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At the last New York State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC), a process was approved to allow for annual updating of the EMS Protocols. This process will allow for year round submission of recommended protocol changes and new protocol suggestions through an online form described below. These recommendations will be periodically reviewed by the Protocol Working Group.
In March of every year, the Protocol Working Group will make recommendations that can then be distributed to the SEMAC Medical Standards Committee along with the 18 EMS Regional Program Agencies and their associated Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committees. The months of April and May will be used to provide feedback to the Protocol Working Group so that recommendations can be reviewed in the next SEMAC Meeting. The drafted revisions will then be distributed for the required public comment period. Following the public comment period, the Protocol Working Group will address any outstanding concerns regarding implementation so that final approval may occur at the September SEMAC Meeting. Once the protocols are approved, they are then forwarded to the Commissioner of Health for administrative review and approval. The Medical Standards Committee does have a process for identifying exigencies to immediately address patient and provider safety. If you have any recommended protocol changes or suggestions for new protocols, you may submit them by clicking the following link and completing a brief online form. You must provide your name and contact information in the event a member of the Protocol Working Group needs to contact you to solicit more detail about your recommendation. Although the software used for protocol feedback is HIPAA complaint, please do not include any Protected Health Information. http://j.mp/2Qh9atV Please see the attached letter from NYS Health Commissioner Howard Zucker MD addressed to healthcare facility CEOs regarding possible shortages of PPE during 2019-nCoV and share with local/regional EMS.
I have also included the link to the Department’s webpage on the subject of the 2019-nCoV as well as the Bureau of EMS Policy 20-02 both of which will be updated as necessary. Consequently, please check these links regularly. https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/coronavirus/ https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/pdf/20-02.pdf Daniel J. Clayton, BS, EMT-P Chief, Operations Section Bureau of Emergency Medical Services New York State Department of Health 875 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12206 (518) 402-0996 | (518) 402-0985 | daniel.clayton@health.ny.gov | https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/ |
