The NR paradigm

[Guest guest]

After reading all of the NR complaints, I think I see the problem here.? A while

back, Texas needed to develop new tests because of some exam security issues and

other reasons.? At the time, the Health Department didn't have the money to

develop new tests.?So, some brilliant soul said the next best option was to use

the National Registry process.

Here's the rub.?Someone apparently thought we were just hiring someone to

administer our EMS exams. The reality is that NR is a private organization that

runs its own " registration " program, which in reality, is a separate

licensing/certification system from any state's EMS certification and licensing

program.? And by the way, since NR is a private organization, they're not bound

by the same legal and constitutional restraints that the state is -- so they can

do (almost) anything they'd like. In reality, we've now created a system where

prospective EMS providers have to navigate and satisfy two bureaucracies -

National Registry and DSHS. It's a recipe for frustration in many cases and

disaster for some.

I'm not blaming TDH (now DSHS), but I wish someone realized exactly what they

were getting Texas into. Or was that an " unintended " consequence?

Followup question - can Texas just contract with National Registry solely for

testing?? Seems like that's more or less what we've done with ECA and EMT-B,

especially when we still had the written NR exam and the exams were scheduled

through DSHS.

-Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, LP

-Attorney/Licensed Paramedic

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[Guest guest]

Wes;

Congratulations on getting your LP. NR has been about one thing, $. That was the

reason Texas DSHS gave when NR was invited in. I still think the paramount

problem is teaching. AS with our TAAS,TAKS etc we are teaching to the test. We

must teach students how to perform their job and give them the tools to achieve

their job.We are not doing this. We still have a significant failure rate. Texas

had a good test and evaluation criteria in place. We can do this again if we get

some political chutzpah to do this. We also need to provide affordable

recertification courses. We need to get private companies to do this as well as

911 services. NR needs to be subordinated to a voluntary option. I get no

replies,so here is my .02 cents.Regards,Rabbiems

The NR paradigm

After reading all of the NR complaints, I think I see the problem here.? A while

back, Texas needed to develop new tests because of some exam security issues and

other reasons.? At the time, the Health Department didn't have the money to

develop new tests.?So, some brilliant soul said the next best option was to use

the National Registry process.

Here's the rub.?Someone apparently thought we were just hiring someone to

administer our EMS exams. The reality is that NR is a private organization that

runs its own " registration " program, which in reality, is a separate

licensing/certification system from any state's EMS certification and licensing

program.? And by the way, since NR is a private organization, they're not bound

by the same legal and constitutional restraints that the state is -- so they can

do (almost) anything they'd like. In reality, we've now created a system where

prospective EMS providers have to navigate and satisfy two bureaucracies -

National Registry and DSHS. It's a recipe for frustration in many cases and

disaster for some.

I'm not blaming TDH (now DSHS), but I wish someone realized exactly what they

were getting Texas into. Or was that an " unintended " consequence?

Followup question - can Texas just contract with National Registry solely for

testing?? Seems like that's more or less what we've done with ECA and EMT-B,

especially when we still had the written NR exam and the exams were scheduled

through DSHS.

-Wes Ogilvie, MPA, JD, LP

-Attorney/Licensed Paramedic

__________________________________________________________

More new features than ever. Check out the new AOL Mail ! -

http://o.aolcdn.com/cdn.webmail.aol.com/mailtour/aol/en-us/text.htm?ncid=aolcmp0\

0050000000003