Western Mass Emergency Medical Services Committee, Inc.

 

Meeting:                     Physicians Council

Date:                           October 11, 2001

Place:                          East Wing 1 Conference Room, CDH, Northampton

Presiding:                   Dr. Dinneen, Chairperson

Called to Order:         9:10 am

Adjourned:                  10:00 am

 

Attendance:

 

Present – Dr. Dinneen, Dr. Durkin, Dr. Emhoff, Dr. Fay, Dr. Hayden, Dr. Mausel, Dr. Noonan

Present by Proxy – Dr. Conway

Excused –  

Absent – Mr. Donovan, DO, Dr. Gabor, Dr. Gutterman, Dr. Sabatelli and Dr. Sutton

Guests - Dawn Josefski and Linda Moriarty

 

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

 

Old Business

 

Follow up on Infusion Pumps: 

            Discussion –

Dr. Dinneen sent a letter to Mike Erdos (OEMS Medical Director) and has not received a response yet.

Action – Dr. Dinneen update the committee when she receives response.

 

Letter to Non-Represented Hospitals:

            Discussion –

Letters and meeting schedule were sent to Fairview and North Adams hospitals.

Action –  None.

 

Proposed Protocol Changes:

            Discussion –

The state has approved new protocols that are due to come out in November.

            Action – None

 

LAPSS Screen:

            Discussion –

Ms. Josefski reported that OEMS is going to have a stoke scale as part of the protocol revisions but unsure if it will be ready by November 1, 2001. After a brief discussion the committee decided to have the office distribute the LAPSS scale to ambulance services for regional use until the state completes their scale.

Action – WMEMS office to amend the Regional P & P to include the LAPSS Screen and send to services.

 
Medical Services Meeting:

            Discussion –

The meeting will be held tomorrow October 12, 2001 and Dr. Dinneen is planning on attending.

                Action – None

 

Diversion Report:

                Discussion –

Ms. Moriarty reported that all state hospital CEO’s received a letter explaining that the statewide diversion website is operational for all five regions. We will continue to have Springfield CMED  be the contact point for hospitals needing to go on diversion as well as completing the notification to ambulance services when there is a diversion.  Ms. Moriarty also handed out a recent email from Brad Prenney, DPH, with a current proposed standardized set of definitions/rules/policies for a statewide diversion. Discussion followed and most agreed that these standards are very close to the ones Western Mass already has in place. If anyone has any other comments please contact Dr. Dinneen.

 

                Action – Ms. Moriarty to keep the physician’s committee updated on progress.

 

New Business

 

Review of Medical Direction and Oversight Document:

            Discussion-

This document is a product of the State Taskforce on Medical Oversight. The members present took a few minutes to read over the document. Some discussion ensued. Questions arose in regards to whether or not board certified doctors need to be currently certified in ACLS and PALS. Dr. Durkin believed that the state committee had changed that requirement. Essentially this is a document in progress and Dr. Durkin and Dr. Dinneen would like any feedback so they can report back to the taskforce.

 

Berkshire Medical Center:

                Discussion-

Dr. Hayden reported that BMC was having occasional problems with Neurosurgical coverage and he was looking for help in getting transfers out during those instances. Dr. Emhoff stated that approximately five years ago BMC had this problem and they sent their neurosurgery schedule to Baystate Medical Center. BSMC could then be more prepared. Dr. Fay suggested that BMC contact Life Flight when there is a neurosurgery transfer and they will help BMC find an appropriate facility.

 

FYI:

 

Dr. Durkin reported that there are 2nd and 3rd year residents doing field ride time with some ambulance services and the hospitals should be aware that their patients might be coming in with RSI, LMA’s  or Combitubes.  As an aside, the state is still on hold regarding rescue airways for EMT’s. Hopefully the final decision will be out soon, it appears that the selection of Combitube or LMA will be based on training requirements and medical control.

 

Next Meeting:

            Discussion –

The next meeting will be held on November 8, 2001 at 9:00 am.  This meeting will be held in East Wing 2 Conference Room.

 

Adjourn:  A motion was made to adjourn at 10:00 am. This motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

 

 

Dawn Josefski, Recorder