Section 13-502 - Legislative findingsIt is hereby found and determined that:
(1) The State of Maryland has been a national pioneer in the development of emergency medical services;(2) The Emergency Medical System has served the citizens of Maryland well for the past two decades by reducing morbidity and mortality for thousands of seriously ill patients;(3) The success of Maryland's Emergency Medical System is due largely to the hard work and dedication of many individuals, particularly the thousands of career and volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue squad personnel;(4) The citizens of Maryland are fortunate to have highly trained career and volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue squad personnel providing life-sustaining services in the field to ill and injured persons;(5) The numbers of volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue squad personnel have been declining but are an essential and integral part of the State's Emergency Medical System and it is important that their role is preserved;(6) The Emergency Medical System is a large and complex entity involving numerous public and private interests and requiring close coordination to operate efficiently and in the best interests of all Marylanders;(7) The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center is the core element of the State's Emergency Medical System and shall continue to serve as the State's primary adult trauma clinical resource center;(8) The Emergency Medical System could be further enhanced by establishing a governing body that is accountable for and vested with the responsibility and authority to ensure the effective and efficient operation of the System; and(9) The Emergency Medical Services Field Operations of the Institute and the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center shall remain an integral part of the overall Emergency Medical Services System.