EMS Operations Management & Leadership Course

Wisconsin Office of Rural Health Virtual Class

August 2024

Registration is now open for the August 2024 EMS Operations Management & Leadership Courses, sponsored by the Office of Rural Health.  Over the past five years 500  participants from over 300 Services have completed this popular course and we have received requests from around the State to host more sessions.  We are offering this course virtually, via Zoom.

 Read what past participants are saying:

v It was great!  I learned a lot and the timing was perfect as I was just hired as EMS Chief.

v It was a great course that I will recommend to other officers within our organization.

v I have been the manager since 2004, I've taken this course multiple times and always walk away with something useful.

v There was a wide array of information supplied.  This class should be required before taking a management position in EMS.

 

 

Workshop Sessions

 

The August course will meet according to the schedule below, 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm; six sessions = 13.5 hours total.  Participants who complete a course will receive 12 CEUs.

 

August 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21

 

This virtual Leadership course will dive into the management of Operational and Administrative duties and tasks.  Sessions will include:

 

v Review of Key Attributes of a successful EMS agency

vIdentifying Positive & Negative Characteristics of a Leader/Manager

v Creating meaningful policies and procedures

v Developing and managing an annual budget

v Creating a useful QA/QI process, and assuring involvement of the Medical Director

v Discussion of Recruitment & Retention tools, Human Resources, and Just Culture principles

v Navigating State administrative rules & regulations, statues, and programs

v Demonstration of the various components of the State e-Licensing system

v Understanding compliance requirements in EMS related to the State EMS Office, CMS/Medicare, HIPPA, and other entities

v Current Grants and other funding sources

 

 

 

Who Should Attend?

The course is intended for those currently in EMS management positions, as well as those aspiring to management positions.  Those interested in guidance or clarification on issues, and those interested in becoming a supervisor, manager, or leader in their agency will benefit.

 

Your instructor is Dana Sechler, former Wisconsin State EMS Office Paramedic/ALS program Coordinator, former Chief and EMS Service Director; partner at Strategic Management & Consulting, LLC. 

 

Registration

The registration fee for the course is $45. Participants will receive a link to the Zoom meeting before each session.  This link will take you to the course registration.  Note: This course duplicate some of the material from previous courses, it is not a new or additional course, although you are welcome to register and take it again.  Feel free to post the attached flier.  The registration page can be accessed with the QR code.

 

Questions?

Contact Kevin Jacobson, kmjacobson2@wisc.edu

WORH EMS Ops course flier.docx

Dear Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers, We wanted you to be aware that we posted the following announcement on our Ambulances Services Center website: Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule CMS issued the CY 2025 PFS proposed rule: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-14828/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-calendar-year-2025-payment-policies-under-the-physician-fee-schedule that announces proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the PFS and other Medicare Part B payment policy issues including ambulance services. CMS is proposing to modify the definition of advanced life support level two (ALS2) at 42 CFR §414.605 by adding the administration of low titer O+ whole blood transfusion (WBT) to the list of ALS2 procedures. For patients in hemorrhagic shock, the use of WBT has demonstrated a survival benefit when compared to traditional hemorrhagic resuscitative therapy. Under this proposal, a ground ambulance transport that provides WBT would itself constitute an ALS2-level transport. We are also seeking comments on whether we should add alternative blood product treatments such as the administration of packed red blood cells and plasma to the list of ALS2 procedures. We are aware that some established Emergency Medical Services (EMS) systems may already provide WBT to treat patients in hemorrhagic shock, while other jurisdictions, including those in rural areas, may rely on alternative blood product treatments.  We encourage you to submit comments on this proposal by September 9, 2024, to the website provided in the CY 2025 PFS proposed rule.

2024 Ambulance Ride-Along Toolkit

Educating your members of Congress about ambulance industry issues makes them much more likely to support your efforts. An easy and effective way to educate them is to invite them to participate in a local Ambulance Ride-Along! The House and Senate will be adjourning for summer recess at the end of July and members of Congress will return home to their districts and states. This is the perfect opportunity for you to educate your members of Congress about issues facing our industry, in particular the extension of our Medicare add-on payments, the VA Final Rule,  and the EMS workforce shortage, which are important to your operation. For additional information on these issues, visit the AAA Advocacy Page, which includes one pagers about all of our initiatives. The most effective way to deliver these key messages is to host your member of Congress or their staff on a tour of your operation and an ambulance ride-along. The AAA has made the process of arranging a ride-long or scheduling a meeting easy for you with our 2024 Congressional Ride-Along Toolkit.  Are you willing to host a Member of Congress at your service but unsure of how to set it up? Email  Meghan Winesett at mwinesett@ambulance.org! Everything you need to arrange the ride-along or schedule a meeting is included in the Toolkit.  Act now and invite your elected officials to join you on an Ambulance Ride-Along!

EMS Harm Reduction and SUD Treatment Webinar Hosted by NHTSA’s Office of EMS on March 22 at 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT

According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, “harm reduction is a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at reducing negative consequences associated with drug use.” This can include improving access to naloxone (Narcan) to prevent death from opioid overdose, providing sterile syringes to reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis C, and fentanyl testing programs, among other types of help.  EMS clinicians are often on the frontline of addiction and the unintended consequences of both legal and illicit drug use and substance use disorder (SUD). In addition, drug use greatly impacts the larger context of our nation’s roads and highways through impaired driving and the resulting risks to the impaired driver, other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. A 2022 NHTSA study of seven trauma centers around the U.S. found that nearly 56% of people injured or killed on roadways tested positive for one or more drugs, including alcohol. The most prevalent drug category was cannabis, and opioids made up 8.5% of cases at the trauma centers. In this EMS Focus webinar, panelists will discuss: Harm reduction and SUD treatment in the context of EMS care Recent research  How innovation and intervention can drive overdose prevention in your community and reduction of other health risks, including traffic crashes that may be a result of impaired driving REGISTER HERE

Panelists Include: Kate Elkins, Emergency Medical Services/911 Specialist, NHTSA’s Office of EMS (moderator) Gerard Carroll, M.D., EMS Medical Director, Cooper University Health Care; Division Head of EMS/Disaster Medicine; and Program Director, EMS Fellowship Program John Ehrhart, Paramedic; EMS Manager, San Diego Health Connect; Co-Founder, California Paramedic Foundation; and Founder, Mission Critical Protocols Simon Taxel, Paramedic Crew Chief and Public Safety Diver, Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS; Bloomberg Fellow, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

About EMS Focus EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit ems.gov for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings. We are committed to providing equal access to this webinar for all participants. Persons with disabilities in need of an accommodation should contact nhtsa.ems@dot.gov to request an accommodation no later than Friday, March 19, 2024.

WEBINAR Leveraging DOT Grant Funds for EMS Crash Response Improvement Hosted by NHTSA’s Office of EMS on January 16 at 1pm ET / 10am PT

Learn how EMS Agencies are taking advantage of Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding opportunities to improve EMS system response to roadside crashes. NHTSA’s Office of EMS will host a discussion with Fire Chief Bruce Evans with the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District and Paul Teicher, Transportation Policy Analyst at U.S. DOT to share information and best practices to help EMS agencies nationwide prepare to apply for the upcoming Safe Streets for All (SS4A) grant program. REGISTER NOW Panelists Include: Gam Wijetunge, Director, NHTSA’s Office of EMS Paul Teicher, Senior Policy Analyst, DOT - Office of the Secretary (OST) Bruce Evans, MPA, CFO, NRP, SPO, Fire Chief, Upper Pine River Fire Protection District Attendees will be encouraged to submit questions during any point of the discussion. The webinar and Q&A will last approximately one hour. Sign up to get email updates about this webinar series, new projects and more. About EMS Focus EMS Focus provides a venue to discuss crucial initiatives, issues and challenges for EMS stakeholders and leaders nationwide. Be sure to visit ems.gov for information about upcoming webinars and to view past recordings. We are committed to providing equal access to this webinar for all participants. Persons with disabilities in need of an accommodation should contact nhtsa.ems@dot.gov to request an accommodation no later than Friday, January 12.  Sign up to receive the latest news from the Office of EMS, including webinars, newsletters and industry updates. Contact Us 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

We are delighted to announce the results of the 2023 elections for the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin, which transpired at the Annual Meeting on November 3, 2023. The newly elected directors are set to play pivotal roles in guiding our organization to new horizons.

Please join us in congratulating Scott Mickelson of Bell Ambulance, who has been elected as For Profit Director. Daniel Althaus of Orange Cross Ambulance will be taking on the role of Nonprofit Director, while Robert Lulling of Marquette County EMS has been elected as Government Director. Their diverse backgrounds and expertise will undoubtedly enrich our board's perspectives.

In addition to the directors, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the elected officers who will continue to lead the association with dedication and skill. Chris Anderson of Bell Ambulance will continue to serve as President, Nick Romenesko of Gold Cross Ambulance as Vice President, Tom Tornstrom of Gundersen Ambulance as Treasurer, and Daniel Althaus of Orange Cross Ambulance will continue in the role of Secretary.

We look forward to the collaborative efforts of our newly elected directors and officers as we work together to advance the mission of the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin.

Discover New Resources Available on EMS.gov View the latest EMS By the Numbers - October 2023 EMS By the Numbers is provided by NHTSA in an effort to help State EMS Officials track particular EMS activations. It originated during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide current information regarding temporal variations in the type and characteristics of EMS activations In addition to Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and COVID-19 data, it also includes trends in EMS response to Cardiac Arrest, Scene Death, Injury, Vehicle Crashes, and Opioid-Related Activations. Access the most recent version of this document that was released in October 2023. View EMS By the Numbers New EMS and Fire Grant Funding Opportunities Available from USFA USFA has released the Funding Alternatives for Emergency Medical and Fire Services, which outlines various grants and innovative funding alternatives available for EMS and fire protection services. EMS agencies are encouraged to review this document and explore the grant opportunities available for your state. Review Grant Funding Opportunities  NIOSH Advisory on PPE Recommendations for Responding to Chemical Suicide Incidents The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has partnered with the leading experts from the Pennsylvania Association of Hazardous Materials Technicians to release a new Safety and Health Advisory. The Personal Protective Equipment Recommendations for Response to Chemical Suicide Incidents advisory aims to provide responders with critical guidelines on the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to chemical suicide scenarios. This advisory can be used as a guideline to provide personal protective equipment recommendations for first responders to minimize the likelihood of exposures, injuries and fatalities during chemical suicide incidents. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Read the Advisory Here

Sign up to receive the latest news from the Office of EMS, including webinars, newsletters and industry updates.

Contact Us 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 nhtsa.ems@dot.gov

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin is proud to announce our 2023 Star of Life recipients. This year, 28 individuals are being recognized as a Wisconsin Star of Life.

Meet Our 2023 Stars

2023 marks our twelfth Wisconsin Stars of Life event. Creating space and opportunity to recognize those who show up for their communities, and share that celebration with their family and friends who support them, is truly a joy. 

These 28 dedicated EMS Professionals will be celebrated at a dinner banquet in Madison, WI on October 10, 2023. 

We have some positive updates regarding the Wisconsin ambulance assessment initiative.

Over the past months, we have been working with our lobbyist to pass Senate Bill 157 and on August 4, Governor Evers signed the bill into law. This law officially allows federal funding of this program to move through the state to the providers once the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approves the initiative.

To that end, we also reached another milestone in the CMS approval process at the end of June when DHS published an official public notice describing the program. Currently PAAW is working with DHS on the next steps in the process to finalize the program design that will be submitted to CMS. Approval can take a few months depending on any questions CMS may have and if they may ask for changes in the program design. With that said, we have made important progress these last few months on getting this program in place and securing supplemental funding for our industry for years to come.

We will communicate our progress as we work closely with DHS and continue to reach these important milestones.

Dear Ground Ambulance Providers and Suppliers,

Starting January 1, 2023, ground ambulance organizations selected in  Year 1 and Year 2 are required to report cost, utilization, revenue, and other information to CMS within 5 months after your data collection period ends. Organizations that fail to report may be subject to a 10% payment reduction. 

Ground ambulance organizations selected in Year 3 and Year 4 will begin collecting data in 2023 and reporting data beginning in 2024. 

Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Office Hours Session — April 27

Thursday, April 27 from 2–3 pm ET

Register for this webinar.                      

We divided the office hours session into 2 topics:

• 2–2:30 pm: CMS will answer live questions on the data collection requirements (such as what am I required to collect and when do I report?).  This part of the session is for all selected organizations in Years 1–4.
• 2:30–3 pm: We’ll answer live questions about registering and requesting access to the Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System portal. This part is for selected organizations in Years 1–2 who are required to report beginning in 2023.

Visit Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System for:

• Lists of ground ambulance organizations selected in Years 1–2 required to collect information starting in 2022 and report information starting in 2023
• Organizations selected in Years 3–4 required to collect information starting in 2023 and report information starting in 2024
• FAQs