Her hair is flaming orange-red, eyes bright and lively and her baby a masterpiece of tiny humanity. Barely hitting the five foot mark, she has on an emerald dress, black simple shoes and a white bonnet perched atop the sunset that are her locks. The baby girl is wearing a miniature navy blue dress with the same simple lines. Even the wee puffed sleeves are the same as her mama’s – and (I can hardly bear the overload of cute) her tiny head has an impossibly adorably tiny white bonnet.

But I’m here for the husband, and I tear my eyes away with what I hope is professionalism as I continue introducing myself to everyone behind the curtain in bay 6. Curly hair tops his face and the beard of a married Amish man fringes his chin. Homemade black pants, simple black shoes and a teal shirt also handmade complete his traditional garb. His right hand is elevated and wrapped within an inch of its life. Bright red blood has soaked thru a patch roughly one inch by one inch.

He tells the story of slipping at work – work is in a local shop crafting the traditional Amish furniture us English people are happy to pay good money for, knowing it will last for generations upon generations. With a crooked grin, he denies pain. I tell him there is no shame in pain medicine, and point out that he is slightly pale. He feigns astonishment and points to his chest with eyes exaggeratedly elevated. She giggles. His top lip curls as he waves away an imaginary syringe. He’s fine.  >> Click to read more of the story...

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

Being an EMT or first responder has nonetheless given you the uncomfortable opportunity to be strapped to a backboard, most likely during your initial training or refresher classes.  But, have you ever been strapped to a backboard, placed on an ambulance stretcher and driven down a bumpy two lane road to the hospital?  If not, it might be worth your time to do so on a return trip to the station.  It's probably not as bad as being accidentally shocked by the AED, but I'd put it in the top 5 most uncomfortable treatments we offer in EMS.

During our streamed EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast on Tuesday, July 12 our guests included EMS medical director and author Dr. Keith Wesley on using the backboard less and selective c-spine immobilization, and State of Wisconsin EMS Licensing Manager Helen Pullen with an update on the recent statewide EMT re-licensing period that concluded June 30.

>> Listen to this podcast on-demand at  http://tobtr.com/9081129

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

By Joe Covelli, PAAW Executive Director

Our most recent EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast regarded EMS regionalization, a topic that has been discussed over the years, but may get new traction with the recent emergence of an appointed legislative council.  The council, which was created under authority of the Wisconsin Legislature, is charged with studying the volunteer firefighter and EMT shortages.  Their first meeting is Tuesday, July 26, with additional meetings scheduled monthly until the end of the year.  >> Click to see who's on the Study Committee.

In 1992, and again in 1996, a legislative council was convened to study the EMT shortage.  The Wisconsin EMS Advisory Board was tasked with writing a report and offering recommendations.  The study and report took six months to write and was delivered on-time to the Wisconsin EMS Bureau.  The Board's recommendation centered around EMS regionalization.  Does EMS regionalization present a solution today?  >> Find out by listening to this podcast.

Our podcast guests included Gold Cross Ambulance Executive Director Mark Fredrickson and Dr. Marv Birnbaum, a longtime advocate for EMS regionalization.

If you'll miss the June 30 deadline you can still re-certify by paying a modest late fee

The 2016 - 2018 Provider License Renewal application for the current two-year biennium is quickly coming to a close as it concludes on June 30.  If you do not renew your EMT or First Responder license by then with the State of Wisconsin EMS Office, you can no longer work on an ambulance, function as an EMS provider or provide patient care.

A person acting or advertising as an EMT or First Responder without a license or certificate issued by the department or without appropriate credentialing may be subject to department action under sub ch. V or s.256.15 (11) (c), (d), or(f), Stats., as applicable."

Any application received after June 30, will be considered a late renewal under DHS 110.09(1):  "An individual may renew a license or certificate that has been expired for less than 6 months by applying to the department for license or certificate renewal as specified under s.DHS 110.07 and submitting the late renewal fee ($50.00)specified under s.DHS 110.16 (1).

To listen to a podcast interview with State of Wisconsin EMS Licensing Coordinator Helen Pullen, >> click here.

For more information,contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Emergency Medical Services Section, 1 West Wilson Street, PO Box 2659, Madison WI 53701-2659, phone 608.266.1568,or go online to http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/ems/.

Patrick Ryan of Madison was recently named secretary of the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition. 

The Coalition is made up of nine statewide public sector groups and state associations that represent all components and facets of fire and emergency medical service interests.  Since 1996 the group has educated and advised policy makers on hundreds of legislative initiatives.  Coalition members represent 40,000 chief officers, firefighters, EMTs, emergency services educators, fire inspectors and arson investigators.

Ryan is president and co-owner of Ryan Brothers Ambulance based in Madison, and also president of the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin.

EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

New partnership announced with Children's Community Health Plan

>> Click here to listen now!

This EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast was streamed live on Tuesday, June 14.

Our guests included Captain Michael Wright with the Milwaukee Fire Department, Interim President Ibrahim Massalha with Hayat Pharmacies, and Director of Health Plan Clinical Services Lynn Kryfke with Children's Community Health Plan.

Milwaukee Fire Department has positioned Community Paramedicine (CP) as a means to be proactive and address its high-utilizer population.  They've focused on committing MFD resources and continuum of patient care, but it hasn't come without its challenges.  In developing their Community Paramedicine program, they have done a remarkable job in creating partnerships in areas they needed expertise, resources and data.  We learned details in how they directly included pharmacy in their care program, and announced a new initiative with Children's Community Health Plan.

Captain Michael Wright and his counter-parts at MFD have championed CP concepts, while staying in their scope of practice, and continue to lay the ground work for others to consider.

The State of Wisconsin EMS Office will be offering Listening Sessions across the state beginning in June, with additional dates and locations to be announced.

According to Wisconsin EMS Director James Newlun in an email sent to providers, "We would like to get your input on what is working, what is not and suggested improvements that can help meet our mission ...to ensure that the highest quality and standards of pre-hospital emergency medical care is available to all citizens of and visitors to Wisconsin".

The first Listening Session will take place on June 20th in Shawano. It will be held in the Community Room of the Shawano City Hall, 127 S. Sawyer Street, Shawano, WI 54166.  >> Click for agenda.

The next Listening Session will take place on June 27th in Fennimore. This one will be held in Rooms 492-493 Southwest Technical College (SWTC) 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809.  >> Click for agenda.

Three more Listening Sessions are planned in other locations with dates to be announced.

Next EMS Live in Wisconsin Podcast

Milwaukee Fire Department has positioned Community Paramedicine (CP) as a means to be proactive and address its high-risk population with heart history, diabetes, and high infant mortality rates.

Captain Michael Wright with MFD has championed CP concepts, and now the data is in on what they have realized thus far.  Captain Wright is our guest during the next EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast.  He'll be joined by two company representatives they have worked closely with in pharmacy, and a new CP initiative Captain Wright will announce publicly for the first time during the streamed podcast.

Make sure to join us for the next EMS Live in Wisconsin podcast on Tuesday, June 14 starting at 9:00 a.m. central time and lasting 30 minutes.  Listener questions are invited.

Some of the questions we plan to discuss, include:

1. What has changed with Milwaukee Fire Dept.'s program since our last update?
2. What has been the most difficult aspect in your efforts to build your program?
3. Why has your company chosen to collaborate with the Milwaukee Fire Department's CP/MIH program.
4. What does your partnership with Milwaukee Fire Dept. represent to your organization?
5. What does the future look like for CP/MIH?

Listen to the live streamed podcast starting at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 14 via the telephone at 646-929-1081, or on the internet at this link:  http://tobtr.com/8899259

Standby for Tones Blog

The officer meets us in the garage, and fills us in. It’s my partner, the medic student I’m precepting today, and myself.

The patient inside is 96 years old and fell around noon. It’s nearly 4pm now, and the officer is concerned about not just the skin tear on the elbow after the fall, he’s concerned about the heat of the house’s interior. He’s worried the patient may have dehydration issues. He tells us that the patient’s wife is a resident of a local nursing home and he always goes to see her at 12:30pm. Every day. For the entire four years since she became a resident there. Today, 12:30 came and went and he did not appear. Staff members became concerned, and went to the house. The officer got them inside, and together the three of them discovered our patient on the floor.

We enter the garage and make our way past the large four door mid 1980s sedan parked sedately inside. Winding our way past paneled walls, we climb the three stairs from the finished garage stall to the vintage kitchen. Spotless. Everything our eyes touch, from the countertops and cabinets of the kitchen, to the antiquated appliances and on into the bedspread visible through the doorway off the kitchen – every single thing is pristine, and centered. Meticulously up kept. Winding our way past more paneling to the front living room of the shotgun home, we find our patient.

And Marcy. And Deanna.  >> Click to read more.