HOME EMS AWARDS
CONFERENCE		 GOLD STARS
OF LIFE		 STREMAC
COMMITTEES		 POLICIES &
PROTOCOLS		 MEETINGS
MINUTES		 LINKS
SITE MAP		 ABOUT
STREMS

Southern Tier Regional Emergency Medical Services Council

Council Meeting, Thursday, January 10, 2008; 7:00 PM EMSTAR, Elmira NY

Present: Bob Rajsky, Chairperson; Steve Bennett, Gary Blitz, Frank Brzozowski, Rick Churches, Shirley Churches, Fred Crist, Don Duvall, Patti Gressel, Bill Hawk, Dr. Huffner, Henry Jerzak, Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, Jim Kintz, Al Lewis, Carol Lucas, Dr. Manganaro, Dave Molyno, Dean Patterson, Ann Repsher, Mike Smith, Mike Sprague, Maryann Sweely, Teri Symonds, Mary Ann Teeter. Staff: Judy Blair
Guests: Ross Zastrow, NYS DOH
Absent/Excused: J. Chrabaszcz, C. Cuyle, L. Donley, W. Kennedy, R. Kimball.
Item Description Action
Call to Order, Minutes The meeting of the Southern Tier Regional EMS Council's Southern Tier Regional EMS Council was called to order at 7PM by Bob Rajsky, Chairperson. None.
Correspondence The Enforcement Notices were read:
  • Donald McCarn, Cameron NY, 1 year stayed suspension, 2 years probation, $3000 penalty for violations of Part 800.16(c).
  • Robert Depaolo, E Northport NY, $2000 penalty for violations of Part 800.16(g)
  • James Peet I, Mexoco NY, 1-year suspension, $1000 penalty, for violations of Part 800.16(c)
  • Betania Javier, New York NY, 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $2000 penalty, for violations of Part 800.16(e)
  • Michael Hollander, Nesconset NY, 1 year stayed suspension, 1 year probation, $3000 penalty for violations of Part 800.16(d)
  • Kerry Meisner, Albion NY, 3 years stayed suspension, 3 years probation, $2000 penalty for violations of Part 800.15(b), 800.16(a) and (b)
  • Dennis Perusko, Brooklyn NY, 1 year stayed suspension, $2000 penalty, for violations of Part 800.16(d).
Also received:
  • A letter from Mr. Wronski in regard to Schuyler Hospital's REACH Program.
  • Rural Health Community Systems is presenting a seminar on "The Pit Crew Concept" on February 2.
  • A letter from Bill Kennedy requesting approval of an alternate to Council
 None.
Approval of meeting minutes The minutes of the November 2007 meeting were approved on a motion by Dr. Huffner, seconded by Mr. Lewis. None
REPORTS
SEMAC/SEMSCo SEMAC and SEMSCo met in December.
  • Continuous waveform capnography was reinforced by SEMAC and then by SEMSCo: by January 1 of 2009 all intubated non-dead adult patients and all pediatric patients regardless of life status need to have continuous waveform capnography.
  • PES was the successful bidder in EMS testing - the company that tested for years and years. They'll be back as if January first.
  • The CLI screening process has been changed: CLI candidates doing the screening skills exam will be able to retest one station, one time.
  • The SEMAC approved a motion requesting the legislature to extend the MOLST program statewide. MOLST is medical orders for life sustaining treatment, it was piloted in Monroe and Onondaga counties.
  • Some recent stats on certified EMS providers in New York State for a total of 66,058 currently certified providers. That breaks down to 12,512 CFRs, 43,065 EMT-Basics, 1,222 Intermediates, 2,426 Critical Care Techs , and 6,833 Paramedics.
 None
Training Committee There were no course evaluations, awaiting test results from November. Three new courses coming up: EMT Refresher starting February 13 at EMSTAR, an EMT original and refresher, in Montour Falls, and a CME refresher course starting February 2. An instructor update will be held January 19 at EMSTAR. None
Systems Committee Mr. Sprague presented information regarding a region-wide communications grant application for a newer, microwave type communications which is basically network based, to develop a region wide IP based communications system. There is a 1 million dollar price tag on it and it must be submitted by January 15. The biggest drawback, in the past, to a regional communications system has been the infrastructure; this grand would build that. Systems committee passed a resolution to endorse Steuben County's application for this grant. Motion (Duvall/Smith) to support the application; carried.
The regional credentialing program for critical care techs and paramedics was amended to reflect a quarterly reporting schedule. PAD applications received: SCT BOCES filed a new notice of intent for PAD with a name change - they changed from SCT to GST BOCES. Applications received from Schuyler County, the New York State Unified Court System in both Schuyler County and Chemung County, and the Division of Military Naval Affairs.
Systems will be reviewing some of our electronic PCR data to take a look at patient care destinations and what drives patient care destinations for the ALS agencies in the region, to see what we can derive from those numbers regarding how we do business. 		None
STREMAC
  • There is one item for action by the council: Dr Michael Dushynski, an emergency physician at Arnot Ogden has requested membership in the STREMAC; consistent with the bylaws, the STREMAC requests approval of the Council for the addition of Dr. Duchynski as a member of the STREMAC. Motion (Huffner/Lewis) carried.
  • Heparin use and patient transfers: STREMAC will be updating its formulary, changing some protocols and developing processes, including CME requirements, to allow for use during interfacility transfers.
  • STREMAC meeting schedule for 2008 was approved for February 13, may 14, August 13 and November 12.
  • EMD Protocol allowing aspirin administration through 911 Emergency Medical Dispatchers: there is a lot of confusion about what actually has aspirin and doesn't have aspirin, we have relatively short transport times, and all of our ALS and many of our BLS providers carry the appropriate medication, so STREMAC decided not to include that in the emergency medical dispatch protocols.
  • Reviewed and approved a proposed 2007-8 Quality Improvement project that will involve stroke care
  • Reviewed and accepted the regional QI report for the quarter ending September 2007. With this report we have assembled 10 years worth of data on quality improvement activities in this region and have requested that the EMSTAR staff be charged with development of some type of presentation to perhaps be included at Vital Signs in October.
 None
Quality Improvement Issues discussed at the QI meeting:
  • Some hesitation or refusals on the part of out of area ambulances to transport to a trauma center when directed by some of the outlying hospitals - referred to STREMAC.
  • Difficulty with getting e-PCRs for the QI project to look at.
  • Recommended that pediatric studies be replaced with Stroke studies.
  • Reviewed the committee's goals from 2007 and made revisions for 2008, to be finalized at the next meeting and posted on the website.
 None
Executive Committee Two items on the agenda from last time, for action at this meeting;
Vote on the bylaws amendment, Article 5 Section 1, which has been on the table for at least 30 days, as was approved at the last meeting, that the officers of the council shall be chairperson and vice chairperson, they shall be nominated at the first regular meeting after September 1st and elected at the next regularly scheduled meeting by a majority of the seated council members. Motion to approve (Oakes/Patterson), by roll call vote (see attached). Motion carried.
Vote on membership renewals for Patti Gressel, Dr. Huffner, William Kennedy, Bob Rajsky, Michael Sprague and Teri Symonds. Motion (Gressel/Huffner) that we take them as a group; carried. Motion now to approve (Blitz/Crist); carried.		 None
Critical Incident Stress Management Recruited a new secretary, Mary Beth Prechtl, who started a week ago. Activities information will be available next time. Received applications for some new members. For anyone interested, the application is on the CISM page at the EMSTAR website. None
Other Business EMSTAR EMS educational conference will be October 25, 2008 at Corning Community College.
    Mr Bill Kennedy requests that Brian Gardner be his alternate. Brian will be the new deputy emergency management coordinator for Schuyler county, upon Rick Church's retirement at the end of the month. Motion to approve (Patterson/Lewis) carried.
    The State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee in conjunction with the New York chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians will meet jointly this January to develop an EMS report card. This is a result of a national report card done by the Institute of Medicine last year, giving a poor review of New York State's EMS system.
    Nomination and election for council representative to the state council. Don Duvall has done it for 2 years, his term is up in February and he may be re-elected to another term. Motion to nominate and elect Mr. Duvall (Brzozowski/Sweely) carried.
    Affirmation of Dr. Huffner as our representative to SEMAC: Motion (Lucas/Sweely) carried.
    ALS and AED renewal applications: ALS permit renewal for Hornell Fire Department - motion to approve (Huffner/Crist), carried AED renewals for Erin Fire Department, Canisteo Fire Department, Big Flats Fire Department, Cameron Fire Department, Caton Fire Department. Motion to approve (Huffner/Gressel), carried.
    Recognition of Council service years: Steve Bennett, 8 years of service. Patti Gressel, 9 years; Rick Kimball, 10 years; Teri Symonds, 11 years, Bernadette Josbeno-Oakes, 12. Michael Sprague, 13. Don Duvall, 14. Michael Smith, 16, Maryann Sweely, 18. Dr. Manganaro, 19 years. Mr. Rajsky for 20 years. Dr. Huffner, 21 years, Jim Chrabaszcz, 24 years. Mary Ann Teeter, 25 years, Fred Crist, 28 years. Al Lewis, Sr., 33 years. Plaques presented: "presented to [name] in recognition of [#] years of dedicated service to the Southern Tier Regional EMS Council 2008."		 None
Adjournment, next meeting Motion to adjourn (Huffner/Kintz) 8PM. Next meeting: March 13.