Vermont Emergency Medical Services

District #3 WebPage 

VTEMSD#3 Board Meeting Agenda for October 13, 2005

St. Michael’s College, Tarrant Center, Hall of Fame room @ 1831 

INTRODUCTIONS (O’Neil)

• None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES (O’Neil)  

• Motion to approve September 2005 minutes as presented (Baron/Thomas).  Motion approved

CORRESPONDENCE (O’Neil)

• None

TREASURY (McCabe)

• None

MEDICAL DIRECTION (James)

• QA program update
  • There will be a presentation at the November meeting.
  • Please return survey questions (Clerk to contact individual services).
• Service Medication Quality Assurance Program plans due to Medical Direction at November meeting.
• Service Medical Advisor roster still incomplete (Clerk to contact individual services)

FAHC (Helmken/Pacy)

• (Helmken) Any issues concerns?
• (Pacy) MCHV campus map circulated – nearing final stage.
• (Pacy) Clarification & reiteration points:
  • Linens versus waste/garbage:  please be conscientious when disposing of trash and linen – housekeeping has found trash in the linen cart and linen in the waste/garbage receptacles.
  • Housekeeping rounds – checking DCON room and bays; there should be adequate receptacles for soiled linen, trash and biohazard waste out in the bay area, as well as cleaning supplies in the DCON room.  Please provide feedback to the ED Communications Center if any area is lacking.
  • Red buckets – a reminder that red biohazard receptacles are for waste that is saturated and dripping with blood or other human body fluid.  A 2x2 gauze pad that has a bit of blood on it and is not dripping should go in the regular trash.  Incineration costs for red biohazard containers is very high.
  • An unidentified large red container on wheels filled with biohazard items from a trauma patient was dropped off at the ambulance bay without notice.  EMS needs to communicate with ED Comm Center when there is a need to leave any biohazard container so that it may be processed properly.
  • EMS Room near completion!  Larger lockers, spacious counter, computers & phones for report writing.  Please label equipment so that it can be returned to your new locker.  Feedback about the new room will be appreciated.
  • Construction on the ED parking lot is nearing completion.  EMS units should have a straight shot up to the bays.  The grade/incline of the pavement surrounding the bays is being examined closely; please give feedback when final pavement is complete.
  • Updates – we have tried to increase our internal communication so that there is a staff member ready to greet you.  With two minute ETA’s, you will likely stand around.  If at all possible, please have a first responder give an initial update.  The RNs are getting an initial page that you are enroute and then a second page when you are backing in.
  • Equipment – If you receive your equipment back immediately, you can decontaminate it while at the hospital in the DCON room.  Here is the flow of EMS equipment in the ED:
    • DCON room – dirty, in progress
    • Rack/locker – clean
  • Everyone in the ED appreciates EMS patience.
  • (O’Neil) Radio problems inside the ED, are you aware?  (Pacy) No, but we know there is no cell service.  (Lindquist) Concerned about new EMS room…historically that area of the old ED had poor radio reception.  (Pacy) Will contact Kent Fraser, Telecommunications.  A new antenna was installed recently in the new ED to improve reception; please check reception now and provide feedback.  A second antenna may be needed.
  • (Soons) Will there be lines on the pavement in the bays?  (Plimpton) Where should ambulances park after drop off?  (Munsell) FACT and LAS occupy several slots for extended periods of time..  (Ziter) LAS – parking in spot and staying there.  Priority should be to 911 calls.  (Pacy)  FACT is parked there during patient pick up and drop off, as is LAS.  Consider time of day and length of stay.

TRAINING (Ziter)

• Course updates

• FR-ECA (Webb) In session.
• EMT-B (Malone) In session.
• EMT-B (Ziter) Going well.
• EMT-I (Goss) Some issues with attendance, for whatever reason.  Other training taking priority over EMT-I class.  Please discuss with your folks and ascertain priorities.  (O’Neil) Can we find out about student’s attendance?  (Goss) Check the IREMS/UVM policy.  (James) Can I, as medical director for course?  (Goss) Yes – we should sit down to review.  (O’Neil) Please do not schedule students in EMT-I class with activities during class time.  Support them.
• Course approvals
  • FR-ECA (HFD) beginning 11/16, Wednesday nights & some Saturdays, cost is $65, Chris McCarthy is course coordinator.  Motion to approve course as presented (Baron/Thomas).  Motion approved.
• Upcoming trainings opportunities
  • Please assess need for EMT-B Refresher class and communicate back.  Plan would be to run one prior to spring recert; minimum to hold class is 18 with pre-payment.
  • (Soons) An EMT-Intermediate Refresher course could be crafted for those interested, as well.
• New equipment
  • Colchester has received their new ALS simulation manikin; Milton’s is on the way.  Laerdal rep will provide instructor training.
  • AED Grant:  Zoll & Heartstream AEDs are in; LifePaks are on backorder
• Certification/recertification issues
  • Recertification dates:
    • November 9^th @ 1800 (UVM-Rowell)
    • November 16^th @ 1800
    • If a service is sending a testing candidate, they should send an evaluator.  Everyone will be fed well.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (Adams)

• (Adams) No committee action due to deployment.  Plan is for committee to meet prior to next meeting.  (Putnam) Would like to resolve response list so that it may be presented for approval in November.  (O’Neil) Approve what is resolved.  (Soons) Need warning period.  (Adams) Better effort as District to communicate changes to affected agencies and dispatchers are well aware of updated response list.
• (Dusha) CCRPC
  • After action report published; paper copy tonight and CDs available in future.  Will try to keep somewhat secure
  • Current project involves examining local emergency response plans for update.
  • Proposal in the works for 11-month program that includes 3 tabletop exercises and 1 functional exercise.
  • (James) Is CCRPC involved in Bird Flu drill on 11/1?  (Dusha) Not aware.  (Pacy) Vermont Hospital Association is coordinating; no ambulance involvement.

ADMINISTRATION (Soons)

• (O’Neil/Soons) New policy discussion:
  • EMT-Intermediate Policy – discussion tabled due to a concern brought to the chair’s attention immediately prior to Board meeting.  No further information at this time.
  • ALS Intervention Report Policy
    • (Soons) Clerk to create format for submission
  • Medication Policy – no discussion
  • IV Protocol – no discussion
  • Medical or Traumatic Arrest Protocol
    • (Lindquist) If medical direction cannot be reached, then EMS should not begin resuscitation?  (James) Don’t start.  Check for asystole in two leads. (Soons) Rhythm recognition not taught.  (James) Every possible effort should be made by first responders to contact online medical direction.
  • Motion to accept the following policies as presented:  ALS Intervention Report Policy, Medication Policy, IV Protocol and Medical or Traumatic Arrest Policy (Putnam/Baron).  Motion approved. 
• Licenses have been sent to individual services by VDH EMS.

PUBLIC INFORMATION (Ziter)

• EMS Week 2006 is May 14-20, 2006
• http://www.acep.org/webportal/Advocacy/EMS/EMSWeek/default.htm

OLD BUSINESS (O’Neil)

• Legislator meeting – no action, tabled to next month.

NEW BUSINESS (O’Neil)

• (Baron) New rig arriving…heading east!  Old one will be donated to Grand Isle, LA – along with about $40K for families of PD/FD/EMS…lots of generous donations (Winooski Fire Department noted to be particularly generous).  <Applause>
• (O’Neil) Status of flu shots for our responders – need to examine process now.  (Pacy) Last year it was due to the shortage..recent communication indicates no anticipated problems.  (O’Neil) Who do we coordinate through?  Go through Ray Walker?  (Pacy) Will check and get back –
• (Pacy/James) Bird Flu Exercise 11/1 – 22 patients anticipated.  Multiple tents outside FAHC ED.  (O’Neil)  We always seem to be out of the loop on these types of exercises.  Why are the first responders excluded?  (Pacy)  Vermont Hospital Association is coordinating – no one in the ED is participating.  It is testing other systems (i.e. HAM radios for communication).  (Munsell)  State of Vermont not really taking a proactive stance.  Discussions have occurred about getting EMS involved, and publishing a fact sheet.  (Pacy)  This exercise is testing communication and bed/surge capacity across the state.  This has been mandated for all hospitals in Vermont; and includes Dartmouth.  (O’Neil) Nothing against FAHC.  (Munsell) We need to approach the VDH and ask for information to be published.  (James) I could put out something educational..(Pacy) Chris Grace, MD with Infectious Disease has already put something together.  (Munsell) Happy to help.  (O’Neil) VDH EMS needs to take the lead on this.  (Munsell)  A few facts about Avian Flu or Bird Flu:
  • H5N1 – not mutated to human-to-human contact; ~65 deaths attributable to contact with infected fowl.
  • Fear is that a mutation will occur to include human exposure
  • Current human exposure has high death rate.
• (Barber) LEPC
  • Each service will be receiving a pre-loaded PDA.  Currently discerning what will be loaded on to each one.
  • (Baron) Grand Isle County has already received.

Motion to adjourn at 1930 (Putnam/Baron).  Motion approved.

Next meeting is Thursday November 10, 2005 @ 1830. 

Respectfully submitted,

Kate Soons/Clerk

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Last updated: October 22, 2005