As Ebola ignites fear of a widespread outbreak, it's easy to overlook the fact that a common illness actually poses a far more serious threat to thousands of people in the U.S. Every year the flu kills between 3,000 and as many as 49,000 Americans, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

Flu season starts in October, and it remains to be seen how severe this year's flu season will turn out to be. But even in a mild year, the flu takes a deadly toll.

"The flu is easy to dismiss, especially among young healthy adults who think that they can just 'fight' the illness," Dr. Sudip Bose, an emergency medicine physician and former U.S. army doctor told CBS News. Even so, "Influenza A can wipe out the most vulnerable patients, including children, senior citizens and people with medical conditions."

Ninety percent of flu-related deaths are among people age 65 or older. Young children are also at risk; during the 2012-2013 flu season, 169 children died, according to the CDC.

Emergency room doctors normally see a 10 percent increase in the number of patients during cold and flu season. But this year they're expecting to see a much bigger influx of people worried that their flu-like symptoms could be something they've seen on the news.

"Due to the nature of what's going on in the community and also in the world, especially with Ebola and enterovirus," the uptick in patients would not be surprising, said Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.

Glatter says hospitals like his are taking steps to be prepared for whatever walks through the door. "We have all protocols in place to isolate people, whether it's concern for Ebola or flu, we're always prepared," he told CBS News' Marlie Hall.

Initial symptoms of the two illnesses can look similar: fever, aches and fatigue. In order to tell the difference, one of the key factors medical staff will be looking for is a patient's travel history -- whether a person had recently been in one of the West African countries where Ebola is more widespread.

"The kinds of illnesses they could have are directly influenced by where they've been," Glatter explained.

Ebola is transmitted only through contact with the bodily fluids of someone who's sick and exhibiting symptoms of the disease, which progress to gastrointestinal illness and sometimes hemorrhaging, experts say. It has a fatality rate ranging from 50 to 90 percent.

The flu, by contrast, is far less lethal but much more easily transmissible. The flu virus can go airborne and spread through coughing or sneezing, as well as by touching contaminated surfaces or even shaking hands.

Complications of the flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, and the worsening of more severe conditions like asthma, heart failure and diabetes.

To stay out of the ER or doctor's office with a case of the flu this season, now is the time to get vaccinated, health officials say. Flu shots or nasal sprays are readily available and usually effective.

"Many people don't get vaccinated because they think that the immunization gives them the flu," said Dr. Randy Wexler, associate professor of family medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. But that is a misconception, he said. "[Vaccinations] may cause achiness and fatigue, but they do not cause the flu."

Wexler added that elderly often forgo vaccinations, even though they're at risk for more serious complications. "Add it all up, and a lot of people, particularly those at risk, do not take the best precaution which is vaccination."

"At the end of the day, focus on the bigger responsibility," warns Bose. "Flu prevention is not just about you. [Getting vaccinated] can prevent grandma or babies from getting sick too."

The CDC lists several flu vaccine options for the 2014-2015 flu season. It notes that traditional flu vaccines, made to protect against three different flu viruses (called "trivalent" vaccines), and flu vaccines made to protect against four different flu viruses (called "quadrivalent" vaccines) are both available. Good hand-washing habits and using hand sanitizers can also cut down on the spread of the flu virus.

"The take-home message is that the flu is preventable," said Dr. Matthew Levy of John Hopkins Emergency Medicine unit. "Although the flu receives far less attention [than Ebola], it's a much bigger threat."

Source:  CBS Interactive Inc.

On Friday October 17, 2014 at 2:00pm, the Division of Public Health will host a webcast for healthcare agencies and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide information on preparing for and responding to Ebola, which will include a brief situation update as well as time for questions and answers.

Here is the webcast link: http://dhsmedia.wi.gov/main/Play/b990f09390c1495fab0ebad6cfdc067b1d

The session will be recorded and archived.  Once the webcast concludes please use the above link to view the recorded session.

The Department of Health Services continues to work with local public health agencies, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hospitals, EMS, emergency management,  medical examiners and coroners, and other partners to prepare for potential Ebola cases.

Orange Cross Ambulance Service and Plymouth Ambulance Service have merged into one company that will serve the City of Sheboygan, surrounding communities and the western part of Sheboygan County.

 

The merger, announced Thursday, was effective Wednesday, Oct. 1.

 

Andy Bagnall, president and CEO of St. Nicholas Hospital and the president of Orange Cross, said the merger came about after months of talks between the two organizations.

“We have the same role in our distinct communities,” Bagnall said. “We realized quickly we can be pretty strong together through shared services, shared structures.”

 

Terry Abler, president of Plymouth Ambulance Service, was not available for comment. But in a press release, Abler said the merger will help both ambulance services stay strong into the future.

 

“By coming together, we will enhance the quality of service we provide to the City of Plymouth and western portion of Sheboygan County,” he said. “We can ensure longterm sustainability by streamlining operations, taking advantage of shared services and providing long-term financial strength for our communities.”

 

Orange Cross Ambulance Service began in 1979, operates as a 50/50 joint venture of Aurora Health Care and St. Nicholas Hospital and provides paramedic-level, critical care ambulance service. Plymouth Ambulance Service has been in service for more than 20 years.

 

Orange Cross will retain its locations in Sheboygan and Plymouth, and it will continue to be a non-profit entity.

 

During the transition period, which will take several months, Plymouth Ambulance Service will retain its logo on ambulances.

 

Eventually, the logo and the name will be phased out and the Plymouth Ambulance Service corporation will be dissolved, Bagnall said.

 

As part of the transition, an advisory committee made up of members of the defunct Plymouth Ambulance Service board of directors will monitor how well the new service is being received and advise Orange Cross on improvement, Bagnall said.

 

Orange Cross averages 3,600 runs per year and has 31 employees. Plymouth Ambulance averages 1,700 runs per year and has 36 employees.

 

Currently, Bagnall said, there are no plans to cut the number of employees from either organization.

 

“As of right now, we’re not looking at that,” he said. “We’re really focused on merging, trying to figure out how to have the two cultures combine. We have a lot more similarities than differences.”

Source:  Sheboygen Press

Paramedics in Dubai will soon be able to speed to the scene of traffic accidents and other emergencies in a high-powered sports car that can hit 260kph (or 161 mph), dramatically reducing response times.

The two-seater was unveiled at the Gitex Technology Week at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Sunday. The car is equipped with most of the same emergency and first-aid equipment that is carried in a regular ambulance.

“We can handle all kinds of emergencies,” said Zaid Al Mamari, a paramedic with the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services. “It is fitted with a responder bag, suction unit, foam splints for fractures, cardiac defibrillators and oxygen bags.”

The vehicle also carries a mobile data terminal to key in patient data and vital stats that can be transmitted to hospitals ahead of a regular ambulance arriving at the scene.

Two more Ford Mustangs will be added to the fleet of First Responder vehicles. Currently, the response time for a regular ambulance is eight minutes, but officials said the target time for all ambulances, including the sports car, was under four.

Source:  The National

The guidelines highlight key areas to enhance overall preparation and response to potential or diagnosed Ebola patients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a checklist aimed at preparing EMS agencies to recognize and treat patients with Ebola.

Highlights include:

• Train all EMS personnel on how to identify signs and symptoms of Ebola infections and to avoid risk of exposure
• Consider travelers with fever, fatigue, vomiting and/or diarrhea and returning from affected West African countries as potential cases, and obtain additional history.
• Post screening criteria in conspicuous locations in EMS units, at EMS stations, and in other locations frequented by EMS personnel (see suggested screening criteria).
• Designate points of contact within their EMS organization/system responsible for communicating with state and local public health officials. Remember: Ebola must be reported to local, state, and federal public health authorities.
• Conduct a detailed inventory of available supplies of PPE suitable for standard, contact, and droplet precautions. Ensure an adequate supply, for EMS personnel, of:
• • Fluid resistant or impermeable gowns
  • Gloves
  • Shoe covers, boots, and booties
• Maintain an appropriate combination of the following:
• • Eye protection (face shield or goggles)
  • Facemasks (goggles or face shield must be worn with facemasks)
  • N95 respirators (for use during aerosol-generating procedures)
  • Other infection control supplies (e.g. hand hygiene supplies).
• Ensure procedures are in place to require that all EMS personnel accompanying a patient in a transport unit are wearing (at minimum): gloves, gown (fluid resistant or impermeable), eye protection (goggles or face shield), and a facemask
• Review, develop, and implement plans for: adequate respiratory support, safe administration of medication, and sharps procedures; and reinforce proper biohazard containment and disposal precautions
• Plan for regular situational briefs for decision-makers, including:
• • PUI for Ebola who have been identified and reported to public health authorities
  • Isolation, quarantine and exposure reports
  • Supplies and logistical challenges
  • Personnel status
  • Policy decisions on contingency plans and staffing​​

​​Read the full checklist

The Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP) is pleased to announce that the FY15 Rural Health Care Services Outreach Grant Program funding opportunity announcement (announcement number: HRSA-15-039) is now available. To access the application package and learn more about the funding opportunity announcement, please click on: http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=264030 (look under ‘application package’ tab)

 

 

BRIEF SUMMARY (Refer to HRSA-15-039 funding opportunity announcement for more details and information)

A.     Eligibility criteria

The lead applicant must be a rural non-profit or rural public entity that represents a consortium of at least 3 health care providers.

 

B.     Purpose and Goals of FY15 Outreach grant program:

The purpose of this grant is to improve outreach and service delivery in local and regional rural communities.  The goals for the Outreach Program are the following:

o   Expand the delivery of health care services to include new and enhanced services exclusively in rural communities

o   Deliver health care services through a strong consortium, in which every consortium member organization is actively involved and engaged in the planning and delivery of services

o   Utilize and/or adapt an evidence-based or promising practice model(s) in the delivery of health care services

o   Improve population health, demonstrate health outcomes and sustainability

 

C.     Award amount:

o   Applicants can request up to $200,000/year for three years.

 

D.     Deadline to apply:

o   The deadline to submit an application in www.grants.gov is November 14, 2014.  ORHP strongly recommends that applicants submit their applications prior to the due date to avoid any technological problems. All applications have to be submitted electronically in www.grants.gov and waiver requests to submit a paper copy application will not be accepted.

 

E.      Technical assistance webinar:

There will be a technical assistance webinar on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 from 1:00-2:30pm EDT to assist applicants in preparing their applications. The technical assistance webinar is open to the general public.  The purpose of the webinar is to go over the funding opportunity announcement, and to provide any additional or clarifying information that may be necessary regarding the application process.  There will be a Q&A session at the end of the webinar to answer any questions.  While the webinar is not required, it is highly recommended that anyone who is interested in applying for the FY15 Outreach Program plan to listen to the webinar.  It is most useful to the applicants when the funding opportunity announcement is easily accessible during the call and if questions are written down ahead of time for easy reference.

 

Call-in number (for audio): 888-282-9630 // passcode: 1632772

URL (for web): https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/fy15_outreach_foata/

 

Prior to joining, please test your web connection: https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm.

 

Note: You must dial into the conference line to hear the audio portion of the webinar. No registration is required.  To access the webinar recording, visit http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/about/community/careservicesoutreach.html.

 

FY15 Rural Health Care Services Outreach FOA program contact:

Linda Kwon, MPH

Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program Coordinator

Office of Rural Health Policy

Telephone:  (301) 594-4205

The Wisconsin STEMI coordinators group met on October 3 in Janesville.  The group met to discuss statewide STEMI efforts, statewide benchmarks and recent convers ations at the State Capitol.  In addition, the group sought input from EMS representatives.

PAAW President Patrick Ryan was invited to speak at the meeting.  He offered this comment afterwards, "We appreciate the STEMI coordinators' invitation.  It is great to see them include EMS in their statewide planning, since ambulance services are an important and essential part to developing any successful statewide program."

The Medicare Ambulance Access, Fraud Prevention, and Reform Act of 2014 (H.R. 5460) was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The bill would make several key reforms to the Medicare ambulance fee schedule including as of April 1, 2015 the permanent extension of the current temporary Medicare 2% urban, 3% rural and super rural add-on payments. 

“In developing H.R. 5460, Congressmen Greg Walden (R-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Richard Neal (D-MA) developed a sensible and bipartisan approach to addressing below cost Medicare reimbursement of ambulance service providers and implementing important reforms,” said Jimmy Johnson, AAA President.  “This is the most significant legislation on Medicare reimbursement and policy since the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the creation of the Medicare ambulance fee schedule.”

In addition to making the current relief permanent, H.R. 5460 would: 

1. Implement prior authorization for Basic Life Support (BLS) non-emergency ambulance transports to and from dialysis centers,
2. Change the status of ambulance service suppliers to provider.
3. Direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to collect ambulance cost data using a survey methodology.

“Ambulance service providers and our paramedics and EMTs are often the health care professionals to first come into contact with a patient and we are providing state-of-the-art medical care to ensure better patient outcome,” said Johnson.  “H.R. 5460 will not only address several of the current issues facing our profession but also put us on a path for Congress to make data-driven decisions on the future role ambulance service providers will play in our changing health care system.”

Source: American Ambulance Association

Two former Sullivan Emergency Medical Service members charged with theft and misconduct in public office were released on $10,000 signature bonds on Tuesday, September 16.

Kimberly Heine and Richard Heine, of Helenville, the former deputy chief and chief of Sullivan EMS, respectively, are accused of fraudulent actions relating to funds and property associated with the former emergency medical service.

The couple appeared before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Weston to face the charges, including one count each of theft-false representation over $10,000 and misconduct in office-fraudulent records/statement. In addition, Kimberly Heine is charged with one count of identity theft for financial gain.

If convicted, Kimberly Heine faces a combined maximum sentence of 19 1/2 years in prison and fines of more than $45,000, while Richard Heine could be sentenced to a maximum of 13 1/2 years in prison and fines totaling more than $35,000.  A pre-trial conference at the District Attorney’s Office was scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 15.

The Heines are not to work for any ambulance or EMS service, but were granted permission to continue operating their medical transportation business called Sullivan Prestige Ambulance Inc. or Prestige Transports, as long as they only are paid directly by the users of that service and not handling the clients’ accounts. As ordered, they are not to engage in any business in which they are entrusted with someone else’s money.

According to the criminal complaint, the theft and misconduct in office offenses allegedly committed by the pair occurred between January 2011 and June 30, 2012. The single count of identity theft for financial gain charged against Kimberly Heine relates to her alleged use of the Sullivan EMS phone number from July 3, 2012, to August 20, 2012.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Sullivan EMS Secretary/Treasurer Nancy Emons about the service’s telephone number being disconnected and ported to a personal U.S. Cellular account in the name of Kimberly Heine in August 2012.

The couple had been suspended from their duties within Sullivan EMS on June 23, 2012, pending the outcome of an internal investigation and audit. The suspension had been the result of allegations that the pair had mismanaged funds and assets at Sullivan EMS as chief (Richard) and deputy chief (Kimberly) and administrative assistant.

Kimberly Heine did all the recordkeeping as part of her duties as administrative assistant, including payroll.

The Sullivan EMS Board of Directors voted to terminate the couple’s employment on July 3, 2012, and on July 9, Emons reportedly contacted the telephone company asking it to remove the pair as authorized persons on the account, the complaint said.

The board believed Heine was attempting to start her own emergency transport company using the Sullivan EMS telephone number.

Kimberly Heine admitted to authorities of taking possession of the phone number “due to the fact that Sullivan EMS had abandoned the number.”

According to the complaint, she said members of Sullivan EMS had asked her to find a way to cut the phone bill and that they were aware that the phone number in question would be cancelled to reduce the bill.

Emons reportedly countered that a conversation about reducing the phone bill was held; however, “cancelling the main phone line was never an option.”

Kimberly also allegedly admitted in an interview with detectives that her new transport company, Sullivan Prestige Ambulance, was providing inter-facility transportation, which Sullivan EMS no longer provided, and that people contacting her at the stolen Sullivan EMS number for this service could get it through her company, the complaint said.

Under Federal Communications Commission requirements, a tax identification number was required for control of the phone number.

Kimberly stated that a U.S. Cellular employee provided the tax identification number, but she admitted that she and her husband had access to the Sullivan EMS tax identification number because it was stored in their home, according to the complaint.

The mentioned U.S. Cellular employee denied providing the tax identification number, stating in the complaint that he only had access to the last four digits of the number.

Even after the number had been returned to Sullivan EMS, investigators attempted to contact Kimberly using a phone number she provided and in reaching her voicemail found she was still representing herself as being affiliated with Sullivan EMS.

Further investigation related to the Heines’ alleged illegal runs by Sullivan EMS that were not reported to LifeQuest, the processor for Sullivan EMS.

Kami Warren, former Sullivan EMS chief, provided documentation which details a total of 533.25 runs Kimberly submitted to Sullivan EMS payroll, but not to LifeQuest. By statute, all runs by Sullivan EMS had to be reported to LifeQuest.

According to the complaint, Warren’s documentation also showed 499 runs reported by Richard Heine to Sullivan EMS, but not to LifeQuest.

Reports show that Sullivan EMS overpaid Kimberly Heine $13,647.50 for runs and Richard by $13,514.75.

It was further noted that “at no time was Kimberly approved to receive $1,250 per month as a regular monthly stipend.”

Kimberly was appointed as both deputy chief of inter-facility and administrative assistant beginning Sept. 1, 2011, with a total monthly stipend of $700.

Payroll summaries in the complaint show that Kimberly received a stipend in excess of $17,503 from January 2011 to June 2012.

When confronted with the allegations, the Heines defended the unaccounted-for runs, citing that LifeQuest would deny runs because they were not medically necessary or that runs were not billed because they were submitted through the Sentimental Journeys program.

The couple also said runs would go unreported if they lasted more than two hours, the complaint said.

Source:  Ryan Whisner, Daily Union regional editor

On September 17, Jack Hill, executive director at Gold Cross Ambulance Service, headquartered in Menasha, was named 2014 Wisconsin Honorary Star of Life and Lifetime Member of the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin. 

 

The award was presented by the Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin where Hill is treasurer and serves on the board of directors.  Governor Scott Walker acknowledged the moment by providing Hill with a certificate of appreciation for his many years of service to citizens of Wisconsin.  The award presentation and recognition dinner was held at Tundra Lodge in Green Bay during the annual Paramedic Systems of Wisconsin Conference.  Several Gold Cross Ambulance employees, pictured with Hill, attended the program to celebrate the occasion.

 

During his 21 years of leadership, Gold Cross has grown from 60 employees to more than 160, and from 8 ambulances to 17. The company has incorporated new technologies and clinical care protocols while he’s been at the helm, and has expanded to become a regional service covering 1,200 square miles of Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet and Waupaca counties, serving more than 260,000 people.

 

As a part-time police officer in mid-1976 in his home town of Hoyt Lakes, MN, Hill got a taste of the career that would eventually become his passion.  He was hired at Gold Cross in 1985 as a paramedic, when he decided to turn his volunteer EMS work into a career. Today, looking back over 29 years with Gold Cross, he remains committed to the quality, efficiency, dedication, compassion and professionalism that characterize the company and his life.

 

In early 2015, Jack and Noi Hill will live part-time in Thailand, spending time with family, enjoying a life of retirement and new adventures.

(Picture insert, left to right, Professional Ambulance Association of Wisconsin President Patrick Ryan, Jack Hill, Noi Hill)