Docs Advocate for EMS

     The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) celebrated its 25th anniversary at its annual meeting in Jacksonville, FL, January 22–24. With a packed audience and faculty comprised of physician leaders, EMS practice professionals, scientific researchers and policy makers, the meeting offered an energizing mix of state-of-the-art research and advances in practice.

     One of the most propitious developments was the announcement that NAEMSP, along with the American College of Emergency Physicians, formally applied to the American Board of Emergency Medicine for EMS to be recognized as a true subspecialty of emergency medicine. This will be the second attempt in two decades, but the feeling is the time is now ripe for change. This move is in line with the Institute of Medicine's 2006 analysis of EMS and reflects the recognition of the unique body of scientific knowledge required to practice in the prehospital field.

     The NAEMSP meeting featured dozens of scientific abstracts and posters on recent EMS research; at the same time this year's meeting brought major focus to the importance of evidence-based knowledge as the basis of future EMS practice. During the meeting, NHTSA EMS Administrator Drew Dawson announced a federal project to promote the evidence-based approach as the basis for future EMS development and funding, and the CDC Division of Injury Response announced the release of its Field Triage Guidelines published in MMWR on January 23. These were among the many highlights of a meeting that drew participants from around the world to discuss advances in EMS.

     "We continue to be honored to host a meeting each year where many serious minds in EMS can come together. It is nothing short of inspiring to be among people who work tirelessly to improve our EMS systems to benefit the people they serve," says NAEMSP President Ted Delbridge.

     For more information on NAEMSP, visit www.naemsp.org.