Standby for Tones Blog

It’s hot, and she’s not dressed for it. Sweatshirt and sweatpants, tee shirt and socks with laced up tennies. She’s currently sitting in the rear of a squad car, guzzling on a bottle of Sprite that is sweating only slightly less than she is.

Passersby found her, she was down on the ground and it was pretty clear she’d fallen. Someone helped her up, but then she fell again. So they called it in, the nice officer who responded scoped out the clothing situation and her speech, and activated EMS non-emergent. Now we’re here, and I lead my student across the street from our parking spot towards the black and white. My partner updates MedComm that we are on location, and brings up the rear. On this initial evaluation we’ve got the cardiac monitor. The bag is feet away should we need anything.

The lady was assisted out of her sweatshirt by the officer prior to our arrival. Pink and white camouflage, it’s more at home in a rural environment than here in the city but I guess you never know where people hail from originally. Little bits of home from all over converge in any metropolis, and you get what you get. The only constant is that the kaleidoscope keeps moving, the bits and pieces keep on tumbling.

>> 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 Crystal's blog.

The program will start at 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning September 20 with initial individual and provider introductions.  Thursday and Friday will continue on with excellent presentations that will have everyone talking all year long.  The conference agenda and list of topics and presenters will be made available sometime in  August.

For more information or to register, click here or go to PSOW.org.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided guidance on certain drugs that can be used beyond the manufacturer's labeled expiration date. At this time, the drugs listed below can be used during the shortage or while available. Per the FDA, to ensure patient safety, these products should have been—and should continue to be—stored as per labeled conditions.  >> Click for FDA information on drug shortage.

The medications included in this expiration date waiver include the following drugs manufactured by Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company:

• Epinephrine Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 10 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4921-34)

• Dextrose 50% Injection, USP, 50 mL ABBOJECT Syringe (NDC 0409-4902-34)

• Atropine Sulfate Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 10 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4911-34)

• Atropine Sulfate Injection, USP 0.1 mg/mL; 5 mL ABBOJECT syringe (NDC 0409-4910-34

The Wisconsin EMS Office recommends practitioners work with their local medical director to determine the most appropriate response to these drug shortages. In addition, the Department of Health Services and Department of Transportation (DOT) discussed these shortages and the DOT ambulance inspector will not cite for these identified expired medications. However, all other expired medication dates will be subject to DOT enforcement action.  EMS services will not be required to submit drug shortage protocols but will need to follow FDA recommendations.

The memo issued on this will be in effect until December 31, 2017.  >> Click to read memo 17-04.

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was recorded on Tuesday, June 27.   Program guests from the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, included Director Christine Westrich, Dr. Colella and EMS Division Director Ken Sternig.

Wisconsin is not immune from the national opioid epidemic and spike in deaths related to overdoses.  According to the Wisconsin Opioid Task Force, opioid-related overdose deaths more than tripled in Wisconsin from 194 deaths in 2003 to 622 deaths in 2014.  >> Report:  Governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse

EMS is on the front-line in responding to these calls in both urban and rural areas of the state.

>> Wisconsin Naloxone/Narcan Rebate Program

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

Wisconsin EMS Advisory Board

The Governor's Office notified Chris Anderson, Operations Director at Bell Ambulance, Milwaukee, he is the newest appointment by Governor Scott Walker to the State's EMS Advisory Board.

In 2011, Chris joined the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin as a Board of Directors member, where he also holds an executive officer position as Secretary for the state ambulance member association.

National Drug Shortage Information Session

Speakers: 
Stacey Barksdale Price, Senior Product Manager, Bound Tree Medical
James Augustine, MD, US Acute Care Solutions

When: Friday, June 30th at 11:00 pm (CDT)

Did you know within the last three weeks the number of products on the Bound Tree weekly backorder report has grown from 50 to 70? It appears the current national drug shortages impacting EMS agencies are very similar to the shortages experienced back in 2012.

Join our free webinar to learn more about the current drug shortages, the products involved, and coping strategies commonly seen in EMS from Stacey Barksdale Price and James Augustine, MD.

Reserve your seat now »

Pharmaceuticals

Due to the ongoing critical shortages of injectable drugs used in critical care, the FDA is alerting health care professionals and emergency responders of updated dates through which some of these injectable drugs, manufactured by Hospira Inc, a Pfizer company, may be used beyond the manufacturer’s labeled expiration date.   A few days ago, the FDA announced extending expiration dates on Pfizer Atropine, D50 and epi. >> Click for related article.

Bound Tree Medical will be hosting a conference call on Friday, June 30 regarding the epi shortage.  PAAW will pass along the call-in information once received.

FDA approves new, cheaper rival to EpiPen
U.S. regulators have approved new competition for EpiPen, the emergency allergy medicine that made Mylan a poster child for pharmaceutical company greed.  Last summer, the company came under fire for repeatedly raising the price of EpiPens and CEO Heather Bresch was grilled by a Congressional panel.

Mylan hiked the price of a pair of EpiPens from $94 in 2007, when the company acquired the product, to $608 last year. The devices need to be replaced each year, adding to the financial sting.  Analysts and others have estimated that it costs less than $20 to produce a pair of EpiPens.

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

>> Click to listen now!

This podcast was recorded on Tuesday, June 13.  Our guest was Dr. Alex Sommers with Astia Health in Marathon, Wisconsin. 

Dr. Sommers designed telemedicine hardware and software perfectly suited for Community Paramedicine applications for in-home, out of hospital applications.  In this webcast we learned more about his approach to patient care using the community paramedicine telemedicine model.

Dr. Sommers' website is https://astiahealth.com/.

Co-hosts included Patrick Ryan and Joe Covelli.

Wisconsin Stars of Life

Nomination period open until August 1, 2017.

Take this opportunity to reward and celebrate an employee, volunteer, or community citizen who exemplifies the everyday spirit and commitment of a Star of Life.

Each person nominated is presented with Wisconsin Stars of Life honors!  You do not need to be a member of PAAW to submit a nomination application.  All nominations are welcome.

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

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.  You choose your "Star." These are the people who will be recognized in a series of celebratory events.