Making sure folks get the help they need

Dear friends and neighbors,

Whether you find yourself in an unexpected emergency or in need of healthcare, you want to be able to get the help you need – and two bills that were recently signed into law will help ensure that.

SB 5940 will sustain access to a broad range of medical care in rural areas by allowing local hospitals to hire highly trained, volunteer emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to provide care. I sponsored this bill to address two important concerns in rural communities – the ability of area hospitals to maintain a highly skilled workforce, and the availability of good-paying jobs for local folks who don’t want to have to move away from their communities to find work.

Aging boomers have hit our healthcare system from two directions, driving up the need for healthcare services at the same time that their retirements are shrinking the available workforce. And while this is a challenge for any hospital, it’s even worse for rural hospitals with more limited resources. My legislation allows medical assistant-EMT certification for EMTs who have advanced EMT certification or paramedic certification, qualifying them to perform an expanded range of medical care under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

My other bill, SB 5808, will help 911 operators give their undivided attention when someone calls for emergency help. I sponsored this bill to eliminate potential distractions for emergency dispatchers by extending to them the binding interest arbitration process used for first responders such as firefighters and law officers. This is a proven process for resolving stalled or protracted contract negotiations, providing a fair solution for both sides – and enabling dispatchers to keep their mind on the job instead of whether or not they’ll have a job.

Dispatchers are expected to make split-second decisions, and they need a clear head for that. If you have to call 911, you want the operator to be able to focus on getting you the help you need, as fast as possible – not distracted by nagging worries over contract disputes.