WMEMS MARCH 1996 NEWSLETTER

WMEMS Plans For Future

So...just what is that Needs Assessment Questionnaire you got in the mail and why are we asking you to fill it out, anyway? Six months ago, WMEMS embarked on a strategic planning process. Like a lot of EMS agencies, the council tends to be reactive rather than proactive. The Executive Committee recognized that we would not be able to deal with EMS 2000 in that manner; we needed to have a plan in place and we needed help to build a plan. We hired a consultant; one of her first actions was a needs assessment. The questionnaire is part of that assessment.
Based on the assessment, we hope to come up with several products. We expect to have a strategic plan, which will guide us through EMS 2000. We expect to develop public education materials that services will be able to use to increase support. We expect to develop new methods of providing on-going support to those of you who deliver EMS to the citizens of western Massachusetts.
This is an open process! Many people have expressed great ideas that we hope to be able to develop for everyone's benefit. We encourage your input. In the end, the plan will work only if everybody supports it. Thanks to all who took the time to complete a questionnaire!

Regional Meeting Highlights

ALS Interfacility Transfer Program has been approved by the regional Nursing Service Committee, Physicians' Council and finally the Regional Council. The program materials will be distributed to Paramedic Services and Hospitals in Region I for implementation. The program will enable paramedics to transport ALS patients who are being treated with meds or instrumentation not currently within the scope of practice of an EMT-P. The written and practical exams need only to be finalized before distribution of this program. April is the expected completion date. We will keep you posted.
The Prehospital Advisory Board, a new ad hoc committee of the regional council was formed last May. The voting membership of this committee consists of nonsupervisory field providers of all levels from all four counties. This committee was created in order to give a voice to the field providers and to provide input to the Physicians and Regional Councils on prehospital issues including but not limited to protocol changes. Their very first undertaking was to review the draft statewide protocols and issue comments to be forwarded to OEMS. Currently the committee is undertaking a public relations program. A template is being developed which will offer info regarding the committee and contact persons.There has been discussion of pursuing a perception study regarding paramedic coverage and civilian/community EMS awareness. The committee would then like to develop a publication which could answer questions regarding EMS and could be used by services for public relations. The meetings are open to all who are interested. The next meeting will be held on Monday, March 18 at 5pm in Conference Rm C, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton. Call WMEMS at 413-586-6065 if you would like to be on this committee's mailing list for meeting notices.
Awards Committee, another ad hoc committee of the Regional Council which reviews nomination applications for Save Awards, Meritorious Awards, and Recognition Awards needs more membership from the four counties. Currently the meeting is held prior to the Regional Council meeting which is held the 2nd Thursday at 10 am. This is not set in stone, however. With new membership the committee can arrange other meeting times.

Annual Meeting

WMEMS Committee Inc. will hold it's annual meeting, followed by social hour, dinner buffet, presentation of the annual Eaton Freeman Award and guest speaker at the Ballroom at the Hotel Northampton on Thursday evening, April 11, 1996. Elections for President and Treasurer will be held during the brief committee meeting at 5:30. Our guest speaker will be none other than Glenn Luedtke, Executive Director of Cape & Islands EMS, a dynamic speaker. All are welcome to attend, registration is necessary by April 4th, cost is $22/person. Please consider joining us for this festive evening!! Call 413-586-6065 for details and registration information.

County EMS Committee Meeting Schedule

Berkshire County EMS
Private Dining Room, Berkshire Medical Center
4pm, 3/5/96
Franklin County EMS
Conference Room A, Franklin Medical Center
7pm, 3/11/96
Hampden County EMS
Storrs Library, 693 Longmeadow St, Longmeadow
9:30 am, 3/20/96
Hampshire County EMS
Conference Rm A, Cooley Dickinson Hospital
6 pm, 3/6/96 (7pm con-ed "Ambulance Administration, A Brief Overview" with OEMS Ambulance Program officials.)

REGIONAL EVENTS

The Emergency Nursing Series (ENS) will be held at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Part I: March 20, March 27. Part II: April 17, April 24. Part III: May 15, May 22. ENS is a three part continuing education program for the specialty of Emergency Nursing. This series was developed by the Education Task Force of the Western Massachusetts Nursing Service Council and its purpose is to focus on the art and science of emergency nursing. The series consist of 34 different lectures. Here is a small sampling of topics included in this program: triage, cisd, domestic violence, homelessness, shock, assessing pain, substance abuse, infection control, hematologic and metabolic disorders to name just a few. Call 413-586-6065 for a brochure and registration form.
Paramedic Optional Skills WMEMS credentials MA EMT-Ps in optional skills which consist of intraosseous infusion, needle cricothyroidotomy, needle chest decompression. Challenge/Recertification quarterly sessions are scheduled as follows: March 28, 2-4 pm; June 4th, 9:30 am-11:30 am; September 9, 1:30-3:30 pm. To challenge the WMEMS Paramedic Optional Skills credential call the office to obtain a challenge application which must be submitted two weeks prior to the challenge date. Those currently credentialled by WMEMS in Paramedic Optional Skills may attend any of the above sessions to fullfill their annual recredentialling requirement. Preregistration is necessary, however!!! Paramedic Optional Skills Course (11 hours EMT-P con-ed credit): The annual course will be held November 20, 9a-5p and Friday, November 22, 9a-1p. Preregistration is required. Course is open to certified MA EMT-Paramedics.
National EMS Week is coming soon! May 19-May 25, 1996. Most County EMS Award functions have been scheduled: Franklin's Mon, 5/20; Berkshire's Fri, 5/24; Hampshire's Fri, 5/24, and Hampden's to be announced. Watch for details from your county ems committee! State EMS Awards Function is scheduled for Thurs, 5/23 at the State House in Boston. Nomination forms are available from our office and are due in OEMS by April 19, 1996.

Continuing Education for EMTs

"Tuberculosis"
Jackie Roy-Elliot, BSN, RN
Dalton Ambulance
3/4/96
Ellen Murray
(413)684-2663
2 B,I,P

"Loads & Lifts"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/5/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B
960286

"Written and Radio Report Techniques"
Sandra Witkos, EMT-P
Ware Fire Department
3/6/96
Sandra Witkos
(413)967-7216
3 B,I,P

"Communicable Diseases & OSHA"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/6/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B
960287

"Prehospital Trauma Conference"
Timothy Emhoff, MD
Baystate Medical Center
3/7/96
Mary Cushman, RN
(413)784-3469
1 B,I,P
964025

"Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator"
Doug Smith
Shelburne Falls Ambulance
3/10/96
David Neil
(413)625-6143
6 B,I,P

"Shock"
Dr. Wayne Wilkins
Village Ambulance
3/11/96
Jonathan Murphy
(413)458-3111
3 B,I

"M&M"
Ira Helfand, MD
Cooley Dickinson Hospital
3/13/96
Lisa Rhoades
(413)582-2363
2 B,I,P
964092

"Athletic Injuries"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/13/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B
960288

"Pediatric Trauma"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/14/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B

"Patients with Fibromyalgia"
Dr. Robert Weitzman
Colrain Ambulance
3/17/96
Jeremie Meyer
(413)774-5937
2 B,I,P

"Diabetes"
Nancy Martin, EMT-P, RN
Dalton Ambulance
3/18/96
Ellen Murray
(413)684-2663
3 B,I,P

"Communicable Diseases & OSHA"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/19/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B

"Case Reviews"
Jacques Blanchet, MD
Baystate Medical Center
3/20/96
Luann Loughlin
(413)784-3767
1 B,I,P

"Childbirth"
Susan Toye Gaudreau, RN
Adams Ambulance
3/20/96
Laurie Tuper, REMT-I
(413)664-6072
3 B,I

"The Diabetic Patient"
Joseph Bass, MD
Holyoke Hospital EMS
3/20/96
Augusta Taylor
(413)534-2510 or 2560
3 B,I,P

"Diabetes"
Human Services Training Consultants
3/21/96
Barbara Pummell
(413)737-0038
3 B

"Paramedic Refresher"
William Travis
Franklin County EMT Association
3/25/96
William Travis
(413)773-8484

"Trip Review"
Helen Leupold, RN & Gina Zalenski, REMT-P
Commonwealth Ambulance
3/27/96
Regina Zalenski
(413)783-5108
2 B,I,P

"Prehospital Care for Respiratory Distress"
David Blanchette, RRT
Adams Ambulance
3/28/96
Laurie Tuper, REMT-I
(413)664-6072
3 B,I

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