Closing Out the Year and Looking to the Future
As 2018 ends and 2019 approaches, I wanted to first thank all our readers, authors, columnists, photographers and editorial board members for following and contributing to our work throughout 2018. It was a year of change for JEMS, moving to an all-electronic platform and working to enhance our electronic delivery systems and methods.
Change takes time, so we thank you for your patience and promise you that more great innovations are on the way to make your receipt and use of important articles and information easier to read, print out and share on all your devices.
We appreciate our audience and do not take your trust in ...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 22, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: A.J. Heightman, MPA, EMT-P Tags: Exclusive Articles News Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
The Brutal Math of Drug-Seeking Behavior in Prehospital Care
Dallas Fire-Rescue Medical Director Marshal Isaacs, MD, calls them "prime numbers." He’s referring not only to drug-seekers—although many of them belong to the population of patients who "fall off the grid" in between encounters with the healthcare system, and therefore pose a major challenge to being tracked over time. These patients can be transients or migrant workers; they can be living in short-stay accommodations like motels, and therefore moving frequently around a region; they can be suffering from mental illness or addiction and moving among rehabilitation centers; or they might b...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 19, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Jonathon S. Feit, MBA, MA Tags: Exclusive Articles Documentation & Patient Care Reporting Columns Source Type: news
Virginia EMT Suspended after Alleged Racist Comments, Receiving National Attention
PATRICK COUNTY, Va. (WSLS) - There’s national media attention on Patrick County this week after reports of racist comments allegedly made by a first responder on a white supremacist podcast.
Now, local leaders are calling for the EMT to be fired.
Alex McNabb is on unpaid leave with the JEB Stuart Volunteer Rescue Squad, as the Virginia Department of Health investigates his conduct.
Read more at WSLS. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 15, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tommy Lopez (WSLS 10) Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
$80,000 EMS Medicine Fellowship Awarded to Dr. Benjamin Nicholson
OVERLAND PARK, KS – The National Association of Emergency Services Physicians (NAEMSP) is pleased to announce Dr. Benjamin D. Nicholson, Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, as the recipient of the NAEMSP/Stryker EMS Medicine Medical Director Fellowship.
The 12-month, $80,000 fellowship covers training and education costs to pursue a career as a clinically focused EMS medical director who is board-certified in EMS medicine. The opportunity was created to expand the commitment of academic institutions to EMS medicine as a subspecialty and graduate a fellow with a passion for EMS leadership on a nati...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 14, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (NAEMSP) (press release) Tags: News Administration and Leadership Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news
Clinical Performance Measures that Matter —Are You Ready?
Ask EMS professionals to define “quality in EMS” and you may get a tip of the head and an answer like, “Well, I’m not sure, but I know it when I see it.”
In today’s healthcare environment, demonstrating quality is crucial. Payers are increasingly linking payment to outcome and quality, and becoming less interesting in paying for services that don’t add value or are quality-based.1
Historically, EMS has struggled operationalizing quality-based metrics. EMS Compass and the new National EMS Quality Alliance are attempting to get quality measures for EMS launched, and more importantly, adopted by payers and other...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 11, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Wayne C. Harbour, NRP Tags: Exclusive Articles Operations Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
Winter Storm Creates a Busy Day for WV 9-1-1 Call Center
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS) - When winter weather hits, the amount of accidents on the roads have the potential to increase, which means a busy day for 911 call centers.
Director of JanCare Ambulance, Paul Seamann, and his team is working around the clock to make sure they are ready in any event. He said fortunately, the accidents are not as critical because the speeds are less. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Taylor Neuman (WVNS) Tags: News News Videos Communications & Dispatch Operations Source Type: news
EMT Accused of Sending Explicit Photos to Teen He Treated
(Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 10, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: WPXI Tags: News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
FDNY EMT Arroyo's Alleged Killer Again Deemed Unfit for Trial
NEW YORK CITY (NEWS 12 The Bronx) - A court-appointed psychologist has found Jose Gonzalez unfit to stand trial in the death of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo.
Gonzalez, who is charged with first-degree murder, is accused of carjacking Arroyo's ambulance and running her over with it. She was a mother to five children.
Since the March 2017 incident, Gonzalez has been evaluated twice by two court-appointed psychologists who found him not suitable to stand trial.
Read more at News 12 The Bronx. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 6, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: News 12 The Bronx Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
PatientCare Executives Appointed to American Ambulance Association Board and Committees
LARGO, Fla. (Dec. 4, 2018) – PatientCare Logistics Solutions is pleased to announce that executives Rob Lawrence and John Peterson have been appointed to the American Ambulance Association’s (AAA) Board of Directors and Ethics Committee, respectively. PatientCare vice president Mark Postma has also transitioned to Immediate Past President of the Association.
The AAA is a national trade association that represents hundreds of ambulance services across the country. The association serves as the voice for the ambulance services industry and promotes health care policies, and provides research, education and communication...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 4, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: PatientCare Logistics Solutions (press release) Tags: Administration and Leadership Press Releases Industry News Source Type: news
Armstrong Ambulance Drops Santa Off at Saugus Fundraiser
ARLINGTON, Mass. — Armstrong Ambulance is pleased to announce that one of its ambulances recently dropped off Santa Claus to a fundraiser in Saugus to raise money for the Relay for Life.
On Saturday, Dec. 1, Armstrong Ambulance dropped Old Saint Nick off at Fuddruckers in Saugus to help raise money for the Relay For Life cancer walk.
Relay For Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society that organizes community walks to raise money for cancer research.
"We were glad to be able to give Santa a ride to this great fundraising event," Armstrong CEO Richard Raymond said. "While our ambulances do...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 4, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Armstrong Ambulance Service (press release) Tags: Administration and Leadership Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news
NAEMSP 2019 Annual Meeting Will Reunite Governor with Lifesaving First Responders
OVERLAND PARK, KS – The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) has several inspiring and informative presentations lined up for its 2019 Annual Meeting, which will take place January 7-12 in Austin, Texas. The conference will reunite its keynote speaker, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, with the first responders who resuscitated him after his cardiac arrest in November 2017.
The 2019 Annual Meeting is an important part of NAEMSP’s efforts to educate EMS personnel on the latest advances and best practices in out-of-hospital emergency care. Emergency medical care experts from across the Uni...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 4, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians (NAEMSP) Tags: Administration and Leadership Industry News Press Releases Source Type: news
Montgomery County EMS Worker Charged after Inappropriately Touching Patient in Ambulance
GAITHERSBURG, Md. - (FOX 5 DC) -- An employee with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services has been charged after officials said he inappropriately touched a female patient in an ambulance as they were heading to the hospital.
The Montgomery County Police Department announced on Monday that 33-year-old Mario Arturo Obando-Rodriguez of Gaithersburg was arrested in connection with the alleged incident that occurred on July 3.
Read more at FOX 5 DC. (Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership)
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 4, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: FOX 5 DC Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
N.Y. Town Finding Ways to Make EMS Succeed Despite Challenges
GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (WNYT) -- If you have to dial 911, you don't want problems. However, as a NewsChannel 13 investigation recently discovered, the current system leaves many medical responders underpaid and overworked. That means they may not be at their best when they answer your call.
Our report last week uncovered a number of issues plaguing the industry. To recap, we'll break them down, starting with a big problem that affects ambulance companies across the board – whether they be private, non-profit, volunteer, or run by a municipality. That problem is low pay.
Next, the hours an EMT works are not regulate...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 4, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: WNYT News Channel 13 Tags: News News Videos Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
French Paramedics Join Cost-of-Living Protests
PARIS (AP) — Anti-government protesters gained new allies Monday as French paramedics and students joined ongoing rallies while the prime minister met with political rivals in a bid to ease the anger following riots that rocked Paris.
Facing the most serious crisis since his election in May 2017, President Emmanuel Macron remained silent but met with police officers to offer them support after "a day of unprecedented violence," the Elysee palace said.
On Saturday, more than 130 people were injured and 412 arrested in the French capital amid one of the worst waves of unrest in the country in recent years. Police...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 3, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press Tags: International News Administration and Leadership Source Type: news
National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA) Announced 2019 Board of Directors
The National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA) held its annual Board of Directors elections to fill the seats of the Board members whose terms are ending. This year, there were six candidates running for four seats; three seats are for two-year terms and one is for a one-year term. The three candidates with the highest number of votes were elected to two-year terms. The re-elected and new members of the Board of Directors will begin their terms on January 1, 2019.
Participation for this election was once again high and shows great interest and commitment by the membership in electing representatives who share a common go...
Source: JEMS Administration and Leadership - December 3, 2018 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: NEMSMA (press release) Tags: News Administration and Leadership Press Releases Source Type: news
