National Oversight Poll |
Sign the Petition |
Discussion Forums
EMSunites.com News Check out the new NATIONAL OVERSIGHT POLL. Check out the new STREET MEDIC - FEDERAL EMS OFFICE SURVEY. EMSunites.com Mission EMSunites.com is a site for the EMS responder community and others with an interest or stake in EMS response to participate in helping to shape the future for "EMS". This site is privately funded and has no ties to any organization. It is that way to assure that the information provided is as objective and clear as possible. This site will provide you information and insight into many of the subjects and positions that will quite probably dramatically affect your future. For 40+ years I have watched and participated in the birth, growth and change of EMS in the USA. While I have had the opportunity to be a part of a number of activities and organizations at the national level............one thing is still very evident, many of today's EMS’ers continue to express that they are pretty much in the dark about what it is that changes EMS. Many work in their communities and have very little voice in having their thoughts heard. Nobody asks or nobody listens......sound familiar? For clarification I am referring to the EMS Responders that go to the scenes of incidents, and provide the initial care to those in need, not the supportive upper echelons of Emergency Medical Services, such as Emergency Departments in Hospitals, Physical Therapists and Alcohol or Drug Counselors. While it may be true that all the specialty groups or functions play a part in the big EMS picture, the piling on of so many aspects of health care has clouded the issue to the point that everyone is claiming to be a part of the EMS system and asking for funding and as history proves, the plight of the field provider is continually ignored. As the initial responders and caregivers we are the ones on the front lines.....and we need and deserve recognition and support, as much as our troops in combat need the same from their leaders. We need and deserve support, and now is the time for change from the obviously failed panels and groups that take what they see as "their share" first and traditionally forget the front line of defense........our medical first responders. Because of this, we have had groups, organizations and individuals that have either established themselves as spokespersons or been designated as such by the powers in Government. But the real question facing EMS responders today is who really speaks for EMS at the national level? A follow up question is "Are they representing the EMS providers or themselves and their own agendas?" Never since the formation of EMS as an essential emergency response entity has it been more important that we look at ourselves and say "I have needs....I have an opinion.....and I want you to listen to the truth!" You CAN have a voice in EMS, if you SPEAK UP. If you don't you are a part of the problem.........and you make it possible and relatively easy for someone to continue to hijack your voice. A proposal to elevate EMS Responders to have a full seat at the national level equal to Fire and Police has been presented. This document has caused a number of organizations to respond in quick fashion with opposition or support. Some organizations asked their membership for input by polling them, others unfortunately have responded so quickly that it apparently was done without asking their membership for input. Is your voice one of those that is being heard or is someone telling the Federal Government that you gave them your voice? Some organizations that traditionally fight over union vs. non union issues and others that have expressed vastly different opinions in the past have joined in presenting joint documents supporting or not supporting the proposals being considered. I do not feel it is unfair to state that there are some strange bedfellows uniting for one reason or another. A number of things cause me to bring this to your attention..........it is time that someone take a look, a real look, at what EMS Response is, what has EMS Response become? With all due respect for what has been accomplished in EMS over the years.........I sometimes think that we moved from the initial National Effort of EMS that developed the EMS program in the early years to a point that we have greatly digressed, and this is in great part due to lack of a Representative or Unified National leadership. Have we turned into a fragmented system that many think resembles a country lacking National leadership? Has the leadership we once had from the office of Federal EMS been chewed apart and now we have organizations vying for power and control of wealth, not unlike Warlords claiming their spheres of influence or attempting to dominate the entire EMS environment? Do we see these Warlord organizations working in co-operation for the common good? On occasion we do....some are real partners, and when they have a common goal, they work together on issues.........In reality, and most often, we see and hear about those with their own "limited focus" agenda, and find them in opposition to the others, frequently with the EMS Responder issues being the lowest priority. Lest you think I am anti-organization and / or pro-government I assure you I am not. If these organizations had not filled some of the voids in the past we could not have gotten where we are. But in the big picture, the organizations have organizational goals, and we need a voice with a focus on EMS Responders........not a specific special interest group, or consortium of groups to wheel and deal to split the pie in enough pieces for the participants. Especially if the EMS Response segment isn't truly represented at the table. I have been and remain a member of a number of these organizations. The Warlord organizations in many instances have kept things from getting much worse.... ...and many good things have happened as well as the not so good things. But we need central leadership, with crisp focus. My point is that there's been some shaky group leadership from some within the council of Warlords........or organizations. When it gets down to grant monies, past, present and future, the ones that got, and under the current system stand to get in the future, are supporting the status quo.......it appears they are looking out for themselves, not the EMS responder. The ones that traditionally don't get are left behind and the majority of the masses don't even know how the loot is being doled out. And some of these organizations claim that's what YOU want and need! And they are there in Washington claiming it, using your voice. EMS getting 4% of funds from DHS is a good example of where the current system of representation places its priorities........even now that we hear the last minute cry....."We have a new plan.....a new committee (of the same players of course) "well now we are going to be getting more for you EMS Providers!" My response is "Big Deal....is that to be taken as hush money so we forget that we were not worthy of your efforts in the past?" Is it wrong to wonder "if it got that bad for EMS Responders under your watch why should I have faith in you being different in the future?"........."No thanks.....I feel EMS Response is qualified to be a full partner and to be seated at the responder table as well. So let's have an open look and discuss it. What is to hide?"............perhaps you too as a field provider of EMS have thought about these questions. The opportunity for EMS Responders to speak up is now.........for we may get an opportunity to have an open look at EMS and a real effort made to see what is the best plan for the future. It may be the time that EMS Response is recognized as an equal part of the 3 Primary Emergency services...Police, Fire and EMS. It is the time for you to speak up, or someone else will continue to get away with their claims to be speaking for you.....your politicians and decision makers can make better informed decisions if they have the input from EMS Responders. Your silence doesn't help them or EMS. I see and hear it now, an organization, or Warlord claiming that "his group of 200 members wants this "........and then you hear 100 of his group saying "he isn't talking for me I feel differently" Just who is representing WHO? That's it, I am providing you a non-political......non-organizational.......no cost place to register your feelings and to join the EMS Responder voice. I have no idea how successful this site will be in giving EMS Responders the voice they deserve, and I assure you that some organizations are supportive of the concept of hearing from the people in the street as well as those in EMS administration.......some organizations are not at all concerned with your voice being heard, and are hoping that you do speak up and help them make positive change....... but some are really upset that perhaps your voices could be heard by Washington, and it just might show that they have not been a benevolent Warlord........ Don't tell me I'm right or wrong...I am not asking that you agree with me......I am one voice.....this is an opportunity for you to help determine future leadership of EMS Response at the National level. Take some time to review the issues; ask yourself are things getting better? Read the position papers and see how YOUR voice has been used.....take the poll.....see if you wish to sign the national petition...........all I suggest is that YOU speak for YOURSELF. Lou Jordan
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(c) MMV EMSunites.com