Letters to the Editor: February 2012

E-mail letters to the editor to editor@emsworld.com. Letters may be edited for clarity and to conform to space requirements.

Healthcare Policy
I was so pleased to see the excerpt of the interview with Gregg Margolis by Jennifer Goodwin, “Healthcare Policy Development,” in the January 2012 issue of EMS World Magazine.

Kudos to Dr. Margolis for his continued efforts to improve EMS nationwide. His focus on the policy side of EMS enhancement and development is a testament to the promising future for EMS as a true component of healthcare.

As a growing number of healthcare professionals recognize paramedicine as an integral part of healthcare delivery in the future, it is incumbent upon us to ensure its growth is positive and well-directed. For that to happen, we need to follow in Dr. Margolis’ footsteps and become active voices in health policy formulation on behalf of EMS and healthcare in general.

Keith A. Monosky, PhD, MPM, EMT-P
Program Director, EMS Paramedicine Program, Central Washington Univ., Ellensburg, WA

Education Woes
In response to Jonathan Mullins’ letter “Recertification Woes” in the September 2011 issue, I need to make a correction.

Mr. Mullins wrote that physician assistants do not have to recertify. As a PA, I do have to endure a recertification process to maintain my PA license. After passing my initial board exam, I have to acquire 100 hours of CME every two years and then retake my board exam every six years. I usually have to attend a five-day board exam review course to make sure I review knowledge areas I do not frequently use while working in emergency medicine.

I would also like to comment that of the many “refresher” courses I have taken since 1983, I found most of them lacking in any updated information. Things have improved with better access to videos via the Internet and vastly improved research being conducted by true prehospital professionals, but what has not improved is funding for true continuing education for active paramedics. While a large share of resources has been allocated to the entry educational process, less has been applied to keeping paramedics updated and adding to their knowledge and skills base.

I do agree that updating our 30-year-old model of CE needs to occur, but Mr. Mullins is not alone when it comes to maintaining your certification—some of us get to do it twice!
Mark Ross, AS, BS, PA-C, NREMT-P
Rochester, MN