EMS: Kevin McGinnis describes broadband effect on rural-patient treatment, impact of new ET3 model

Kevin McGinnis, former FirstNet Authority board member, member of the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC) and program manager for the National Association of State EMS Officials, explains how the development of broadband services like FirstNet and the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) payment model being piloted by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) could change how patients are treated, especially in rural areas. Under the ET3 model, EMS providers can leverage broadband connectivity to let a patient have a virtual consultation with a medical practitioner to determine the appropriate treatment, as opposed to making a trip to the nearest emergency room, which can take a lot of time and can be expensive.