State Capitol - Madison

Over the past several years, bills have been written and passed by the Wisconsin Legislature that affect EMS--with little to no input from the EMS providers and stakeholders.  Legislators want to help EMS, but unfortunately, the recent bills feel like short-term solutions to the perceived problems.  Our elected officials need to hear from us on how to create sustainable change for EMS.  

The Kenosha Fire Department recently posted an RFP for Medical Director.

The overall medical responsibility is planning, implementation, operation, and monitoring of the emergency medical services provided by the Kenosha Fire Department. The successful candidate has medical and legal responsibility for the EMS system operations and for all medical services provided by the department as outlined in the department’s EMS operational plan.

Additional responsibilities, include: 

• Supervision, direction and management of pre-hospital medical care provided by the department, and
  

• EMS continuous quality improvement program and is actively engaged in the training and education of the department’s EMS providers.
  

It is estimated that the department Medical Director would perform services ten hours per week or forty hours per month.

>> Click to review RFP.

Sealed proposals should be sent directly to Fire Chief Charles Leipzig, City of Kenosha Fire Department, 4810 60th Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin 53144 on or before Friday, October 6th, 2017 at 4:30 P.M.

>> Click to download and listen now!

Don't miss a beat of Wisconsin EMS action.  Listen to EMS Live in Wisconsin the second and fourth Tuesday every month starting at 9:00 a.m. and lasting 30 minutes.  >> Click for more information.

The Wisconsin EMS Office has added two more Wisconsin Ambulance Run Data System (WARDS) Elite Training sessions.

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