NEMSIS 3.1 Specifications
On November 1st, The NEMSIS (National EMS Information System) Technical Assistance Center announced the release of the final specifications for version 3.1 of the NEMSIS data set. This project has been a collaboration of the NEMSIS TAC, Software Vendors like ZOLL, State EMS Data Officials, Medical Directors, Local EMS Agencies, and various Federal and Non-Profit organizations. We congratulate the NEMSIS TAC for their success on this project and we are looking forward to the many benefits that NEMSIS Version 3.1 will provide to the EMS community.
Many ZOLL agencies have been busy collecting NEMSIS data over the past few years. You each know that this requires effort and dedication on your part to obtain useful data that can assist you locally as well as meet your states requirement. This valuable information is useful in research, improving patient care, reducing costs, and ultimately creating a culture in our country where EMS is well funded.
NEMSIS version 3.1 is very important for several reasons:
There has been an expansion of list values, including new data elements, that improves your ability to easily and accurately document each EMS event
Performance Measures have been built in to assist in the analysis of important topics such as Stroke, STEMI, Trauma, Cardiac Arrest, and Airway Management
Data validation and exchange has been automated to improve data collection and data application
Automated data exchange between EMS Data Systems, CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) Systems, and Medical Devices (Cardiac Monitors) has been improved
National and International Standards such as ICD-10 Diagnosis and Procedure Codes, RXNorm Medication Codes, and State customization options have been built directly into the standard XML requirements
NEMSIS Version 3.1 provides an easy transition pathway to HL7 empowering the exchange of EMS data with hospitals and other healthcare entities
The NEMSIS Version 3 compliance process provides assurance to states and local EMS Agencies that NEMSIS Version 3 Compliant software can be easily implemented and meets these new standards
Here at ZOLL, we want our customers to know that we are committed to the collection of quality pre- hospital data and supporting our customers in meeting their local and state data reporting requirements. We have partnered with the NEMSIS TAC over the past two years providing insight, feedback and participation in all of the NEMSIS TAC Version 3 developer meetings. We also work closely with the NASEMSO (National Association of EMS State Officials) Data Council members to ensure that our products will meet the needs of the States over the coming years.
We have also become active in HL7 (Health Level 7), the International Standards Organization that defines the standards used to exchange healthcare information in the US and international health care communities. Being a voting member of HL7 has allowed us to participate in the feedback process for the upcoming release of the NEMSIS HL7 Data specifications. We are very eager to provide this new HL7 data exchange method to our customers in the future.
ZOLL has started the development process to incorporate the NEMSIS V3.1 standard into our products and we look forward to becoming NEMSIS Version 3 compliant over the coming year. We will continue to maintain close contact with your State EMS Data Manager, to assure that our products are compatible with their plan their NEMSIS Version 3 migration plan.
If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to contact our NEMSIS/State Data Extracts Product Manager, Rene’ Nelson rnelson@zoll.com.
You can also download the version 3.1 data dictionary and associated documentation/tools at www.nemsis.org.