Western Mass Emergency
Medical Services Committee, Inc.
Meeting:
Executive Committee
Date: March 1, 2001
Place: Living Room, McCallum Building, CDH,
Northampton
Presiding: Brian Andrews, Vice President
Called
to Order: 10:50 am
Adjourned: 11:55 am
Attendance:
Present: Brian Andrews, Raymond Conway( by proxy), Mary
Cushman, Dan Harrington, Robert Hopkins (by proxy), Dana Johnson, Dave Keefe,
Steve Manchino, Linda Moriarty
Excused: Mike Tourjee
Absent:
Guests: Steve Cote, Lisa Herringshaw, Dawn Josefski, Brad Prenney
Minutes: The minutes were accepted as written.
Legislative Breakfast:
Discussion:
The office has mailed out
invitations to legislative members and ambulance services. Currently we have 8
legislative members that will be attending and 11 ambulance service
members. Via Mr. Andrews, Mr. Hopkins
would not like to see this event canceled due to low turnout. Mr. Andrews also agrees with this, and
commented that the service members who do attend will need to be strong
advocates. There has been some undercurrents
that this breakfast was intended to be a “complaint session”, but this is not
what is intended.
FYI: The office has only
received 2 written comments and concerns.
Mr. Johnson did mention the concern questionnaire at the Franklin County
meeting and he believes that the committee will be sending in a letter.
Discussion ensued as to how the event would be set up. It was agreed that a handout be sent to all of the legislative members prior to the event listing a history of EMS in Western Mass. At the actual event, there should be introductions of the legislative members, the Officers of Regional Council, and WMEMS staff. There was discussion that there be a presentation, possibly by Dr. Conway, as to what we do in W. Mass. A suggestion was made that an organizational tree could be made with the chain of organizations with name and contact numbers.
Action: Develop and mail handout to legislative members.
Diversion:
Discussion:
Ms. Moriarty attended a Diversion meeting last week. There
was some discussion regarding EMTALA issues with offsite clinics owned by
Baystate and Mercy. Although Diversion
issues have been relatively quiet, there were some minor notification issues
that have been straightened out. FYI:
Ms. Moriarty stated that Region 1 goes on diversion approximately 10% of what
Boston does.
Mr.
Prenney discussed the Beta State Diversion website. Currently, there is
discussion ongoing with Regions 3 and 4 regarding getting the connections from
C-MED to the ambulance services.
Ultimately, he would like to see the vast majority of ambulance services
connected by internet. From Mr. Prenneys’ standpoint, he believes that most
services feel this is a very positive development.
Action: None
Committee Chairperson Manuals:
Discussion:
Ms. Cushman and Mr. Andrews
are currently working on the manuals.
They will meet following this meeting to make sure they have covered all
of the important elements. They will
have this ready for annual meeting.
Action: Continue working on manual, which will be completed by annual meeting.
Regional EMS Plan:
Discussion:
Mr. Prenney stated OEMS will
be working on developing a State EMS Plan sometime next year.
This discussion was tabled
for now, pending the development of the state plan.
Action: Regional
EMS Plan on hold.
New Business
Eaton Freeman Award Recipient:
Discussion:
On
behalf of Hampshire County EMS, Mr. Keefe made the motion to nominate Noel
Woolrich for the Eaton Freeman Award.
All were in favor of this motion with 0 opposed.
Action: Ms. Moriarty will send Ms. Woolrich a letter
and call her to tell her she is the recipient.
Guest Speaker for Annual
Dinner:
Discussion:
The guest speaker for our annual dinner will be Brad Prenney. He is looking forward to speaking to the
group. Some topics of interest are
Trauma System development, P/B waiver issues, Service Zone Planning of EMS
2000, and Hospital Closure issues.
Action: None.
File Maker Pro:
Discussion:
Mr. Andrews mentioned some concern about the WMEMS office using File
Maker Pro. He was wondering if
Microsoft Access or Excel would be a better database program. A great deal of discussion ensued with pros
and cons of switching programs. It was
agreed that a committee be formed to look at this issue. Appointed to the committee are Mr. Andrews,
Mr. Harrington, and Ms. Josefski. Ms.
Cushman feels that perhaps it would be beneficial if all of the Regions were on
the same page as the state and used the same programs.
Action: Committee to
continue investigating what database program would work best for the office.
FYI:
Ms. Cushman mentioned that there will be a Trauma Conference at
Foxwoods on April 5 and 6, 2001.
FYI:
The office has received a posting from OEMS. There is a part-time ambulance inspector position available at
$18,000 to $25,000 a year. Contact OEMS if interested.
FYI:
Dates regarding awards
banquets during EMS week:
Berkshire County will be held on Friday, May 25, 2001.
Franklin County will be held
on Monday, May 21, 2001.
FYI:
According to the new revision of CMR, optional skills is the only
credentialing that the Regions will have the authority to do. Ms. Moriarty stated that our Regional Defib
credentialing exists because the Medical Directors wanted us to do this. Ms. Moriarty stated that any discussion
concerning defib will have to take place between Physicians Council and
Regional Council.
Action: Defib to be
put on Physicians Agenda.
FYI:
Mr.
Cote reported about the Communications Committee meeting, it was suggested we
may need to retain a consultant for communications issues. At the meeting, Mr. Prenney was apparently
impressed that our Region is dealing with communications issues. Mr. Keefe stated that if Region 1 can come
up with a plan, Mr. Prenney would bring it before legislature in search of
funding. In this plan the state needs to know where we are at, and what the
communications committee is currently doing.
Action: Mr. Cote to follow up on Communications Surveys.
FYI:
Ms. Goyette wants comments on the P/B waiver draft #7. Please look at your copies and get back to
the WMEMS office with comments. Ms.
Moriarty stated that the standard in this Region is that most services have P/B
Waivers, and this draft will affect these.
Action: Read P/B
waiver draft and return comments to WMEMS.
Adjourn:
Motion made to adjourn at 11:55 a.m. Motion approved unanimously.
Lisa
Herringshaw, Secretary, Recorder