EMS Compact Featured on Registry Insider Podcast

WASHINGTON, 17 SEPT 2024 – The EMS Compact is proud to announce that Donnie Woodyard, Executive Director of the EMS Compact, was featured on a recent episode of the Registry Insider podcast, hosted by Bill Seifarth, Executive Director of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT). In this engaging discussion, Woodyard explores the transformative impact of the EMS Compact on interstate licensure for Emergency Medical Services professionals.

In episode 16 of the Registry Insider, titled “Understanding The Purpose and Importance of the EMS Compact”, Woodyard explains how the EMS Compact allows for the seamless recognition of EMS licenses across state lines, providing clinicians with greater mobility and enhancing response times in both emergency and non-emergency situations. This groundbreaking framework is designed to address the growing need for flexibility and interoperability in EMS, particularly in the face of evolving healthcare and disaster response challenges.



“We believe the EMS Compact represents the future of EMS licensure in the U.S.,” Woodyard stated during the interview. “The Compact not only protects the public by ensuring qualified clinicians are available where they are needed, but it also facilitates a more agile and responsive EMS workforce.”

The podcast episode highlights the close partnership between the EMS Compact and the NREMT, a relationship that has been instrumental in advancing the Compact’s mission to streamline EMS licensure processes nationwide.

Interstate compacts, like the EMS Compact, are becoming the new gold standard for occupational andprofessional licensure across the United States. In today’s mobile workforce, the ability to work across state lines is critical to both the professionals and the communities they serve. US residents and visitors expect uniformity in professional standards regardless of location, and licensure compacts, such as the EMS Compact, not only enhance workforce mobility but also unify standards and requirements to ensure consistent, high-quality services nationwide. Currently, there are 17 occupational licensure compacts in the United States. It is essential for the EMS profession to adopt the EMS Compact nationally to ensure the EMS workforce is not disadvantaged when compared to our peers in nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physicians.

“We are grateful for the strong relationship and ongoing collaboration with the NREMT,” Woodyard noted. “Their support has been crucial in achieving the level of success we have seen so far, and we look forward to continued progress as more states join the Compact.”

As the EMS Compact continues to expand, it is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of EMS in the U.S. With an ambitious vision for nationwide adoption, the Compact aims to ensure that EMS clinicians have the ability to provide care wherever they are needed most.

To listen to the full interview, visit: Registry Insider Podcast - Ep.16 Understanding The Purpose and Importance of the EMS Compact.

For more information about the EMS Compact and its impact on EMS licensure, visit www.emscompact.gov.
  About the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice
The Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice, established under the Recognition of EMS Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact (REPLICA) legislation, is the governing body responsible for overseeing the operations of the EMS Compact. Comprised of appointed Commissioners from each member state, the Commission ensures compliance with the Compact's provisions, manages its operations, and resolves interstate disputes. ICEMSPP focuses on cross-border EMS activities, maintains a national database of EMS personnel, and upholds uniform practices across member states to enhance EMS care and public safety. Currently coordinating efforts in 24 states and overseeing nearly 400,000 EMS personnel, the Commission sets standards and regulations, promotes the profession, and ensures public protection. Interstate Compacts represent the gold standard for multistate professional licensure, facilitating seamless and efficient EMS practice across state lines.

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