VTEMSD#3 Board Meeting For January 13, 2005

St. Michael’s College, Tarrant Center, Hall of Fame Room @ 1830

Attendance:

Meeting called to order at 1830 by Vice Chair Darren Adams

Meeting opened with a question/answer session with Melissa Jenkins, from Vermont Homeland Security.  Discussion listed under Resource Management, Grants/Funding.

INTRODUCTIONS (O’Neil)

Melissa Jenkins, Vermont Homeland Security (mjenkins@dps.state.vt.us)

Ivan Pagacik, Macro Corporation (ipagacik@macro.com)

APPROVAL OF MINUTES (O’Neil)

Motion to approve minutes as submitted (Brent/Kellogg).  Motion approved. 

CORRESPONDENCE (O’Neil) 

No correspondence from Chair Mike O’Neil to share with Board. 

TREASURY (McCarthy) 

Classes          $482.12

Dues               $4,111.21

Equipment     $7,152.79

Sub-total         $11,746.12

Merrill Lynch   $3,204.79 

Total                $14,950.91

Motion to approve treasury report as submitted (Brent/Kellogg).  Motion approved.

MEDICAL DIRECTION (Weimersheimer/James) 

• (James) Survey of data from ’03 licenses suggests volume consistent with need to provide higher level of care.  There is a trend toward paid providers.  Would like to see financial data, so that the financial piece of providing a higher level of care can be considered.  Two options for financing paramedicine include a surcharge or fee for each call versus appealing to the towns.  What towns are contributing to each service?  Can those funds be pooled toward paramedicine?
• (Weimersheimer) Requests for I’03 medications are still fairly rough.  When calling into Medical Direction, have the patient update complete (basic update information – HPI, VS, PMHx).
• (Weimersheimer) Regarding case review – the December case review posted on the Radio Room door had some fairly disrespectful comments written on it that Dr. Wolfson viewed and was offended.  This behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.  Specific issues or cases in need of review should be communicated to Dr. Wolfson directly.
• (James) We are seeing some influenza cases in pediatric patients that present with seizures.  Protect yourself when transporting a patient with a fever by having the patient wear a mask or wearing a mask yourself.

FAHC (Helmken/Jaquith) 

• (Helmken) Good news!  Flu vaccines available to VTEMSD#3 providers for free.  Tara asks that you come to the ED in uniform on a call or present your current EMT card.  You will sign for the administration of the vaccine, acknowledging the risks of receipt (individual sensitivity to egg products or thimerosol, family or personal history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome).  The shots will be available as of Monday AM 1/17/05.
• (Helmken) We have received feedback that equipment not being placed in correct spot.  We’re working on it.  Please confirm that reusable equipment is clearly labeled.  (Baron) GIRS equipment locker moved?  Jaquith will look into it.
• (Jaquith) Please have ducks in a row when calling in for ALS orders  – VS (full set), HPI, relevant PMHx.  Do not be disrespectful of staff in radio room.  If they are asking you a question, it is because they do not have the full picture to facilitate ALS orders.
• (Jaquith) Linens need to be deposited in linen bins!  Not the garbage.  Any bins found overflowing or inadequate supplies of linen – contact radio room.  One blanket per call, please.
• (Jaquith)  Thanks for moving trucks – beware of slippery parking lot.  All patients should be unloaded under the canopy. 

 TRAINING (Ziter) 

• Course updates/approvals
  • EMT-I Transition
    • Current course going well; two people didn’t show up and two people on waiting list were bumped who could have attended.  Please be considerate with communication regarding attendance.  This will result in mandatory pre-payment of all course, in the future.
    • Remaining opportunities:  VTEMS Conference and April at IREMS (April/May class deadline for registration is March 15th.  Dates for this course are: April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2.)
    • June 1, any EMT-I not transitioned is EMT-B until transitioned.
    • Summer EMT-B course accepting applications; syllabus and IREMS application on District website. 
  • Spring EMT-B starts Monday – class full.
  • Module 6 FRECA – testing in Rutland.
  • Combitube course completed on Wednesday.
• Training Officers:  please send an email to your members regarding updates – this is a service training issue.
• Certification/recertification
  • Essex Fire Department member request – not discussed at meeting.
• Upcoming trainings opportunities – none discussed.

 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Adams) 

• First committee meeting tonight.  Chief O’Neill requested the Committee consider a means of reimbursing BFD for supplies used, in the event that the BFD MCI trailer is used.  Some discussion of Hinesburg’s plans to change primary ambulance response.
• MCI
  • Macro Corporation – Interoperability Survey
    • Ivan Pagacik, Principal Consultant, representing Macro Corporation.  Goal is to tabulate responses, and work toward statewide communications system.  Survey distributed to Board Members.  Would like returned in 2-3 weeks.  This is a several year process before system will be built.  (James) Agencies should continue to move forward with HSU grants. 
  • CCRPC (Dusha)
    • Survey, survey, survey!  One page – 10-12 boxes – try to complete tonight, if possible
    • Planning is not progressing
    • Exercise component moving quickly
    • Tabletops – email communication will occur prior to dates below – exercises will run 1000-1600
      • 4/2 southern District:  Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, St. George, Huntington, Richmond, Bolton
      • 4/8 core metro area:  Burlington, South Burlington, VTANGFD, USCG, and UVM
      • 4/16 remainder of the towns and agencies
    • Project extension has been pulled back to 6/30/05.  Exercise program and assessment need to be completed by then.
    • Resource Guide sample offered for viewing.  Looking for tactical information from agencies, still…..please take a sheet tonight.
    • Next Exercise 1/25/05 at 1830, 30 Kimball Avenue.
• Grants/Funding
  • Melissa Jenkins, Grants Manager for Vermont Homeland Security.  She offered the following information regarding the current grant cycle, due February 1, 2005:

• Time frame for application process was federally mandated. 
• Each terrorism district received $1.2
• Only complete application packets will be considered:  cover sheet, budget sheet and narrative should be included.
• Changes from 2004: 
  • Approved equipment list can be found online: www.vthomelandsecurity.org, go to GRANTS tab
  • Contact Terrorism District Manager before applying for ATVs, snow machines, etc.
  • 3 bids for requests for purchase (RFP) > $2500
  • Services should prioritize equipment list by need
  • Be very specific with medical supplies
  • Cash advances are available with 120 days to spend funds:
    • “Hardship letter” submission required
    • Spend funds in 120 days
    • Submit copies of checks & invoices
• Audit issues
  • check kiting and fake invoices constitute fraud; will affect future apps
  • lack of bids for RFP (3 bids = minimum)
  • cash advances cannot be signed over to merchant; no paper trail
  • no ‘fixed asset’ list submitted
  • price gouging – be aware and communicate suspicion to HSU
  • lack of separation between FEMA and HSU grants
• (Ziter) Can VTEMSD#3 apply for funds for training?  (Marcus)  All of the training funds were split between the VT Police Academy and the VT Fire Academy.  The powers that be are aware that EMS was woefully forgotten and are negotiating a solution.
• What is the priority?  Communications.  Satellite phones are on the list, as long as the service assumes the cost of maintaining and operating the system beyond the grant period.  Best bet – explain need for satellite phone in grant and confirm payor is aware of obligation to maintain.
• www.rkb.mipt.org Responder Knowledge Base – sign in and register as a user; identify a point person.
• (Ziter) What about multimodality training manikins?  (Marcus)  Suggest a joint service application; get letters to work out who is going to pay for maintenance.  (Brent) Does that nullify individual service applications?  (Marcus) No.  BFD & BPD have worked jointly on many grants.
• Fax submission is acceptable.
• Prefer 3 bids attached to application, but understand the timeline is tight.
• On 2/04/05, a list of services with applications on file will be posted.
• (Weimersheimer) Why the short turnaround?  (Jenkins) Congress mandated the 60 day turnaround.

 ADMINISTRATION (Soons)

·        First committee meeting tonight, also.  Discussed creation of a master index for all policies, guidelines, etc. on the District website. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION (O’Neil) 

• EMS Week activities pending on Church Street, May 15-21, 2005
  • American Academy of Emergency Physicians offers an EMS Week Kit - www.acep.org/emsweek;  encourage all services to sign up for one
  • Sunday April 17^th Hinesburg Safety Day – all services welcome to join.

Old Business (O’Neil) 

• (Richard) Recent discussion regarding transports from fixed wing at BTV and helipad at UVM.  Resolution pending.  Questions should be referred to Chief O’Neill.

New Business (O’Neil) 

• New run form for use by FACT proposed with copies distributed to Board members.  Motion to approve use of new run form by FACT (Baron/Jones).  Motion carried.

Motion to adjourn at 1931 (Cole/Ackerlind).  Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Soons (katesoons@adelphia.net)

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Last updated: January 26, 2005