Short stories by featured EMS writer and La Crosse paramedic Crystal Wallin

It’s so far. I come from this rural county asking for mutual aid, and as we get the call for a motorcycle accident, my first thought is, “it’s so far out”. My partner jumps in the passenger seat as I drive. Often the EMT will drive but this time I do, partly to give her a break and also because I know exactly where it is.

We aren’t far out of the small town we’re based out of today, when updated dispatch information makes my mouth tighten. “CPR in progress”. Sirens are wailing, LED lights are staccato, lighting up the signs facing us, even on this sunshine-y day. Traffic parts on the two lane road and we continue on. My partner and I discuss the roles and steps we’ll individually take upon arrival, in our choreographed dance thru the chaos. Our local air medical helicopter was initially on a pad standby but they’re now making their way to the same scene we are. I ask my partner if she’s comfortable with a King airway and she answers definitively, “yep!” I’ll work on IV access and medications, she’s got airway.  >> Click to read more.

On January 14, the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin (PAAW) was voted in as a new member of Wisconsin's Fire and EMS Legislative Leadership Coalition.

According to PAAW President Patrick Ryan, "PAAW is honored to be accepted into the Wisconsin Fire and EMS Legislative Coalition. We look forward to working with fellow members to advance and strengthen EMS in Wisconsin through legislation and collaboration. This new development is yet another example of the continually growing presence of our organization and a reflection on the dedicated efforts of our members."

Coalition Members Include:

Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin
Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Chapter: International Association of Arson Investigators
Wisconsin EMS Association
Wisconsin Fire Chief's Education Association
Wisconsin Society of Fire Service Instructors
Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs' Association
Wisconsin State Fire Inspectors Association
Wisconsin State Firefighters Association

Several hundred people were without power early on the morning of January 30 after a dangerous crash in Hobart, which is near Green Bay.

It happened on WIS 54 near Bay Ridge Court around 2:00AM.

A medical crew from County Rescue Service was driving west on Hwy 54, non-emergent to re-position to assist another crew working a call at an area residence. In the dark, their squad struck power lines that were draped across the roadway from a separate motor vehicle accident that had occurred moments earlier.

The County Rescue crew members sustained very minor injuries, but could not be safely removed from the squad until the power lines were de-energized some time later.  The Brown County Sheriff's Office was dealing with both scenes for several hours.
 
According to Director of Operations Larry Ullmer with County Rescue Services, "Our staff members are fine and the squad has minor damage, and our involvement with the incident was secondary to another accident". 

Guests:  Lifestar EMS' Assistant Training Coordinator Tyler Christifulli and Field Training Educator Sam Ireland

>> Click for on-demand playback of this webcast.

Do you need to rev up your EMS training program?  Are you looking for ways to engage your staff and get attendance and the discussion to a higher level at training events?  If so, then this EMS Live in Wisconsin webcast, recorded on Tuesday, January 26, is for you.

Our guests included two individuals with Lifestar EMS in West Bend, WI - Assistant Training Coordinator Tyler Christifulli and Field Training Educator Sam Ireland.  They discussed how they have successfully been using field educators at their base locations, and also sending out to staff pre-training podcasts to encourage education and discussion. They call their program, "Flipping the classroom".

Lifestar's approach to EMS education included the following:

Identifying the epidemic of bad teaching practices that surround EMS.

• Using old power points
• Strict outlines
• Crowded slides

What has Lifestar done to reinvent the way we approach education?

• Field Educators
• White boards
• Flipping the classroom
• Simplified power points and flip chart

The techniques of running a good simulation.

• You don't need expensive equipment to run a good sim
• Video recording and critique playback
• Always succeed in simulations
• Takes a lot of preparation to run an efficient and dynamic simulation.

To view and listen to the February 2016 pre-training podcast, "Patterns, Pathways, and Pain", as an example, completed by Lifestar EMS, click here.

The next live webcast is Tuesday, February 9 starting at 9:00 a.m. with State of Wisconsin EMS Office Licensing Manager Helen Pullen.  All individual EMTs, paramedics and first responders must renew their individual license by June 30, 2016 to continue to operate with their local ambulance service or deliver patient care in Wisconsin.   The dial-in number is 646-929-1081 or listen on any internet connected device at http://tobtr.com/8255159.

Join co-hosts Chris Anderson, Joe Covelli, Patrick Ryan, Dan Williams and call-in guests and live listeners for 40-minutes of conversation about emergency medical services and the ambulance industry in Wisconsin the second and fourth Tuesday every month.

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

The Department of Health Services, Division of Public Health, released on January 12th its draft plan, which describes the working objectives for operation of the Wisconsin EMS system for calendar years 2016 – 2018.

>> Click to download the State's 2016 0 2018 Emergency Medical Services Plan.

The Department is holding a public hearing on January 14 in Madison.  Oral and written comments will be accepted at the hearing. 

Meeting date, time and location:   

January 14, 2015, 3:00PM to 5:00PM, Room number B370, 1 W. Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703.

Attorney Wendy Arends reviews important items to include in your plan

>> Click to listen to this webcast.

A New Year brings new resolutions.  Maybe one of the items that should be on your 2016 to-do list is updating your ambulance service's compliance plan.  Regulatory compliance continues to be a big deal, and is getting more important.  Create, review or update your compliance plan to reduce your risk and protect your company.

This webcast was recorded on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

Our guest was attorney Wendy Arends at Godfrey & Kahn in Madison.  We discussed the importance of an ambulance service compliance plan and the elements to include.  Reference is made during the conversation to the U.S. Department of Health Office of the Inspector General, who posted ambulance service compliance plan recommendations at: http://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/docs/complianceguidance/032403ambulancecpgfr.pdf

The next live webcast of EMS Live in Wisconsin is Tuesday, January 26, starting at 9:00 a.m. central time.  The dial-in number is 646-929-1081 or on the internet at http://tobtr.com/8221163.

Our guests include two individuals with Lifestar EMS in West Bend, WI - Assistant Training Coordinator Tyler Christifulli and Field Training Educator Sam Ireland.  They will discuss how they have successfully been using field educators at their base locations, and also sending out to staff pre-training podcasts to encourage education and discussion. They call their program, "Flipping the classroom".

Join co-hosts Chris Anderson, Joe Covelli, Patrick Ryan, Dan Williams and call-in guests and live listeners for 40-minutes of conversation about emergency medical services and the ambulance industry in Wisconsin the second and fourth Tuesday every month.

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

Short stories by featured EMS writer and La Crosse paramedic Crystal Wallin

Unresponsive, at shortly after 6am, is a thing. It’s the time of day lots of folks wake up and find the spouse isn’t breathing, or moving, or generally not like usual. Unresponsive, at shortly after 6am, is a special kind of horrible thing for a medic who is deep into sleep. Waking thickly in a panic as the tones sound overhead, stumbling feet into boots while pulling sweater overhead, fumbling for glasses, tucking in shirt while hurrying to the garage. Unplugging the shore line, zipping boots, hitting garage door opener, blinking at early morning while shoving the seatbelt home to a crisp click. Blinking and reaching for the mike, putting the truck in drive and activating siren and lights while listening to the repeated dispatch info. Glancing at the Navigator screen on the tablet for the address, merging into early morning caffeinated and showered drivers while still valiantly mentally joining the rest of the world.  >> Click to read more...

By Joe Covelli, PAAW Executive Director

Producing audio webcasts has proven to be a very successful way for PAAW to deliver news, information and content to those involved in emergency medical services in Wisconsin.  We know this is true because of the numbers we see downloading the content or listening live, plus the many positive comments we receive on a regular basis.  Having your support and listenership is very important to us, it tells us we are doing the right thing and covering the right topics.

I really have been amazed by the response to what we've produced in 2015.  An example of this is the live webcast we did on May 4 with Dr. Eugene Nagel, Randolph Mantooth, and Nancy McFarland.   That one show to-date has been downloaded over 2,800 times.  Wow!  If you have an appreciation for EMS history and the 1970's TV show, EMERGENCY!, then you will definitely enjoy this interview.

Since 2010, we've produced EMS to the Point.  It's a recorded webcast format with one interviewer and a guest.  This past year we added six new interviews to the webcast library.  

In March 2015, we began hosting a live webcast, called Wisconsin EMS Live, that offers interaction between co-hosts, guests and callers.  The webcast name was changed in November to EMS Live in Wisconsin.  Since the beginning, I've been joined on the program by co-hosts Chris Anderson, Patrick Ryan and Dan Williams.  Throughout 2015, we did the webcast live the second Tuesday every month.  Because of interest, and to cover more topics more frequently, we made the decision to host the live webcast twice per month, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, beginning in January.  Our first webcast using the new format is January 12 starting at 9:00 a.m.  We'll be discussing ambulance compliance plans with attorney Wendy Arends.

In 2012 and 2011, I did a couple of interviews - one on EMS Pay, Wages and Volunteers with the Wisconsin Dept. of  Workforce Development, and the other about Wisconsin's new conceal carry gun law and EMS.  I was amazed to see these two webcasts had a number of downloads in 2015, so I included them in the list of highlights too.

As always, please write or call the Association with topics you suggest we include in our 2016 plans.  Thank you for your loyal listenership.

2015 Most Listened to Webcasts

EMS Live in Wisconsin Webcast Top Downloads:

>> Randolph Mantooth and Dr. Eugene Nagel discuss the rise of paramedics

>> Community Paramedicine and Physicians Advisory Committee

>> EMS Controlled Narcotics: Chain of Custody, Diversion, Best Practices

>> CPAP device, CHF patients and high dose nitro outcomes, and PSOW wrap-up

>>  Community Paramedicine Trials in Milwaukee Co., Working Together Conf.

EMS to The Point Webcast Top Downloads:

>> Raising the Bar: A Medical Director's Quality Improvement Initiatives.  Guest:  Dr. Steve Stroman, Medical Director at Eagle III, Oshkosh Fire, DePere Fire and Rescue, and Oconto Falls Area Ambulance

>> Same Tool, Enhanced Use:  Nasal Cannula Apneic Oxygenation.  Guest:  Dr. Mark Westfall, Medical Director for Gold Cross Ambulance - Fox Valley and the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin

>> Finally!  EMS data performance measures.  Guest:  Nick Nudell, EMS Compass Initiative Project Manager, National Association of State EMS Officials

>> Time to Pay Attention to EMT Wage and Labor Laws.  Guest:  Jim Chiolino, Director, Labor Standards Bureau, WI Dept. of Workforce Development (2012)

>> Wisconsin's New Conceal Carry Weapons Law and EMS.  Guest:  Sgt. Kevin Bygd, Dunn County Sheriff's Office (2011)

An east metro lawmaker wants to increase the penalties for anyone who interferes with first responders rendering medical aid.

Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said Tuesday the Public Safety Personnel Protection Act will be the first bill he submits for the legislative session that begins March 8. His proposal would make it a felony to interfere with emergency personnel even if that interference doesn't reach the level of an assault.  >> Click to read more...

Uber-delivered flu shots are just the beginning.

Someday, an Uber — not an ambulance — could appear at your door and whisk you to the hospital. Or to a doctor’s appointment. Or it could bring the doctor to wherever you are, whenever you want.

Uber doesn’t have immediate plans to do any of this, but it appears to be laying the groundwork to serve up health care at the tap of a button, just as it has rides and, more recently, food, drugstore necessities, and even kittens.

For four hours on a recent Thursday, Uber customers could summon nurses to administer flu shots for $10; the company hoped to vaccinate as many as 10,000 people across 36 U.S. cities.  >> Click to read more...