EMS Considerations - Crisis Standards of Care

These resources are designed to help emergency medical services (EMS) agencies—both rural and urban—plan for shortfalls in pre-hospital care during a pervasive or catastrophic public health event, which may cause overwhelming medical surge. To respond to disasters, EMS agencies may rely on mutual aid response from neighboring agencies to fill the resource and equipment gaps necessary to meet the pre-hospital care and transportation needs of patients. Development of well-trained, equipped and ready to respond EMS systems has enhanced capabilities and reduced gaps in ambulance response and resource availability for all types of disasters that may occur in Minnesota.

Framework

• Minnesota CSC Emergency Medical Services Framework (PDF)
  This document provides the guidance for EMS agencies to create crisis standards of care plans, policies, or procedures or to incorporate crisis standards of care strategies into an existing EOP.

Tools

• Ethical Checklist (PDF) NEW 
  This checklist is a guide for any health care entity (EMS agency, hospital, clinic, etc.) to cross reference their plan or standard operating procedure to ensure it meets the ethical objectives outlined in the Minnesota CSC Ethical Framework.
• Patient Care Strategies for Scarce Resource Situations (PDF)
  A standardized tool to assist Minnesota hospitals, clinics, primary care settings, or EMS in determining the best use of specialized equipment and supplies during a pervasive or catastrophic public health event. Be sure to incorporate relevant pieces of this tool into your plan.
• Legal Considerations for Crisis Standards of Care
  Be sure to review the Minnesota CSC Legal Framework, which includes an overview on relevant state and federal laws. This page also provides links to EMS specific statutes.

Resources

• The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—Crisis Standards of Care: A Systems Framework for Catastrophic Disaster Response
  Download the 2012 Report.