Back to the VTEMSD#3
District Minutes WebpageDistrict #3 Board Meeting 4/8/04
In Attendance:
Debbie Baron Grand Isle ( R) Chris McCarthy Williston ( R)
Peter Soons SMRS (V) Michael Akerlind Colchester Rescue ( R)
Brian Johns Lamoille Amb. ( R) Mark Willis Shelburne ( R)
Paul Arthaud Charlotte ( R) Darren Adams Milton ( R)
Jim Laskarzewski VTANG (A) Colin Shea Essex FD ( R)
Rob Slater BFD (V) Michael O’Neil BFD ( R)
Dan Senecal-Albrecht CCRPC (V) Greg Brown CCRPC
Brad Rawson CCRPC (V) Rebecca Webb, Clerk
Brian Longe Essex Rescue (A) Chris Putnam Hinesburg FD ( R)
Lee Jones Richmond/IBM ( R) Joe Keenan BFD (A)
Jackie Goss IREMS (V) Wendy James Medical Direction
Peter Weimershiemer Medical Direction Pat Malone IREMS (V)
Jessica Buck UVM (A) Heather Friend UVM (V)
Earl Benway MBFD (A) Andy Beaulieu SMRS (A)
Jesi Valentine SMRS ( R) Kate Soons SMRS (V)
Kirsten Jaquith Radio Room ( R) Tara Pacy ED/FAHC (V)
Jason Ziter EJFD, Training Coordinator ( R) Bernie –MBM (V)
Rick Cemel FAHC Planning (V) Brian Longe Essex Rescue (A)
Al Barber LEPC1 chair ( R) Scott Flieger Colchester, Assistant Chair
Minutes:
Correction to last month’s minutes- Greg Cluver’s name was left off the attendance list.
Treasurer’s report (Chris):
Classes $2051.87
Dues $9882.14
Equipment $5819.74
These totals still reflect the AED grant money.
Merrill Lynch $3194.13
-Motion made to provide Barb Young with an honorarium ($15/hour) for proctoring the recent EMT recert nights. Discussion included how many more people will be paid. Decision made to table this discussion about paid evaluators until a later meeting due to the amount of business at this meeting. Jason Z. Will discuss in May. Motion passed.
-Chris asked the board for permission to explore moving our money out of the current Merrill Lynch account to something that pays us money above what we actually spend on paying interest. We spent $65 last year to maintain. Permission given to explore.
Planning Commission (Greg Brown and Dan Senecal-Albrecht):
Pages passed out describing their function. (This was similar to the document sent out via e-mail prior to the meeting). The main function includes forming a commission with representation from many agencies. This commission and the LEPC co-applied for a grant in providing monies from results of assessment. The grant runs 3/1/04-2/28/05. They are looking to EMS for what our goals/exercises that needed. Tonight’s discussion is meant to be only a chance to begin this conversation. There is one grant county wide as the assessment is meant to provide a united assessment of needs.
Questions posed by Greg and Dan and answered by the board.
Q: What plans are out there? What about coordination?
A: Coordinated dispatch is needed. We also need to have coordination between different sites and organizations (PD,FD,EMS)–This includes inviting EMS to “events” during planning not close to the event. Many people referred them to our list of long term and short term goals worked on at March’s meeting. We need to have underlying systems stable in order for our disaster plans to work. We also need to take into account how our population changes based on the time of the year and/or events.
Q: The LEPC highlighted communication as an identified area. How is our system of command and control?
A: It depends on the incident. Much discussion about how we need to look at integrating/training in the incident command system that the fire units use. Is there money that we can have access to for training our responders in incident command?
Q: The risk assessment should drive what the exercises that we participate in. Because of the pre-planning piece and the end of the grant we could be looking at lots of events next winter. What are some of the events we would like to see?
A: We need to practice a long-term event such as an ice storm. Again we need to look at pre-planning and communication when planning events. Also requests for looking at the hospital system and what happens when the hospital becomes overwhelmed/full.
Statement from RPC- We can only use the monies for live events not tabletops.
Question from Jason Z.- Can we plan an “unannounced” drill to test the system. Discussion held about potential problems and pros associated with this.
Q: How do we cooperate with other state district resources?
A: Yes, can fall back on our district MCI plans. Routinely we use these contacts when services need back-up within daily structure.
Q: Are equipment, personnel, and segregated communication systems an issue?
A: The district needs help with coordinating equipment available. The communications with other agencies (PD, FD, EMS) depends on where in the district you are. Kate Soons asked the question if grant money could be used for training on the New England Council curriculum in training in structure and command. A from RPC: this may be possible depending if it falls under an eligible expense. Brian L. Reminded us that there have been many federally funded opportunities available, but there hasn’t been a large EMS response. Some have had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. Commitment is key.
There will be a meeting in late May or June to discuss issues with our FD/PD counterparts. Dan is looking for a few committee members. (Meetings to be held 1xmonth?)
FAHC Facilities update (Bernard Giannotta):
-Reviewed phasing and logistics plan. It is on-going and constantly being refined. They will keep us updated. Part of the current problems with construction is that the new building will be on the existing footprint so we need to be patient as we need to construct and work in same area. Area 2 listed as ‘04 will be moved to ‘05 otherwise the pages passed out are up to date. They will be repairing/repaving ASAP with the weather. Planned for 2-3 weeks from now.
-KIJ reminded us PLEASE use the East Ave to Colchester entrance into the hospital.
Medical Direction:
Dr. Weimersheimer
-Read attached letter of no confidence re: current chair of the district.
-Thank you to Brian for working on the combitube policy.
Currently policies being worked on are this combitube policy, viagra (and like drugs), adomizer & narcan, aed protocol.
-C-spine protocol is still in IRB. Peter has submitted a new modification. If that does not speed it through IRB, he will investigate doing independent of research study.
-Data collection conversation continued from last month. The ER has contacted a MA company who is willing to come to hold an in service. Please submit an updated list of training officers and medical advisors to him.
Dr. James
-The fair is coming. Much discussion about providing coverage for the fair. The hope is to put RNs in the First Aid building and decrease the number of EMTs in the crowd. Can all services sign up for a night? The Fairgrounds is looking at developing an independent service for the ‘05 fair. Jason Z. Proposed forming an event EMS group which would be a group of district people hired by outside organizations. Al asked if we are legally covered under mutual aid/training if “rewards” are offered. She will look into this.
-Dr. James is collecting how many people are on each service for public relations and for data collection. Please send this information to her.
Training Committee (Jason):
-May ‘03 I-Transition course is almost full! Sign up ASAP. It opens 4/15 to other districts.
-E-mail response from Dan Manz to clarify new state form trauma score.
It explains the utility of the revised trauma score which is now on the standard state run report form. The trauma score is useful for the hospital in categorizing the probability of survival or death based on some easily identifiable physiologic criteria.
The bad news is that to actually calculate the score requires this complex piece of math: RTS = 0.9368 GCS + 0.7326 SBP + 0.2908 RR
Accordingly, the run report reflects the necessary physiologic measures to determine a trauma score, but we don't want people to bother attempting to calculate it in the field. Rather, EMS providers should report the measurements (as included on the run report) and a surgeon/ED physician/trauma nurse or someone else with a calculator can do the math on the hospital end.
The only instructions for EMS are: Measure the elements of the trauma score for all injury patients. Report these to the hospital.
FAHC (Kirstin):
-Kirstin passed out forms for quality assessment. She needs back ASAP.
-Medical record numbers need to be put on forms. Another 50 forms did not have MRN numbers this month.
-Please continue to use the long tunnel to move patients to the ER. The temperature is still variable.
-First Responder services should be faxing their “run sheets” to the hospital by fax if information was added to the form after the ambulance left the scene.
MCI (Becca)-
The St. Albans Bioterrorism event is still on for August. At this point the role of D#3 is tabletop ambulance support to transport patients that need to be moved from Northwest and Copley to FAHC.
Policies/Procedures (Lee):
Lee will work with Peter Wiemershiemer to publish the draft policies discussed in the training section.
Logistics (Kirstin):
Discussion about the MCI back-up policy. Proposed and accepted with a change to remove “fewer or”. Lee will make the changes to the district policy. Kirstin is working on an agency communication policy.
Heavy Rescue/Fire (Al):
Currently completing an inventory of equipment. Also a state communications study is currently being done. The Vermont Ambulance Association representative is Jim Finger. He should be contacting each of us. We should be formulating as services what we feel are the issues.
Homeland Security (John Marcus):
No report
Training Committee (Jason):
-Thank you! Thank you to all who helped at the district recert exam! 71 people recertified.
-New process for getting recertification forms signed. Please bring them to the board meeting for medical direction to sign and return that night. It will be the recertifying EMT and their training officer’s responsibility to hand in the forms. Question posed about why they need to be signed. It is a state requirement. We do not have local control.
-Jason proposed $1300 to purchase the Pulse EMS series as a district to be housed at IREMS. We have the money in the account. Motion accepted. Jason will coordinate.
-Updates:
Both basic classes are almost done. There is about one month left. Testing for writtens will be on 5/10. Practicals on 5/12.
The EMT-I class is also going well. They will test the same night. The transition class has a mega lab on Weds. 4/14. On 5/12 they will join the exams to hold their written exam.
Modules 1&2 classes begin 4/26. Module 3 class begins in June. Please contact Becca to register.
A First Responder class will be proposed next month for the summer.
-Instructor-Coordinator’s class- each district can send one. The class is May, June, July and mentoring until October. Pat recommends that Jason Ziter take the class. Jason accepted. Becca asked if others applied. Jason answered that Sean O’Brien had submitted a letter of interest, resume, and references. Pat discussed how we as a district should be identifying people not having people apply. Motion passed Jason our district candidate with Sean as both the alternate and if another spot opens for our district.
-Proposal for EMT-B summer class. It will follow the format of the other classes. To begin 5/14 1700-2000 Mondays and Wednesdays 5/17-6/30 1700-2000 Sat./Sun. 5/15-16, 5/29-30, 6/12-13, 6/26-27 0830-1700 Location IREMS-Spear St Cost $375 in district. Applications accepted until 4/8/04 Please use form and send to Pat M.
-Jason will be organizing a date in late May for Training Officers to get together.
-Concerns were raised by Lee about people needing to wait to complete practicals when they were the first done with the written exam. Jason and Lee will discuss after the meeting.
Old Business:
-Long term goals discussion from last meeting to be discussed at next month’s meeting.
EMS day is 5/22. Please contact Jason ASAP to play at the mall.
New Business:
-Brian Jones has been approached by paramedics in this area to hold a recertification course. He asked if he is allowed to teach even though his service affiliation is with an out-of-district service. Yes, as long as our medical direction approves it and it is held in our geographic location.
- Nominations for annual elections:
Presented by Nominating committee (Darren)-
Kate Soons/Becca Webb clerk- Becca withdrew
Chris McCarthy treasurer
Jason Ziter Training Coordinator
Darren Adams/Mike O’Neil Vice Chair
Doug Brent Chair
Mike O’Neil was nominated from the floor as Chair. Votes by paper ballet for Chair.
Mike O’Neil elected. Motion made and seconded to have clerk cast one ballot for clerk, treasurer, training coordinator, and vice chair.
Adjourn 2055
Submitted, R. Webb
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Last updated: May 12, 2004