NA: 014-06
 NIMS Integration Center, September 19, 2006
NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov
202-646-3850

NIMS Integration Center Releases Criteria for Credentialing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel
As part of our nation’s efforts to strengthen catastrophic response capabilities in line with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), FEMA’s NIMS Integration Center has released the proposed initial minimum criteria for EMS Personnel to be deployed using a national credentialing system. The purpose of this release is to solicit comments and constructive feedback for an open period not to exceed 45 calendar days from the date stated in this NIMS Alert.  Information on how to send your comments via e-mail is located at the end of this Alert.  
An EMS credentialing working group comprised of 35 Subject Matter Experts identified 19 EMS positions anticipated to be most commonly requested during an interstate mutual aid response. They are: 

          1. Air Medical Transport Manager 
          2. Air Medical Transport Mechanic 
          3. Air Medical Transport Medical Director 
          4. Air Medical Transport Paramedic 
          5. Air Medical Transport Pilot 
          6. Air Medical Transport Registered Nurse 
          7. Emergency Medical Responder 
          8. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
          9. Emergency Vehicle Operator 
          10. Emergency Vehicle Operator-Heavy 
          11. EMS Physician 
          12. Medical Branch Director 
          13. Medical Group Supervisor 
          14. Medical Supply Coordinator 
          15. Paramedic 
          16. EMS Transportation Group Supervisor 
          17. EMS Transportation Unit Leader 
          18. EMS Treatment Unit Leader 
          19. EMS Triage Unit Leader 
          
For each job title, the EMS Working Group identified “requisite” and “recommended” baseline criteria for education, training, experience, physical/medical fitness, certification, and licensing. These criteria are intended to complement and support existing credentialing systems. Where national standards do not exist under “requisite” criteria, “recommended” criteria are listed for current and/or future consideration. 
These recommendations have been submitted to the NIMS Integration Center and will be made available on the NIMS Web page at www.fema.gov/emergency/nims. The NIMS Integration Center again invites NIMS Stakeholders to review these initial criteria for the standardized, national credentialing of EMS Personnel.  The EMS Working Group will review all responses submitted and as appropriate make any needed revisions with a final NIMS release of the Criteria for credentialing Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel. 
All comments and questions should be directed to the following E-mail:       
NIMS-credentialing@L-3com.com

       DHS/FEMA NIMS Integration Center
       Washington, DC
       September 19, 2006



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www.fema.gov/emergency/nims