The following editorial was submitted by the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association (GEMSA). It’s signed by GEMSA Executive Director Kim Littleton and GEMSA Board Chairman, Chad Black. Black also serves as Director of Habersham County Emergency Services. The opinions expressed in this letter are theirs.
The Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association (GEMSA) is an organization that represents emergency medical services, providers and educators in Georgia, having done so for well over 25 years. Our membership includes public, private, fire-based, hospital-based and volunteer ambulance services.
“Scurrilous” and “insulting”
Over the past several months, a series of opinion articles have been published, written by a hired consultant for a 503(c)4 group called the “Georgia Ambulance Transparency Project.”
GEMSA has attempted to identify and reach out to members of this group on multiple occasions, so that we may discuss the basis of their concerns and the allegations made in their articles. Our efforts to identify individuals to speak with have been unsuccessful to date. GEMSA has a responsibility to our members to address the misinformation provided in these articles, as well as to serve as a resource to ensure the very best delivery of emergency medical services possible to the citizens of our State.
We believe these scurrilous allegations were printed to merely create a storm. – GEMSA
Furthermore, it is believed that these allegations were derived from a hired consultant, who has no knowledge of how an emergency medical services system operates. We believe these scurrilous allegations were printed to merely create a storm.
The uncorroborated statements made by the Transparency Project have been insulting to all EMS providers who honorably serve the citizens of our state daily. GEMSA offers the following historical facts to support our opposition to the statements alleged by the Transparency Project.
Historical facts
Establishment of modern emergency medical services was initiated by the Highway Safety Act of 1966. Under this law, the Federal Government also provided funding to develop an EMS system. Part of this funding required the States to establish regional “councils” to develop the system on a local basis. Subsequently, Georgia law was enacted, guiding the expenditure of funds and establishment of regional councils, which also included zoning guidelines.
Region EMS Councils are comprised of EMS professionals (from all EMS service types) and community officials who are all dedicated to their profession, to providing the very best pre-hospital care and to serving the citizens of their respective communities regardless of the EMS delivery model utilized. Of these, 80 percent are appointed by the County Commission, with remaining 20 percent appointed by District Health Directors. The councils and their respective zoning committees function exclusively through specific rules established through the Department of Public Health’s State Office of EMS.
“Regional Ambulance Zoning Plan” refers to the State Office of EMS’ approved method of distributing emergency calls among designated ambulance services in designated geographical territories or zones within each health district in the State.
“No evidence” to support allegations
The Transparency project has stated several “goals” while attempting to mislead Georgians about the system that is currently being utilized to establish ambulance 9-1-1 zones:
- Ban Ambulance vendors from serving on Department of Public Health “Hiring Councils.”
- Require vendors to register with the state ethics commission and ban “pay-to-play.”
- Require mandatory service reviews to ensure safety.
- Require that all ambulance service providers meet national safety standards and adhere to best practices.
With regard to the term “Pay to Play,” as stated by the Transparency Project, this group has presented absolutely no evidence support to these allegations.
Accreditation
As of late, the Emergency Medical Services Association Council (EMSAC) has recommended to the Georgia State Office that the standards from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services “C.A.A.S.” be adopted. While it is always GEMSA’s goal for emergency medical services to operate at the highest standard, only California, Michigan, Texas, Florida have more accredited ambulance service providers than Georgia.
In addition, several of the private equity-owned 9-1-1 Ambulance Zone Providers are C.A.A.S. accredited but most emergency medical services in the state are not, simply due to the cost of doing so. To be compliant with Safety Standards, with reimbursements already not meeting what it typically costs to operate EMS, Accreditation is simply a cost the majority of EMS agencies are unable to afford at present time.
Georgia emergency medical services are regarded by the National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) as some of the very best in the United States.
GEMSA ready to meet with Transparency Project members
In conclusion, and in accordance with the mission of the Georgia Emergency Medical Services Association to advocate for the emergency medical service providers of the state and improvement to the EMS system, the Georgia EMS Association stands ready to meet with members of the Transparency Project to address any concerns they may have.
Kim Littleton, Executive Director
Georgia Emergency Medical Service Association
Chad Black, Chairman of the Board
Georgia Emergency Medical Service Association
