Pennsylvania Facing Fire and EMS Crisis
Harrisburg, Pa. (WTAJ) - First responders in Pennsylvania are in crisis. That's the message of a report released on Wednesday.
A commission of fire and EMS organizations, as well as state lawmakers, released a report with 27 recommendations to improve fire and EMS in the state.
That includes adding incentives to help recruit first responders, expanding the office of the state fire commissioner, and providing state funding for basic fire and EMS training. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 29, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Jackson Elwell (WTAJ) Tags: News Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
EMS Agencies in W.V. to Merge in Effort to Better Serve Community
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WDTV)-- In the words of the County Commissioners, "it's a great day to be a Mon County resident."
The reason for this, is the announcement of the collaboration of Mon Health EMS and WVU Hospitals' HealthTeam Critical Care Transport ambulance services.
"If we combine the assets of Mon EMS and our WVU Medicine HealthTeam EMS, we think we can build a better mouse trap," said Albert Wright, the President and CEO of WVU Health System.
Bringing these two companies into one organization will allow for the closest ambulance to be immediately dispatched to a call.
Read more at WDTV. (So...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 29, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Mariah Congedo (WDTV) Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Last Call Made for Crew of Bismarck Air Medical Flight
During the 'Celebration of Life' on Monday morning at the Bismarck Event Center which honored the lives of three fallen first responders, there was the poignant moment of the 'Last Call.'
The lives of Bismarck Air Medical pilot Todd Lasky, Bismarck Air Medical paramedic, Chris Iverson, and CHI St. Alexius Health Registered Nurse, Bonnie Cook, were celebrated during the hour and a half long service.
Prior to the service, more than 85 ambulances, police vehicles and firefighting units escorted their bodies from the Eastgate Funeral home to the Bismarck Event Center.
(Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 26, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tia Streeter (KX News) Tags: News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Victims of N.D. Air Medical Plane Crash Celebrated and Honored
A celebration of lives held earlier this morning at the Bismarck Event Center in North Dakota to honor the three lives lost in a medical airplane crash on Sunday, Nov. 18. The memorial service was aired live by North Dakota TV station KX News and celebrated the lives of Bismarck Air Medical pilot Todd Lasky, Bismarck Air Medical paramedic, Chris Iverson, and CHI St. Alexius Health Registered Nurse, Bonnie Cook. It was attended by family, local and state emergency medical services organizations, and members of the communities they served.
WATCH & LISTEN: Last Call Made for Crew of Bismarck Air Medical Flight
P...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 26, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: KX News Tags: News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
EMS Encouraged to Comment on Opioid Crisis National Roadmap
The NHTSA Office of EMS is encouraging members of the EMS community to comment on a draft report developed by the Fast Track Action Committee (FTAC) on Health Science and Technology Response to the Opioid Crisis. Under the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, NTSC convened the Opioid FTAC as a response to the opioid crisis to identify (1) research and development (R&D) critical to addressing key gaps in knowledge and tools, and (2) opportunities to improve coordination of Federal research and development essentials to combating the opioid crisis.
The draft report, "Health Research and Development t...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 21, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: NHTSA Office of EMS Tags: News Administration and Leadership Mobile Integrated Healthcare Source Type: news
Recruitment and Retention: A Perennial Problem in EMS
Whenever I speak with my colleagues around the country, we inevitably end up discussing how best to attract staff and keep them with our EMS agencies for the long term. Employee recruitment and retention is an issue we constantly wrestle with and seemingly never solve. As with any problem, the most important step in solving it, is to understand it.
Research on this subject has been conducted over the years as it is relates to the healthcare industry in general, with some even focused specifically on EMS practitioners.
Examining the Data
In a survey study conducted by the Montana Department of Health in 2009, over a thousan...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 20, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Vincent D. Robbins, FACPE, FACHE Tags: Columns Exclusive Articles Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Reflecting on Pennsylvania's EMS Issues from 2,300 Miles Away
My sister-in-law in Eastern Pennsylvania, sent me this great descriptive article published in the Times News from the six-county EMS region in Eastern Pennsylvania where I was director from 1975–1992.
It presents a great update and facts on age-old issues that volunteer, BLS and low-volume services have. I wish I wrote it.
Most of the issues are decades old and existed when I was the region's EMS Council Director, but now these issues are catching up with small services and choking them—financially and emotionally—to death.
From 1975–1987, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's EMS law allowed (by interpretation) ...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 19, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P Tags: Exclusive Articles Columns Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Volunteer Ambulance VP Fired After Human Trafficking Arrest
HARTFORD (FOX 61) -- On Wednesday, following the arrest of Simon Hessler, FOX61 learned that he was the second in command of the Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corps and worked with several juveniles in the Explorer Post.
An Ellington mother was upset that on two occasions, she reported inappropriate behavior to ambulance officials and then to police. Even after the complainants, Hessler was still overseeing juvenile girls in the Explorer Post.
Melissa Doyon, an Ellington mother of a female explorer was upset her warnings were not taken seriously.
Read more at FOX 61.
Editor's note: Ellington Volunteer Ambulance Corp...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 19, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Roger Susanin, Mike Agogliati (WFSB) Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Northwest N.Y. Town Scrambles to Replace Volunteer Ambulance Service
CAPE VINCENT, N.Y. (WWNY-TV) -- Officials in the town of Cape Vincent are moving quickly to replace their volunteer ambulance squad.
The town board appointed five people to a new ambulance committee Thursday night. This comes as the town's all-volunteer ambulance squad is set to disband at the beginning of next year.
"That's what the committee is for, to take every possible idea to get some type of ambulance service that will work and be cost efficient for the town of Cape Vincent and the village," town councilman Alan Wood said.
Tim White is going to chair the committee. Right now the town board is floating a fe...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 18, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: WWNY-TV Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
EMS Council of New Jersey (EMSCNJ) Names EMT Faith Lancaster 'Squad Member of the Year'
Squad Member of the Year Faith Lancaster, left, thanks her friend of 30 years and fellow Middle Township Ambulance Corps member Phyllis Linn for nominating her for the award.
SAYREVILLE, NJ -- The EMS Council of New Jersey (EMSCNJ) has named Middle Township Ambulance Corps (MTAC) EMT Faith Lancaster “Squad Member of the Year.”
A lifelong resident of Cape May and Atlantic Counties, Lancaster has been involved in EMS for 30 years. She has served in leadership roles for various squads, and even as a volunteer firefighter. She currently is serving her second term as chief of the MTAC. She also is a junior and cadet advisor...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 16, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: EMS Council of New Jersey (Press Release) Tags: Administration and Leadership Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news
Rural EMS Faces Unique and Significant Challenges
The American Ambulance Association recently interviewed John Eich, Director of the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health, on the unique challenges facing rural EMS agencies, including evolving system models, recruitment of new staff and funding/reimbursement.
Watch/listen to the interview below or visit the AAA website to read a transcript of the interview.
  (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 15, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Amanda Riordan, American Ambulance Association Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Between a Stethoscope and a Gavel
In late 1959, a young firefighter candidate was given a welcome break from the “grinder”—an affectionate term for the training academy of the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD).
The young firefighter had been told his “contractual duty is to fight fire”1 and had spent the prior weeks drilling on the techniques of the profession under the Southern California sun.
However, today would be different. Instead of pulling hose and lifting ladders, his afternoon would be spent in a classroom taking a course called “first aid.”
At best, the course was marginal; lasting less than two hours, it was wedged betwe...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 15, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Jameson Karns Tags: Exclusive Articles Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
EMS Today Launches New Buyer Program
Clarion UX Fire & Rescue Group, formerly PennWell Corporation, has introduced a new key buyer program at EMS Today (February 20-22, 2019). The key buyer program called “MATCH!” connects decision making fire and rescue service personnel with exhibitors who provide products and services that address the immediate needs of their department and the communities they protect.
Qualified attending participants for EMS Today's MATCH! Program will include authorized buyers made up of high ranking Fire/EMS department officers, top private ambulance providers, committee members and chairs with purchasing authority an...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 14, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Clarion UX Fire & Rescue Group Tags: Administration and Leadership Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news
Alabama City Getting Its Own Ambulance Service to Combat Lagging Response Times
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (WPMI) — The city of Orange Beach will soon have its very own ambulance service.
Like many other municipalities in Baldwin County, Alabama, Orange Beach is currently serviced by Medstar EMS.
However, officials say growth and traffic congestion has created a need for the quickest option possible.
Read more at WPMI. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 14, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Cory Pippin (NBC 15) Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Seattle Prepares Contingency Plans for EMT Strike
SEATTLE (KIRO) -- The Seattle Fire Department has begun contingency planning in case critical private ambulance service is disrupted by a labor dispute. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - November 11, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Essex Porter (KIRO) Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
