Vermont Emergency Medical Services

District #3 WebPage 

VTEMSD#3 Board meeting minutes for November 9, 2006.  Meeting called to order at 1833 by Chair O’Neil at SMC, Hall of Fame Room.  In attendance were:

INTRODUCTIONS (O’Neil)

• Kate Soons, from CCVFC – as their Board Rep.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES (O’Neil) 

• Motion to accept the October 2006 minutes as published (Baron/Jones).  Motion approved.

CORRESPONDENCE (O’Neil) 

• From the Clerk (read to all present):  The Executive Board met tonight prior to the Board meeting, as is the practice every month.  The E-Board entertained a request for a Leave of Absence from Jason Ziter, the District Training Coordinator.  Finding no guidance within the District Bylaws, the E-Board felt compelled to accommodate his request for leave.  Pat Malone has agreed to fulfill the duties of District Training Coordinator in the interim.  Jason remains TC and will coordinate with Pat to assure continued training support to the District.

TREASURY (Danaher)

• Account balance is $11,110.75, with numerous checks ready for deposit – new account opens tomorrow.
• UVM – outstanding dues.
• Please mail treasury related items to:

 Karen Danaher, VTEMSD#3 Treasurer

c/o Essex Rescue, 1 Educational Drive

Essex Junction, VT 05452 

MEDICAL DIRECTION (James) 

• 12-Lead EKG project (HeART Foundation) – currently funded to $250K; rollout is now a function of bids from monitor manufacturers….the prices are dropping.
• Code 3 Committee – responses to safety survey is still required from:
  • Milton
  • WFD
  • MBFD
  • EFD
• QA/QI – via email, extrication of a patient prior to FD determining scene safe – work together, FD may be telling EMS to wait to extricate for a reason.
• Questions/issues for Medical Direction

FAHC (Helmken)

• When bringing in an unresponsive or arrested patient, please do not escort the patient’s family directly into the resuscitation room immediately upon arrival. FAHC ED staff carefully communicate (MDs/RN) when and how to bring family members into this acute situation. (Putnam) In general – where should they be directed, security desk?  (James) Yes, in general, family goes to waiting room.  However, in life-threatening instances, there are two private family rooms near the restrooms in the ED Waiting Room.  (Goss) There are times it is appropriate, and the ED is very aware of this…especially with kids.  (Helmken) We try to pair them with a social worker, charge RN or other provider to help explain what is going on.  Please spread this to crews and new members.

• There are some new techs in the ED.  As such, please make sure that EMT students are paired with an RN.  (Goss) Everyone check in with the charge nurse.

TRAINING  (Malone) 

• Course Updates
  • EMT-B 2x weekly (Malone) – one dropped as a result of attendance
  • EMT-B 1x weekly (Malone) – going well
  • EMT-I (Soons) – Mega-lab is this weekend; going well
  • FR-ECA – going well with 11 participants
  • Modules 4/5 testing 11/29; eligible for NREMT-B January
  • FR-ECA (Danaher) – lead instructor was out on LOA, a new start date will be forthcoming.  (Malone) Please send out via EMSTRAIN list serv.
• Course Proposals - none
• Upcoming Training Opportunities
  • EMT-B 2x weekly spring course begins Jan 16 – applications due at December meeting
  • EMT-I 2x weekly spring course begins April 3, testing June 28 – applications due at March meeting
  • VTEMSD#4 EMT-B refresher 10/14 and 8 Tuesdays
  • VTEMSD#4 EMT-I’03 course 10/13
    • For both courses, contact H. Dale Porter at porterburnor@pshift.com
  • Elder abuse & neglect conference at the Sheraton – “DAIL”, Friday 12/1/07. 
• Certification/Recertification Issues
  • Computer assisted testing will not provide grades.  As such, all EMT-I applicants will be required to take the entrance exam which will be held in conjunction with initial certification testing on Saturday January 13.  Alternate dates can be arranged by calling IREMS at 656-3489.
  • Recertification night went very well last week with 17 EMTs recertifying and 8 initial certification candidates.  Evaluators included reps from
    St. Mike’s, Essex, and Milton - plus JP, and patients from the two EMT-B courses.  Thanks to all who helped -  {Clerk’s note:  my apologies if your service was not mentioned specifically, I may have missed it}
  • 11/15 recert night with written at 1800, practical at 1900, evaluators and patients to arrive at 1830.  Dinner will be served.
  • Recently, there have been a few inquiries regarding High School students enrolling in the EMT-B course.  There has been a longstanding policy that states the H.S. student will either graduate or obtain their GED and turn 18 years of age prior to completion of the course.  Traditionally, these students have participated in the Summer EMT-B program as graduating seniors in good standing.  This reflects national standard practice.  (Jones) How has it worked?  (Malone) The waiver program has worked well with these criteria:
    • Letter of support from the school, indicating student in good standing
    • Parent attends meeting with course coordinator
    • Mentor appointed from sponsoring service
  • Pulse – ox roll out? (James) If 12-lead program is not ready for roll-out in three months, we will begin training pulse-ox separately.  (Malone) EMT-B courses are ready to go.
  • (MAkerlind) What is the current status of updating AED units with new CPR & defib standards?  (Malone) It’s a  complete nightmare…many different answers from many different sources.  Current EMT-B students will be tested with new CPR standards.  (Phelps) Recommendation in District #7 is to perform new compression:ventilation ratio (30:2); and then follow the AED prompts.  (Jones) Spoke directly with Zoll regarding various models.  Services may contact Lee to find out about your specific AED.  (James) Allow this service to be done by a professional for accountability and medicolegal liability.  (Jones) Not changing energy, just prompts for CPR.  (James) I would not recommend that you do it on your own.  A company rep should sign off.  (O’Neil) Need a letter of documentation from State.  Clerk to draft letter to VT EMS requesting written directive.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (O’Neil) 

• MCI – no activity in Darren’s absence.
• (O’Neil) Grants – AEDs have arrived, not sure where.  (Butkus) I have them – they arrived to CVE.  AEDs are for Westford, Essex, and Underhill.  (O’Neil) Keep copies of paperwork.

ADMINISTRATION (Soons) 

• License Review went well.  Thanks to all who made an effort to update their membership lists.  The Administration Committee recommends that all VTEMSD#3 annual service license applications be approved by the Board and are forwarded to VDH VTEMS with the appropriate signatures (Chair and Medical Direction).  Motion to accept the recommendation of the Administration Committee, as stated (Brent/Jones).  Motion approved. 
• Vice-chair vacancy – a discussion ensued regarding the eligibility of individuals who are not representatives to the Board.  State and District rules were reviewed.  The consensus reinforced current practice:  the Vice-Chair role shall be filled by an individual who currently serves as the Representative to the Board for their Service.
  • Motion to nominate Howard Rice for the position of Vice-Chair (Barber/Kellogg).  Motion approved.
  • Motion to nominate Leslie Lindquist for the position of Vice-Chair (Thomas/Soons) {clerk – hee hee}.  Motion approved.
  • Ballots distributed, Lindquist prevailed.

PUBLIC INFORMATION (Soons)

• http:/www.acep.org/webportal/Advocacy/EMS/Week/default.htm

OLD BUSINESS (O’Neil)

• (O’Neil) District Goals
  • Assessment of current provider level - participation needed.  Now that openings have been filled, need to move forward.
  • (Soons)  Last month, the Clerk asked for assistance reviewing District goals document – none was offered.  This is our organization and forward movement is dependent upon everyone’s participation.  If you do not currently participate at the committee level, please choose one of our three active committees – Administration, Resource Management, or Training – and become active.
• (Soons) Recognition of Dr. Uphold – December meeting
  • Motion to allocate $250 to purchase & engrave a plaque of appreciation and cater light appetizers for the December meeting (Cashatt/Lindquist).  Motion approved.  Soons to coordinate.  (Lindquist) Engraving Bench has been very good to work with – FYI.

NEW BUSINESS (O’Neil) 

• Next meeting:  December 14, 2006 @ 1830, SMC Hall of Fame Room – Holiday Reception to honor Dr. Ruth Uphold with light appetizers.
• Motion to adjourn at 1923 (Soons/Kellogg).  Motion approved.

Respectfully submitted on November 28, 2006, 

Kate Soons

VTEMSD#3 Clerk

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Last updated: December 13, 2006