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" J. Hoskins (Laptop) " wrote:What changes are being

proposed to 157.32 (EMS Education/Course Approval) and 157.44 (EMS Instructor)?

J. Hoskins

EMT/EMS Instructor

Training Officer, HG FR

GETAC Recap (8/29/2003 meeting)

The Governor's EMS and Trauma Advisory Council (GETAC) met on August 29th in

Austin. GETAC approved minutes from their May 20th meeting and heard reports

from the chair, staff, committee chairs and task force leaders.

Chair, Dr. Ed Racht, introduced new Advisory Council member, Tarrant County

Commissioner Marti VanRavenswaay; appointed Ernie Rodriquez as the leader of

a workgroup for implementation of SB-1409 (EMD Resource Center Pilot); and

asked the council to defer discussion on committee membership/terms and

Strategic Plan implementation until the next meeting to concentrate on

review of the rules. He announced that he is representing GETAC on the

Texas Department of Health (TDH) Preparedness Coordinating Council and that

Maxie Bishop is representing GETAC on the Texas Cardiovascular Council.

GETAC members recognized Jim Arnold, Assistant Chief for EMS Regulation, and

the Texas Association of Trauma Regional Advisory Councils recognized Bobbie

Broadbent, EMS/Trauma Systems Grants Contract Manager, on their retirement.

GETAC heard public comment on the reports and other general issues.

Action Items

1. Voting on recommendation for Texas Board of Health (BOH) action on

draft revised/new rules: The council members unanimously recommended the

intent (based on the short timeframe for BOH submission, GETAC agreed that

the discussed intent of the proposed rules be moved forward) of the

following rules for submission to the Texas Board of Health for proposal.

Rules recommended by staff for repeal - GETAC recommended repeal of these

rules §157.4 Request for EMS Training at the Local Level (mandatory 4-year

review)

§157.31 Automated External Defibrillator Training Course (mandatory 4-year

review)

§157.129 State Trauma Registry (mandatory 4-year review)

Rules recommended by staff for revision/implementation - GETAC recommended

NO changes to submitted drafts

§157.1 Purpose (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.2 Definitions (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.3 Processing Applications (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.14 Requirements for First Responder Organization Registration (HB-2292)

§157.16 Emergency Suspension, Suspension, Probation, Revocation or

Denial of a Provider License (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.33 Certification (HB-2292; HB-861)

§157.34 Recertification (HB-2292; HB-861)

§157.36 Criteria for Denial and Disciplinary Actions for EMS Personnel and

Voluntary Surrender of a Certificate or License (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.38 Continuing Education (HB-2292)

§157.40 Paramedic Licensure (HB-2292)

§157.41 Automated External Defibrillators (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.43 Course Coordinator Certification (HB-2292)

§157.new Audit (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.new Rule Exemptions (SB-529)

§157.122 Trauma Service Areas (mandatory 4-year review)

§157.128 Denial, Suspension, and Revocation of Trauma Facility Designation

(mandatory 4-year review)

Rules recommended for revision - GETAC DID recommend changes to drafts

(note: BEM staff committed to posting the revised drafts to the Bureau

website in the next couple of weeks).

§157.11 Requirements for an EMS Provider License (HB-2292)

§157.12 Rotor-wing Air Ambulance Operations (HB-2292)

§157.13 Fixed wing Air Ambulance Operations (HB-2292)

§157.32 EMS Education Program and Course Approval (HB-2292)

§157.37 Certification/Licensure with Criminal Backgrounds (mandatory 4-year

review)

§157.44 EMS Instructor Certification (HB-2292)

§157.49 EMS Operator and Operator Instructor Training/Certification

(HB-2292)

§157.123 Regional EMS/Trauma Systems (SB-530)

§157.125 Trauma Facility Designation (HB-2292)

§157.130 EMS and Trauma Care System Account and EMS, Trauma Facilities, and

Trauma Care System Fund (SB-1131)

2. A motion was made by Simms and seconded by Kris Gillespie that

GETAC communicate to Commissioner that, while GETAC agrees

with the concept of maximizing state health care funds, any proposal to do

so should not be at the expense of the availability of uncompensated trauma

care funds. The motion passed unanimously. Simms will draft the

letter and forward it out to GETAC members for review.

The next meeting date for GETAC is November 23rd (in San with the

2003 Texas EMS Conference). Standing Committees and Task Forces will meet

the preceding days.

Staff, Committee, Task Force Reports:

Issues addressed by staff included the new Bureau organizational structure

effective 9/1/03; TDH staff/budget issues for FY04/05; key enacted

legislation (HB-2292, HB-3588, SB-1131; HB-861; SB-529; SB-530) and

process/timelines for rule revisions/implementation; update regarding

national registry (NR) testing implementation, including staff research into

the Basic testing situation; staff changes in the EMS/Trauma Registry; and

TRAC-IT implementation. Questions about these staff reports may be directed

to BEM (512/834-6700) or the Bureau of Epidemiology (512/458-7266).

In general, the committees/task forces discussed the staff recommendations

for rule revisions. In addition, Maxie Bishop reported that the Education

Committee, at the meeting on 8/12/2003, discussed the current status of the

implementation of national registry testing in Texas, including an excellent

report from NREMT staff.

Segura reported that the Injury Prevention Committee discussed the

final mailout of the Injury Prevention Resource Manual to the RACs - BEM

will be posting the document on the BEM website; did additional work on the

draft Injury Prevention strategic plan; and continued planning for injury

prevention activities at the 2003 Texas EMS Conference.

Dr. Joan Shook reported that the Pediatric Committee is developing

objectives for RACs related to pediatric emergency care; planning to

identify specific equipment that should be required in ambulances; and

planning to attend the October Trauma Systems Committee, the purpose of

which is to discuss designation of Texas trauma facilities.

Dr. Fred Hagedorn reported that the Medical Directors Committee heard a

staff report on the beta test of the Comprehensive Clinical Management

Program (the Committee plans to develop " next step " recommendations for the

CCMP at their next meeting).

Dr. Ronny reported that the Trauma Systems Committee reviewed draft

Trauma Systems Policy: Undesignated Facilities in Active Pursuit of

Designation and draft Trauma Systems Policy: Appropriate Level of

Designation (both were approved by the Committee for finalization). The

Committee identified the need for a workday in October to address all of the

issues surrounding designation of Texas trauma facilities.

Pete Wolf reported that the Rural Task Force continued work of the

development of an elected officials guide (the members will likely be having

a work session on this guide with the Office of Rural and Community Affairs)

and has made initial contact with the Texas Department of Transportation

regarding the development of public service announcements regarding the

appropriate utilization of EMS.

Shirley Scholtz reported that the Air Medical Task Force finalized the

" Guidelines for Activation and Selection of an Air Medical Provider " ,

however, because additional issues were raised at the meeting, the group

asked Dr. Racht to consider making them a standing committee.

Dr. Bob Folden reported that the Data, Information, and Research Task Force

continued working on its structure; reviewed the national and state research

agenda; discussed data availability/access; and began identifying some

research issues to begin developing. The Task Force's Yahoo e-list is

activated and they want to begin meeting electronically. Dr. Folden asked

the Council for data questions that need to be answered; ideas generated

included blood shortages and the definition of uncompensated trauma care.