Western Mass Emergency
Medical Services Committee, Inc.
Meeting:
Executive Committee
Date: February 1, 2001
Place: East Wing 2 Conference Room, CDH,
Northampton
Presiding: Robert Hopkins, President
Called
to Order: 10:06 am
Adjourned: 11:37 am
Attendance:
Present: Brian Andrews, Mary Cushman, Dan Harrington, Robert
Hopkins, Dana Johnson, Dave Keefe, Steve Manchino (by proxy), Mike Tourjee
Excused: Linda Moriarty
Absent: Raymond Conway
Guests: Steve Cote, Lisa Herringshaw, Dawn Josefski
Minutes: The minutes were accepted as written.
State Trauma Committee:
Discussion:
Mr. Harrington stated that
the committee met January 25. He
mentioned that the committee wants to break up some of the work into three
subcommittees. The three issues that
they want to focus on initially are 1) Standards for Pre-Hospital Trauma Care,
2) Designation of Trauma Centers, and 3) Good Data Points for Collection. There are additional areas that they would
like to explore, but they will focus on these for now. The State Trauma Committee does not want any
of their members on these subcommittees.
If anyone is interested in being on these subcommittees or would like to
nominate someone contact Brad Prenney or Charlotte Yeh.
FYI:
These are open meetings if anyone would be interested in attending.
Action: Announcement
to be made at Regional Council regarding Sub-Committees.
Legislative Breakfast:
Discussion:
Ms. Josefski spoke with Mr.
Forgea to get a list of the Fire Chief Breakfasts in Western Mass. Ms. Josefski spoke with The Depot in
Northampton and tentatively scheduled the Legislative Breakfast for Friday,
March 23 at 8:30 a.m. for arrival, and 9:00 a.m. for breakfast. The breakfast would be buffet style with the
meal costing $10.95 plus tax and tips.
With an estimate of 50 people, Ms. Josefski figured that the breakfast
would be approx. $672.59. Mr. Hopkins
made a motion to approve the restaurant, date, and time. The motion was approved unanimously with no
abstentions.
Discussion ensued regarding
who would be invited to this event, who the committee would pay for, and the
fee for other attendees.
Mr. Andrews suggested that
the committee pay for the legislative members (Western Mass. representatives
and senators) and their staff; but any ambulance directors or personnel pay for
themselves at $12.50 each. A motion was
made and it was approved unanimously with no abstentions.
Ms. Cushman suggested compiling a list of the primary issues in Western Mass. and sending this out to the legislative members as soon as possible.
Mr. Andrews suggested including a history of our organization and the issues at hand. Some issues that were mentioned: $75.00 fee, lack of service and response from OEMS, and P/B waiver issues. Suggestion was made to pass out a questionnaire at Regional Council meeting to have them fill out there, and to bring a copy back to their service to get list of issues.
Action: Ms. Josefski to confirm date with the Depot and to create questionnaire to hand out at Regional Council Meeting.
Diversion:
Discussion:
Mr. Andrews stated that the
American Ambulance Association sent e-mail out regarding diversion. Mr. Andrews asked if we still had a handle
on it in Western Mass., if we are keeping good records of our diversions, etc. Mr. Cote responded that he has records
regarding diversions since 2000. Mr.
Andrews asked Mr. Cote if it would be possible to break down the diversion
history month by month. Mr. Cote said
this could be done.
Ms. Moriarty has been
speaking with local reporters (newspaper and television) regarding
diversion. There will be a meeting on
diversion at Baystate on February 15.
Action: Mr.
Cote to compile Diversion Statistics on a month by month basis.
Communication Letter to Mr. Prenney:
Discussion:
Mr. Andrews inquired as to whether Ms. Moriarty assisted Mr. Keefe with writing a letter to Mr. Prenney. The letter has been written and it has been mailed out. Mr. Keefe will fax a copy to WMEMS to be filed. Mr. Keefe will also follow up the letter with a phone call to Mr. Prenney.
Action: Mr.
Keefe to fax copy of letter to the office.
New Business
Committee Revisions:
Discussion:
Ms. Cushman has some material
that she proposes be given to the chairpeople of the committees. This material focuses on how to run meetings
and run them well. Ms. Cushman would
like someone to volunteer to look at the manual that she has and pull out the
relevant information. Mr. Andrews
agreed to look at it with her. Both Ms. Cushman and Mr. Andrews agreed to put
these binders together for the committees.
Mr. Hopkins suggested that
Ms. Josefski add the conflict of interest and open meeting law documents to the
material that will be submitted to the chairpersons.
Following up on last months discussion about our current committees and their effectiveness and after much discussion a revision to our committees was agreed upon.
Standing Committees: Physicians Council
Public
Information/Education
Communications
Committee
Executive
Committee
Training
Committee
Trauma Systems Committee
Ad Hoc Committees: Bylaws Committee
Nominating Committee
Finance Committee
Awards Committee
Nursing Services Committee
It was agreed to remove the
following: Paramedic Task Force Committee and PreHospital Advisory Board.
Mr. Andrews asked Ms.
Josefski is she could send him a copy of the current and proposed bylaws. Ms. Josefski will send them immediately.
Action: Ms. Josefski to send Mr. Andrews the bylaws.
Regional EMS Plan:
Discussion:
Mr.
Andrews made an inquiry about the requirement in EMS 2000 that we create or
update a Regional EMS Plan. Mr. Andrews
was wondering if we have a committee that would address this or if we needed to
appoint a committee to address this.
Mr. Keefe wondered if someone could meet with the committee to enlighten
them as to what the state is actually requiring in this plan. Mr. Hopkins suggested that this be reserved
for Executive Board at a later date.
Action: Put on agenda for March meeting.
Nominations for Awards:
The WMEMS office needs written nominations for the Eaton Freeman
Award. The deadline for this is March
1.
FYI:
Mr. Cote announced that Larry Heidenberg is the Chair of the State
Communications Committee and Ed McNamara is the Co-Chair.
FYI:
A copy of the current proposed amendments to 105 CMR170 are now
out. Mr. Hopkins would like a copy of
these distributed at the February Regional Council Meeting and also posted to
the WMEMS website.
Action: WMEMS office to create copies for
Regional Council and post to website.
Adjourn:
Motion made to adjourn at 11:37 a.m. Motion approved unanimously.
Lisa
Herringshaw, Secretary, Recorder