In the most recent Indiana General Assembly session, Public Law 67-2024 was adopted to help Indiana gain a better understanding of the level of emergency medical services (EMS) in each of the 92 counties. The law requires the county executive (body) to report no later than July 15, 2024, certain information relating to the county’s EMS services. IDHS is tasked with gathering that data and producing a detailed report to legislators no later than Aug. 15, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why am I being asked to complete a survey?
The survey sent out on June 3, 2024, complies with the newly enacted Public Law 67-2024, which requires the county executive (body) to report no later than July 15, 2024, certain information related to the county’s EMS services. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Indiana EMS Commission, is leading the survey effort to request data from county commissioners to comply with the law.
- Where can I view Public Law 67-2024?
Read Public Law 67-2024 here: Public Law 67-2024
- When is the deadline to complete the survey?
The deadline to complete the survey in full is July 15, 2024. IDHS is required to provide a report to legislators no later than Aug. 15, 2024.
- Where can I access the survey?
Each county commissioner received an identical email with the same, county-specific survey link, although only one single submission should be entered. The links were sent out via an email from Qualtrics, a third-party survey tool. Check your spam folder!
- What is Qualtrics?
Qualtrics is a third-party survey tool used to build and distribute surveys, collect responses and input response data into reports.
- What device should I complete the survey on?
Please complete the survey using a computer, not a mobile device.
- Can I start the survey and come back to it?
Yes. You can start the survey, save your progress and come back to it. However, IDHS highly recommends that all necessary data be gathered before beginning the survey.
- What kind of data am I expected to collect?
The law spells out some of the data categories that must be collected: names of providers, funding sources, level of care (BLS/ALS), average response times and more.
- How should I get the information needed from my EMS providers?
Attached to your introductory email, a link to an EMS provider organization worksheet was included to help with the data collection process. Connect with ALL of your EMS providers and dispatch centers in your county to discuss the most efficient way to gather the information and complete the worksheet. Once providers complete and submit the worksheet, Qualtrics will automatically forward an email with the content from the provider to all the commissioners in a specific county.
- How do I know what information to include in the survey?
Attached to the survey and to the email sent to you is a user guide. The user guide includes the questions and lists the required data needed to complete the report. The data will likely require input from your EMS provider organizations and/or dispatch centers, which is why it is important to connect with them to receive the information.
- What should I do with the data from my EMS providers?
Once all the data is gathered from the EMS provider organizations and county dispatch centers, county commissioners should plan to submit one single response to the survey on behalf of the county. It is very important to select your county at the beginning of the survey as that will aid in completing the remainder of the survey.
- Do all county commissioners need to submit a survey response?
No. County commissioners should submit only one survey response on behalf of the county.
- Where can I access the Survey User Guide and the EMS Provider Worksheet?
The Survey User Guide and the EMS Provider Worksheet were included in your initial email from IDHS, and also can be accessed once you enter the survey. They are available below:
- Whom should I contact with any questions?
For any questions concerning the survey or Public Law 67-2024, please contact the IDHS Legislative Director Alyssa Schroeder at aschroeder1@dhs.in.gov.
For any questions concerning EMS processes, data and policy, please contact the State EMS Director Kraig Kinney at kkinney@dhs.in.gov.