WINTER | OPINION
Welcome to the Event Medical Association
Chris Howes
The Event Medical Association ( EMA ), a new body representing medical providers working within the events industry , was launched in October . EMA co-founder Dr Chris Howes outlines the need for the association and what its immediate priorities are
The Event Medical Association is a newly founded association representing medical providers working within the events industry . We launched in October , clearly hoping that to elicit reaction and interest and it has to be said the feedback from the industry has already been encouraging and hugely positive .
Through the Event Medical Association our first priority is to get medical providers at events to come together as a community . Both personally , and from conversations I have had with others , I feel the winds are changing , that eyes are upon us and that there will soon be legislation around what we do . When this happens and regulation is considered , the Event Medical Association will be supportive and there to provide our sector of the industry with a representative voice . This is a sector that is currently underrepresented and not always understood , but in a position to bring a positive influence to the industry by gathering data , intelligence and insight and adapting to changing circumstances .
This will now be possible , with an association of event medical providers that share our ambitions :
• To promote the highest standards of medical care at outdoor events
• To encourage and support good clinical and corporate governance
• To encourage and support continued development of staff and volunteers and the maintenance of their qualifications and competencies
• To share experience and good practice and provide mutual support
• To provide a forum for discussion and debate amongst event medical providers
• To represent the event medical sector and actively promote its good standing
These are important objectives and will see our sector gain in credibility , responsibility and respect ; this is
exactly what a successful industry association should be doing with its members .
At the same time , we are also seeking to work with event organisers to raise awareness of what ‘ good ’ looks like , their own obligations to their audiences and how we as an association can ensure the very best services are provided , without compromise .
At the Event Medical Association , we are bringing together businesses with shared values around quality care for the people we look after and support for the practitioners who provide it . In short , if you care about the quality of care that events give to their audiences and spectators , we ’ d love for you to be a part of this association .
On a personal note , we at the Event Medical Association would like to thank the National Outdoor Events Association ( NOEA ) for their support in setting up this association . For many
“ This is a sector that is currently underrepresented and not always understood .”
years , and at many tables , we have both shared our ambition for the association and been asked to take the first step in setting it up . This is not always easy ; it is time consuming and expensive . Without NOEA we wouldn ’ t have been able to do it .
We now look forward to another year supporting the events industry and engaging with like-minded businesses in this exciting new chapter for us all .
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