Emergency Medical Services Board Meeting
September 6, 2000

 

Members present:  
Marv Birnbaum                                
Cheryl Glomp                                                                           
Dan Williams                                                   
Don Hunjadi
Gloria Murawsky
Dick Collyard                                                  
Mark DeGuire             
Steve Teale     
Terry Richards

Bureau Staff:
Rick Barney
Linda Watson

                                                                                                                       

Others in Attendance:                            Representing:
Judy Jones                                                        Luther – Eau Claire
Keith Kesler                                                     Douglas Co. Emergency Mgt.
Jan Victorson                                                   Bayfield Co. Emergency Mgt.
Michael Fraley                                      St. Joseph’s Hospital - Marshfield
Michael Kunesh                                     PFFW
Vicky Zietlow                                                   Mid State Technical College
Mitch Waite                                                     WI Rapids Fire Dept.
Barb Kuska                                                      Beloit Memorial Hospital
Kathy Crandall                                     EMS Coordinators
Dave Henning                                                   Gold Cross Ambulance
Beth Natter                                                      Mercy Hospital – Janesville
Jeff Nelson                                                       Medical Training Associates
Sharon Thorpe                                                 Wausau Hospital
Don Kimlicka                                                   Gunderson Lutheran – LaCrosse
Brian Pauley                                                     Luther Hospital – Eau Claire
Shef Massey                                                     Eau Claire Co. EMS
Mark Madigan                                                 County Rescue
Candy Lindorfer                                              St. Clare Hospital
Robin Schultz                                                   Eau Claire, Sacred Heart Hospital
Kathy Worden                                                 Rib Mountain Fire Dept.
Judy Rine                                                         Rib Mountain Fire Dept.
Joy Erb-Moser                                                 Saint Joseph’s Marshfield
Stephen Pieper                                     Fond Du Lac Fire
Nettie Jenkins                                                   Fond Du Lac Fire
Mike Petersen                                                  Fond Du Lac Fire
Larry Knuth                                                      Paratech Ambulance
Sherry Kirkpatrick                                           Mercy Walworth
Chris Batchelder                                            Memorial Hospital of Burlington
Len Orlando                                                     Green Bay Fire
Bob Baird                                                        Brookfield Fire
Lorie Utech                                                      EMS Coordinator, Oconomowoc
Douglas Flory                                                   Wausau Fire
Scott Schneider                                                Two Rivers Fire
 

Agenda item #1 Introductions

Dan Williams called the meeting to order at 10:00 at the Holiday Inn, Mosinee.  Everyone in attendance introduced himself or herself. Dan Williams introduced the Board’s newest appointed member, Don Hunjadi, EMT-P of the WI EMS Association.

  Agenda item #2 Approval of July Minutes

Motion by Gloria Murawsky to approve the minutes, seconded by Mark DeGuire.
Unanimous approval.

  Agenda item #3 Committee Updates

·        Policy & Practice

Mark Deguire reported on the meeting: Trans 309 will be aligned in cooperation with the Interfacility Guidelines.  A group that is being facilitated by Terry Gonderzik is studying the Critical Care Paramedic curriculum. The committee reviewed the revised HFS that was rewritten to reflect the proposed HFS 112. HFS 110 is nearly complete and will be forwarded to the legislature with hopes of implementation by Sept 2001. Most of the meeting time was spent on HFS 111, with emphasis on the new Intermediate level curriculum; staffing levels; and testing requirements. A Revised Version of HFS 111 will be sent to committee members for further review and discussion at the November meeting. [A vote to fill the current vacancy will be on the November meeting agenda].

  ·        Data and Research

Mark DeGuire and Linda Watson presented an overview of WEMSIS, ALS version 5.85/7.85 with highlighted revisions and pending decisions (see Agenda Item #5). For future program planning, the committee will now focus its efforts on the reporting of ALS and other QI requirements; BEMS & IP will focus on the technical needs. There will be an assessment/overview of program participants at the next meeting. Reports on WEMSIS data submitted thus far were shared and are being presented to EMS-PAC, and other groups for their feedback.

  ·        Systems Management

Marv Birnbaum reported on the continued work of the Systems Committee. Funding Survey: Work is being continued on the survey that analyzes funding needs/capabilities and would like to design queries on the data to look at other FAP usage; they will also look at other states’ usage of grant monies.

  ·        Education

Cheryl Glomp highlighted the meeting, where the majority of the time was spent on the “IV Tech” level for competency screening; and the development of the curriculum and the work of the new subcommittee.

  Agenda item #4 Legislative Update

Dan Williams reported on the following items:

  ·           HFS 110/112: Responses from the hearings on 110 are being summarized and incorporated into a new draft to be forwarded to the DHFS legal representative and then to the Secretary’s office. 112 will follow at a later date.

  ·        Renewals: From the EMS Section, the licensing renewal process has been falling behind, but is getting closer to completion. Their goal is to have all renewals processed by October 1.

[Possible future agenda item: Ways to streamline the license renewal process in order to assist the BEMS & IP office procedures]

  The EMS Board stresses the importance of filling current vacancies in the BEMS & IP office.

  Agenda Item # 5 Medical Director Report

Rick Barney gave the following recent highlights:
·        Marv Birnbaum has been named as one of the “most influential” persons in EMS nationwide in the recent Journal of EMS.
·        The EMS Office has applied for a CDC grant in Injury Prevention for establishing a surveillance program. Update: This grant was awarded to BEMS & IP.
·        At the last meeting of the EMSPAC, the committee recommended the development of an interactive, Internet Medical Director course. The EMS office is currently reviewing options.
·        A paper was presented on the evaluation of the EMT-Intermediate Enhanced pilot. The evaluation is divided into three sections: Didactic coursework, didactic testing; chart review/retrospective data analysis. The recommendation of the Medical Director is to continue with the development of the EMT-Intermediate Enhanced program.  The curriculum writing process is currently underway and will be reviewed by PAC.

  Motion by Marv Birnbaum, seconded by Gloria Murawsky to continue with the EMT-Intermediate Enhanced program development and expansion.   

  Agenda Item #5 Data Collection Presentation

Linda Watson and Mark DeGuire presented on the current system for data collection, with a demonstration of WEMSIS 5.8 and reports that have been generated from exported runs (to the state) from current WEMSIS users. The questions over requirements will need to be addressed for documentation (hospital and ambulance service) and quality assurance purposes.

  Agenda item #6 Funding Assistance Program

The questions needing to be addressed are as follows:

1.      If the Mini-Grant process should be continued a second year and if so, what amount should be allotted/set aside?

  There was a discussion on the overall success of the mini-grant program. Motion by Marv Birnbaum, seconded by Mark DeGuire to continue the mini-grant program. Those in favor – 4, Opposed – 3. 

  Comments were made as to the timeframe and process for mini-grant administration. Specifically, it was decided that there needs to be an overall approach to assist in meeting the common goals of each community. Motion by Terry Richards, seconded by Cheryl Glomp to give the bureau the authority to adjust the amount of the remaining funds, to be based upon any surplus, after the awards are determined. All present – Aye.

  2.      How to modify the base formula to ensure that there is enough funding to cover the increased training costs and the mini-grants.

  The amounts of the grant awards were discussed. Motion by Cheryl Glomp, seconded by Gloria Murawsky to maintain the mini-grant fund at $30,000 for process measure to be discussed at a later date. All present – Aye.

Agenda Item #7 - - Complaint Process

Dan Williams briefed the Board members on the process of information dissemination from the BEMS & IP (when a complaint arises for investigation). The Board will be informed through Dan Williams, who will serve as the Board Consultant on complaint investigations.

  Agenda Item #8 - - Old/New Business

  * Committee vacancies

A number of vacancies will soon be occurring on current EMS Board Committees. (Policy & Practice; Data & Research; Systems Management) All interested persons are requested to submit letters of interest, along with their resumes to the EMS Office.

[The vacancy for Policy & Practice Committee will be on the November Agenda.]All those persons that are interested in serving these committees should notify the EMS Office.

  The next meeting will be held on November 8 at the Comfort Inn, Madison.