Western Mass Emergency
Medical Services Committee, Inc.
Meeting:
Physicians Council
Date: June 13, 2002
Place: East Wing 2 Conference Room, CDH,
Northampton
Presiding: Dr. Dinneen, Chairperson
Called
to Order: 9:05 am
Adjourned: 10:02 am
Attendance:
Present
– Dr.
Conway, Dr. Dinneen, Dr. Durkin, Dr. Fay, Dr.Gutterman, Dr. Noonan and Dr. Sutton
Conflict
of Interest Statement: The chairperson opened the
meeting with a conflict of interest statement. Those with conflicts on agenda
items will abstain from voting.
Minutes: A motion was made to accept minutes as written. This was seconded and approved unanimously.
Diversion
Report:
There was no diversion report for Region 1 Hospitals this month. There will be a diversion meeting set up for July. Ms. Moriarty reported that the region diversion plan should be amended to allow Mary Lane or Wing to be on diversion even though Baystate or Mercy may be on diversion.
Action- Hospitals will be notified of meeting date.
Standards for Medical Direction and Oversight:
A copy of the draft document was distributed at the
last meeting. Dr. Sutton would like to have representative from our region to
voice the following concerns at the state Medical Service meeting to be held
June 14th:
- (1.6.3) Provide remedial training opportunities in the Affiliate Hospital an/or System Hospitals Emergency Depts. and Operating Rooms…. This will be a problem for Noble.
-
(2.0.3) Successful completion of a Protocol exam for
on-line medical control physicians.
-
(3.6) To
perform a biannual medical audit of the Affiliate Hospital pre-hospital
training, education and any other pertinent information. Will there be a
checklist or formalized paperwork?
Finally there was a short discussion on the fund
availability to finance the implementation of these standards. To everyone’s knowledge there is none! The
State meeting is tomorrow, Friday June 14th at Mass Medical Society
in Waltham. Any comments can be forwarded to OEMS c/o Dr. Erdos.
Defib
and Paramedic Optional Skills:
The
State Medical Services Committee voted to remove Chest Decompression and
Intraosseous Infusion from the “optional” to the required skill list in the
Statewide Protocols. This means that all paramedics will be expected to perform
those skills as necessitated according to the particular protocols. Currently,
paramedics are taught the skills during their initial training but are not tested
on these skills during their state paramedic-certifying exam. In the past each
paramedic had to complete an optional skills course, sponsored by the region,
to receive a regional authorization to practice card. To remain certified they
must then be evaluated on a yearly basis and the completed form, signed by
their medical director submitted to the regional office. Discussion ensued and
it was decided that the region would continue to require completion of a course
on Needle Cricothyroidotomy and yearly skill evaluations to be completed and
submitted to the office. Ms. Josefski to update the current skills evaluation
to include the Quick Trach device and notify all paramedic services of the
changes.
Dr.
Conway will work with Ms. Josefski to develop a skills evaluation sheet that
will contain all the other skills that a medical director might want to
evaluate (i.e. Pacing, IV, Intubations, IO, Chest Decompression, Defib, etc..)
Once completed this sheet will be shared with all regional medical directors.
At
the May Regional Council meeting it was voted that effective December of 2002
services will no longer submit defib paperwork to the regional office. The
office will also cease issuing defib authorization cards to EMTs. It will be up
to the individual medical directors and the services to develop appropriate
mechanisms to ensure proper training of individuals and QA of defib
utilization. The bi-yearly evaluation forms that have been used in this region
can continue to be used by the medical directors if they so choose. It was
suggested that the services keep track of signed evaluation forms and make them
available to the medical director upon request.
The
office will continue to maintain records and issue authorization cards to all
first responders (fire and police) until those regulations are changed.
Copies of the P/B renewal packet were sent around for review. Agawam has increased their paramedic staff from 6 in 1997 to 21 as of today. They have also added a paramedic level ambulance to another substation in the city. Motion was made to recommend approval of Agawam Fire P/B waiver renewal. Motion passed unanimously.
Action- Dr. Dinneen to bring forward the recommendation at Regional Council.
North Adams Ambulance P/B Waiver Renewal Request:
Copies of the P/B renewal packet were sent around for review. NAAS has increased their paramedic staff from 9 to 12 and they currently have 3 individuals enrolled in paramedic school. Motion was made to recommend approval of North Adams Ambulance P/B waiver renewal. Motion passed unanimously.
Action- Dr. Dinneen to bring
forward the recommendation at Regional Council.
Wilbraham Fire P/B Waiver Renewal Request:
Copies of the P/B renewal packet were sent around for review. Wilbraham has increased their paramedic staff from 4 in 1999 to 7 as of today and they currently have one member enrolled in paramedic school. Motion was made to recommend approval of Wilbraham Fire P/B waiver renewal. Motion passed unanimously.
Action- Dr. Dinneen to bring forward the recommendation at Regional Council.
FYI:
Dr.
Fay wondered what copies of the ambulance run forms each hospital collects. Dr.
Conway explained that the white, pink and cardboard are all considered
originals, he does have his services leave the white copy at the hospital.
Summer
Meetings:
A
motion was made to cancel the July and August meetings and reconvene in
September. Motion passed unanimously.
Next
Meeting:
The
next meeting will be held on September 12, 2002 at 9:00 am. This meeting will be held in East Wing 2
Conference Room.
Adjourn: A motion was made to adjourn at 10:02 am. This motion was
seconded and approved unanimously.
Dawn
Josefski, Recorder