DISTRICT BOARD MINUTES

DISTRICT # 3 BOARD MEETING MINUTES

March 13, 2003

Meeting called to order at 18:39 hrs at Essex Rescue

Minutes for February 13, 2003 were approved.

In Attendance were:

(R) Deborah Baron , Chair, Grand Isle Rescue, Chair
(R) Lee Jones, Richmond Rescue/IBM Rescue
(R) Sean Collins, Essex Rescue
(R) Will Chadwick, UVM Rescue
(A) Anna Johnson, UVM Rescue
(R) Bob Stone, Charlotte Rescue
(R) Huntington First Response - Absent
(R) Rod Moore, Milton Rescue
(R) Jessica Gagne, St. Michael’s Rescue
(A) Jesi Valentine, St. Michael’s Rescue
(R) South Hero Rescue - Absent
(R) Megan Cross, Shelburne Rescue
(R) Chris Putnam, Hinesburg First Response
(R) Doug Brent, South Burlington Fire Department - Absent
(A) Bill McNamara, Burlington Fire Department
(R) Essex Town Fire Dept - Absent
(R) Alison Rimmer, Vergennes Area Rescue - Absent
(R) Chris Spear, Essex Jct. Fire Dept
(R) Scott Flieger, Colchester Rescue
(V) Tara Pacy, FAHC- ER
(R) Scott Jacobs, Williston Rescue
(R) Kirsten Jacquith, FAHC - MHCIC
(R) Peter Weimerscheimer, FAHC ED
(R) Lisa Whittemore, FACT
Jason Ziter, Colchester Rescue
Matthew Windisch, UVM Rescue

INTRODUCTIONS:

Matt Windisch, UVM - Training Officer

Jesi Valentine, St Mikes - Training Officer

Lisa Whittemore, FACT Rep.

Chris Spear, Essex Jct. Fire Dept. Rep.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Please make sure your squad members get a copy of this issue. There is an article of interest on smallpox.

There are several bills in the State House that benefit EMS.

Property Tax reduction for survivors of EMS/Fire casualties.

Compensating Fire/Rescue departments up to $500.00 per year for responding to

incidents on the interstate highways.

Phone rates that would allow EMS/Fire to be billed at residential rates instead of

commercial rates.

A bill for health insurance through the towns

The revisions to the State EMS Rules should have been received by all squads.

TREASURER REPORT

Checking Account = ?

Merrill Lynch = ?

MEDICAL DIRECTION:

The DNR protocol had been approved by the Medical Board. The forms will now be printed and will be available in April. These are for Level 3 nursing homes, Hospice and VNA. There is also a bill in the State House to make DNR bracelets legal. A clarification on AED protocol was submitted by Dr. Weimersheimer. This will be posted as soon as I receive a soft copy. The new C-Spine protocol will be conducted as a study. A program is being put together to train trainers. No one is allowed to use the new protocol until they have been trained and signed off. This is intended to address who should be on a backboard and not a clearing procedure once someone is on a backboard.

MHCIC:

The Radio Room is again in the process of changes. When this is completed it is hoped that there will be a designated space for EMS use. However you are encouraged to look for other space to fill out your forms. It is also important that only one person from a crew be in the radio room. Tara reported that the hallway that was the old way to go to labor and delivery should be reopened soon.

A new policy to insure privacy, I think it is HIPAA, will be starting on 4/14/2003. EMS will probably not allowed in the Radio Room after this policy is in place. It will require all patients who are being taken through the ER to other areas in the hospital to sign a disclosure form. This will not affect patients who are coming into the ER. This is a one time form that has to be filled out. Once a patient has signed the disclosure form it will be on file and they will not required to fill out another one.

Equipment left at the hospital, that has been contaminated, may or may not be cleaned by housekeeping. This means that you will more than likely need to clean your own equipment. In this regard, if contaminated equipment is placed in your locker or left with clean backboards, all of that equipment is now contaminated and needs to be cleaned again. If contaminated equipment is found with clean equipment, let someone in the Radio Room know about the situation.

There was a discussion on how to move an ambulance into a position to provide coverage to more than their own area, when several other squads are out and the time to respond to an emergency in that area would be delayed. This apparently was a request that was made due to a large number of calls. Lee stated that he needed more information to take any action. Please get your information and comments to Lee before next months meeting.

It was reported that the First Responder Module 5 was going well. It will be completed on 4/21/2003.

Kate Soons is willing to give another refresher course for those EMT’s who need to re-certify in May.

Will Chadwick gave a report on the progress that UVM has made in staffing. UVM has not been out of service since December. They have one paid individual for 40 hours per week, this person will be extended, if necessary through the summer. Deb reported that the State would entertain returning UVM to full license condition. A motion was made by Doug Brent and seconded by Lee Jones to remove UVM’s conditional license. Motion passed.

A training course for evaluators will be proposed in the future. This will include training of evaluators and standards. All current and new evaluators would be required to take this course. It was suggested that we get support from the state for this endeavor.

Nominating Committee Report: At this time the following have agreed to run for the following offices:

Sean Collins asked that an item be put on next months agenda to discuss resources for handling obese patients.

It was noted that Channel 22 had a feature that was not very positive for the image of EMTs. It was in light of the fact that we do not have paramedics in Vermont.