Life Link III® (MN) saves significant time and improves operational efficiency
by moving personnel scheduling to the cloud.
 
>> Click to watch the video Customer Report.

Critical thinking and efficiency are key with all air medical service organizations and they’re continually seeking ways to improve methods and procedures.  With the increasing use of “the cloud” for administrative processes, air transport companies are utilizing online software to increase administrative efficiencies and employee communication.
 
Life Link III is a leading medical air transport company in Minnesota. Effectively scheduling 70 medical personnel at six bases on a Google calendar became a daily burden.  They sought a better method and found Aladtec - an online employee scheduling and workforce management system.
 
“What was bad about the Google calendar was the inability to access it unless I was at a desktop computer.  It was highly inefficient, created a lot of work and there was absolutely zero automation to it.  Every trade and time-off request had to be entered manually. Having to allot that sort of time for simply scheduling was detrimental to completing our mission,” explains Nate Lebeck, Operations Manager/Critical Care Flight Paramedic, Life Link III, Minneapolis, Minnesota. “By switching to Aladtec I save at least 1 to 2 hours a day.  Add that up, and it frees as many as 10 hours a week for me to concentrate on more important tasks.”
 
Since Aladtec is a cloud-based SaaS (Software as a Service) product, it’s available 24/7 from any computer, smartphone or other mobile device via the Internet. The Life Link clinicians appreciate the option of using the mobile web application. “I use the mobile app because obviously I don't have to be at a desktop. Whether you're at work or at home, it's right there in the palm of your hand,” shares Phil Nicolas, Flight Paramedic, Life Link III.
 
With the implementation of Aladtec, Lebeck says everything has become automated. When a clinician is hired, their shift rotations are permanently placed in the system. The responsibility to make trades and request time off is up to the employee to make within the Aladtec system.  Then, their supervisor can approve it, or not approve it, with just the touch of a button. Life Link III also uses Aladtec to schedule outreach events and ride along requests.
 
“I really do like Aladtec. I don't say that about a lot of products but this system has really made my job much more efficient.  I would absolutely recommend Aladtec to other organizations; it’s a very good fit for our industry,” Lebeck concludes.
 
About Life Link III®:
Life Link III operates six helicopter bases serving patients in Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. The company’s helicopter and airplane services provide on-scene emergency response and inter-facility transport for patients requiring critical care. Life Link III is a non-profit consortium and is the air medical transport program for 44 hospitals across 9 health systems. For more information, visit www.lifelinkiii.com.
 
About Aladtec:
They proudly provide online employee scheduling and workforce management software to over 1,500 organizations, primarily within the Public Safety Sector. These customers count on Aladtec every day to help them save time and improve efficiency.  For information about their affordable industry specific options, or to try a free trial, please visit www.aladtec.com.

Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection, USP): Recall - Potential Inaccurate Dosage Delivery

Sanofi US is voluntarily recalling all Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection, USP). The recall involves all Auvi-Q currently on the market and includes both the 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg strengths for hospitals, retailers and consumers. This includes lot number 2299596 through 3037230, which expire March 2016 through December 2016. The products have been found to potentially have inaccurate dosage delivery. See the Press Release for product photos.

As of October 26, 2015, Sanofi has received 26 reports of suspected device malfunctions in the US and Canada. None of these device malfunction reports have been confirmed. In these reports, patients have described symptoms of the underlying hypersensitivity reaction. No fatal outcomes have been reported among these cases.

If a patient experiencing a serious allergic reaction (i.e., anaphylaxis) did not receive the intended dose, there could be significant health consequences, including death because anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition.

To download the FDA's reporting form click here or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form. 

>> Click to read the MedWatch safety alert, including a link to the Press Release.

>> Click to listen to the on-demand playback of this podcast.

During the EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast on Tuesday, October 13, co-hosts and guests discussed the following:

1. At the start of the program we received a Community Paramedicine update from PAAW President Patrick Ryan.

2. At 5:00 minutes into the program we discussed an innovative CPAP device manufactured by Pulmodyne.  Click images below to enlarge.

3. At 20:00 minutes into the program we learned about a technique at Lifestar EMS to improve congestive heart failure patient (CHF) treatment and outcomes using high dose nitro.  Assistant training coordinator Tyler Christifulli discussed the procedure approved by their local medical director.  This procedure is outside the "standard of care" and requires local medical director approval.  Tyler provided the following supporting information regarding high dose nitro for CHF:

Emcrit Podcast: http://emcrit.org/podcasts/scape/
 
Crashing Patients: http://crashingpatient.com/medical-surgical/cardiology/heart-failure-acute-pulmonary-edema.htm/
 
Annals EM 1997: http://crashingpatient.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/nitro-abstract.png
 
Piyush Mallick Study: http://emcrit.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Nitro-Bolus-Abstract.pdf
 
Video of High Dose Nitro in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAiJQeddf6I

4. At 40:00 minutes into the program Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin (PSOW) Conference Director Dan Williams discussed some of this year's topics and what was top of mind with EMS leaders in Wisconsin.  The conference was held in Green Bay and concluded on Friday, September 25.

>> Click to listen to the on-demand playback of this podcast.

The newest "Standby for Tones" blog post by featured writer and La Crosse paramedic, Crystal Wallin, was just posted, entitled "PR - Public Relations or Potential Recruits". 

The next live program of Wisconsin EMS Live is Tuesday, October 13, starting at 9:00 a.m.  The dial-in number is 646-929-1081, or listen on any internet connected device at this link:  http://tobtr.com/7986675

Program topics include:

1. An innovative new CPAP device manufactured by Pulmodyne.   Find a couple pictures of the device below.

2. Improve congestive heart failure patient (CHF) treatment and outcomes with a technique being used at Lifestar EMS.  We'll discuss further with assistant training coordinating Tyler Christifulli.

           

On a regular basis the past few months there has been a conference call to discuss Community Paramedicine (CP).  Participation is open to anyone interested. These conversations took a big leap forward this past week in Madison with legislative visits the past two days, and more scheduled in the near term.   

According to Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin President Patrick Ryan, "Our talking points about the importance of CP were very well received by everyone we spoke with.  So well in fact, multiple legislators have expressed interest in introducing the legislation in the next few weeks."  

Besides PAAW, the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, and Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association had representatives at the Sate Capitol, coordinating their efforts with legislative meetings.

To listen to the latest CP information from the October 1 conference call, click to download http://tobtr.com/7883515.  The call lasted 20 minutes.

To download the latest CP legislation (draft #6 dated 9/28/2015), go to www.paaw.us/cp, look for "Legislation Draft #6" in the blog post area.

The next CP conference call is Friday, Oct. 30 starting at 9:00 a.m.  Again, it's open to anyone interested and is moderated by PAAW President Patrick Ryan.

A new concept for the Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) -- paramedics treating patients before they call 911. They'll start this week, and this will help cut down on the number of emergency calls MFD gets from the same home each month.

They're called community paramedics, and they'll specialize in treating chronic conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"The issue with asthma is you can get the air in, but you can't necessarily squeeze it out," said Sarah Brundidge, manager of lung health services with the American Lung Association in Wisconsin.

These paramedics are training with the American Lung Association, thanks to a grant from the United Health Foundation.

"Milwaukee has some of the highest rates of asthma in the country," said Brundidge.

MFD dispatch records show 24% of calls are from individuals with 'difficulty breathing.' The same patient could call as many as 40 times in six months.

Source:  Fox 6 News, Milwaukee

Photo Credit:  Logan Sechler of Sechler Photography, LLC

>> Click to download the 2015 Wisconsin Stars of Life program booklet, which includes information on each honoree.

Words of congratulations and thank you, smiles, handshakes, hugs, and so much more were abundant at this year's Wisconsin Stars of Life, which recognized twenty-six honorees nominated by their respective ambulance service or an organization.  The two-day event was held in Green Bay on September 23 and 24.

The celebration began at Lambeau Field with a Welcome Reception that was kicked off by VP of Marketing Gabrielle Dow, followed by a welcome message by Director of Sports Medicine Pepper Burruss, both of them with the Green Bay Packers.  Wisconsin Star of Life introductions came next that included personal stories and accolades by the Stars' respective employer, co-worker or family member, to include presentation of a commemorative Star of Life lapel pin for each.

The following day the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference provided for the formal dinner and awards program, where each Star was formally introduced and inducted as a Wisconsin Star of Life honoree, and presented with a gold medallion and signed certificate of appreciation from Governor Scott Walker.

The program concluded with the announcement Fire and EMS Chief Deonne Eske with Ashippun Fire Department was chosen as Wisconsin's representative to attend the National Stars of Life program next year in Washington, D.C.  National Stars of Life is produced by the American Ambulance Association.  

During the past thirty-two years, Eske has been a volunteer EMT/firefighter, lieutenant, captain, and is currently chief at the department. In 2014, she attended 100% of fire and EMS meetings and over 90% of fire and rescue calls as a volunteer. In addition, Eske presents an annual fire safety program to the elderly, including calling 911 and how to prepare for the ambulance arriving.  Her department's nomination also included how she follows up on patients who were recently transported by the ambulance - even cleaning and changing bed sheets before they came back home.

Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees have been invited to a one-day event at the State Capitol on Tuesday, October 27, for recognition before the Senate and Assembly in their respective chambers, as well as meet with their local legislators.

2015 Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees included:

The past two weeks have seen swift action to make population and waiver amendments to first responder legislation now making its way through the bill writing process. The Senate version, first passed on June 9, was changed to closely mirror the Assembly's Health Committee version.  

According to the amendments, population less than 10,000 can automatically staff a first responder as a legal crew member, and doesn't require a staffing plan waiver.  More than 20,000 population can't use first responders as a legal crew staffing option.  Population is defined by the single largest municipality in the ambulance service's coverage area.

Population 10,000 or more but not more than 20,000 may apply to the Department of Health for a staffing plan waiver; however, certain conditions must be demonstrated to include all of the following:

• The ambulance service provider has undertaken efforts to recruit and train emergency medical technicians capable of being licensed under this section.
• Despite efforts under subd. 2. a., licensed emergency medical technicians are not available in sufficient numbers for staffing for the ambulance services provider.
• Without a waiver under subd. 1., the municipality that the ambulance service provider serves is unable to meet staffing requirements for ambulances that require 2 emergency medical technicians on every service call.
• The department shall provide a written staffing waiver to any ambulance service provider it approves under subd. 2.
• A waiver under subd. 1. is valid for 48 months after the date of issuance, and an ambulance service provider may apply to renew the waiver.
• An ambulance service provider with a waiver under subd. 1. shall attempt to staff an ambulance with 2 licensed emergency medical technicians whenever possible.