EMT rule change to hurt volunteers

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ESCANABA - Rampart officials say they don't know if they will adopt a lengthier and more expensive training program to meet new requirements set to take effect in 2013.

The National Registry Emergency Medical Technician recently decided it will no longer certify paramedics who graduate from unaccredited training programs.

Rampart officials report only two of the 42 EMS training programs in Michigan, both downstate, have the required accreditation.

Venetia Bryers, paramedic instructor and CEO of Rampart EMS, said Rampart EMS of Marquette General Hospital has not decided what to do about the change.

"We are waiting for more thorough feedback from around the state to determine if Michigan can live with the requirement for paramedic graduation from an accredited program to qualify for testing with National Registry at that level," Bryers said.

She added that Michigan is looking at alternatives to the Ohio-based National Registry before a decision is made.

She said instructors are concerned students will not be able to attend lengthy training sessions.

"If they have to take 40 hours in one week, we might see an impact in the number of enrollees," said Bryers. "And to be very honest we're short on qualified EMS personnel."

Bryers said there are 24 individuals who cover all of Delta County and its adjoining areas. There are also volunteers who do basic emergency services in the outlying areas of Rock, Garden and Masonville Township who would have difficulty participating in lengthy sessions.

"If we continue to make access more difficult, in particular for volunteers, we're going to threaten to make them extinct," she said.

Rampart EMS provides service to all of Delta County, north Menominee and southern Marquette counties.

Bryers said the accreditation is essentially an unfunded mandate and meeting the National Registry's accreditation standards would be costly.

"Obviously if you have a longer training program you'll have greater education costs," she said. "If you increase that you also decrease the earning power of students."

Bryers said Rampart already uses the National Registry of EMTs' test to certify paramedics and emergency medical technicians. She said the school is successful despite the fact it does not meet accreditation standards.

"Marquette General Hospital School of EMT has the highest pass rate in the state of Michigan for paramedics and is not yet accredited... therein begs the question of, 'Is this something we need at this time?'" said Bryers. "If there are poor programs, perhaps a better approach would be to target those."