EMS System Status- Texas vs Oklahoma

[Guest guest]

Greetings All;

I have recently read several articles on the status of EMS in Oklahoma. I am

curious to know how we here in Texas are dealing with our problems as opposed to

Oklahoma.

The recommendations of the Oklahoma Governors' Emergency Medical Service

Readiness Task Force has concluded that the " ambulance safety net " is threadbare

and is getting weaker every day.Their recommendations are as follows:

FUNDING

Remove the constitutional cap on the taxes communities can levy on

thenmselves to pay for EMS

Establish a state fund to assist regional EMs systems to evolve to a

sustainable budget.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Offer state tuition reimbursement for people who complete advanced Emergency

Medical Technician Training and work a minimum number of hours in the field.

Offer state funding to EMs training institutions for rural outreach and EMT

program accreditation.

Offer tax breaks for EMT's

Offer Line-Of-Duty Death Benefits for EMT's

Offer State funded retirement benefits fo EMT's similar to those for police

and fire.

MEDICAL DIRECTION

Provide medical director training and development

Provide for confidentiality of quality improvement activities to protect

services and medical directors against lawsuits.

PREPAREDNESS

Improve communications systems.

Form public/private partnerships to secure federal preparedness funding.

Organize state-sponsored regional response teams.

Where are we in Texas on these issues and where should we be going? Are these

recommendations too much or too little for Texas? What bills are on the table

now for EMS and what can be done to put issues on the table for the future?

Any thoughts?

Danny L.

Owner/NREMT-P

PETSAR INC.

(Panhandle Emergency Training Services And Response)

Office

Fax