This week, I look at articles surrounding the future of EMS.  The members of the U.S. federal EMS Advisory Council have been named.  Check who they are here.

The new budget is in and EMS funding got the axe, including removal of new trauma center funding in the U.S.  See how they slid that one past us in the news.

The discussion over using private ambulance services to cover municipal EMS when units are down or out of service crops up again.  This time related to the death of a Philadelphia woman on new year's eve.  Here's the story again.

And, finally, a story about scientists growing a rat heart in the lab.  They grew, they got it beating, and this means that growing replacment organs for humans is not too far away.  Check this story out here.

Thanks for listening and check back here next week for another episode.  You can also visit the MedicCast.com site for the long format MedicCast Podcast with expanded news and commentary as well as tips and tricks just for EMS providers.