OLYMPIA — Senate legislation passed Friday by the House Committee on Health Care & Wellness would maintain access to medical care in rural areas by broadening the types of service that may be performed by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) with advanced certification.
Having already passed unanimously in the Senate, SB 5940 now needs only a floor vote by the full House to be sent to Gov. Jay Inslee to be signed into law.
“This bill goes to the heart of two big priorities for rural communities – good-paying jobs and access to health care,” said Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Lake Sutherland), the bill’s sponsor. “It promotes permanent, meaningful employment for local volunteer EMTs who will provide stability to our local hospitals’ capacity for delivering the health care their communities need.”
SB 5940 would create a medical assistant-EMT certification for EMTs with advanced EMT certification or paramedic certification, qualifying them to perform an expanded range of medical care under the supervision of a medical practitioner. The program would increase job opportunities for EMTs currently volunteering in rural areas while ensuring a stable workforce capable of providing dependable medical care.
“Allowing all levels of emergency medical technicians and paramedics – including basic EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics – to work in acute care hospitals represents a safe, common-sense approach to bolstering hospital workforce staffing and retaining emergency service personnel,” said Cassie Sauer, president and CEO of the Washington State Hospital Association. “It will help ensure patients have access to hospital and emergency medical services, even in the most rural areas.”
