The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health recently introduced a new resource information tool to benefit EMS. 

According to Executive Director John Eich, "We've created a “Virtual Library”, with the “EMS” filter already applied, so users can see all our reports, maps, and other resources for EMS".  To access the Virtual Library, go to >> http://worh.org/library?keys=&field_category_tid%5B%5D=52

In addition, WI-ORH put together several EMS resources from a variety of websites.  To review the information, go to >> http://worh.org/ems.

Standby for Tones Blog

The first thing I register is the officer’s words as he gives report to my partner. “…hasn’t taken meds in six months…hasn’t been out of the apartment in six months…hasn’t eaten in three weeks…” The officer continues to fill in the blanks, that she lives with a roommate but that he is bipolar and hadn’t thought these things were concerning. The report complete, my partner and I enter the residence.

The second thing I register is the haze. I’m no stranger to odors but as we walk into the apartment, my lungs physically rebel at roughly the one minute mark. The apartment is literally foggy with acrid, dense cigarette smoke. I follow my partner’s grey shirt in front of me, sizing up our surroundings as we advance. I register a synthetic “feather” duster on the stove, between the electric burner and a frying pan, but the light indicating a hot stovetop isn’t lit. The duster isn’t smoldering, and so I continue towards the back bedroom, entering just after my partner. I’m already coughing, thanks to the lung issues I’ve been slowly coming to terms with. Last December my primary care provider tells me my seventeen years of smoking have had some impact on me even now, six years after smoking cessation. Each room we’ve passed now, in this apartment, has had at least one overflowing ashtray and my lungs are registering the effects.

>> Click to read more of the story...

"Standby for Tones" is a blog written by Crystal Wallin, a La Crosse paramedic.  Her stories, written from real life events, bring to light the human experience in having an EMS career and work life. 

>> Click to read more on Crystal's blog page.

Jerry Miller, age 59, of Wautoma, died suddenly on Tuesday, August 22, as the result of an automobile accident in the Township of Newton, Marquette County.

Jerry was a 1976 graduate of Gillett School in Gillett, WI. He attended UW-Oshkosh and studied Police Science. He completed Paramedic training at Fox Valley Tech and was then employed at Shawano Rescue. Later, he relocated to Wautoma where he served as Waushara County EMS Director for over 19 years. Jerry was the founder of LifeQuest of Wautoma in 1992 and operated the business until 2013.

Jerry was an advocate for people struggling with addiction. He and his wife recently established Livingstone Bistro and Ministry of Wautoma in support of that effort.

>> Click to listen now!

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was about PulsePoint - a trained citizen alert smartphone app for CPR events.

Our podcast guest was Samantha Hilker with Gold Cross Ambulance, Menasha, Wisconsin.  She recently introduced PulsePoint to the Fox Valley area.  They've had over 1,000 followers signup to receive alerts.

Talking Points:

• PulsePoint is currently in use in 2,400+ communities around the country, and has been operating for seven years. The experience in those communities has been extremely positive with no negative consequences. The people who respond sincerely want to help. In many situations, responders are off-duty EMS and healthcare professionals.  The PulsePoint website is >> www.PulsePoint.org.
• Having citizen responders is critical. Gold Cross serves the entire region - 1,200 square miles of portions of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Waupaca counties. That's a lot of territory to cover. The more people who are able and willing to respond, the better.
• Although the app is free, users have to stipulate they know CPR when downloading the app, indicating that if alerted they will respond within the context of their training.
• The alert only goes to PulsePoint users within a 1/4 mile radius of the patient, so that's a limited group of people who understand they may be alerted, and want to offer aid.
  

Questions to be discussed:

1. What is it?

2. How does it work?

3. Are strangers going to show up at my house if I call 911?

4. What about HIPAA?

5. Will I be sued if I help someone?

>> Click to listen now!

Don't miss a beat of EMS action - listen to EMS Live in Wisconsin!

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

>> Click to listen live!

Live podcast Tuesday, August 22, starting at 9:00 a.m.

The next EMS Live in Wisconsin live podcast discussion is about PulsePoint - a trained citizen alert smartphone app for CPR events.  Listen live by dialing 646-929-1081, or on any internet connected device at >> http://tobtr.com/10222925.  The program will run live until 9:30 a.m. (30-minutes).

Our podcast guest is Samantha Hilker with Gold Cross Ambulance, Menasha, Wisconsin.  She recently introduced PulsePoint to the Fox Valley area.

Talking Points:

• PulsePoint is currently in use in 2,400+ communities around the country, and has been operating for seven years. The experience in those communities has been extremely positive with no negative consequences. The people who respond sincerely want to help. In many situations, responders are off-duty EMS and healthcare professionals.  The PulsePoint website is >>www.PulsePoint.org.
• Having citizen responders is critical. Gold Cross serves the entire region - 1,200 square miles of portions of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Waupaca counties. That's a lot of territory to cover. The more people who are able and willing to respond, the better.
• Although the app is free, users have to stipulate they know CPR when downloading the app, indicating that if alerted they will respond within the context of their training.
• The alert only goes to PulsePoint users within a 1/4 mile radius of the patient, so that's a limited group of people who understand they may be alerted, and want to offer aid.
  

Questions to be discussed:

1. What is it?

2. How does it work?

3. Are strangers going to show up at my house if I call 911?

4. What about HIPAA?

5. Will I be sued if I help someone?

>> Click to listen live!

Don't miss a beat of EMS action - listen to EMS Live in Wisconsin!

The Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin will host its 30th annual conference in Green Bay, September 20 to 22. The conference is specifically designed for Service Directors, Medical Directors and Training Centers.

The program will start at 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning September 20 with initial individual and provider introductions.  Thursday and Friday will continue with excellent presentations that will have everyone talking all year long. 

The conference agenda is listed below with daily registration fee noted.  For more information or to register, go to >> www.PSOW.org.

Wednesday, September 20 (Daily Registration Fee - $75.00, includes meals/break items)

8:00 a.m.       Registration open

10:00 a.m.     Presentation of Colors EMS Honor Guard

10:05 a.m.     Welcome and introductions

10:20 a.m.     Ambulance service introductions and initiatives

12:00 noon   Lunch*

1:00 p.m.       Ambulance service introductions and initiatives (continued)

2:00 p.m.       Provider Stress and Wellness (Rick Barney, MD)

3:00 p.m.       Break in vendor area*

3:30 p.m.       “Hot Topics” (Moderated by Dan Williams)

4:30 p.m.       Hospitality with vendors*

6:00 p.m.       Dinner on your own

Thursday, September 21(Daily Registration Fee - $95.00, includes meals/break items)

7:00 a.m.       Breakfast*

7:30 a.m.       Registration open

8:00 a.m.       Addiction is a Brain Disease (Rick Barney, MD)

9:00 a.m.       Exclusive vendor hour*

10:00 a.m.     Shared Community Paramedic Project (Josh Finke)

11:00 a.m.     Advanced EMS and Stroke Protocols (Kerry Ahrens)

12:00 noon   Lunch*

1:00 p.m.       Fraud, Abuse and Compliance (Wendy Arends, Attorney)

2:00 p.m.       “Hot Topics (continued) (Moderated by Dan Williams)

3:00 p.m.       Break*

3:30 p.m.       Ask the Doc’s (Panel Discussion)

5:00 p.m.       Cocktails

6:00 p.m.       Banquet Dinner and Wisconsin Stars of Life Program*

Friday, September 22 (Daily Registration Fee - $25.00, includes meals/break items)

7:00 a.m.       Breakfast*

8:00 a.m.       Summary and discussion on earlier topics (Dan Williams)

8:30 a.m.       State Medical Director’s Report (Suzanne Martens, MD)

9:15 a.m.       State-of-the-State questions and answers (James Newlun)

10:30 a.m.     Conference wrap-up

*Meals and vendor break snack items included in registration fee

Wisconsin-based company ranked on list at No. 2897

Recently, Inc. magazine released their 36th annual Inc. 5000 list, the nation’s most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States.  Aladtec, Inc. moved up 20 spots, moving from No. 2917 last year to No. 2897 this year. The company ranked No. 3197 in 2015. Only one in five businesses on the list achieve the accolade of appearing on the list three times.

The annual list highlights the most successful independent small businesses based on growth. Previous companies who are now household names first appeared as honorees on Inc. 5000 - including Microsoft, Dell, Domino’s Pizza, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn, Yelp, Zillow, and many others. Ranking number one this year is San Francisco based Skillz - a popular mobile-gaming platform.

Aladtec was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in River Falls, Wisconsin. They provide online employee scheduling and workforce management software solutions to over 1,900 organizations primarily within the Public Safety Sector.  Nearly 120,000 people use the system and a half-billion hours have been scheduled using Aladtec.

"We are extremely honored to be on the Inc. 5000 list for the third year in a row,” states Aladtec Founder, and President, David Feyereisen.  “But we don't seek growth just for the sake of growth. We strive to provide the hometown heroes in Public Safety with the finest workforce management solution money can buy, at a price any department can afford. Our staff is dedicated to that goal and our continued growth is a result of that dedication.”

The Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin is pleased to announce the 2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life.  Each person was nominated by their local ambulance service, and will be presented with Stars of Life recognition and honors for their dedication and commitment.  The Stars of Life celebration is the most rewarding and exciting Wisconsin event in our field and is modeled after the American Ambulance Association's National Stars of Life.

2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life Honorees

Tami Aerts nominated by County Rescue Services

Chris Cuddy nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Christopher Dallas nominated by Valders Ambulance

Patrick Donoghue nominated by Bell Ambulance

Elizabeth Ferger-Olsen nominated by Paratech Ambulance Service

Angela Gonzalez nominated by Palmyra Public Safety Department

Jon Hagen nominated by Flight For Life

Paul Harrison nominated by Ryan Brothers Ambulance

Steve Hensley nominated by Tri-State Ambulance

Amanda Holtz nominated by Orange Cross Ambulance

Ryan Janus nominated by Bell Ambulance

Bob Kelter nominated by Baraboo EMS

David Krueger nominated by Grant EMS

Mary LaPorte nominated by Riverside Fire District 

Dr. Suzanne Martens nominated by Valders Ambulance

Lori McConochie nominated by Cambria Community Ambulance Service

David Mike nominated by Paratech Ambulance

Tyler Miller nominated by Tri-State Ambulance

Kenny Monteith nominated by Tri-State Regional Ambulance

Dan Morth nominated by Ellsworth Area Ambulance

Tom Pasch nominated by Ryan Brothers Ambulance

Brian Randall nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Russell Schafer nominated by Lodi Area EMS

Jeri Schiffman nominated by Tri-State Regional Ambulance

Sandra Steenweg nominated by Pickerel Rescue Squad

Bob Sternhagen (posthumous) nominated by Gold Cross Ambulance

Benjamin Waldera nominated by Divine Savior Healthcare EMS

Robert Whitton nominated by Paratech Ambulance Service

Mark Willer nominated by Baraboo EMS

The 2017 event will be the tenth time PAAW has proudly presented the Wisconsin Stars of Life program.  This special event recognizes and honors the dedication of ambulance service professionals - people that stand out in every area of our field.

Schedule of Events

2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees will be recognized at a series of events, to include a welcome reception, banquet dinner and awards program during the Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference, Thursday, September 21, Green Bay, and sometime in October or November at the State Capitol, Madison.

One person from the group of 2017 honorees will be selected and advance to represent Wisconsin.  This individual will be recognized at the National Stars of Life program in Washington, D.C., June 11 to 13, 2018.  PAAW will provide a $750 travel voucher, and the American Ambulance Association Foundation will provide a grant for hotel and event registration fees for the Star, Star's guest, and host (employer).

>> Click for more on Wisconsin Stars of Life.

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was recorded live on August 8. 

Dana Sechler, EMS Director at Baraboo District Ambulance and PAAW Board of Director member, testified on August 2 during a public hearing before the legislative Assembly's Committee on Health at the State Capitol, Madison.

The public hearing regarded the three bills noted below.

Assembly Bill 310 relating to funding for first responder and emergency medical technician training and certification and making an appropriation.  >> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 311 relating to upgrading service levels for ambulances in rural areas.  >> Click for Bill history.

Assembly Bill 356 relating to licensure or certificate renewal for certain emergency medical services personnel and ambulance service providers.  >> Click for Bill history.

>> Click to listen now for on-demand playback.

Wisconsin Stars of Life

Twenty-seven emergency medical practitioners were nominated by their local ambulance service to receive Wisconsin Stars of Life honors.  The nomination period closed August 1.

The class of 2017 Wisconsin Stars of Life honorees will have their names announced during the live EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast on Tuesday, August 8 starting at 9:00 a.m.  To listen live, dial-in using 646-929-1081, or on any internet connected device at http://tobtr.com/10188847.

Honorees will be recognized at a series of events beginning with a dinner and awards banquet on September 21 in Green Bay.

Wisconsin Stars of Life has been proudly produced by the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin since 2006.  >> Click for more information on the Wisconsin Stars of Life program.