I have dedicated 21 years of my life to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Wisconsin, USA. Throughout this time, I have witnessed numerous changes, some progressive and others not,  but none as regressive and potentially harmful as the recent scope of practice modification that was done so quietly and without any input. This change prevents EMT and AEMT providers from using a defibrillator in manual mode and the removal vagal maneuvers - skills that have now been exclusively assigned to paramedics.

For over a decade, our EMTs and AEMTs have effectively utilized manual defibrillators, saving countless lives in the process. Data from EMS agencies across our state clearly demonstrate that this skill has been instrumental in improving patient outcomes during cardiac emergencies. Ironically, there was no data that was presented showing any adverse patient outcomes nor was there any real identified basis for this change, other than it was being removed from the EMT/AEMT scope.

These life saving skills is now being stripped away due to an administrative decision that does not reflect the realities in the field nor consider its potential impact on public health. This move not only undermines our ability to provide timely care but also puts unnecessary pressure on paramedics who are already stretched thin.

We must remember that every second counts during cardiac emergencies. The use of manual defibrillators by trained EMTs and AEMTs can mean the difference between life and death for many patients before they reach hospital care. I personally have been a part of numerous cardiac arrest patients who have had positive outcomes as a result of the EMT/AEMT level having this in their scope. Further, I also have witnessed and been part of patient care that has positively benefited from the use of vagal maneuvers as well thus reducing the times paramedics are required for such a simple procedure.

Both of the items in question could have been made "Medical Director Optional" meaning, if the system medical director trains and attests to the training, deployment and ongoing QA/QI of these procedures. That option wasn't even discussed. In fact, little of this was discussed or even made public for the field EMS providers to be aware of. I found it interesting that many services I talked with had NO IDEA this change was coming until roughly 2 weeks before its implementation. That in itself is a problem.

There was opposition from the Physician Advisory Council to change this yet the EMS Board still voted to carry out the removal, as did the State of Wisconsin Medical Director. No data has been produced to prove a change is needed and I know for a fact our local (Dane/Columbia) EMS system will show survival rates of sudden cardiac arrest have risen since the implementation of these procedures.

Wisconsin should be a leader in EMS. We should push boundaries and utilize our resources to the fullest. For those who also aren't aware, we are losing scope of practice while the state makes plans to nearly double the educational hours for an EMT (180hrs to 282hrs), yet we remove the requirement for EMR individuals to be required to test at the NREMT level. So essentially, any new providers entering the field be it career or volunteer are going to be REQUIRED TO DO MORE only to be able to do less in the field. Counterintuitive if you as most people.

Letters sent to the State of Wisconsin EMS office regarding this have gone unanswered. Limited Data supports this change. Policy making under the public's radar has occurred. Questions unanswered remain.

It's time that we as Wisconsin EMS providers step up and drive change.
"Therefore, we, the EMS Professionals of Wisconsin request you to reconsider this decision for the sake of our patients' lives and for all EMS providers who are committed to delivering effective emergency medical care across Wisconsin."

Please sign this petition today if you believe in preserving these lifesaving skills within our EMS community, and protecting future removal of skills and the support of delineation of patient care.