Ambuglances ::: Region I's Official Newsletter

Memorial EMS of Chattanooga Experiences Drug Thefts

Investigators have charged several employees of Memorial EMS of Chattanooga with theft of drugs and equipment from the service over the last several years. Director Bud Hattaway has also announced his resignation. No further details are available at this time.

Alan Ballew Admitted to ICU

Paramedic Alan Ballew has been admitted to the intensive care unit of Hutcheson Medical Center with pneumonia. He is very ill and on a ventilator. We pray for his recovery.

Mike Etheridge Leaves Murray County EMS

Paramedic Mike Etheridge, longtime employee of Murray County EMS, has announced that he will be leaving the service to become director of an EMS service in Tennessee. Good Luck, Mike.

Transportation Committee to Study Trauma Protocols

The Transportation Committee of the Region 1 EMS Council will consider a revision of the trauma triage protocols at their next meeting. The committee recommendation will be presented at the next EMS Council meeting in July. [The next EMS Council meeting will be held in Chatsworth at 2:00 p.m. on July 29, 2004. This is a change for this meeting only due to a conflict with the EXPO EMS Conference in Atlanta]

Eric Nix Graduates from Medical School

Paramedic Eric Nix of Gordon County Ambulance and webmaster of the Region 1 website is now Doctor Eric Nix. Many of his family and friends attended his graduation ceremony from Mercer Medical School in Macon. Congratulations, Eric.

It is Almost Too Late for Recert

It is less than two months until the deadline for recert. All EMTs, CTs and Paramedics certified before July 1, 2002 must submit recert forms, BCLS or ACLS cards and proof of continuing education hours to the Regional EMS Office before June 30, 2004.

Are We Getting Sloppy?

It seems that more and more EMS Services are forgetting to submit their annual license paperwork to renew their licenses. It is true that the EMS and First Responder license is for two years. However, the first two pages of the license application, any other pages that have changed and the license fee must be submitted on the year in between. A complete license package may be submitted 60 days before the due date and must be submitted to the Region 1 EMS Office not the State Office of EMS in Atlanta. Failure to submit the license by the deadline will result in the loss of medicare funds.

PCRs Ordered

The next supply of patient care reports has been ordered from Scantron and should be delivered within the next 30 days. You will be billed directly from Scantron for the forms. Please pay them promptly upon complete delivery of the forms.

New Ambulance Renumbering Begins

The Office of EMS has changed the numbering of all ambulances and the EMS Coordinators have started the process. The County Number + M or MR + unit number will be discontinued within 1 year. All licensed vehicles will have a metal tag affixed to the door jam and a newly designed sticker with a one year expiration date to replace the windshield sticker. The EMS personnel will use the new 5 digit number on PCRs.

Helicopter Transport for ACS and Stroke?

The EMS Council heard from representatives of the helicopter transport industry at their regular April meeting. The representative suggested that helicopter transport should be considered for acute coronary syndrome and acute stroke patients. The rapid transport would enable these patients to receive clot busting drugs within the three hour window and increase the patients chances of a full recovery. The American Heart Association supports the rapid transport of patients to specialized facilities with CAT scan and thrombolytic delivery.

Send Us Your Pictures of EMS Week Activities

You are invited to send your pictures of EMS Week activities. We will post selected pictures on the newsletter, picture page and on the opening page of the website. All pictures must be in jpeg format and e-mailed to cdloftin@gdph.state.ga.us

Sgt. Jimmy Gilbert Dies from Crash

Henry County Police Sergeant Jimmy Gilbert has died from an automobile crash. He was very active in the Safe Kids organization and Child Car Seat Safety. He will be missed.

State EMS Awards Winners named

Three people from Region 1 received State EMS awards in Macon on May 14. The complete slate of winners were: Puckett EMS - EMS Service of the Year; John Canon - EMT of the Year; M.L. "Bud" Owens - EMS Director of the Year; Walter Collins Henson - Dr. Joseph Simon Pediatric Call of the Year; Cathy Maxwell - Joe Lane Cox Award; Jane Garbish - Mary Beth Bowns Trauma Award; Dr. Jeb Burrell, Jr. - Dr. John B. O'Neal EMS Pioneer Award; Lee Oliver - Dr. Jeb Burrell, Jr Award. The featured speaker was Lt. Governor Mark Taylor. See our picture page of the event.

M.L. Bud Owens from Gordon Ambulance Service selected as the 2004 EMS Director of the Year. Bud is second from the right.

John Canon of Hutcheson Medical Center has been chosen as the 2004 Georgia EMT of the Year. John is second from the left.

Larry Vandergriff of Coosa Valley Technical College in Rome was named the 2004 Mike Miller Memorial EMS Educator of the Year. Pictured from (l to r) David Loftin, Lt. Governor Mark Taylor, Larry Vandegriff, David Bean, Marie Miller and Dianne Miller.

Also attending the 2004 Georgia Awards Banquet were representatives from Hutcheson Medical Center EMS, Whitfield County EMS, Redmond Regional EMS, Gordon Ambulance, Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services and others.

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!