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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR APPOINT A TASK FORCE TO STUDY

WAYS TO IMPROVE THE STATEWIDE SYSTEM OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL

SERVICES IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, in every community and geographical area of New

Mexico, emergency medical services are important and life-

saving to residents who have significant injuries or life-

threatening illnesses; and

WHEREAS, residents of and visitors to New Mexico who are

seriously injured or critically ill are entitled to receive

the highest level of competent emergency medical care; and

WHEREAS, emergency medical services are provided by

volunteers and paid professionals in every community in New

Mexico; and

WHEREAS, for the last ten years, the emergency medical

services system and emergency medical service providers have

received a significant reduction of federal, state and local

funding for equipment, personnel, training and education

needed for emergency medical service delivery and system

infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, fewer individuals are able to volunteer to

serve the community as emergency medical service personnel;

and

WHEREAS, governmental oversight and accountability for

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ensuring the competent delivery of emergency medical services

has been divided among several independent governmental

agencies, none of which has overall responsibility for

guaranteeing the residents of New Mexico competent provision

of emergency medical services; and

WHEREAS, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that

adequately funded and administered emergency medical care

significantly reduces mortality and morbidity in adults and

children; and

WHEREAS, the emergency medical service system

infrastructure at the state and regional levels is

inadequately funded by the state and the amount of federal

support has declined dramatically in the last eight years; and

WHEREAS, the emergency medical system in New Mexico must

be improved to ensure current and future delivery of emergency

medical services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor

be requested to convene an emergency medical services task

force to study and make recommendations to ensure the

statewide delivery of emergency medical care in New Mexico;

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force identify a

unified governmental oversight structure that ensures

accountable and responsible emergency medical services,

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adequate emergency medical service personnel and funding

necessary to ensure a statewide emergency medical services

system; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force evaluate the

level of funding, equipment, training and educational needs

for volunteer and nonvolunteer providers of rural and urban

emergency medical services in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to

appoint representatives of the stakeholders of emergency

medical services, including the three emergency medical

services regions, the statewide emergency medical services

advisory committee, the rural and urban volunteer emergency

medical services, the state firefighters association, the

state fire chiefs association, the trauma advisory committee,

the statewide organization representing emergency medical

technicians, the statewide organization representing emergency

physicians and the New Mexico association of counties; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the governor be requested to

appoint representatives of the public regulation commission to

the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the emergency medical

services task force's report address the need for accountable

administrative oversight, adequate financing for the statewide

emergency medical services system, the recruitment and

retention of volunteers and other issues that would improve

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the emergency medical services system and report its findings

and recommendations to the interim legislative health and

human services committee by October 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor, the secretary of health, the

chair of the public regulation commission, the statewide

emergency medical services advisory committee and the New

Mexico association of counties.