I am committed to expanding access to rural health care in Nebraska. For the past two years I’ve been working with the state Emergency Medical Services board and Department of Health and Human Services to modernize EMS regulations.  These changes affecting individual training and operations will have a significant impact to our state’s EMS. Under the new regulations, our EMS providers will be allowed to stay up to date with best medical practices and treatments. Another change that will be implemented under the new regulations is the ability for people to take EMS courses online. In rural areas of the state the 160 hours of course work is burdensome for many to complete when having to attend in-person classes. This change will allow individuals to complete their courses on their own time and encourage more to become paramedics or EMTs.

While working with the EMS board I was made aware of several statewide issues and needs. One main issue was with the computer program used to report patient care during transport called eNARSIS. Several volunteer EMS providers explained the system was tedious, time-consuming, too difficult to use and didn’t provide any data back to the providers. Often, the report took longer to complete than the transport of the patient.  Working with DHHS they are making a number of those changes to the system that will greatly enhance patient care.

I’ve introduced LB893 and LB1002 this session to further expand access to rural health. LB1002 is my priority bill and it includes LB893. The provisions of LB893 allows the EMS board to create two new licensure classifications for EMS providers; critical care paramedicine and community paramedicine. Critical care paramedics would be trained in advanced life saving techniques that could be administered during the transport of a patient. Community paramedics would perform home visits, help administer medications, and perform post-surgery check-ups. The provisions of LB1002 would allow EMS to restock critical medical supplies used during transport of patients, at hospital pharmacies instead of through wholesale drug distributors saving time and money.

This Fourth of July I hope you will take time to be with family and friends to celebrate all that we have as a nation and state.  In a time of increased division within our country, we should all reflect on and celebrate how the founding fathers created a living and breathing document that enshrines the human and civil rights of all men and women.  When celebrating please take extra care when igniting fireworks. According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2018 there were 9,100 firework related injuries with 33% of the cases involving children under the age of 15.  I want to wish everyone a safe and wonderful Fourth of July.

We continue praying for everyone as we continue to face the COVID-19 challenge.  We are empathetically here to listen to your concerns and encourage you to contact my office at 402-471-2719 or bbostelman@leg.ne.gov if you have questions or need assistance.