PAAW ambulance service members part of these high-performing systems

This 2016 edition of The Commonwealth Fund’s Scorecard on Local Health System Performance assesses the state of health care in more than 300 U.S. communities from 2011 through 2014, a period when the Affordable Care Act was being implemented across the country. In comparing health care access, quality, avoidable hospital use, costs of care, and health outcomes, the Scorecard shows that many U.S. communities experienced improvements: fewer uninsured residents, better quality of care in doctors’ offices and hospitals, more efficient use of hospitals, and fewer deaths from treatable cancers, among other gains. Still, the persistence of widespread differences between areas is a reminder that many local health systems have yet to reach the potential attained elsewhere in the country.

Using the most recent data available, the Scorecard ranks 306 regional health care markets known as “hospital referral regions” on four main dimensions of performance encompassing 36 measures. Top-ranked regions in Hawaii, the Upper Midwest, New England, and the San Francisco Bay area have been performance leaders over time, and they offer achievable improvement benchmarks for policymakers, health system leaders, and community stakeholders.  >> Click for article.

National Ranking - Wisconsin Health Care Market Ranking (overall performance):

Rank 5 - Appleton

Rank 13 - Madison

Rank 15 - La Crosse

Rank 19 - Green Bay

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

>> Click for on-demand playback.

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was streamed live on Tuesday, August 23 and lasted 30 minutes.  Our guests were Tyler Christifulli and Sam Ireland with LifeStar EMS in West Bend, Wisconsin.  We discussed critical care paramedic advanced training and certification options.

Recently, LifeStar EMS created an advanced internal critical care level that requires an advanced board certification (FP-C, CCP-C) . Their goal is to have their critical care paramedics meet all the same requirements as helicopter EMS services like Flight For Life and Med Flight. These are advanced certifications through the Board of Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification (BCCTPC); exams are extremely tough and have a 20% pass rate.

The second meeting of the Legislative Study Committee on Firefighter and EMT Volunteer Shortages is scheduled for Tuesday, August 30 starting at 9:30 a.m. in Room 412 East at the State Capitol, Madison.  >> Click for meeting agenda.  The first meeting was held on July 26, and additional meetings are scheduled monthly until the end of the year.

>> Click for information regarding the Legislative Study Committee, to include member names, meeting minutes and information, PowerPoint presentations, audio recordings and more.

The Study Committee is directed to examine issues related to the shortage of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in the state, particularly in rural areas, and propose measures to address the shortage. Specifically, the Study Committee shall study all of the following: (a) the magnitude of volunteer shortages, the areas of the state most affected, and the potential impact of shortages on public health and safety and economic development; (b) whether current training and continuing education requirements contribute to the shortage; (c) relationships between full-time and volunteer emergency response departments and the impact that the shortage of volunteers has on nonvolunteer departments in neighboring communities; and (d) whether the creation of organizations, particularly in rural areas, may help address the shortage. The committee shall develop legislative options to meet needs identified.

• Quarter ended July 30, 2016 (deadline to submit rebate September 30, 2016)
• Quarter ends October 30, 2016 (deadline to submit rebate December 30, 2016)
• Quarter ends January 30, 2017 (deadline to submit rebate March 30, 2017)
  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jon Krohmer as the Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). Chosen from a field of more than 30 candidates, Dr. Krohmer comes to this position with a wealth of EMS experience and expertise and will lead NHTSA's collaborative efforts to improve emergency care across the nation.

Board certified as an emergency physician, Dr. Krohmer has been actively involved in EMS for over 30 years, first in his home state of Michigan, and then at the national level, as an active member of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and president of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP). Dr. Krohmer's federal service began as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He went on to become the Director of the Health Services Corps for Immigration and Customs Enforcement at DHS and for the past year has provided medical expertise to the U.S. Coast Guard.

"Jon Krohmer's extensive expertise in EMS and experience in federal service will be great assets to the NHTSA EMS program," said Jeff Michael, NHTSA Associate Administrator for Research and Program Development. "His collaborative and patient-centered approach is very important for the EMS Program, which depends on partnerships to achieve its goals. We're very excited to have Jon as part of our NHTSA family."

Dr. Krohmer's first day at NHTSA will be on Tuesday, September 6th. You can learn more about NHTSA's Office of EMS and contact the office at www.ems.gov. 

The Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin (PSOW) Conference agenda was just released.  >> Click here for agenda.  The 29th annual conference will be held September 14 to 16 in Green Bay at Tundra Lodge Hotel & Convention Center.

The Conference, best known for its service introductions and initiatives recap offered by all attendees, will also feature presentations on community paramedicine, compliance, legislative council on EMT volunteer shortages panel discussion, HIPAA 2016, community CPR project, state EMS office updates and various other timely content.  The event features an exhibit area and social opportunities.

Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference exists to provide continuing education for administrators and managers at all Wisconsin ambulance service provider levels, and to share information and work together for the betterment of Emergency Medical Services in Wisconsin.  For additional conference information or to register, go to www.PSOW.org.

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

>> Click to listen now!

How does your ambulance service manage stroke patients?  What are your local or regional health care system options for advanced care and treatment?  Did you know there are twenty Wisconsin ambulance services subscribed to the Coverdell Stroke Program?  Learn how you can join the program in this podcast.

In this podcast we discussed:

• Appropriate Pre-hospital Assessment and Management of the Stroke Patient
• EMS and Destination Determination - In-hospital care of the Stroke Patient
• Coverdell EMS Partners program
  

Next live streamed podcast is Tuesday, August 23 starting at 9:00 a.m.

The next EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast is Tuesday, August 23 starting at 9:00 a.m. and lasting 30 minutes.  Our guest is Tyler Christifulli.  We'll discuss critical care paramedic advanced training and certification options.  Listen either on the phone at 646-929-1081, or on any internet connected device at http://tobtr.com/9218799.

Standby for Tones Blog:  Written by Crystal Wallin

It’s hot, and we’re a small group in a parking lot waiting for a group of strangers who are on a wonderful mission. The National EMS Bike Ride is coming thru La Crosse today and the riders will be going to visit the UW Health MedFlight memorial bench at Gundersen Health Systems.

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast - Listen now!
This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was Tuesday, July 26.  >> Listen on-demand at http://tobtr.com/9111793.

Our guests included Ben Eithun and Mary Jean Erschen-Cooke, both with the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison, and Josh Thibault at J&B Medical Supply.

Pediatric ambulance calls can be challenging.  Ben and Mary Jean offered suggestions to reduce pediatric patient anxiety during care and transport.

J&B Medical Supply just announced they closed a deal with the state of Michigan for 2,000 ambulance stretcher child safety restraints.  Find out more about this new stretcher attachment.

The Legislative Council Study Committee on Volunteer Firefighter and EMT Shortages will hold their first meeting on Tuesday, July 26.  The meeting will be held in Madison, and will begin with a briefing session for public members at 8:30 a.m., and the full study committee at 9:30 a.m.  The study committee was convened by the Wisconsin legislature.   >> Click here to see who is a member of the Study Committee.

The last time a study committee was created to address an EMS issue was 1996, and before that 1992. 

To listen to a recorded webcast with Dr. Marv Birnbaum (picture insert) on Wisconsin's history with EMS study committee's, and past recommendations that included EMS regionalization, click here to listen now.