Western Mass Emergency
Medical Services Committee, Inc.
Meeting:
Regional
Council
Date: September
13, 2001
Place: Dakin,
Conference Room A, CDH, Northampton
Presiding: Brian
Andrews, Vice President
Called
to Order: 10:05 am
Adjourned: 11:31 am
Attendance:
Present
Brian
Andrews, Francesca Austin, Lucy Britton, Felicia Bycenski, Michael Clapp, Dr. Ray
Conway, Randy Cushing, Mary Cushman, Dr. M.J. Dinneen, Harriet Dyer, Dianne
Field, Daniel Harrington, John Hayden, Lee Irish, Dana Johnson, Dave Keefe,
Steve Manchino, Linda Moriarty, Linda Murphy, Barbara Pummell, Wes Stevenson,
Laurie Tuper, and Michael Zlogar
Minutes: A motion was made to accept minutes as written. This was seconded and approved unanimously.
Physicians
Council Report:
Discussion
Dr.
Dinneen and fellow physicians welcomed Dr. Jeff Gutterman from Mary Lane
Hospital.
The
Council had Ms. Josefski draft a letter to send out to non-represented
hospitals. The Council members feel it is important that a representative from
each hospital is regularly attend the monthly meetings.
As
a follow up to Infusion Pumps: this issue needs to go before the State Medical
Services meeting. It was agreed that Dr. Dinneen or Dr. Durkin would take this
issue to the meeting.
Also
discussed were the new protocols due to come out in November.
Ms.
Moriarty informed the group that there have not been any problems with
diversion that we are aware of.
After
some discussion on the LAPSS screen, one small change was made and the office
will put this on the back of the thrombolytic scale.
Finally,
Goshen Fire Department requested a P/B waiver renewal that was approved and is
recommended to Regional Council unanimously.
Also, North Adams Ambulance requested a P/B waiver renewal, which was
approved unanimously pending a letter of support from their Medical Director.
This waiver is recommended today to Regional Council and will be effective once
WMEMS receives this letter from the Medical Director.
Action WMEMS office to contact North Adams
Ambulance to request that they obtain a letter
from their Medical Director.
WMEMS to make changes to the LAPSS screen
and send to services.
Executive
Directors Report:
Discussion
Ms.
Moriarty informed the council that the office has received two memos in light
of the tragedy in New York. In the first memo it states that there has been an
outpouring of support and MEMA is requesting that they do not receive anymore
phone calls. Also, the hotlines should
not be called, as there have been over 8,000 calls. In the second memo OEMS reports that two individuals were
attempting to steal radios and turnout gear in a Boston Fire Station. Upon
being noticed the individuals ran from the scene and were not apprehended. OEMS
is requesting that all services keep their equipment, vehicles, and supplies
locked up in the event that this type of incident happens again.
WMEMS
has had to remove the bulletin board from our website due to two malicious
posts in the last two weeks.
Service
Directors should have gotten memos from OEMS regarding epi-pens stating that
they should be on BLS and Intermediate level ambulances by October 1, 2001.
In
regards to the diversion website: services will need access to this site 24
hours per day, 7 days a week. This can be fulfilled through a third party such
as dispatch or CMED. Mr. Zlogar asked how the services will be notified about
diversion and Ms. Moriarty stated that the services in Region 1 will still be
notified by phone as well as by website.
Ms. Moriarty told the group that Mr. Cote has a generic password if
anyone would like to check out this site.{Note: the website is http://www.hd.dph.state.ma.us/login.asp the login is: regionview and the password is
cmed}In regards to diversion, Ms. Moriarty states there was roughly 20-30
hours of diversion a month throughout the summer.
Reminders:
The Big E starts September 14. We currently have a few shifts open if anyone is
interested.
Run Report orders are due September 20. Please get your
order into the WMEMS office.
Action None.
Treasurers
Report:
Discussion
Ms.
Cushman reports that our checking account has a balance of $141555.53, Savings
Account $642.30, and the Scholarship Account is $6063.49.
In
addition, there was paperwork signed so the office could use credit at CopyCat
print shop. WMEMS also purchased insurance for the Communication Project.
Action None
Training Committee:
Discussion
The
committee reports that they have received one scholarship application
form.
Also,
they have decided to not meet in October, but will meet again in November.
Reminder:
Scholarship applications are due into the WMEMS office by November 1.
Action None
PIER
Committee:
See
New Business for appointment of chairperson.
Action None
Communications
Committee:
Discussion
Mr.
Andrews reports that Mr. Bruce Marcus from Marcus Communications was present at
their monthly meeting. The equipment is
available and he is currently in the process of completing the application and
sending it to the FCC. Mr. Cote
informed the group they are also ironing out some wording errors with Wilbraham
Fire.
Mr.
Andrews told the council that the committee is going to develop an inventory
book based on the information received from the communication surveys sent out
the end of last year. The office has received completed surveys from
approximately 40 of the 56 ambulance services in Western Mass. Mr. Andrews, Ms.
Moriarty, and Mr. Cote are going to contact the delinquent services one more
time to try to obtain the remaining completed surveys.
Finally,
the committee is looking for future projects in Region 1. If there are any
problems in your area please speak with someone on the committee.
Note:
Mr. Cote reports that Sept. 24 there is a dispatch academy. If interested call
Jim Lake. Also, Sept. 26 there is a state communications committee
meeting. Finally, the next regional
communications meeting will be held on October 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the
McCallum Building Living Room. Due to schedule conflicts, this meeting in one
week later than it usually is.
Action Mr. Andrews, Mr. Cote,
and Ms. Moriarty to contact services about unreturned
surveys.
Awards
Committee:
Discussion
There
was no meeting held this morning. If anyone is interested in joining this
committee, please contact the WMEMS office.
Action None
Berkshire
County Report:
Discussion
A
meeting was held this month but there is no significant information to report.
Action None
Franklin
County Report:
Discussion
At
their meeting this month they discussed the upcoming paramedic assist classes
to be held in South Deerfield and at Mohawk High School.
There
was discussion about problems with radio channels when calling into Franklin Medical
Center.
The
group talked about Mutual Aid concerns, such as, if an ambulance cant get a
crew and BHS is close to the scene, BHS could continue response instead of
toning out for another mutual aid ambulance service.
Action None
Hampden
County Report:
Discussion
Meeting
was cancelled.
Action None
Hampshire
County Report:
Discussion
Meeting
was cancelled.
Action None
Bylaws
Committee:
No
meeting was held.
Action None
Follow
up on Helicopter Services:
Mr.
Cote talked to all of the helicopter services in our Region. The consensus was
that each ambulance service should talk to the helicopter services and have
agreements with them. Albany MedFlight
reported that they have traveled as far as Cummington. Life Flight has covered
all of our area and states that they will contact Albany MedFlight if they are
not available in this area. Life Star reports that they will travel to Southern
Berkshire County. Finally, Dartmouth Hitchcock out of New Hampshire is not very
useful in our area as they cannot Hot Load and need to shut down their
helicopter to load patient.
If
there are any problems with LifeFlight, contact Mark Restuccia at UMASS Medical
Center in Worcester.
Mr.
Zlogar asked what this agreement was between services and helicopters. Ms.
Moriarty will contact Mr. Restuccia and ask if they have a model agreement and
also guidelines.
Mr.
Andrews asked that Mr. Cotes summary of conversations with helicopter services
be included in minutes.
Action Ms. Moriarty to contact Mr. Restuccia.
Ms. Herringshaw to
add Mr. Cotes summary to minutes.
Chairperson
Manuals:
Discussion
Mr.
Hopkins received feedback from committee members regarding committee
chairmanship. The chairperson manuals are completed and will be passed out at
the end of the meeting to the appointed chairpersons. After everyone has a
chance to go over these manuals, a meeting will be scheduled with Executive
Committee and Chairpersons.
Mr.
Andrews thanks Ms. Cushman for all her hard work on the manuals.
Action None.
Announcement
of Chairpersons:
Mr.
Andrews announces the following positions:
Communication:
Mr. Brian Andrews
Training:
Mr. Stevenson
Trauma
Services: Ms. Cushman, RN
Awards:
Tentatively, Roberta Hover
MCI:
Mr. Dave Keefe
PIER:
Mr. Clapp
Nursing:
Ms. Lucy Britton, RN
Physician:
Dr. Dinneen
Reminder:
when scheduling meetings, contact the WMEMS office because they can help
reserve a room here at CDH and they can post the meeting times on the website.
Action None
Goshen
Fire Department P/B Waiver Renewal:
Discussion
A
motion was made to accept Goshen Fire P/B waiver renewal. This motion was
recommended by Physicians Council and approved by Regional Council unanimously
with 0 abstentions.
Action WMEMS office to send
letter to OEMS.
North
Adams Ambulance P/B Waiver Renewal:
Discussion
A
motion was made to accept North Adams Ambulance P/B wavier renewal. Physicians
Council recommended this motion pending a letter of support from their Medical
Director. Regional Council approved this motion with 1 abstention (Laurie
Tuper).
Action Upon receiving letter
from Medical Director, WMEMS office to send letter to OEMS.
Proposal
to Establish Emergency Fund:
Dr.
Ron Hayden made a proposal that the council establish a bank account through
the regional office that will collect money for the families of EMS workers
that were killed in the New York City tragedy. Mrs. Clapp made the comment that
there will be a great need for money for these families as there may be some
life insurance companies that will not cover this type of incident. Mr. Cushing
made the suggestion that perhaps the WMEMS office could collect at our booth at
the Big E. Mr. Manchino added that he
has seen departments collect money for MDA at the Big E and felt that we could
collect just the same. Ms. Moriarty suggested that the council open the account
with a donation. A motion was made that the council start the account with $1000.00
and title it the EMS Worker/Victim Relief Fund. This motion was unanimously
approved. Mr. Zlogar made the suggestion that a memo be sent out to all Region
1 services regarding this account. Ms.
Cushman also made the suggestion that a few people get together to brainstorm
and come up with other ways to collect money for this account. Dr. Conway
agreed to help.
Action Ms. Moriarty to contact
the Big E regarding collecting at the booth for this fund.
WMEMS office to send memo to all Region
1 services informing them of account.
Ms. Cushman to report back on money
collection ideas.
Discussion
Ms.
Cushman informed the group that Baystate Medical Center Trauma Services has a
new director: Patrick Lee.
Also,
the State Trauma Committee has three subcommittees right now and they are
meeting regularly and working on putting together a fourth committee.
Finally,
Ms. Moriarty reports that a new set of regulations will be out in October
regarding Service Zone Planning. Ms. Moriarty and someone from OEMS will come
out and meet with select board members if the towns would like. The office will
send copies of these new regulations to all Regional Council Voters so we can
discuss these at our next meeting.
Action WMEMS office to send out
new regulations to Regional Council Voters.
Next
Meeting:
Discussion
The
next meeting will be held on October 11, 2001 at 10:00 am. This meeting will be held in Dakin,
Conference Room A.
Adjourn: A motion was made to adjourn at 11:31 am. This motion was
seconded and approved unanimously.
Lisa
Herringshaw, Secretary, Recorder