMS EXPO in October 2008. In addition, NEMSMA members will present on several topics of importance to EMS managers at the meeting. And NEMSMA members receive $100 off conference registration!

NEMSMA member organizations are now automatically enrolled in the North Central EMS Cooperative, allowing them to purchase ambulances, medical and office supplies, fuel cards and more at discounted prices. Click the link below to learn more.

The American College of Emergency Physicians has posted material on its Web site to assist EMS managers in planning for this year's EMS Week, which is scheduled for May 18-24, 2008. The EMS Week Planning Guide is free. 

The proposed ASTM Practice Standard on Radiological Emergency Response mandates that all emergency medical services responders plan, be trained, and maintain properly equipped deployable response resources for radiological emergencies. This means that EMS organizations must have access previously unavailable federal, state, and local funding to support the equipment and training needs addressed in this standard. Therefore,  NEMSMA supports and endorses the proposed standard and further urges the ASTM Committee on Homeland Security Applications, Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Training, and Procedures (E54.02) to support enhanced funding for emergency medical services organizations, regardless of the status of that organization (governmental or non-governmental) such that the letter and the intent of the proposed standard can be achieved in every community in the United States

The National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA) is pleased to announce its new Board of Directors for 2008-2009.  Raphael M. Barishansky will assume the post as President, effective January 1, 2008.  Currently the Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council in Newburgh, New York, Barishansky has served on the NEMSMA Board for four years and was elected President-Elect in 2006. In addition to Barishansky, the Board of Directors will be comprised of new and returning members. Those returning include: Immediate Past President Darryl Coontz, Deputy Chief of Clinical Services, MAST, Kansas City, Missouri; Skip Kirkwood, Chief of EMS, Wake County Department of Public Safety, Raleigh, North Carolina; Gary Wingrove, Government Relations and Strategic Affairs Director, Mayo Clinic Medical Transport, Buffalo, Minnesota; and William H. Dunwoody, Director of Systems Development and Analysis, Delta Ambulance, Waterville, Maine.  Board members elected in November to their first term are: Troy M. Hagen, Director of Ada County Paramedics, Boise, Idaho; H. Larry Roberts, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, West Shore EMS, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania; and Forrest (Woody) Wood, Jr., Program Coordinator, EMS Leadership Academy, Texas Engineering Extension Service, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Voting in November, NEMSMA members also approved some minor changes to the NEMSMA bylaws.

NEMSMA has moved its listserv to Google groups. This discussion group is open to NEMSMA members. Recent topics include shift scheduling, management books and billing benchmarks. Click the link below to sign up today.

Some state EMS offices have expressed concern that releasing patient care data to the National EMS Information System (NEMSIS) could violate patient privacy laws. NEMSIS sought a legal opinion on the matter from the law firm of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, which found that no such HIPAA violation would occur. The attorneys' legal position is spelled out in a letter available by clicking the link below.