Mark Bailey re-elected KBEMS' chairman

By JOHN HULTGREN
Kentucky EMS Connection

OWENSBORO — Kentucky Board of EMS Chairman Mark Bailey was re-elected to a second term tonight and KBEMS' member Anthony Stratton was elected to a newly-created position of vice-chairman.

Board members unanimously voted to approve both appointments, unopposed, at a KBEMS meeting tonight that was held at the Kentucky EMS Conference in Owensboro.

The board also approved new language on diversion that will go into the Class I Ground Ambulance regulations. Patricia Bausch, KBEMS' legal counsel, explained that the new language will keep diversion on a local level and ambulance providers must be represented in the process. 

The Kentucky Hospital Association and the Kentucky Medical Association had supported a diversion language change that would have expanded diversion policy to a state-wide level. Bausch said that the Legislative Research Committee recently commended all groups for meeting and working out their differences.

On Sept. 10 the first 33 new regulations went into effect, and all regulations are expected to be in effect sometime next month.

In other business, the board:

• approved the method of instruction module for EMT-First Responder instructors;
• reported that if all 120 Kentucky counties apply for the maximum amount of eligible ambulance grants (also known as Senate Bill 66 grants), there will only be enough available money to approve $10,998 each.

Board member Dr. Eric Bentley reported that if there is enough interest, the board will sponsor an Advanced Trauma Life Support course solely for Kentucky EMS medical directors. The course would cost $550.00 and be held at the University of Louisville sometime in January.

Medical directors interested in attending should contact Dr. Bentley or Bailey.

For the first time, members of the audience were allowed to stand and address the board with their comments and concerns. Bailey said the board will soon "look at striking section 5 to allow providers to address the board" at future meetings.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m. EST in room 111 of the Capitol Annex in Frankfort.

Absent from tonight's meeting were Gregory Brown and David Gray. Dr. Mary Fallat, who is attend an EMS for Children function in Seattle, Washington, was excused.

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