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EMLRC & FCEP Support Institute of Medicine Reports
EMLRC, FCEP Urge Legislators to Act Now!
Orlando, FL -- June 19, 2006
-- The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC)
and the Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) have
issued a joint statement in support of the three reports released
today by the Institute of Medicine on the future of America’s
emergency care system. The reports address different aspects of the
emergency care system, including hospital-based emergency
departments, emergency medical services (EMS) and pediatric
emergency care.
“We call on Congress and the Florida Legislature to act on the IOM
reports’ recommendations,” said Dr. Richard Slevinski, President of
the Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center. “The
emergency care system represents the only universally available
health care safety net today. If our nation is to meet the health
care challenges of the 21st Century and be prepared for large
disasters, we must act now.”
“The reports highlight the critical condition that our emergency
care system has reached,” said Dr. David M. Siegel, President-Elect
of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians. “We have to
end the practices of ‘boarding’ patients in the emergency department
and diverting ambulances. This is having a drastic impact on patient
care.”
Both the EMLRC and FCEP have joined forces to promote systemic
change with Florida’s emergency care system. The EMLRC is the
nation's leading continuing education provider for emergency care
practitioners, including paramedics, nurses, EMTs, and physicians.
The EMLRC continues to develop research and education programs to
improve the availability and quality of training, providing
lifesaving education to lifesavers. FCEP continues to promote
reforms in the state emergency care system, working with partners at
Florida’s hospitals, EMS agencies, public health entities and
concerned citizens to protect universal access and improve the
quality of care.
“The IOM reports are a huge step in addressing this crisis. We
applaud their hard work and look forward to using it to promote real
change,” said Dr. Slevinski.
“We look forward to working with our partners and friends, building
on the momentum from the IOM reports, along with the recent National
Report Card issued by the American College of Emergency
Physicians and the "Emergency Department Crisis Task Force
Report" headed by the Florida Hospital Association, to
improve the entire system of emergency care,” said Dr. Siegel.
Here is a link to the PDF brief on the reports:
The full Institute of Medicine reports can
be found at the IOM website at:
www.iom.edu
The Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center (EMLRC) is
a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing
emergency medicine, disaster management, pre-hospital emergency care
and public health through the provision of educational and research
programs. The EMLRC provides lifesaving education to lifesavers.
The Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) represents
more than 1,100 emergency physicians in the state of Florida. FCEP
members represent the health care safety net of Florida’s residents
and visitors. More than seven million patients seek care annually in
Florida emergency departments. FCEP was founded on Oct. 15, 1971 and
is headquartered in Orlando.
For further information contact:
Beth Brunner, Chief Executive Officer
John Todaro, Director/Chief Operating Officer
Emergency Medicine Learning & Resource Center
3717 South Conway Road
Orlando, FL 32812-7607
Phone: 800-766-6335
Email: bbrunner@emlrc.org
Email: jtodaro@emlrc.org
Internet: www.emlrc.org
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