An overwhelming majority of EMS professionals responding to a recent survey feel Congress should establish a federal EMS entity similar to the U.S. Fire Administration that would raise the profile of EMS in the nation’s capital and improve federal response to large-scale disasters.

Respondents to the survey conducted by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians were divided, however, as to whether EMS workers should be categorized as health-care providers, public safety responders and/or public health workers.

“The survey findings show that our members recognize their role in the health-care continuum,” said NAEMT President Ken Bouvier. “The survey also tells us that our members want the federal government to do more to fund EMS and help EMS prepare to respond to major disasters.”

Of the respondents, 92% said that EMS is not currently adequately represented in the federal government, and 95% said that a federal EMS entity similar to the U.S. Fire Administration would benefit EMS providers.

While it supports a more effective federal presence for EMS, NAEMT recognizes that the creation of a single, high-level federal EMS agency demands action by Congress, which may not occur in the near future. As a result, NAEMT has committed to supporting the current Office of EMS in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the leadership by that office of the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS.

When asked about these entities, 55% of survey respondents said that they do not know enough about the EMS office within NHTSA to make a determination as to its effectiveness. Of those who responded to the question, 20% said that they viewed NHTSA EMS activities favorably, and 25% had an unfavorable opinion of past activities by the NHTSA EMS office.

When asked if they thought that FICEMS was an effective way to provide EMS representation in the federal government, 59% said that they don’t know anything about FICEMS, 20% said that FICEMS was effective, and 21% disagreed.

Respondents were asked to rate the value of activities for which a federal EMS entity might be responsible. Topping the list as most valuable were “establishing and administering national safety standards for protection of EMS providers” and “establishing and administering an annual operational EMS grant system similar to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.”