[PEMS List] PEMS Newsbulletin

Tue Mar 18 15:48:41 EDT 2008

              As The Wheel Turns
Pems Regional (and Relevant) Current Events - March 18, 2008
           Riverside is sponsoring a Trauma Series on a monthly basis. Windle Day, PA with the Trauma Department, is the instructor. He does an excellent job of providing new information along with protocol review. The next class is Shock and will be March 22, 0900-1100. Hospital personnel are welcome to join prehospital providers. Call (757) 594-4160.    The Hampton Roads Trauma Symposium has been providing a day of quality education for 18 years. This year it will be at the Omni in Newport News on April 4th. This program is jointly sponsored by PEMS, Riverside Regional, Mary Immaculate, and Sentara Williamsburg. For more information and registration, 
https://www.riversidemd.net/symposium.html            

        at the Suffolk Conference Center
Registration Is Open    

A PHTLS Class is scheduled for April 26-27 for both ALS and BLS providers. Cost is $95. For more information, contact Leo Jeter Training Officer, Tappahannock Rescue: 804 - 443 - 2116 Tevfdtvrs124 at aol.com
        &#9829;  VSS Stakeholders~   We’re making progress!  &#9829;

Virginia Stroke Systems is celebrating a victory for stroke care in Virginia, as Governor Tim Kaine signed HB 479 (sponsored by Delegate Hamilton) into law.  This legislation, which goes into effect on July 1, 2008, requires regional emergency medical services plans for the treatment of stroke patients.  The law also requires a model plan developed by the State Office of EMS with input from the American Stroke Association and other interested entities.  

  These plans will help EMS optimize stroke care for the patient through consistent protocols based on region-specific resources (including Primary Stroke Centers), rapid transport, and hospital pre-notification.   The very narrow window of time from the onset of stroke symptoms during which a stroke patient may be eligible for thrombolytic treatment – a mere 3 hours – makes it critical that the transport system respond through an established and organized protocol designed to minimize any avoidable delays.  The Office of EMS collaborated closely with the American Stroke Assocation in crafting the bill, and is committed to its smooth implementation. 

  Thanks to the many of you who helped lay the underpinnings and/or support the passage of this bill!  The companion Senate bill (SB 344 – Senator Blevins) is awaiting the Governor’s signature.

  Keltcie Delamar
  Director, State Health Alliances 

www.americanheart.org    Need more cat. 1 CEs? 24-7 has worked out an arrangement with the Virginia Office of EMS to provide a variety of classes at a minimal cost in the comfort of your home. To find out the classes and registration information, visit them at: http://www.24-7ems.com/          EMS Recruitment and Retention:  An ALS Provider Retention Case Study

    May 15, 2008, 1 - 5 pm

    Richmond Marriott West, Glen Allen (Innsbrook area)

    Learn how the leaders of the James City County used the Keeping the Best! How to Retain ALS Providers workbook to define their current and future ALS workforce and how they developed project teams to fill the gap. Flyer attached.
  Register on line:  http://register.vaems.org  There is no cost to register.

REPRIEVE!
  Council Designation Delay – State Health Commissioner delays designation by one year
  The Virginia Office of EMS is distributing additional information regarding the regulations governing Regional EMS Councils in Virginia, the process for the designation of Regional EMS Councils, and the proposed Regional EMS Council service areas.  A Process Action Team (PAT) was created to evaluate the existing designated regional service areas and recommend the most effective and efficient arrangement of Regional EMS Council service areas based on numerous national and state criteria, considerations, and attributes. 
  After receiving feedback from the first PAT committee meeting and in light of the strong interest expressed by the EMS community during the public hearing held on February 25, 2008, Karen Remley, MD, MBA, FAAP, State Health Commissioner, has decided that a delay in designation of the regional councils is prudent. Dr. Remley has issued a variance to the regulations that will have the effect of extending the application deadline for entities seeking designation as a Regional EMS Council from October 1, 2008 to March 1, 2009, as well as extending the current regulatory deadline for the designation of Regional EMS Councils from July 1, 2009 to July 1, 2010. 
  The PAT is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, March 20, 2008 in Charlottesville. The PAT will also provide updates on their progress at each scheduled State EMS Advisory Board meeting. 

  For more information on the PAT, minutes from the recent PAT meetings, and minutes of the Public Hearing held on February 25, 2008 visit OEMS web site at http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/OEMS/RegionalCoordination/index.htm. 

  Sincerely,

  Jeffrey J. Meyer, BBA, NREMT-P
Executive Director
Peninsulas EMS Council Inc.

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