WEMSI has been active in promoting Wilderness EMS in Pennsylvania. Though most of the EMS community is supportive, even at the highest levels, the current interpretation of the EMS Act has prevented any state Wilderness EMS program to date. The somewhat complicated legal situation is described in the following documents. You will note a gradual improvement in the attitude of the EMS establishment towards Wilderness EMS - indeed, Dr. Conover was appointed to the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council Medical Advisory Committee specifically to represent the Wilderness EMS community there, and several of the physicians on this committee are regular instructors at regional Wilderness EMT courses.
As of spring 1998, the Pennsylvania EMS regulations are being revised, and the proposed revisions can be downloaded from http://www.pehsc.org. The primary problems for Wilderness EMS in Pennsylvania lie with the law, and not the regulations based on the law -- therefore meaningful improvement for the status of Wilderness EMS will probably have to wait until the EMS act is overhauled.
September 1987 letter from WEMSI to the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council
April 1990 preliminary findings of Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council Wilderness EMT Subcommittee.
December 1993 memo about the WEMSI Personal Wilderness Medical Kit list
February 1994 letter from WEMSI to Pennsylvania EMS
February 1994 letter from Pennsylvania EMS to WEMSI
March 1994 letter from WEMSI to Pennsylvania EMS
July 1994 letter from Pennsylvania EMS to WEMSI
July 1994 letter from WEMSI to Representative Richardson of the Pennsylvania House, then holding hearings on the need for changes in Pennsylvania’s EMS system
July 1994 WEMSI white paper in support of above.
July 1994 WEMSI proposal for changes in the Pennsylvania EMS Law (Act 45)
March 1995 letter to the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council EMT/Paramedic Committee documenting the need for better management of Wilderness EMS in Pennsylvania
March 1995 resolution passed by the Pennsylvania Emergency Health Services Council EMT/Paramedic Committee
Fall 1995 Proposals for a comprehensive Wilderness EMS system for Pennsylvania:
Dr. Conover's comments on the (spring 1998) proposed changes to the Pennsylvania EMS regulations (see top for a link to the proposed changes).
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