VTEMSD#3 Minutes for 14 June 2001

The meeting was called to order at 1830 hours by Tara Pacy who was sitting in for Greg Thweatt. Those in attendance were:

• Rebecca Webb (R) Charlotte Rescue
• Tara Pacy Colchester Rescue
• Kirsten Jaquith (A) FAHC, MHCIC
• Debbie Baron (R) Grand Isle Rescue
• Al Barber (A) Hinesburg Fire Department, County Chiefs
• Erin Golec (R) Richmond Rescue
• John Poulin (R) Shelburne Rescue
• Allison Rimmer (R) Vergennes Rescue
• Steve Fleming (A) Vergennes Rescue
• Brian Wellnitz (R) NVHRA, Essex Jct
• Jim Kellogg (A) Essex Junction
• Rob Rix (R) UVM Rescue
• Kathy Karg (R) Hinesburg Fire Department
• Gil Helmken FAHC
• Dr. Sue Elliot Medical Direction, Colchester Rescue
• Kirsten Ellis (R) St. Michael’s Rescue
• Stacy Dudley Essex Rescue
• Kate Soons (V) St. Michael’s Rescue
• Scott Flieger (R) Colchester Rescue
• Rick Bellows (R) South Hero Rescue
• Tanner Trombly (R) Mallets Bay Fire Department
• Jim Laskarzewski Clerk

Allison Rimmer was introduced as the new training officer for Vergennes.

Review Agenda: The chair briefly reviewed the agenda for the meeting.

Motion to accept minutes of May 10, 2001 meeting by Becca, second by Deb. Motion passed..

Next meeting will be held on July 12, 2001 at 1830 hours.

Cardiac Arrest Reports...due to Medical Direction before end of month, blank copy on district web page. Discussion about doing away with reports. Tara gave brief history of the reports creation. Medical Direction has the authority to continue or discontinue the reports use. Motion by Kathy Karg to abolish the cardiac arrest reports but continue the training requirements. Second by Rob Rix. Dr. Elliot encourages squads to continue training with local medical advisor, squads should be policing themselves, issues should be addressed locally. No changes to training requirements – in-service training every 4 months and at least annually with local medical advisor. Training records should be maintained and be available for review if needed. Motion passed. Reports already completed for this year can be submitted.

Approved Courses:

First Responder Course (conducted at MBFD): Greg spoke with Christi Champagne who advised that 11 students required a retest of a practical station. She did not have detailed results when she e-mailed Greg last. She stated that one station had a patient model that was "ticklish" and that the students advised her later that many had a difficult time with this station. Christi was advised to contact the State to determine the details of the failures to help remediate the candidates and work with future patient models and evaluators to prevent the situation above. Becca reports the retest is scheduled for this month. Clerk Note: Tanner reported later that the retest is scheduled for 23 June.

Winter/Spring EMT-B & EMT-I: There were 5 written initial failures; two partner station failures in the Basic course. EMT-I course experienced 3 written initial failures and 2 practical failures. Pat is trying to secure a time for the retests with the summer basic testing date.

Summer EMT-B: Pat reports there are 16 students and all is going well. The state exam must be changed, as the State cannot send a rep to proctor the exam on July 7th. Pat is trying to negotiate for July 6th and has not heard back from VTEMS yet.

Fall EMT-B and EMT-I: Applications still being accepted. As of June 13th the EMT-I class was ¾ full with 4 summer EMT students on a wait list. A reminder that on July 1st both basic and intermediate courses will be open to out of district applicants. At that time preference will go to any currently certified EMT then to those attending a summer course that have not received confirmation of successfully completing the state certification exam. This is also contingent on space availability.

EMT-I New Curriculum update meeting, June 13th – District Chair, Training Coordinator and Medical Direction were invited: Dr. Elliot reports that this teleconference meeting was the 3rd to discuss the new EMT-I curriculum content. Some items continued on and some were added, Dr. Elliot reviewed the list of topics with everyone. The current class is 83 hours, additional topics will add about 51 hours. Additional focus is on assessment leaning toward diagnosis in order to administer drugs. Tara thinks the current course is close to 138 hours now. Before the course is taught the curriculum will need to be prepared, instructors brought up to date, current EMT-I’s will need to transition and then the new course delivered. Additionally protocols will need updating, there are recert issues, and drug stock issues. The next meeting is in August with all the medical directors.

Intubation: Current intubation certified people will continue on, new classes are not likely. Combi-tube to be taught at some point. Need to revisit recertification for intubation certified people soon. Intubation was not added to the EMT-I curriculum most likely because most Districts have paramedics performing the intubations Intubation recertification for ALL will be on Tuesday the 17th of July at 7 pm in Burgess. All intubation certified EMTs will need to be there as it has been over a year since last recert. Doctors will be present.

Telemedicine session on SIDS with Dr. Barry Heath, June 28th, 1900 hrs at IREMS, Spear St., So. Burlington. Please call or e-mail Pat to register. There is no cost.

Modules Feedback: Tara/Kate – At the last meeting, Greg asked for services to ask possible candidates and to contact Pat or Greg so as to change the dates of the District approved course. Only 4 people were confirmed so the module was cancelled. Greg sent out an e-mail on the list server to request feedback on interest for another module, no interest was posted. Greg has asked Chris McCarthy and Kate Soons to look at a future course, possibly in the Fall. Becca will be proposing a module course for Charlotte next month. Modules will be held during the fall and spring. Tanner expressed the need for a module course at MBFD. Tara would like services to contact potential students for potential schedule preferences. Module 1 is 9 hours, module 2 is 12. These very useful modules are considered most important by many to get ECAs to ambulance useable status. The modules use the EMT-B course textbook.

Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) – Report from May 16 meeting. Greg, Deb, Maureen, and Becca met with Melissa Bland of the AHA. The AHA will develop a communit y assessment to determine organizations in the community who might be prime locations for a PAD. Melissa will contact Greg when a draft proposal of the assessment is available for trail in VTEMSD#3. Becca added that the assessment is a national questionnaire modified for local use. The plan is to start with the greater Burlington area. Fine tune the draft and bring it to EMS to see who should get it. This is an AHA project that EMS is helping with.

Charlotte proposed first responder course: Motion to accept proposal by Deb, second by Becca. Detailed information distributed to all. Course is Monday nights beginning Aug 20th, $45, must have valid AHA-CPR card under 2000 Guidelines prior to start of course. Contact Becca at 482-6690. Course limited to 24 students. Students currently interested include both Charlotte fire/rescue members and community members. Lisa Whitemore will be apprenticing. Motion passed.

Kirsten – The summer course EMT-B recerts got left out of the recert loop, can anything be done to help them out? Kate says that Pat has offered to get them into the July testing for the Basic class. It was also suggested that an extension be sought.

Motion to adjourn by Kathy Karg, second by Becca. Meeting adjourned at 1928 hours.

Respectfully submitted,

Jim Laskarzewski, clerk

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Last updated: July 02, 2001