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District Minutes WebpageVermont EMS District #3 Board Meeting
May 13, 2004
In Attendance:
Chris McCarthy – Williston, Treasurer (R) Heather Friend – UVM (A)
Al Barber – LEPC/Hinesburg (R) Jessica Buck – UVM (R)
Jim Kellogg – Essex Jct Fire (A) Andy Beaulieu - St. Michael’s (R)
Lee Jones – Richmond/IBM (R) Colin Shea - Essex Fire (R)
Allison Rimmer – Vergennes (R) Greg Cluver - Essex Rescue (R)
Mark Willis – Shelburne (R) Jason Ziter - EJFD, Training Coordinator (A)
Jackie Goss – IREMS (V) Darren Adams – Milton, Vice Chair (R)
Kirsten Jaquith – FAHC (R) Chris Putnam – Hinesburg Fire (R)
Peter Weimersheimer – Medical Direction Paul Arthaud – Charlotte Rescue (R)
Dan Senecal-Albrecht – CCRPC (V) Gil Helmken – FAHC (R)
Toby Dujha – CCRPC (V) Wendy James – Medical Direction
Lisa Whittemore – FACT (R) Brian Johns – Lamoille (R)
Mike Akerlind – Colchester Rescue (R) Rae Patrick – So. Hero Rescue (R)
Joe Keenan – Burlington Fire Dept (A) Debbie Barron – Grand Isle Rescue (R)
Meeting called to order at 1835 by Darren Adams
Minutes:
Motion to approve minutes from the April meeting. Approved unanimously.
Correspondence/Announcements:
None
Regional Planning Commission: (Dan Senecal-Albright & Toby Dujha)
Dan reviewed the issues to be addressed under the two grants: 1) draft an emergency operations plan; 2) resource inventory; 3) communications; 4) field exercise. Since the last meeting have met with local fire chiefs and police chiefs. Everyone agrees of the need to see a strong involvement from all organizations. LEPC will be holding a meeting on June 2nd from 5-9 PM at the Holiday Inn to work on this project. Would like to see at least one representative from each department. Attendees will include a mix from fire, police, EMS, FAHC, Red Cross and work will include risk assessment and the field exercise. Anyone interested in attending should call Dan at 846-4490 ext. 29 or Toby at ext. 31. There will be additional monthly meetings to continue working on the issues.
Toby introduced himself and reviewed his experience and his goals for this project. Also offered kudos to the keeper of the District #3 website for a nice job.
Treasurer’s Report: (Chris)
Chris advised she did not have a full report prepared. She reported no major changes since last month. Deb reported she has along some bill for payment related to the AED grant. Jason advised the district will not be purchasing the Pulse series. Jason also inquired about reimbursing Colchester Rescue $24 for cookies purchased for the last recert. After some discussion, Mike and Jason withdrew the request.
Medical Direction:
Dr. Weimersheimer reviewed the four protocol medications to be approved: Combitube, AED, Difficulty Breathing and Diabetic Emergencies. After some slight discussion, motion made to approve the protocols with slight changes to the combitube. Motion approved unanimously.
Dr. Weimersheimer reported that the Polyheme study will not be taking place. He would also like to see the C Spine Policy in place by August. Dr. Weimersheimer will be making a power point presentation available to be posted for review that will include scenarios/test for training. The policy is a large leap of faith that is intended to treat and allow clinical decisions of cspine immobilization. It will apply to EMT-I’s. Jackie Goss offered that IREMS could assist with training.
The Electronic Data System will be up and running in the next few weeks. Will be looking for input once it is operational.
Dr. Weimersheimer asked that when questioning patients, both men and women, about sexually enhancing medications, need to know if they have taken within the past three days.
Dr. James reported that Lamoille has been getting called to 911 type situations at local nursing homes. She has inquired why the private services have been getting the calls and was informed it was because the nursing homes do not want the lights and sirens, and full response that a 911 call brings. Dr. James asked if we could curb our response and limit the number of rescuers responding. Services agreed to attempt a quieter response limiting use of sirens. Everyone agreed that services should be talking with the facilities in their towns. Question asked about canceling first response services and again it was agreed that the services needed to be talking with each other.
A reminder that in the new curriculum Albuterol is not for congestive heart failure patients. Jackie Goss reminded that physicians want complete reports to receive orders.
Question posed on if there was a time set when services will be required to carry the new medications. Medical direction agreed that there will be a requirement after EMT-I’s are all transitioned which will be formalized in writing. Jackie Goss asked training officers to report to Jason how many I’s they have that need to be transitioned.
Further discussion raised with Lamoille about the calls they are receiving for emergency situations. They advised they attempt to persuade the caller to dialing 911 by giving long response times, but if the caller still wants Lamoille, they will not refuse the transport.
FAHC:
Gil handed out a plan for Phase I ambulance that will last from 5/24 until the end of August. He also reported that the long tunnel will be leaving and that services will be sharing the hallway with walk-in patients.
Question posed to Kirsten regarding the response over the radio when requesting orders. Some of the comments are inappropriate from the staff. Kirsten acknowledged that she is working on dealing with this problem and asked to be notified with any problems that occur so she can address them right away.
Question posed to Dr. Weimersheimer about attendings not coming to the radio room to deal with requests for orders. He requested that if there are any problems, please write them up and fax to the emergency room. Kirsten requested they be faxed to her attention and she’ll make sure Medical Direction receives it. Radio room fax number is 847-4692.
MCI:
No report. Darren reported that Kate Soons is willing to help with the MCI Committee.
Policies/Procedures:
Lee reviewed the I89 response changes. He will be adding in Milton’s second rig. Board also agreed to approve the policy and revisit it again after So. Burlington’s ambulance is approved. Lee will re-issue the policy.
Logistics:
No report.
Heavy Rescue/Fire:
Al Barber reported they are in the process of inventories and reviewing response areas.
Homeland Security:
Letters for grant going out by 5/27. Large communication requests were denied but requests for mobiles and portables were granted.
Training:
Jason thanked those who assisted with the certification testing last evening. He reported that testing started out slowly because of a lack of evaluators. Jason requested that services help more with testing, and if each service sent just two people to testings, there would be more than enough evaluators and patients.
There will be a Training Officer’s meeting on 5/27 at 6 PM at IREMS. Jason asked that TO’s bring school schedules for each local town to assist instructors when planning classes.
Summer EMT-B class starts on 5/14 and the class is full. Pat is seeking practical evaluator help.
Summer Transition class is being discussed. Spring EMT-B and EMT-I classes are done.
There will be a Telemed session on 5/27. Jason also asked that services utilize the District Training calendar and share training opportunities.
The Instructor/Coordinator class has been postponed. It may start in June if enough students sign up. Lisa Whittemore is also interested in attending the course. Minimum of 12 students is needed.
Jason reminded everyone that EMS Day is 5/22 at the U-Mall. He handed out paperwork that must be filled out by services who are attending.
Old Business:
Long term/short term goal discussion was tabled.
New Business:
Darren asked for a list of the existing committees and their status. Want to review which committees are functioning and who is serving on them. Standing committees are: Training (Jason), Finance, Logistics (Lee), Policies/Procedures (Lee) and MCI (Becca). Additional committees are Nominating and Licensing (Dr. Weimersheimer, Lee and board chair).
Chief O’Neil asked Darren to solicit members to represent the District at the June 2nd LEPC meeting. He will attend as will Jason Ziter.
Joe Keenan handed out a posting looking for medical personnel for the Burlington City Marathon on 5/30.
Dr. James reminded everyone to check their mailboxes at FAHC for information on Fair coverage.
Kirsten reminded everyone that services CAN NOT do their reports in the radio room.
Greg Cluver reported that Essex Rescue, Essex Junction Fire and Essex Jct. Village Manager have agreed to change the way they are handling First Response in Essex Junction. Because of the close proximity, Essex Jct First Response will not be automatic to calls unless another ambulance is responding to the call. Presented a signed letter of agreement of all parties.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25 PM.
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Last updated: June 01, 2004