Minnesota’s Emergency Medical Task Force met Thursday to discuss EMS initiatives in the state.
Dylan Ferguson, executive director of the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB), noted the importance of House File 4738, which established an alternative EMS response model pilot program. HF 4738 was approved by the governor in May and officials continue to work on its implementation.
Ferguson said workforce and funding issues remain challenges to implementation. But his dedicated staff and resources dedicated to the initiative should ensure the initiatives in HF 4738 are implemented successfully.
Ferguson discussed the Basic Life Support (BLS) staffing variants program, which now allows first responders to operate with one EMT and one driver. BLS training is for those seeking to become a first responder or healthcare professional, and the certification is valid for two years. So far, eight ambulance services have applied for the program, and four individual driver applications have been submitted, according to Ferguson.
“That driver is still required to have a CPR credential, that driver training course, and to make an application to the board,” Ferguson said. “That CPR training and that driver training is not prescribed by the state.”
New training rules for registered nurses (RNs) working in ambulance practices were created with the passage of HF 4738.
“RNs who also hold the certification of emergency medical technician—they no longer have to take the paramedic skills exam as was previously required—and the reason for that is because that skills exam was retired by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians,” Ferguson said.
The skills exam was replaced with one approved by the local ambulance services medical director, Ferguson said. RNs that hold a certified emergency nurse credential or a certified flight nurse credential can now operate on the ground at the paramedic level, as long as they’ve submitted the required application to the state, Ferguson said.
The Sprint Medic Pilot Program appropriates $6 million for services in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties, with funding available through June 30, 2027. Ferguson believes different parts of the state are more equipped to handle the rollout of the program than others. The Sprint program authorizes trained medical staff to be first responders, and to determine if an ambulance is required for a particular situation. The legislature passed a $30 million aid package for rural EMS departments this spring, which included the Sprint program.
Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar (R-Duluth) noted that 70 percent of ambulance services are non-emergency runs and calls.
“In certain areas of certain pilot sites, there are conflicts of vision, and there are conflicts of what different organizations believe this should look like,” Ferguson said.
St. Louis and Otter Tail counties need to file grant applications with the EMSRB in order to obtain contracts for the program, Ferguson said.
Those interested in learning more about public health in Minnesota can register to attend the 2024 Minnesota State of Reform Health Policy Conference, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Bloomington in Minneapolis on Sept. 5. A “Conversation with State Lawmakers: Health Policymaking in the Minnesota Legislature” panel will be held at 2:15 pm.