Jane Drummond became the director of the Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) in November of 2006.  Appointed by Governor Blunt, Jane first acted as General Council with the Blunt Administration but was asked to lead DHSS after Julie Eckstein left the department.   Her previous experience includes working as an attorney in private practice with the firm Husch Blackwell, which represents nursing homes across the state.

 

Based on her legal experience, Jane says she knew a lot about the regulatory side of nursing homes and hospitals coming in to DHSS, but had to dive right in to learn about the EMS and Public Health side.

DHSS provides three functions for the state of Missouri.  It is the state’s public health agency which works in concert with all local agencies across the state that are associated with public health, immunizations, chronic disease prevention, emergency preparedness and more.

Since 2001, DHSS has also been the regulatory agency for virtually all health care entities such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health, hospice and the emergency medical services industry.  It also functions as the state’s senior services agency.  This additional role was brought about by the transfer of the Division of Aging from Social Services to the then Department of Health, changing the name to DHSS.  This includes the administration of the Older Americans Act funding to the AAAs.  DHSS also licenses and regulates EMT’s and ambulance services.

The first director of the newly combined departments was Dr. Dick Dunn from the division of aging.  Dunn’s retirement brought a series of non-medical directors, most recently, Jane Drummond whose leadership has been highly praised by many.

Jason White, director of Compliance & Government relations with MAST Ambulance and MEMSA board member, says Jane has made a real impression on Missouri’s EMS community as someone who truly sees the inherent value of EMS to the residents of the state.

“We were particularly pleased when she postponed a vacation to participate at the 2007 Combined Clinical Conference,” says White.  “Her opening remarks were tightly focused on timely EMS issues including peer review legislation which we greatly appreciated.”

At the conference Jane cited her intention to ask Governor Blunt to make EMS peer review legislation a top priority.  Her follow through led to Blunt’s doing just that.

“She’s been personally involved,” says White.  “The fact that she would testify on the issue and attend meetings with senate leadership to help us move past the filibusters we’ve encountered the last two years shows that she understands the legislation’s importance and that she has a stake in the outcome.”

Senate hearings are on the calendar for EMS peer review legislation.  White says Drummond’s support is key to the legislation passing.

At the summer conference, Drummond also addressed the Missouri Time Critical Diagnosis task force and has testified regarding the importance of a new system to properly treat and transport Stroke and STEMI patients.
Later when the first Task Force meeting took place, Jane welcomed the participants.  

“I walked in the room to see a hundred people there from every facet of EMS including cardiologists, public health officials, college of emergency physicians, the heart association, Emergency Department Doctors, EMS directors and more,” says Jane.

“I was so impressed that we could pull together this diverse group to address this important issue.”

“The Time Critical Diagnosis plan is a great example of the regulatory aspect of DHSS fitting so well with the education aspect.  A lot of people don’t see how the two fit together to serve the community, but I think this program will really open some eyes.  People will see that public health is about education on chronic and other types of diseases and that when we fit this with the regulatory aspect, we can do much more for those in need.”

“We recently celebrated EMS Lobby Day in Jefferson City,” said White.  “Jane took the time to call us to see if she could address the attendees.  That means such a great deal to us.  And despite bad weather, Jane was there anyway.  That does not go unappreciated.”

“EMS is a critical piece of the medical system,” Jane says.  “At one time EMS was a bigger piece of the department, but has gotten smaller because of reduced budgets, and personnel.  Nobody likes that.  But as a new leader, I tried very hard to come on board as a blank slate, hoping to drop old problems and build new relationships.  That seems to be working quite well.”

“When we consider what we ask EMS professionals to do on a daily basis as a part of our medical system, it really is quite significant,” says Jane.  “Other medical agencies and institutions have choices with patients.  EMS professionals don’t have the luxury to decide whether to treat or not – they do it regardless.  That 911 call comes in and they hit the road to care for anyone regardless.

“Personally, I’ve never needed an ambulance.  I can’t imagine how terrifying and devastating it can be,” says Jane.  “But I do know that we owe EMS so much.  It is really important to continue strengthening the relationships all across the state.”