Western Mass Emergency Medical Services Committee, Inc.

Meeting: Executive Committee

Date: May 2, 2002

Place: McCallum Building Living Room, CDH, Northampton

Presiding: Robert Hopkins

Called to Order: 10:04 a.m.

Adjourned: 11:08 a.m.

Attendance:

Present - Brian Andrews, Dr. Conway, Mary Cushman, Dana Johnson, Dave Keefe, Linda Moriarty, and Jeff Rawson

Present by Proxy – Dan Harrington, Robert Hopkins

Absent – Steve Manchino

Guests – Steve Cote, Lisa Herringshaw, and Dawn Josefski

Conflict of Interest Statement: The president opened the meeting with a conflict of interest statement. No one present had any conflicts to divulge for any items on the agenda.

Minutes: A motion was made to accept minutes as written. This was seconded and approved unanimously.

Old Business

WMEMS Job Descriptions:

Discussion –

Ms. Josefski presented the office job descriptions incorporating the changes made from last months meeting. After discussion, Ms. Moriarty made a motion to eliminate “Responsible to Board of Directors” from all except the Executive Directors job description. This motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Ms. Cushman made the motion to swap the two paragraphs in section III, Essential Functions. After brief discussion, this was seconded and approved unanimously.

Action – Ms. Josefski to modify job descriptions and bring final copies to next months meeting.

WMEMS Personnel Policies:

Discussion –

This issue was tabled until next month.

Action – Mr. Andrews and Ms. Cushman to meet and develop Personnel Policies.

Regional Council Room Change:

Discussion –

Ms. Josefski checked into moving our Regional Council meeting from Dakin Conference Room to the McCallum building, unfortunately the Living Room is already booked by someone else. Ms. Josefski relayed that we are unsure of the expected date of renovations, so for now we will stay in Dakin.

Action – None.

Update on meeting with Mary Lane Hospital:

Discussion –

Ms. Moriarty reported that she has not met with Mary Lane Hospital to discuss diversion issues, but they appear to be doing better with this now.

Action – None.

Update on EMS Commission (re: diversion website access):

Discussion –

Ms. Moriarty reports that the EMS Commission is going to pay for Internet access at Springfield CMED. Mr. Controvitch is currently looking into various methods for access. The Commission hopes to have this up and running within the next 60 days.

Action – Mr. Cote or Ms. Moriarty to update committee on progress.

Communications Committee Update

Discussion –

Mr. Andrews reported that the Region has purchased the VHF radio at Wing Hospital. The Hampden East Project is currently going forward with some equipment on order. Mr. Andrews expressed concern to this committee that recently Baystate lost their radio communications for a period of time. He feels that there needs to be a back-up in the event that this happens again. Ms. Moriarty reported that the EMS Commission agreed some time ago that they would have radios put in at Baystate and Mercy. She will check on this.

Action – Ms. Moriarty to check on back-up radio system and report back to committee.

New Business

Hospital Diversion Status:

Discussion –

Mr. Keefe made the suggestion that CMED operators read from a script when calling services for hospital diversion notification. There have been some issues of the CMED operators using incorrect wording. Mr. Cote reported that he has also received incorrect wording and corrected the operators. Mr. Andrews feels that this would be a good item to include in the procedure manual that the Communications Committee is working on.

Action – Mr. Cote to continue to monitor diversions.

Defib Credentialing:

Discussion –

There was a lengthy discussion about discontinuing the Regional Semi-Auto Defib credentialing process for all EMTs. Most of the new EMTs are being tested on AED use for their state certifying exam, most others have been regionally credentialed for several years, AHA has incorporated a piece on AED and finally: lay people are being trained and don’t have to go through the semi-annual evaluations why should we make EMTs go through a more stringent process. Mr. Rawson made a motion to have the Regional Council vote on the elimination of the Regional Semi-Auto Defib credentialing process for all EMTs effective 12/31/02. Motion passed with one abstention, Dr. Conway. First Responders must continue with the credentialing until their regulations reference to authorization to use is changed.

Action – Put on the agenda for the May Regional Council meeting.

POS Credentialing:

Discussion –

There was a brief discussion concerning what to do for Regional Credentialing for the Paramedic Optional Skills. OEMS just recently eliminated chest decompression and intraosseous infusion from

the optional procedure section of the Statewide Protocols. Therefore the only “optional skill” is the needle thyroidectomy. A motion was made to have a discussion at the Regional Council. Motion passed unanimously.

Action – Put on the agenda for the May Regional Council meeting.

NAEMT Donation:

Discussion –

The WMEMS office received a letter of thanks from the National EMT Association regarding the donation that was sent on behalf of the Region. Ms. Cushman then read the letter for the committee members present.

Action – None.

Next Meeting:

The next meeting will be held on June 6, 2002 at 10:00 am. in the McCallum Building Living Room.

Adjourn: At 11:08 a.m. a motion was made to adjourn the meeting. This motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

Lisa Herringshaw, Recorder