2011 — Easy IOs for Rural EMS Services
2011 — Red Cap Data Collection
2010 — Support for the The Ban on Driving and Texting/Helmet Repeal Legislature
TN EMSC Foundation supported the legislation to ban text messaging while driving. See Tennessee Advocacy.
2009/2010 — Star of Life Ceremony
TN EMSC presented the first and second annual EMS Star of Life Awards Dinner and Ceremony to honor the accomplishments of EMS personnel from the eight regions of Tennessee who provided exemplary life-saving care to adult and pediatric patients. The ceremony included a presentation of the actual adult or pediatric patient scenario and reunited the EMS caregivers with the individuals they treated.
2007 — Trauma Center Funding
TN EMSC was influential in securing funding for trauma centers that serve children in Tennessee.
2006 — Disaster Preparedness Project:
Awarded funding by the State Office of Hospital Preparedness.
The Department of Health identified four major components:
- Each health care facility completing a survey
- Reviewing pediatric activity by facility
- Conducting site visits to non-pediatric hospitals with high pediatric volumes for surge capacity
- Developing a pediatric triage plan for the Department of Health and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security’s Hospital Regions
- Evaluating the need for additional equipment and/or training of hospital personnel
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear agents preparedness
- Children with special healthcare needs
- School preparedness
- Family preparedness
4. Review pediatric equipment for hospital and ambulances and pediatric education training for professionals.
2005 — Received Tax Exempt Status
The TN EMSC Foundation received tax exempt status from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2003 — Child Passenger Safety Law in Tennessee:
TN EMSC was influential in the successful passage of the comprehensive revision to the child passenger safety law in Tennessee.
2002 — Student Health Information Plans (SHIPS):
Developed and published the Student Health Information Plans (SHIPS) with the TN Association of School Nurses for the following disease processes:
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Sickle-cell anemia
- Cardiac disorders
- Seizures
- Severe allergies
Funded the distribution of Emergency Guidelines for Schools to every public school in TN.
This was endorsed and supported by the TN Departments of Health and Education. This publication included the AAP/ACEP Emergency Information Form that was endorsed by the State 911 Board and chosen as best practice for Foster Care.
2001— Certified Poison Control System
TN EMSC insured universal public access to a certified poison control system for all Tennessee’s citizens
2000 — Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Providers (PEPP):
Awarded funding by the State Office of Rural Health to provide a train-the-trainer course in PEPP (Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Providers) and to assist community colleges that taught paramedics the pediatric equipment necessary to deliver the course.
Funding was awarded by the State Office of Rural Health to provide pediatric backboards for ambulance services.
2000 — Site Visits to Rural Not-for-Profit Hospitals:
Site visits to 35 rural not-for-profit hospitals were completed by the four Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Centers. The site visit CRPC Team consisted of a MD, RN, and parent/consumer. They completed the following reviews:
- North Carolina’s ED Preparedness Mock Code Scenario
- Family Centered Care Survey
- Equipment Availability and Physical Site
- Pediatric Facility Notebook Review
2000 — Poison Control Center Emergency Stabilization Program Grant:
TN EMSC received the Poison Control Center Emergency Stabilization Program grant awarded from Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the amount of $350,000.
Commissioner of Health, Fredia, Wadley, MD, appointed TN EMSC to provide leadership in the planning and securing long-term viability to the complete array of poison control and prevention services in Tennessee.
1999 — Completed Interpretive Standards
Completed the Tennessee EMSC interpretive standards. The Board for Licensing of Health Care Facilities (BLHCF) was slated to begin site visits of healthcare facilities in June.
1999 — Gore Family Reunion:
Tennessee EMSC was invited by the Blair House to participate in the Gore Family Re-Union “Efficient Links between People and Neighborhoods: Transportation, Communication and Access to Technology.”
1998 — Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Training Course:
The Tennessee Dept. of Health Traumatic Brain-injury Program in partnership with the Rural Health Association of Tennessee (RHAT) and the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA), awarded a grant to disseminate educational materials, and provide a PALS training course to 35 rural not-for-profit healthcare facilities and ambulances services which could not bear the financial burden to institute the state mandated educational programs.
1998 — Rules and Regulations of the Tennessee Department of Health Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities (BLHCF)
The Tennessee legislature unanimously enacted legislation directing the Board for Licensing of Health Care Facilities (BLHCF) and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board to “promulgate regulatory standards to ensure the adequacy of emergency medical services for children.” These addressed facility and ambulance equipment standards, educational qualifications, and continuing professional educational requirements of facility and ambulance personnel. SPEC became the Committee on Pediatric Emergency Care (CoPEC), with direct reporting responsibilities to the BLHCF and the EMS Board. CoPEC was charged with the responsibility for drafting the guidelines document and its interpretative standards.
1997— “Smart Parents = Safe Children” Injury Prevention Resource Guide:
TN EMSC funded the “Smart Parents = Safe Children” Injury Prevention Resource Guide, distributed through the state PTA.
1995 — Data Collection Begins
Data collection in the targeted counties began. In addition, provider education courses and injury prevention programs (through the news media) were initiated.
1994 — SPEC Receives Implementation Grant
SPEC received an implementation grant for Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) from the federal Health Resources Service Administration (HRSA) to assess the impact of pediatric-specific education and equipment on pre-hospital and emergency department provider services in 10 targeted rural Tennessee counties.
1993 — EMS Board Promulgates First Rules for Pediatric Equipment
The EMS Board promulgated the first rules for pediatric equipment on emergency ambulances based on recommendations from the SPEC.
The Institute of Medicine published “Emergency Medical Services for Children”, its landmark report on the state of pediatric emergency and critical care in the United States. The report finds that the advances in emergency care, including trauma, made by the development of emergency and trauma care systems have not been realized for pediatric patients. The IOM recommends the creation of federal and state Emergency Medical Services for Children programs. The report stimulates the leadership of the SPEC, with the strong support of state EMS Director Joe Phillips, to expand its membership and adopt the development of an EMSC program for Tennessee as its focal mission.
1991 — Trauma Care Advisory Council is Born
The Tennessee chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (TNAAP) petitioned the BLHCF regarding pediatric representation in the governance of the trauma system. The BLHCF decides to create a subcommittee of the TCAC, the Subcommittee on Pediatric Emergency Care (SPEC). At TNAAP’s recommendation, the mission of the SPEC includes all pediatric emergency conditions, including trauma.
The SPEC developed a concurrent reporting relationship to the EMS Board.
1990 — BLHCF Designates First Pediatric Trauma Centers
The BLHCF designated the first pediatric trauma centers. The voluntary program only attracted three hospitals in Eastern Tennessee to participate.
The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities appointed a Trauma Care Advisory Council (TCAC) to oversee, monitor and amend the Tennessee trauma system. A pediatric surgeon is the only representative for children’s needs.
1989 — BLHCF Adopts the Pediatric Trauma Guidelines
1988 — State Trauma System Inaugurated
The state trauma system is inaugurated when the BLHCF designated 11 hospitals as trauma centers.
1987 — First Trauma Center Inspections Complete
The first trauma center inspections are completed and reported to the BLHCF. The Board delayed action due to multiple challenges from various hospitals. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital commences legal action resulting in the BLHCF creating a Pediatric Trauma Center Task Force to recommend rules for the designation of pediatric trauma centers.
1985 — BLHCF Accepts Recommendations for Rules for Trauma Center Designation
The Board for Licensing Health Care Facilities (BLHCF) accepted the recommendations of its Trauma Center Task Force to promulgate specific rules for trauma center designation.
1984 — Federal Emergency Medical Services for Children Program Authorized
The federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program was initially authorized in 1984 as an amendment to the Public Health Service Act to expand and improve pediatric emergency medical care for ill and injured children. Tennessee unsuccessfully applied for one of the initial set of state grants.
