NAEMT has signed on as a sponsoring member of the new Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Catastrophic Events, a group organized by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). NAEMT is currently the only sponsoring member of the forum representing the interests of first responders. "Being a part of an IOM project is a tremendous opportunity not only for NAEMT, but for all prehospital responders," said NAEMT President Jerry Johnston. “EMS needs to be involved with any national discussion about preparedness. NAEMT takes very seriously the role of representing those who perform a vital community service every day"
Details of the first forum meeting are still being finalized, but initial attention will be given to the following broad topic areas: medical surge capacity, disaster preparedness training, communication and distribution, psychological and community resilience, and research and evaluation.
Members of the forum will meet periodically throughout the year to discuss issues and policies, make assessments and review outcomes. The forums will focus not only on immediate responses to disasters and public health crises, but also on intermediate and long-term needs.
In addition to NAEMT, sponsoring members include federal agencies, state and local associations, health professional associations and private sector business associations. The cost of the $2.4 million forum project will be shared by sponsoring organizations over a three-year period in which the groups are expected to meet; NAEMT’s portion is $10,000 per year.