Comments to Gene Weatherall

[Guest guest]

Hey guys. We may not like the rules process, but I've sat on the inside and

picked up on the Boards sentiments with regard to EMS rule related issues.

It seems that we are among the few that can't seem to make good use of our

existing avenues for public comment. There's always someone who says... " Well,

nobody asked me! " Then it all becomes a TDH/Bureau against " us down-to-earth,

ordinary, almost helpless, just-trying- to-help, paramedics and EMTs. "

Seems to me that we sometimes spend a great deal of energy in the most

unproductive ways in this industry. All of us are concerned about how our

profession will progress.

The State of Texas has authorized the Texas Department of Health to adopt

rules to implement laws passed by the Legislature. The Texas Department of

Health has created a method to allow for rule development and public input.

The leg bone's connected to the knee bone... (sorry, I leaped into training).

I agree that our committees need a great deal of work, but the process now

calls for your input to be written and addressed to the Bureau Chief of the

program that is submitting the rule: Gene Weatherall.

The Texas Department of Health's legal department and the Bureau must account

for all comments and provide this information to the Board. Yes, comments are

categorized, counted, and summarized. The Bureau must also determine whether

the comments are persuasive enough to call for a change in proposed rule

language.

You should note that the number of comments for or against something doesn't

necessarily mean TDH or the Bureau has to agree with you. The Bureau is

charged with providing for the Health and Safety of the public ... not the

favor and convenience of the EMS certificants.

The Bureau (and the Department of Health) has a tough job. Your letters to

Gene Weatherall will not be ignored. However, a large volume of letters to

individual board members will be outside of the official process, will not be

accounted, may not be read, and may not be as effective as you may think.

I suggest that we learn to work through our associations and send a fewer

number of letters to board members representing large numbers of us... I know,

this means we may have to agree with each other and could make this nearly

impossible...

If anything I've said has gotten under your skin, then wait till you hear

this...

Nurses can and have done this very successfully for years! I don't believe

one of them would say that its easy to develop concensus, but I think that

many would agree that its helped them move up the food chain.

Hey, look at the bright side. This message is so you long, you may have

missed the comment period anyway!

Thanks

Ernie , EMTP

President

EMS Leadership Academy

------------------------------------------------------------------------