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Maine EMS News - Archive Page |
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Maine EMS News Next Meeting - Maine EMS Board: The Maine Board of EMS will meet on Wednesday October 11, 2006 in Augusta, at the public safety building. The meeting will begin at 9:00 am. and end at 12 noon. Notes from the September 6, 2006 meeting: Introductions: Jay Bradshaw, Director of Maine EMS introduced Scott Smith, the new MEMS Education and Training Coordinator to the Board. Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Coordinator Replacement: Jay Bradshaw announced that Drexell White has filled the position of EMD Coordinator that was recently vacated by David Kingdon. Drexell, one of two licensing agents, has been with Maine EMS for many years. David and Drexell worked closely on the EMD Project including the drafting of the rules. Drexell's promotion into this position will allow for continuity and continued forward progress on this important and time sensitive project. Plans are underway to recruit a licensing agent to replace Drexell. Contract Investigator: Jay Bradshaw introduced Karen Packard to the Board. Karen has been hired under contract with Maine EMS to assist with clearing up the backlog of investigations. Karen is an investigator for the Board of Dental Examiners and has an extensive EMS background. EMD Report: Drexell White made a presentation to the Board on the Quality Assurance criteria for EMD services. The plan requires all EMD services to have a medical director, to review 100% of their medical EMD calls (up to 50) each month, conduct case reviews, with improving processes, identifying training needs and sharing best practices being the goal. Services will be required to submit information to Maine EMS. These ideas will be discussed with the Maine EMS QI Committee. The recommendations were approved by the Board pending a review by the attorneys general office. Criminal background checks will not be required of EMD licensees as most already are required to have a higher level of background check to operate the metro-terminal. For those that might not have had this check, EMD dispatchers work in a closely supervised environment, all conversations are recorded, and they do not come directly in contact with patients. Education Committee: Dan Batsie, Education Chairperson reported the progress of the first beta test of the Paramedic Interfacility Transfer (PIFT) Program. A second is scheduled for September 9, 2006. The Education Committee will discuss the results of theses two trial, make any necessary modifications to the program and will have a final report for the Maine EMS Board at their October meeting. Following that approval, plans will be made to provide a train the trainer module and then have the program widely available through out the state. EMSSTAR Report: Work continues on the EMSStar Report. Currently under discussion are the roles of the central office and the roles of the regional office. The subcommittee presented a draft for discussion only document summarizing the progress made on EMSStar this past year. Included are proposed changes to be submitted to the legislative committee. These draft recommendations will be discussed further at the October 11 Board meeting. Maine EMS Journal: The October to December issue of the Maine EMS Journal will be the final published by Medical Care Development (MCD). Earlier this year, MCD informed Maine EMS that it would not be able to continue publishing the Journal. An RFP has been developed and vendors are being sought to provide this service. Copies of the RFP are available through Maine EMS.
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Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Coordinator Replacement: Drexell White has filled the position of EMD Coordinator that was recently vacated by David Kingdon. Drexell, one of two licensing agents, has been with Maine EMS for many years. David and Drexell worked closely on the EMD Project including the drafting of the rules. Drexell's promotion into this position will allow for continuity and continued forward progress on this important and time sensitive project. Plans are underway to recruit a licensing agent to replace Drexell. Education Coordinator: Scott Smith, Flight paramedic and registered nurse has been hired as the Maine EMS Education Coordinator. Scott's first day was Tuesday, September 5, 2006. Most recently Scott was employed at MedCenter Air in Charlotte, NC from Sept 2003-August 2006 as a flight nurse and from Nov 2005 to 8/06 as the Clinical Nurse Educator. He also worked as a staff RN in the emergency department at Duke. Scott is a Maine native and is happy to be back in state and is looking forward to helping to improve EMS education here in Maine. He is currently enrolled in a masters of nursing program specializing in nursing education. Contract Investigator: Karen Packard has been hired under contract with Maine EMS to assist with clearing up the backlog of investigations. Karen is an investigator for the Board of Dental Examiners and has an extensive EMS background. Alan Leo Joins Maine EMS Staff Jay Bradshaw, Director of Maine EMS Maine EMS recently announced that Alan Leo will be joining Maine EMS on December 18, 2006 filling the licensing agent vacancy created by Drexell White's promotion to EMD Coordinator. Jay noted that Alan has been an EMT with Thomaston EMS in a variety of roles ranging from field provider to service chief for over 20 years. Alan currently serves as the vice-president of the Mid Coast EMS Council. Alan and his wife, Barbara, have both been actively involved for many years with work that goes into the annual MCEMS (Samoset) Conference. Rebecca Chagrasulis, MD Appointed to Board of Maine EMS It was recently announced that Governor Baldacci appointed Dr. Rebecca Chagrasulis to the Board of Maine EMS as the Region 2 (Tri-County) Regional Representative. Dr. Chagrasulis fills the seat recently vacated by Kevin Kendall, MD Dr. Chagrasulis is an emergency physician practicing at Stephens Memorial Hospital, Norway. She is active in her area providing direction and guidance to local EMS services and is active in the entire Tri-County region and serves on the Tri-County EMS board of directors. Dr. Chagrasulis is a former Maine EMS State Medical director. Her knowledge and active commitment to EMS will benefit the entire state. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Chagrasulis on her appointment and her willingness to serve.
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Clarification- MEMS Protocols 2005 and use of the revised
American Heart Association (2005) Guidelines in the EMS setting
by Scott A. Smith, RN,
CEN, NREMT-P, I/C,
Education & Training Coordinator Both Maine EMS and
the Regional EMS Offices have received a number of inquiries about
whether or not providers may implement the American Heart
Association updated Guidelines 2005. It is the opinion of the MDPB
and MEMS that the new AHA guidelines are just that- guidelines
for practice. However, since the AHA has affirmed that both
treatment guidelines are acceptable; and since the MDPB is currently
beginning the next protocol review and revision, it was decided
that to issue interim protocols now may actually cause more
confusion than benefit. EMS providers should also be aware that AEDs in their communities may or may not have been updated with the 2005 recommended shock sequence. Likewise, for machines that have received the manufacturers’ software upgrades, EMS providers should follow the algorithm of shock a followed by two minutes of CPR, then stopping to reassess for a shockable rhythm per the programmed protocol. The MDPB and MEMS fully support the message of the American Heart Association that the key to resuscitation remains good quality CPR and bag-valve device ventilations with early access to the other links in the chain of survival. If you have any questions, please contact me. Scott.Smith@maine.gov
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