By Melissa M. Trumbull, Industry Relations Manager, NAEMT

 

On Thursday, May 22, the U.S. Senate, led by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D) honored our nation’s EMS practitioners during EMS Week by introducing the S.2400 Field EMS Innovation Act (Field EMS Bill) in the Senate. This bill is the companion to the Field EMS Bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 26, 2013, as H.R. 809 by Congressman Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.).

 

The Field EMS Bill addresses many of the challenges EMS systems face while trying to fulfill public expectations that all who need EMS can depend upon the highest quality of care and transport to the most appropriate clinical setting. This is the first bill to seriously look at EMS issues since the 1960s, the act would improve access to essential and life-saving EMS services and better integrate EMS within the larger health care system. Regardless of the model of EMS care delivery – whether governmental, nonprofit, private or volunteer – all EMS providers fulfill an essential public function for all patients in need. This function is carried out to the best of their ability and in spite of limited resources. The Field EMS Bill puts patients first by promoting high quality and evidence-based care for all patients in need of emergency medical care.

 

To view the full press release, visit the NAEMT web site at www.naemt.org. To view the latest information about the Field EMS Bill, visit here.

 

As NAEMT President Don Lundy states “advocacy is a marathon not a sprint”, and we are surely moving closer and closer to the finish line because of your help. 

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin signed on early to support the Field EMS Bill.

The State of Wisconsin EMS Office is accepting proposals for the EMS Medical Director position until May 30th.  Proposals should be sent to the Wisconsin EMS Office.

The State's current medical director, Dr. Charles Cady, has expressed interest to continue with these responsibilities and plans to submit a proposal.

The current medial director contract expires June 30, 2014.

At its May meeting, the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin’s Board of Directors approved a modest change to the Wisconsin Stars of Life program, as well as advancing every other year an honoree to the American Ambulance Association’s national Stars of Life event held in Washington, D.C.

Beginning in September 2015, PAAW will host the Wisconsin Stars of Life awards program every other year, allowing it to coordinate its bi-annual visit of honorees to the State Capitol.  Every person nominated is presented with Wisconsin Stars of Life recognition.  From the group of Wisconsin honorees, one individual will be advanced in the subsequent year as Wisconsin’s representative and presented national Stars honors, the first opportunity being March 2016 under the new timeline.

According to PAAW President Patrick Ryan, “We’ve been extremely pleased to produce the Stars event that recognizes Wisconsin’s best Emergency Medical Technicians as nominated by their local ambulance service.  Stars of Life provides awareness to our profession and the dedicated service being provided by so many.  We’ve wanted to be part of the national Stars program for some time; now Wisconsin will be.”

 

The American Ambulance Association, through generous financial support from its Foundation, will cover airfare and a majority of other costs for the Washington, D.C. event in March 2016 for the Star, Star’s guest and host (employer).  This beneficial arrangement will continue to be offered every other year with PAAW’s recommendation.

 

Maria Bianchi, Executive Vice President for the American Ambulance Association stated, “We are extremely proud to work with PAAW and the fine job they are doing in recognizing the dedication of so many EMTs.  This is such a terrific program.  We are so honored to have Wisconsin included in the national Stars of Life event and awards ceremony.”

 

The Wisconsin Stars dinner and awards program will continue to coordinate with the opening night of the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin conference in Green Bay.  So timing lines up, there will not be a Wisconsin Stars program held in September 2014.

PAAW has produced the Wisconsin Stars of Life program since 2006, and is modeled after the American Ambulance Association national Stars program.  Persons nominated by their employers all receive Wisconsin Stars of life honors and exhibit these suggested EMS workplace criteria:

• Employee of the year
• On-duty or off-duty service above the call of duty
• Setting significant records
• Significant community contributions outside of EMS

The WI Office of Rural Health will once again offer funding in 2014-15 for community health projects through the Rural Community Grant Program.  Guidelines are available at their website (http://www.worh.org/grants/wi-orh ).  Any rural healthcare coalition that includes a rural hospital with fewer than 50 staffed beds is eligible to apply.

 

Funding is offered for both planning and implementation projects.  Beginning this year, projects must address an issue identified as a priority in the partner hospital(s)’ Community Health Needs Assessment. 

 

Proposals are due no later than July 14; late proposals will not be accepted. 

The WI Office of Rural Health will host a webinar/conference call on May 14 at 10:00 to review the guidelines and answer any questions. 

For more information, contact Kevin Jacobson at kmjacobson2@wisc.edu.

In response to the ongoing shortage of 0.9% sodium chloride injection (normal saline), Baxter Healthcare Corp. of Deerfield, Ill., will temporarily distribute normal saline in the United States from its Spain manufacturing facility. FDA is temporarily exercising its discretion regarding the distribution of Baxter’s saline product from Spain and Fresenius Kabi’s saline product from Norway as needed to address this critical shortage, which poses a serious threat to patients.

 

FDA inspected Baxter’s Spain facility where its normal saline product is made to ensure the facility meets FDA standards. FDA asks that health care professionals contact Baxter directly to obtain the product.

 

In addition to these sources of normal saline, U.S.-based manufacturers – Baxter Healthcare Corp., B.Braun Medical Inc., and Hospira Inc., – are currently producing and releasing normal saline. Baxter’s saline product from Spain will be distributed temporarily in addition to Baxter’s FDA-approved version that is currently manufactured and distributed in the United States.

 

While the shipments described above will help reduce current disruptions, they will not resolve the current shortage of 0.9% sodium chloride injection.

Preventing drug shortages is a top priority for the FDA, and we are doing everything within our authority to improve access and alleviate this shortage.

 

The Professional Ambulance Association continues to report and share information as it becomes available.  To review Bound Tree Medical's weekly pharmaceutical backorder report, click here.

The following was emailed on the afternoon of April 25 by the State of Wisconsin EMS Office to EMS Stakeholders:

Brian Litza is no longer with the Wisconsin EMS Office. He has resigned effective 2014-04-24.

Jennifer Ullsvik will be taking his responsibilities on an interim basis. All communication that would normally go to Brian should be directed to Jenny. She will work with the EMS Office staff to continue to move EMS in Wisconsin forward. Her contact information is:

Jennifer Ullsvik, MS JD, Section Chief

Emergency Health Care and Preparedness

Division of Public Health

1 W. Wilson Street, Room 1150

Madison, WI 53701

Phone: 608.267.7178

jennifer.ullsvik@wi.gov

 The day to day operations of the EMS Office will not change. We remain committed to the positive customer service and professionalism that the office has encouraged.

New rules from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will have a significant impact on helicopter air ambulance services.  These regulations implement new operational procedures and require additional equipment for helicopter air ambulances in response to an increase in fatal helicopter air ambulance accidents.  The new rules identify four common factors in those accidents- inadvertent flight into Instrument Meteorological Conditions, loss of control, controlled flight into terrain, and night conditions.

 

The rule becomes effective April 22, 2014 and includes the following provisions: 

• Requires all helicopter air ambulance operations with medical personnel on board to be conducted under Part 135 operating rules, not just the flights involving actual transport of the patient. 
• Introduces new weather minimums and visibility requirements.
• Mandates flight planning of terrain and obstacles.
• Requires a pre-flight risk analysis focusing on characteristics of the planned flight path, flight crewmember availability to safely conduct the operation, weather, and if the flight has been rejected by another operator.
• Requires that all medical personnel be given a safety briefing with information specific to helicopter air ambulance flights prior to each flight or receive eight hours of helicopter safety training every two years.
• Mandates that operators with 10 or more helicopter air ambulances establish operations control centers staffed with operations control specialists.
• Requires all helicopter air ambulances be equipped with both helicopter terrain awareness and warning systems by April 22, 2017 and flight data monitoring systems by April 22, 2018.
• Mandates that all helicopter air ambulance pilots hold instrument ratings and demonstrate the ability to recover from inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions.

The rule does not apply to public aircraft unless it operating for a commercial purpose.  This means public agencies who are not paid for their services are not bound by the new rule.

 

Click HERE for a more detailed summary of the Final Rule.

Source:  Page, Wolfberg and Wirth EMS Attorney Law Firm

Gov. Scott Walker signed seven bills Monday aimed at fighting the state's growing heroin problem during stops around the state.

 

The new laws include ones that will allow drug users to call 911 about overdoses without fear of prosecution, expand treatment alternatives and create quicker punishments for offenders who violate the terms of their probation.

 

Walker signed the bills at events in Marinette, Stevens Point, Eau Claire and Milwaukee. The Marinette County Courthouse was chosen as one venue because it is in the district ofstate Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), who has taken a lead in drafting the measures. Nygren's daughter Cassie has struggled with heroin addiction.

Bell Ambulance in Milwaukee also served as one of Gov. Walker's stops highlighting the new law (picture insert).

 

"Wisconsin, like many states across the country, is experiencing a dangerous trend undefined an escalating number of cases of heroin use, addiction and overdose," Walker said in a statement. "Heroin addiction does not discriminate, and we have to take action to protect our friends, family members and neighbors who need help."

 

Supporters have dubbed the bills Heroin Opiate Prevention and Education, or HOPE.

"I know that our HOPE agenda isn't the 'silver bullet' to overcoming our state's heroin epidemic," Nygren said in a statement. "Rather, these seven bills are an important first step in the right direction."

 

The new laws will:

 

■ Give people immunity from criminal prosecution for drug possession if they bring a fellow drug user to an emergency room or call911 because they believe the person is suffering from an overdose.

The measure does not provide immunity for drug dealing or other serious crimes.

 

■ Allow any first responders to administer naloxone if they are trained. Known by its brand name of Narcan, naloxone counteracts overdoses from heroin and other opiates. Currently, only certain emergency medical technicians are allowed to administer the drug, and the bill would make it more widely available.

 

■ Allow communities to create programs to dispose of prescription and illegal drugs to curb abuse of substances that can lead to heroin addiction.

 

■ Require people to show identification to pick up prescriptions that are considered to have a high potential for abuse.

 

■ Create two or three state programs to help treat heroin addicts in high-need, rural areas at an estimated cost of $2 million a year.

 

■ Add $1.5 million in funding annually for treatment alternatives and diversion programs that focus on substance abuse treatment for those who commit crimes.

 

■ Implement "swift and certain" punishments for those who violate the terms of their probation or parole. Advocates say making certain punishments happen quickly helps deter those on probation from reoffending.

 

Source:  Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel