SAGE Report Blasts EMS Councils

By EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy, Saratoga County
NYSAFC Director, EMS

The Spending and Government Efficiency Commission (SAGE) final report released on February 12 blasts the State EMS Council structure as, "a case study in the dysfunction created by the unchecked growth of boards and commissions." The unwieldy structure is scheduled in the 2013-14 Executive Budget for consolidation into a single State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board. This new board would be medically driven, assist in reviewing review standards and quality improvement guidelines, and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding these topics. Click here to download the report (see pages 43-44).