Emergency Medical Services Board Meeting
September 10, 2002

Members present:                           
Marv Birnbaum                                         
Tim Bjelland                                                           
Dick Collyard                                                  
Cheryl Glomp                                                  
Don Hunjadi
Gloria Murawsky
Steve Teale
Gloria Wall                                                      
Dan Williams
 

Bureau Staff:
Jon Morgan
Nan Turner                                                                                                               

Others in Attendance:                                   Representing:
Jim Keiken                                                       Madison FD
Judy Jones                                                        Luther – Eau Claire
Keith Kesler                                                     Douglas Co. Emergency Management
Cal Lintz                                                           Green Bay FD EMS
Don Kimlicka                                                   Gunderson Lutheran
Patricia Padjen                                                 UW Hospital
Laura Ahola                                                     UW Hospital
Lorie Utech                                                      Prohealth Care Inc.
Mark Madigan                                                 County Rescue
Mike Fraley                                                      St. Joseph Hospital - Marshfield
Brian Litza                                                        Paratech
Julie Brady                                                       Waukesha County Technical College
Dave Henning                                                   Gold Cross
Gary Winters                                                    Community Ambulance
Jan Victorson                                                   Bayfield Co. Emergency Management
Joy Erb-Moser                                                 St. Joseph Hospital - Marshfield
Tracy Froiland                                                  Appleton Medical Center
Nettie Jenkins                                                   St. Agnes – Fond du Lac
Vickie Zietlow                                                  Mid-State Technical College
Gary Leyer                                                       Gateway Technical College
Bob Haight                                                       Marshfield Rescue 

Agenda item #1 Introductions

Dan Williams called the meeting to order at 9:05 at the Holiday Inn, Mosinee.  The meeting started with a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.  Everyone in attendance introduced himself or herself.

Agenda item #2 Approval of July Minutes

Motion by Cheryl Glomp, second by Dick Collyard to accept the July 2002 Board minutes.  Unanimous approval.  

Agenda item #3 Committee Updates

The Standing Committees gave their reports.  Included in each standing committee report was a report from any ad hoc committees that are assigned to the standing committee.

Education

Gloria Murawsky reported on education issues.

  1. The committee discussed the recent statutroy requirement to have all EMTs and first responders trained in terrorism preparedness.  The committee recommended that the training be incorporated into existing courses.  The number of hours should be four (4).

  2. Draft of instructor evaluation form should be ready in November.

  3. The committee finished their evaluation of the WI Curricula compared to the EMS Agenda for the Future

Policy & Practice

Dick Collyard reported on the committee meeting.  The committee discussed:

1.      Statutory language recommendations governing EMS-FAP to allow for direct payment to providers.  This would shift the training dollars from the training institutes to the ambulance providers.

Motion by Dick Collyard, seconded by Cheryl Glomp to change the language located in 146.50 be amended to reflect the following intent:

·        All references to EMT-basic and EMT-basic refresher training being free-of-charge be eliminated

·        The department allocate designated FAP training funds to approved FAP ambulance service providers, with said funds appropriated equally to the base.

All present - Aye

This would make an equal payment to all eligible providers, approximately 400 providers to receive a total of $800,000, or about $2,000 per provider.

2.      First Responder rule draft was reviewed for the first time.  This will be the primary focus of the committee at the next meeting.

Systems Management

Marv Birnbaum reported on the committee meeting.

Ad-hoc Committee activities:

CQI committee

The committee is on schedule.  They are creating a template for two conditions

1.      Chest Pain

2.      Respiratory distress

The template will have 5-6 data elements for each condition.  To assist with implementation the committee is also developing tools for the providers, including:

Disaster Management – The committee discussed what the EMS role is in Disaster management.  There was a question of how EMS fits into the big picture in disaster management, including recent terrorism preparedness planning by other groups.  Mark Madigan will review the new Emergency Management template for EMS plans and incorporate the key functions the committee has identified.

System Committee activities:

1.      Summarized CQI and Disaster committee

2.      Approved the State EMS Communications plan and forwarded it for Board review.

3.      The EMS finance report is still being edited to finalize costs and income from a variety of sources.

Communications – Vote on Plan.  Jon Morgan reported that the final draft is complete and ready for Board review and approval.  There was a brief discussion on a few, identified edits.  Adding frequencies was discussed as a possible

Motion by Marv Birnbaum, seconded by Tim Bjelland to approve the EMS Communications Plan with modifications and after final review by Board members.  The edits based on Board recommendations from today’s meeting will be sent to Board members with the changes highlighted.  All present – Aye.  The document will be sent electronically to Board members for approval by exception if no changes are recommended by a set date.

Motion by Marv Birnbaum, second by Gloria Wall that the Board recommend to DHFS that part of CDC funding be used to upgrade the communication systems for ambulance providers.   All present - Aye

Physician Advisory Committee (PAC)

Nan Turner reported that the PAC is working on completing the EMS MD web-based course and are completing reviewed and edited pediatric protocols.

Injury – Jon Morgan announced that the Injury Section was awarded a $750,000 grant for prevention of falls.  Linda Hale and her section were congratulated for being the sole recipient of this nationwide grant.  The Injury Section also received a $50,000 grant for poison education.

Agenda item #4 Medical Director Report

Mark I kits – The Board discussed the need for Mark I kits to use on providers and related medical personnel in response to chemical exposure.  The question is what is legal since the use of the medications in the Mark I kits is not within the scope of practice for all EMT levels.  Jon Morgan will follow-up with DHFS on potential legal review for “emergency” waiver in certain scenarios.

Agenda item #5 – Special presentations

Injuries on school buses – Marv Birnbaum talked about his discussions with Don Hagen from DOT about lack of restraints in public transportation.  Don was unable to attend this meeting, but will bring it up with at the seatbelt coalition meeting this week and will check to see if data is available. 

Higher Education Survey – Pat Padjen presented the results of a recent survey that asked EMTs about their interest in pursuing a higher education EMS degree if it were available.  The 288 respondents indicated considerable interest in pursuing BS or MS degrees.

Agenda item #6 - 2002 – 2003 State EMS Plan

The Board discussed and voted on the 2002-2003 State EMS Plan.  Motion by Tim Bjelland, seconded by Gloria Murawsky to approve the 2002-2003 State EMS Plan, taking into account any public testimony that may occur after the hearing.  All Present – Aye.   Board members will be sent an edited copy of the plan if public testimony is significant.

The required public hearing will be held in September.

Agenda item #7 - Legislative & State Office Update

Jon Morgan reported on state issues that included:

  1. Training for response to terrorism training – the recent budget bill included statutory language that requires training for response to acts of terrorism for initial EMT license and license renewal.  This will be done in existing initial and refresher training, 

  2. Paramedic staffiing: statutory language change.  Proposed statutory language in the budget reform bill that would have required existing paramedic services to staff with 2 paramedics from start to finish of a call was vetoed.  Rule language that would allow 2 paramedic systems to respond with paramedics from different locations and release a paramedic after assessment will become effective October 1, 2002.

  3. An update on the Centers for Disease Control Bioterrorism grant was given and included information about the parallel activities occurring in the various regional initiatives for Hospital preparedness and a statewide trauma system.

  4. Trauma System – Trauma funding is in the current year budget.  $398 K for regional expenses, a trauma registrar and an injury educator.  Regional Trauma meetings have occurred throughout the State and most have scheduled a second meeting.

Agenda Item #8 – PAC candidates

There were six (6) candidates for three Physician Advisory Committee openings: Tom Brazelton, Halim Hennis, Ken Johnson, Ron Pirrallo, Mark Schultz and Erik Voter.  Board and audience members were given the opportunity to speak in support of various candidates.  Those selected are: Tom Brazelton, Mark Schultz and Erik Voter.

Agenda Item #9 - - Old/New Business

1.      Recent WEMSIS data and related data is in the current EMS Professionals magazine.

2.      The two EMS Board vacancies should be filled soon.  The Governor’s appointment secretary was  scheduled to meet with Governor McCallum at the end of August to discuss the applicants.

3.      There has been past discussion about sending out a new EMS survey for a variety of information.  Committees should consider and submit questions by December.  The goal will be to send out the survey by January 1, 2003.  Jon Morgan will send a copy of the last survey to Board members as a starting point.

4.      Board members were shown 2 sample “report cards” or tracking documents to help keep committee activities and timelines.  The Board asked that the MS Project version be used.

5.      Marv Birnbaum raised the question of whether meetings needed to be held more frequently.  It was decided that this should be left to each committee’s discretion.

Motion by Tim Bjelland, second by Dick Collyard to adjourn.  All present -Aye.  Meeting adjourned at 10:50 AM.

The next regular meeting is in Madison, November ?? & ??.