During the Advocates for EMS Public Policy Forum held in conjunction with the 2008 EMS Today Conference, one of the attendees stated:

"As an industry, we do not have a very good source of timely, understandable news relating to legislative 'happenings' around the country that impact our profession.  In reality, the only time we learn about things going on at CMS, NHTSA or even federal legislation is by coming to these conferences, and that only occurs once a year.  I suggest EMSNetwork create a section we can get updates on every day about public affairs issues."

  We heard you....

  EMSNetwork is pleased to announce the addition of The EMSNetwork Public Affairs Clearinghouse to our menu of EMS news items from around the world found at EMSNetwork.org.

  National, state and even local public affairs initiatives can have dramatic effects on our profession and the care we deliver to our patients.  It is our desire to provide you a one-stop solution to find what's happening across the U.S. 

  Becoming informed about public affairs happenings throughout the United Sates can help you either support and replicate desirable proposals in your local community, or join with voices opposing initiatives that would be detrimental to our profession or the patients we serve.

  For the purposes of EMSNetwork, "Public Affairs" issues will include legislative proposals, administrative rule changes, new or innovative public relations activities and information from the federal agencies that impact emergency medical services. 

  In order to make this new section as valuable as possible, we are incorporating the following features:

• A single web page with the latest public affairs news across the country
• Links to numerous advocacy groups and associations active in public affairs initiatives and advocacy
• Links to state EMS office statutes and administrative rules
• Commentary and content from EMS public affairs experts containing summaries of initiatives and potential impacts on EMS agencies

  This will be an evolving process and we strongly encourage each of you to help us make this new offering as valuable to you as possible.  Please let us know how we can continually improve the Public Affairs Clearinghouse to make it as user friendly and responsive as possible to you, our valued readers. 

  You may e-mail comments, recommendations and content for inclusion to the Clearinghouse to
Matt Zavadsky, Senior Editor , EMSN Public Affairs 
at  MZavadsky@tristateambulance.org.