DISTRICT BOARD MINUTES October 9, 2003

Kelly Cota, SMRS (V)
Wendy James, FAHC
Debbie Baron, GIR ( R )
Gilbert Helmkin, FAHC ER ( R)
Lee Jones, Richmond/IBM ( R)
Darren Adams, Milton ( R)
Jason Savoy, Milton ( A)
Kirsten Jaquith, FAHC Radio Room ( R)
Greg Thweatt EMT-I Coordinator, (V)
Chris McCarthy, Williston Rescue/D#3 Treasurer
Pat Malone UVM/IREMS
Lisa Whittemore FACT ( R)
Mark Willis, Shelburne ( R)
Colin Shea, Essex Town Fire ( A)
Jessica Gagne, SMRS ( R)
John Marcus, BFD/VT Homeland Security Unit ( V)
Bill McNamara, BFD ( A)
Mike Cannon, Colchester ( A)
Scott Flieger, Colchester/D#3 Vice Chair
Ray Scollin, FACT (V)
Jim Laskarzewski, VTANG FD ( R)
Scott Jacobs, Williston Rescue ( R)
Norman Ward, FAHC (V )
Ginny Pelletier, UVM ( R)
Jenn DeMaroney, UVM ( A)
Doug Brent, SBFD/D#3 Chair ( R)
Deanna Nelson, Essex ( R)
Keara Cahill, SMRS (V)
Rebecca Webb, SMRS/D#3 clerk

Diversion Discussion: On 9/15/03 the emergency room had a full waiting room, fast track, and ER with no beds ready upstairs for patients who were ready to move. Hospital stressed enough staff, but not enough room. For 2 hours and 45 minutes ER traffic was diverted to Northwest and to Porter. Dr. James and Dr. Ward wanted to hear the perceptions, concerns, and thoughts on what to do differently from the EMS community.

~Many ambulance services unaware of why ER was on diversion. Some heard message as closed with no option to bring patients there.

~In future cases would Central VT be an option- it is closer to pieces of service area than Porter?

~Can Fanny Allen be opened for non-critical emergency patients in situations such as this? Staffed by techs, RN s, Drs, going over? Perhaps call in additional staff from home or move staff from FAHC?

~Is there a way to have warning as we reach critical point prior to having to be diverted with no warning?

~Can the hospital (or someone-else) manage and direct what ambulances are going to what other hospitals so that there is less confusion about which ambulance services are transporting out of district and out of service areas for longer than normal transport times?

~What about using other community resources such as the Burlington Health Center, other health centers, hospital affiliated offices?

~It took 25-30 minutes before the last service was reached by the radio room to inform of the diversion.

~During decreased rescue staffing times (ie: daytime) having even 1 ambulance out of the district can cause a ripple effect.

Kirstin clarified that in the MCI plan stable patients currently in the system that are able to move by non-ambulance means would be transferred to Fanny Allen. Wendy: An MCI would open more areas of the hospital.

~Message that was supposed to reach services included that we are to call into radio room and the ER doc would discuss where we would be going (another hospital, 10-93, or hospital)

He applauds what we do for our patients. The administration regrets and apologizes for the inconvenience. It was a question of what to do in a bad situation. His hat is off to Wendy. He sees this as an opportunity to improve. He will investigate the Fanny Allen option as a safety valve.

~Discussed sending a fax to 911 and having them call and distribute rather than coming from the radio room with one person.

~Wendy and Peter are planning to write a grant as part of Homeland Security. Central Dispatch? Do we put all the people who already know the contacts, roads, etc. in one room?

Question posed: what does this do to funding for small towns for who emergency call answering may provide enough funding for a position with other services such as police, fire, town positions? Would these other positions suffer?

~Greg- We will be able to be better prepared if all that we need to be notified of is a diversion and have a written plan stating what we do during diversion: 2^nd rig in service? Where do we go for hospital? What do we tell the patient? Wendy will take these questions and write then meld into MCI committee plan if needed.

~Representatives please go back to services and contact those on 9/15 eve and see if there were other issues.

John Marcus- Department of Homeland Security Unit liaison for Chittenden County Responders. He is working on training and planning. When grants come up will help notify us of them.

Correspondence: Copies of exam request and CE forms passed out. Please photocopy as needed. Sets of forms to those who are due for recertification began arriving at people’s homes this week.

Treasurer’s’s report: No bills to be brought before the board. Checking act: $13145.90 . This is a combination of classes $0.37,dues $4465.22, equipment $8680.31. Merril Lynch act. $3249.27. Question posed: Budgets are being completed for next year will the dues remain comparable? Yes.

Radio Room: Kirsten will come and teach a communication and documentation training to services requesting it. Please make sure MRN #s are put on patients’ forms. 55 forms in the last two months needed it before being filed. Please give updates over phone whenever possible.

MCI- the committee is looking for people to join to go over MCI protocols. Please call or e-mail Becca (rswebb@globalnetisp.net).

Logistics/Protocols: New ambulance dispatch policy page proposed. Suggestion to add FR dispatch policies to it. Should we change the policy or just discuss with services in violation of current practice? Lee will send changed proposal over EMSissues. We’ll discuss more at next month’s meeting. Making a change to the backup list for Hinesburg First Response.

Heavy Rescue/FD- In January Grand Isle HR will be holding an alternative fuel vehicle training.

Paperwork sent in for recert exams. To begin at 1830. Call Jason Ziter if questions.

Combitube classes: Bill Clark will coordinate one to be proposed in November in Southern half of district. 10/22 and 10/28 class in Northern part of district Brian Longe/Steve Salengo coordinating please contact Jason to register.

Next month refresher course will be proposed for the spring. It will be 12 hours online and 12 hours practical

10/23 and 10/30 telehealth conference will be the 4 hour intro to bioterrorism. 7-9:30. Cooperation between many agencies. Please contact Pat to register.

EMT-B refresher class at National Guard at Camp Johnson. This is a cooperation between National Guard and VTEMS.

Huntington is the only one from state whose grant letter came through. Discussion to have Jason Ziter contact Bill Clark.

Ray Scollin, director of FACT. Clarifying that they are not an emergency 911 service, but will be talking to EMTs on FACT, SMRS, CRS, and the EMS dept. to talk about doing emergency transports from FAWIC.

Brian Longe is working with VSP to talk about tagging of vehicles on the interstate during snowstorms.