EMS Week

50th National EMS Week

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb proclaimed May 19–25, 2024, as EMS Week (download proclamation), a time when Hoosiers are encouraged to celebrate and honor the work of emergency medical service personnel throughout Indiana.

This is part of the national EMS Week campaign, now in its 50th year, led by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) and American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The 2024 theme is "Honoring Our Past. Forging Our Future."

The Indiana Department of Homeland Security invites you to learn more about the EMS community in Indiana, whether it is the burgeoning area of mobile integrated health, challenges that face EMS or recognitions of many of Indiana's EMS personnel.

For more EMS Week content, visit EMSweek.org.

• State EMS Director Kraig Kinney: Happy EMS Week!
  

  Happy EMS Week!

  The EMS staff and executive leadership of IDHS, as well as the Indiana EMS Commission, want to extend a warm recognition for all EMS-certified professionals during National EMS Week. May 19-25 is recognized nationally as EMS Week and also by the State of Indiana.

  2024 is a special year for National EMS Week as it's the 50th anniversary! Fifty years of EMS Week is 50 years of recognition and Indiana has several organizations, and even individual clinicians, that have served for over 50 years!

  This year’s theme of “Honoring Our Past and Forging Our Future” hits a crucial time for EMS. We have many challenges that we face, but we are a respected profession with great potential for increased contributions to public health.

  Counterbalancing the challenges of funding and workforce sufficiency is the growth of EMS to embrace more solid healthcare practices such as treatments on scene, alternative destinations and mobile integrated health care.

  Indiana EMS has 24,956 clinicians. We are EMRs, EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics. Together we make a difference for our patients and our communities. Even with our disagreements on matters, we have one common goal to provide quality prehospital care to our patients.

  EMS Week is always an opportunity to evaluate our commitment to our profession and accept thanks for all we do. Express pride. Thank those you work with. Look for ways to continue to improve our profession. You may not save a life every day, but you certainly make a difference.

  Happy EMS Week from the IDHS team!

  

  Kraig Kinney
  State EMS Director

• Indiana Trauma Care Commission: We Support EMS
  

  In Support of EMS

  The Indiana Trauma Care Commission stands in support of National EMS Week, celebrating the dedication and commitment of our Emergency Medical Services professionals. We honor the remarkable men and women who provide critical medical care, swift response and compassion to Hoosiers when they need it most. We express our deepest gratitude for their service and pledge our continued support for their vital work.

  

  Lindsay Weaver
  State Health Commissioner and Chairperson of Indiana Trauma Care Commission

  About the Indiana Trauma Care Commission

  The Indiana Trauma Care Commission was established in 2023 by the state legislature. It develops and promotes, in cooperation with state, regional and local public and private organizations, a statewide program for the provision of trauma care and a comprehensive state trauma plan. It also develops trauma grants and promotes training for trauma personnel and the general public in injury prevention and trauma care. Learn more about the commission

• Blog Post - Coming Soon: New Report To Offer Practical Steps for Improving EMS Outcomes
  

  

  It is no secret that the EMS profession has been going through tough times lately. Long hours, understaffed agencies and low wages aggravate an already stressful job.

  Since the beginning of this year, a group of EMS stakeholders have been putting their heads together to brainstorm the top issues affecting EMS professionals in the Hoosiers state and then make recommendations on how these problems can be resolved. This group includes representatives from IDHS, the Indiana Department of Health, the Indiana Statewide 911 Board, the Indiana EMS Association, the Family and Social Services Administration, the Department of Health, the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana and the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association.

  After five marathon discussion sessions, the group identified the five categories it will focus its efforts on to identify meaningful solutions.

  • Essential EMS Functions
  • EMS Workforce
  • EMS Funding
  • EMS Operations and Safety
  • EMS Education & Training

  Under each category, the group lists critical findings that are causing problems. For example, under Essential Function, one finding describes how jurisdictional boundaries impede a timely EMS response. Under the Operations and Safety category, a finding lists how the statewide hospital interfacility transfer system is not functioning effectively. Recommendations on how to improve each finding are included.

  All of this information is being compiled into a full report titled “Indiana EMS 2025: A Vision for the Future.” It includes 21 findings and even more recommendations to fix the problem. Keep an eye out for this report; it will be published next month, June 2024.

  The hope is that local EMS organizations, state agencies and legislators will use the recommendations in the report to make long-lasting changes to improve EMS.