Rural EMS Sustainability
and the MDH
Office of Rural Health & Primary Care
Introduction

15 years in EMS

Worked for Rural EMS for over 10 years

Taught in EMS for 8 years

Currently hired as the EMS Coordinator for
the Cardiovascular Health Unit and the Office
of Rural Health
History of Rural
EMS Crisis
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•
•
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Released in 2002
Landmark “White Paper”
11 recommendations
Unfortunately little done
holistically to solve these
problems
Since then…
Uncoordinated isolated “fixes”
such as:

One EMT/EMR staffing model
[144E.101, Subd. 6(e)]

Pilot retention program giving
$500 to volunteers
Numerous national studies
consistently note the same issues
“There is little need for more summits or discussion.
The action steps needed to move from
unsustainability to sustainability are well known and
being tested every day in other states. The greatest
need is for leadership and action.”
-
John Becknell, SafeTech Solutions
MAA Rural Sustainability Report
Past and Current Efforts by MDH
through FLEX program

Grants provided to agencies, regional
boards, hospitals, RTAC
 Address needs
 Pilot new programs

EMS Leadership Academy
 2 courses in the past 2 yrs

EMS Leadership Summit
 Hosted by Tom Vanderwal
Internally at MDH

MDH has informally formed the Center for EMS
 Formed 1.5yrs ago
 8 Programs from across the department
 Share common EMS stakeholders and grantees,
and time critical “systems of care” models
 Goal is to streamline efforts (e.g. data,
education, quality improvement)
 EMSRB is invited and attends these meetings
Flex Grant

Focus on Rural Sustainability
 Year 1: EMS Survey
 Year 2: Analysis
 Year 3: Reassessment
Goals for the Survey

Gather qualitative information about
sustainability

To inform discussions about legislative
and organizational policy changes

Gather capacity information on Time
Critical Diagnosis patients
Where are we now…

Currently expanding input on survey
with outside agencies

Working on communications rollout
plan

Anticipate a May 1st release date

Data back by August
Questions?