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No one could predict the speed at which COVID-19 changed healthcare, including the acceleration of telemedicine. For EMS and 911 systems, telemedicine has enabled safer triaging of possible COVID patients, avoiding unnecessary and expensive visits to the emergency department, and getting patients the right care at the right time.

But not every EMS agency or 911 emergency communications center is familiar with telemedicine or knows how to take advantage of these new tools and implement them in their agency. Even for those who are, figuring out how to fund these programs and get reimbursed adds an additional challenge.

To help address that gap, the Federal Interagency Committee on EMS collaborated with EMS leaders from across the country to create the “Telemedicine Framework for EMS and 911 Organizations,” a 45-page guide explaining how agencies can use telemedicine to deliver high-quality, cost-efficient care.

In this webinar, you’ll hear from people who were involved in the creation of the Framework and who have helped implement telemedicine in an EMS system. They’ll highlight some of the challenges faced by EMS and 911 organizations—and how to use the Framework to help find solutions.

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Pat Songer is chief operating officer of Cascade Medical, a critical access hospital in Leavenworth, Washington, where he oversees numerous departments and services, including emergency preparedness. Previously, Pat was senior vice president of operations at Ready Responders, overseeing the implementation of a telemedicine program, and served in numerous capacities with EMS agencies and hospitals in Colorado and Nevada. Pat is also a former flight medic, firefighter and reserve deputy sheriff and currently serves as executive director of the National EMS Management Association.

Richard Hunt, MD, is a senior medical advisor in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the US Department of Health and Human Services. He has extensive experience in emergency medicine, EMS and healthcare preparedness, including service at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the National Security Council. Dr. Hunt began his career in emergency medicine as an EMT and later served as an emergency physician, professor and medical director for both ground and air transport services.

Jon Krohmer, MD, director of NHTSA's Office of EMS, will moderate.

Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions during any point of the discussion. The webinar and Q&A will last approximately one hour.

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EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit ems.gov for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings.

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