Ambuglances ::: Region I's Official Newsletter

Smallpox Vaccine Training for EMS

Dr. Pat O'Neal announced at the CHANGES Conference in Augusta that the Georgia Public Safety Training Center will begin to train EMS personnel in the technique of smallpox vaccine administration soon. Pictured on the right is Dr. O'Neal participating in a demonstration at the conference.

Whitfield EMS Adds Satellite Base

Whitfield EMS has added a satellite station to their main base in Dalton. Pictured above is their new base. Congratulations, Whitfield EMS.

Cherokee Fire Receives First Ambulances

Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services has taken delivery of the first of a fleet of new Braun ambulances. Congratulations, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services.

It's Time to Order Your PCR Forms

The next order of the Georgia Patient Care Reports (PCR) will be placed on April 15, 2003 to Scantron. You must place your order for a 6 months supply (July 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003) before April 15, 2003 with Region 1 EMS. The minimum order is 1 case (500 forms). The Regional Office will maintain a small supply of forms for services who need less than 1 case. You will be billed directly by Scantron and the forms will be shipped directly to you. The price will depend on the total amount of forms ordered in the State of Georgia and will be announced by the end of April. The next order will be placed on October 15, 2003 for a six months supply (January 1, 2004 - June 30, 2004). All EMS Services in Georgia will be ordering through Region 1 EMS in this manner. Please do not delay. Order today.

Paulding County Fire Applies For a First Responder License

Paulding County Fire Department based in Dallas has submitted a license to become a Medical First Responder. The service will have 10 rescue units located throughout the county. Congratulations, Paulding County Fire Department.

Whitfield EMS Begins Using Computerized System in Units

Effective the week of March 2, 2003, Whitfield EMS switched from the traditional computer aided sispatch and the matching of the Department of Human Resources State Trip Report to the Automated Run Tracking System provided by EMS Consultants, LTD, which has been in the EMS software business since 1988. The Automated Run Tracking Program runs off an IBM Thinkpad T2 that will be carried by each ambulance crew, along with an HP Office Jet 330 printer so that the crews will be able to print off run reports to be left with receiving facilities eliminating the need to complete paper copies of the state trip report. Billing will also be performed with this new system. Congratulations, Whitfield County EMS.

EMS-C Conference to be Held in Gainesville

The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMS-C) State Conference will be held in Gainesville, Georgia on June 11-12, 2003. The cost will be $60 and will include two days of presentations, a dance and lunches. Please see our website training calendar for more.

Georgia EMS Management Conference

The 18th annual Georgia EMS Management Conference will be held on April 30 - May 2 at Unicoi State Park and Conference Center near Helen, Georgia. The conference will be preceded by the 2003 Georgia EMS Awards Banquet on April 30 at 11:00 a.m. See you there.

EMS Weapons of Mass Destruction Course

A Weapons of Mass Destruction course will be presented in Calhoun, Georgia by Texas A & M and will be sponsored by Gordon County Ambulance. The coaurse will be held at the N.W. Georgia Experiment Station on McDaniel Station Road from June 17 to June 19, 2003. Please register now. See our website training calendar for more information.

Sea Palms EMS Conference

The 17th annual Coastal Georgia EMS Conference will be held this year at Sea Palms Golf and Tennis Resort on St. Simons Island from August 19-22, 2003. The cost will be $95. See our website training calendar for more information.

Puckett EMS Wins CHANGES Challenge

Pictured above are Doug Norton (center) and Christi Payne (right) from Puckett EMS. The crew won the annual ALS EMS competition in Augusta named the CHANGES CHALLENGE. This years scenario involved rescue from a swimming pool. Congratulations, Puckett EMS.

Changes Proposed in Medicare Funding for EMS

Several changes have been proposed for Medicare reimbursement for EMS in new legislation. The bill contains these provisions:

1. Sets the national ambulance Medicare fee schedule at a rate equal to the cost of providing ambulance service by full-cost providers.

2. Provides for annual ambulance fee schedule updates at a level equal to the urban CPI.

3. Provides for higher ambulance payments for rural ambulance transports than urban ones, taking into consideration a yet to be published report on rural ambulance costs expected soon from the US General Accounting Office.

4. Requires CMS to implement a condition coding system for ambulance services no later than December 31, 2003. The bill can be seen at http://www.congress.gov. Then type in HR 1301 in the box.

Memorial EMS Has New Base

Memorial EMS of Chattanooga, Tennessee has moved to a new location about a mile from their previous location near Memorial Hospital. The building includes a large bay for ambulances, increased storage areas for supplies and new offices. Congratulations, Memorial EMS.

New One Piece 12-Lead Electrodes

I found this item in the vendor area at the CHANGES Conference in Augusta. It costs $5.00 from Armstrong Medical. Sounds interesting.

Next National Registry Exam in Region 1

The next National Registry exam in Region 1 will be held at Coosa Valley Technical College on Callahan Street in North Rome on June 20-21, 2003. Contact Region 1 EMS Office for dates of other exams or more information on this exam.

Next EMS Council Meeting

The next meeting of the Region 1 EMS Council will be on April 17, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at the Region 1 EMS Offices in Rome. The annual election of officers will take place at this meeting because of the lack of a quorum at the last meeting due to severe weather.

David Huskey Leaves Hutcheson Medical Center

David Huskey, long time EMS Instructor, has left Hutcheson Medical Center and Northwestern Technical College to take the position of Training Officer with the Dalton Health District as a part of the Emergency Preparedness Program. David will complete the EMT program in progress but will end his decades of dedication to EMS Training with this course. We will miss you David.

Jim Weaver Leaves Appalachian Tech

Jim Weaver, former Region 1 EMS Educator of the Year, has left Appalachian Technical College in Jasper to take a position as the Paramedic Instructor at Medix School. Jim taught two simultaneous EMT programs as his first program after the EMT Instructor training program and obtained good results from both. Good luck, Jim.

Do you have a news story you would like published in Ambuglances? If so, let David Loftin know about it. He can be reached via telephone at (706) 295-6154 or via email at cdloftin@gdph.state.ga.us. Let's inform the region about your news!