VTEMSD#3 Board Meeting Minutes

July 8, 2004   St. Michael’s College

Meeting called to order at 1833 by Chief O’Neil, those in attendance were:

Introductions (O’Neil)

• none

Approval of Minutes (O’Neil) 

• Spelling correction:  Hilda Tallman, VARS
• Correction of correspondence from Essex Rescue (5/14/04), as well as  corrections provided by Mike O’Keefe distributed to Board members.

• Regarding SBFD license application:  strike, “…motion not carried.”.
• Motion to approve revised version of minutes (McCarthy/Ziter).  Motion carried.  (Revised minutes to be posted on the District website)

Correspondence (O’Neil) 

From VTANG FD to VTEMSD#3 Agencies (7/01/04)

• Annual Airport Emergency Plan Review on 8/24/04 at 1800 hrs at the Burlington International Airport.
• A representative from area services is requested to attend.
• Contact Asst. Chief Jim Laskarzewski at 660-5456 or email at james.laskarzewski@vtburl.ang.af.mil by 8/10/04.

 From Essex Rescue to VTEMSD#3 Board (6/14/04)

• Regarding Essex Junction Fire Department first response:
  • EJFD will be dispatched when Essex Rescue is unavailable to take a call within that area
  • EJFD will also be dispatched when Essex Rescue is responding from the hospital
  • The on-duty crew chief will be responsible for notifying dispatch of the need for EJFD

 Treasurer’s Report (McCarthy)

 Motion to accept report (Cluver/Laskarzewski).  Motion carried.

 Medical Direction (James) 

• Spinal Immobilization Protocol will be implemented soon.  TO’s will be able to instruct their service members using a PowerPoint lecture and written assessment from the District website (once these materials are completed).  TO’s will be responsible for training their service members and administering the written exam.
• Medical Direction at FAHC ED is developing an internal (FAHC) process for facilitated communication and expedited online medical direction for ALS orders.  More details to follow when this plan is finalized.  In brief, one of two pathways will occur:
  • For nitro and albuterol à EMT-I gives report to MD online
  • For all other drugs à EMT-I gives report to Radio Room

Training Coordinator (Ziter)

• TO meeting was very productive (6/24/04)
  • Discussed District #3 sponsored education event (day seminar)
  • Recert testing dates will be published next month

IREMS (Malone)

• EMT-B
  • Is there interest in the 1-night per week course?  Please contact Pat if services have individuals desiring this course (656-3489).
  • Traditional 2-night per week course syllabus circulated to Board.
  • EMT-B course has evolved into ‘screening process’ for new members; recent courses have led to discussions about student preparation (?length of tenure on service, ?screening for functional job requirements of EMT-B {web link for this in curriculum sent to listserv by Thweatt}, ?learning disabilities).  Bottom line, services need to spend time getting to know the participant before sponsoring them in District courses.
  • Motion to establish deadline for EMT-B applications 8/12 (Ziter/Adams).  Motion carries.

 FAHC (Helmken/Jaquith) 

• (Helmken) Clarify with all members:  all contaminated equipment goes into the decontamination room adjacent to the bay.  If equipment is returned to services prior to leaving the hospital, services may use the decon room to clean them.  If equipment is kept with the patient, FAHC will return the equipment cleaned.
• (Helmken) Please label equipment – each strap, buckle.  Please engrave regulators.
• (Helmken) Thanks for your patience.
• (Jaquith) New software implementation for data entry/continuous quality improvement/statistics – will be on hold until protocols are set.  Please consider a training for your service on documentation (include full names, EMT numbers, MRNs, completed forms..).
• (Jaquith) Construction – new ED lot approximately one week from completion.  Work on new ambulance bays is anticipated to begin in August.  Existing bays will be relocated and information will follow.
• (Jaquith) First responder updates – consider giving updates over HEAR 2, thereby updating FAHC-Radio Room as well.  Board members to discuss with their service, and revisit this topic next month.

MCI/CCRPC (Dusha)

• Has met with many service directors; please email with service director contact information (TDusha@ccrpcvt.org).
• Communications – Vision 2000 documents located; valid info.  Subcommittees established in June will examine.
• District MCI Plan – is there an electronic copy of this?  Ziter will get.
• Homeland Security Equipment Grants – was there a District level needs assessment?  (Ziter) No, services were required to submit individually.  Next round of grants coming up.
• Planning & Exercise Program flow chart and time line distributed to Board members.
• Intelligent Traffic Control Systems – meeting regarding grant for consultant to examine potential need in Chittenden County.
  • Monitoring of hazardous materials shipping is a component; not clear if included in service.

Logistics (Jones)

• Need to meet with SBFD regarding their new ambulance service response.  Plans are to meet with Chief Brent & VTEMS.

 Policies (Jones) 

• Questioned need for signed hard copies.  Is website with electronic signatures inadequate?  Utilization of list servers and District website should reach services.
• (James) Suggest that Board announce dates that new protocols are posted and individual services download from District website.
• (O’Neil) Some lead time is required to inform all facets of EMS, especially dispatch.

Licensing (Jones) 

• SBFD ambulance service license and Champlain Valley Fair first response service license were approved by the Vermont Department of Health for the period of time remaining until the normal cycle of license review & renewal.
• Some discussion from VDH regarding need for more first response services.  Tabled to committee; James/Jones to attend.

Old Business

Committee on Committees

• (Malone) Report on ad hoc committee on Committees distributed to Board members (see inserted text)

VEMSD#3

“Committee on Committees”

Thursday, July 17, 2004

P. Malone, C. McCarthy, C. Shea, D. Adams, G. Cluver

VEMSD#3 Chair Mike O’Neil asked for volunteers to form a committee to review the existing committee structure of VEMSD#3 and to make recommendations on restructuring.  VEMSD#3 Bylaws list five standing committees (Training, Finance, Logistics, Policies & Procedures and MCI) and one additional committee (Nominating).

The consensus of the committee was to restructure the existing committees into the following three standing committees:

1.         Training         Maintain the committee as described in the Bylaws.  The D#3 Board elects the District Training Coordinator.  This individual will maintain the position of chair of the Training Committee.  Each member service may send a representative to this committee.

2.         Resource Management        This committee will assume the responsibilities of the existing Logistics and MCI committees.  It will also be responsible for issues relating to equipment resources and personnel resources.  It will be responsible for disaster preparedness and response.  The Vice Chair of the District Board will serve as the Chair of this subcommittee.  The committee will be comprised of representatives from six services (three first responder and three ambulance).

3.         Administration          This committee will assume the responsibilities of the existing Policies & Procedures and Finance Committees.  It will also responsible for developing and maintaining a Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement program.  The Secretary of the District Board will serve as the Chair of this subcommittee.  The committee will be comprised of representatives from six services (three first responder and three ambulance).

The committee also recommends the formation of a Public Information committee.  This committee will be responsible for coordinating public information and education on a district level.  Specifically, it will be responsible for annual events such as the Vermont EMS Conference and National EMS Week.  The District Board should recruit an experienced Public Information Officer form a D#3 service to serve as the chair of the committee.  Each member service that has a PIO may send a representative to this committee.

The Nominating Committee should remain unchanged.

• Motion to accept report (Jones/McCarthy).  Motion carries.
• Motion to proceed in the revision of the VTEMSD#3 bylaws to adopt the aforementioned report (Barber/McCarthy).  Motion carries.  Clerk to rewrite report in format of bylaws and publish on list servers. 

 EMT-Intermediate Course, Fall 2004

• (Thweatt) Schedule (Mondays/Thursdays) & costs ($575 by 8/1, after $675) for course distributed.
• Changes include Thursday labs, held at IREMS on Spear Street.
• Existing model will require a minimum of 24 students.  Less than 24 will revert to pre-existing model.
• Information on District website.
• Entrance exam may be scheduled with Pat Malone at IREMS, 656-3489.

 New Business (O’Neil) 

• Happy Birthday to Kirsten
• Motion to adjourn 2015 (McCarthy/Adams).  Motion carried.
• Next meeting August 12, 2004 @ 1830 – St. Michael’s College, Tarrant Center, Hall of Fame room.

Update 

Many Board members have reported that they will be unable to meet on 8/12/04.  The Chair is requesting to move the meeting up one week earlier to 8/5/04.  If Board reps (or alternates) could please email katesoons@adelphia.net and RSVP, a tally of anticipated attendees will be made to determine if a quorum will be present.  Thank you.

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Soons, Clerk

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gthweatt@cssu.org
Last updated: July 26, 2004