Northwest Georgia Region 1 EMS Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Northwest Georgia Region 1 EMS Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Subject / Council Meeting / Date / January 24, 2013
Facilitator / Randy Pierson / Time / 12 N
Location / Trinity Baptist Church, Calhoun, GA / Scribe / David Loftin
Attendees / Tommy Sanders, Randy Pierson, Larry Owens, Chris Elzey, Scott Radeker, Lana Duff, Larry Simpson, David Young, Robert Graham, Darrell Payne, Chad Taylor, Gordon Tucker, Eric Irish, Scott Stephens, Bud Owens, Courtney Taylor, Brian Walker, Carlton Firestone, Kevin Ballew, Larry Ballew, Joey Pelfrey, Kevin New, Sloan Elrod, Darryl Prince, Curtis Vincent, Randy Lacey, Paul Arnold, Claude Craig, Rick Cobb,
Absent: Jim Cutcher, Billy Hayes, Tommy Lawson, Alex Case, Genny Garrison
Staff / David Foster, R1 OEMST PD, David Loftin Recording Secretary,
Absent: Dr. Patrick McDougal Regional Medical Director

Key Points Discussed

#

Topic

/ Highlights

1. Status of Council

/ David Foster reported that all members of the council were re-nominated by their respective County Commissions’ except for the following persons who were replaced as follows:
Glenn Downes (Chattooga County) resigned - replaced by David Young
Robert Early (Floyd County) served his 4 yr term - replaced by Gordon Tucker
Kelly Buddenhagen (Gilmer County) replaced by Scott Stephens

2. Call to Order

The chairman called the meeting to order with a quorum present

3. Re-instatement and Annual Vote

/ The first item of business was consideration of a request from the Whitfield County Commission to reinstate Claude Craig as a council member from Whitfield County. Mr. Craig was removed as a result of three consecutive absences at the previous meeting. A motion was made to reinstate Claude Craig and was carried. Mr. Claude Craig was reinstated as a representative on the EMS Council from Whitfield County.
The second item of business was an election of one at-large position previously held by Jim Cutcher, all Executive Committee positions, chair and vice chair positions.
There were three nominees for the one at-large position as follows:
Jim Cutcher, Sherry Peace, Tony Cooper
All 8 current Executive Committee members were re-nominated as well as one additional nominee (Danny West). The 8 highest votes will be elected for a position on the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee has recommended that the current Chair and Vice Chair remain in their positions for an additional term for consistency in the creation of the RTAC and501(C)(3). However, write in nominations will be taken for these positions as well.
The ballots were distributed to all current EMS council members and the completed ballots were given to the nominating committee for tabulation.
The following results of the election ballot tabulations were given by David Foster:

Chair – Randy Pierson
Vice Chair – Lana Duff

At-large Member to succeed Jim Cutcher – Jim Cutcher
Executive Committee Members –

Courtney Taylor (Gordon County)
Carlton Firestone (Haralson County)
Bud Owens (Floyd County)
Larry Owens (Bartow County)
Sloan Elrod (Pickens County)
Rick Cobb (Whitfield County)
Plus Council Chair (Randy Pierson)
And Council Vice-Chair (Lana Duff)

4. Minutes Approval

/ A motion was made by Curtis Vincent and seconded by Danny West to approve the minutes of the last meeting as circulated. The motion carried.

5.

Discussion

/ David Foster announced that the sponsors for the 2013 EMS Council meetings meals are as follows:
January – Redmond Regional EMS
April – EMS Region 1 RTAC
July – Hutcheson Medical Center
October – Floyd Medical Center
Randy Pierson proposed that the Treasurer position in the current bylaws be held vacant because the EMS Council does not take in or disperse funds. He stated that this is the purpose of the Northwest Georgia Emergency Medical Services Systems (a 501(C)(3) not-for-profit corporation). A motion was made by Carlton Firestone and seconded by Rick Cobb. The motion carried for the Treasurer position on the EMS Council to remain vacant.
David Foster distributed pamphlets from the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health on Responder Grief which has contact information for the CISD team assistance. [You may visit the following website for additional information

EMSAC Report

/ The EMSAC report was given by Bud Owens. Mr. Owens reported that EMSAC has not met since the last Council meeting. He invited everyone to attend the EMS Day at the Capitol on
February 19th and 20th
The Event Loft @ Underground Atlanta and
Georgia State Capitol
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19thRECEPTION
The Event Loft @ Undergound Atlanta
50 Upper Alabama Street, Suite 007
5:00p.m. – 8:00p.m.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20th
EMS BREAKFAST
State Capitol – Room 125 CAPITOL
8:00a.m. – 9:30a.m.

GAEMS Report

/ Randy Pierson gave the GAEMS report. He reported that $438,000 in grants will be provided to 863 EMS 911 Providers in 2013. The grants amounted to $508 for each EMS unit for the providers who applied for the grant. There were 19 First Responder Training grants awarded. He reported that the 2013 CHANGES EMS Conference has been moved from Atlanta back to Augusta and will be held on March 25-28, 2013 at the Augusta Marriott. [See for more information.] He also gave a report on the EMS subcommittee which has continued to sponsor EMS courses including the following courses taught in Region 1:

EMS Safety Class in Rome, Georgia (this class had 15 available slots)
AMLS Class in Rome
PHTLS Class in McCaysville

There has been a proposition to again begin teaching a Georgia Extrication Seminar. He also stated that the EMS Leadership classes have begun and will continue. The EMAG Conference sponsorship for the attendance of 1 person from each EMS Service is still available on April 23-26, 2013. See for more information.
The RCH Region C will meet at Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica on February 5 from 11 am until 12:30 pm. This Coalition is made up of Hospitals and Emergency Agencies form Floyd, Chattooga, Polk, Bartow, Paulding, Haralson, and Carroll. We need input from EMS in these meetings.

Education Report

/ David Foster gave the Education report. David Loftin gave a brief report on the Advanced Stroke Life Support program. He reported that the ASLS Instructor course has been redesigned and the first course will be taught in Marietta in February. He will try to begin to schedule ASLS Provider courses in Region 1 using the new course materials and will also try to have an ASLS Instructor course in the Region this year. Robert Early also reported that there will be an HCA EMS Education Summit on May 10, 2013 at the Clarence Brown Convention Center in Cartersville, Georgia. Please contact Robert Early for more information. Randy Pierson informed the Council that an effort will be made, precipitated by the RTAC development, to reestablish a quarterly meeting of EMS Service Training Officers. He also stated that there has been consideration to reestablish the “Five Days of Hell” in the former Georgia EMS Instructor Course for EMS Educators which will include instruction on lesson plans and test validation, and many of the other topics from the old GA Instructor course for continuing education credit for EMS Instructors.

Medical Director Report

/ David Foster gave the Regional EMS Medical Director report in the absence of Dr. McDougal and Dr. Mabley. He stated that EMSMDAC will consider approval of the Georgia EMS Treatment Guidelines at their next meeting on January 29, 2013. He also stated that Georgia EMS Rules and Regulations require leaving a patient care report when delivering a patient to a health care facility. This must be used as a written placeholder until the remainder of the information is transmitted to the facility. David Foster stated that this form is necessary for prompt transfer of patient information necessary for evaluation and treatment by the health care facility and will also enable the facility to alert the crew delivering the patient about potential exposure to infectious diseases. Robert Early stated that he had a printed form which can be used. Please contact Robert Early at Redmond Regional EMS for more information. A discussion has begun by EMSMDAC about Community Paramedic programs which will consider local needs before initiating the programs. Dr. Mabley emphasized the risk of the use of lights and sirens as compared to the benefit. She proposed that the benefit often does not justify the risks. Dr. Mabley also stated that the drug assisted intubation protocol developed by EMSMDAC should be considered for approval by each EMS Council.

OEMS Report

/ David Foster gave the OEMST report. He reported that 231 continuing education courses were approved in Region 1 with 5085 persons attending in 2012. He also reported that the 2013 Region 1 EMS Award Banquet will be held at the Cherokee County Conference Center at the Bluffs in Canton, Georgia on March 28, 2013. The Awards Committee will be visiting the facility on February 5th, 2013. The nomination forms where emailed out on January 3rd, 2013 to all stakeholders. If you did not receive them they are available from David Foster and also are posted on the Northwest Georgia EMS Systems website at David Foster stated that the expenses this year are not fully covered by the contribution of Tommy Sanders of Southeastern Emergency Equipment and he was considering charging a fee to all those attending except for individual award nominees. Bud Owens had suggested that additional sponsorships should be sought and offered a contribution of $1000 from Floyd Medical Center. Both Air Life and Erlanger Medical Center also committee $1000 for the expenses of the Awards Banquet so that those attending would not be charged. These commitments mean that all expenses can be paid without charging those attending. David Foster stated that the contributions should be made payable to Northwest Georgia Emergency Medical Services Systems Inc. The sponsors stated that they will need an invoice to pay the contribution. Lana Duff also suggested that each service donate a door prize which will be limited to $50 each. Robert Early disagreed and a decision was made to impose no limits on the donated door prizes. David Foster stated that Floyd Medical Center has agreed to provide the printed invitations to each service or individual nominated for an award but all other invitations will be electronically sent. David Loftin reminded all those present that the award nominations are posted on the Northwest Georgia EMS website in the library section at the deadline for submission of the nominations is February 20, 2013. Kelly Buddenhagen reminded the Council that the last night of the CHANGES conference in Augusta is on the same day as the Awards Banquet.

EMS-C Report

/ Kelly Buddenhagen gave the EMS-C report. She reported that several counties have representatives attending the EMS-C meetings in Region 1. The next meeting will be at 9:00 a.m. before the next EMS Council meeting on April 18th, 2013 at the same location.

RTAC Report

/ Mike Willingham gave the RTAC report. The RTAC development in EMS Region 1 occurred in the reverse manner to the rest of Georgia EMS Regions. The RTAC was established only after a lot of development work by Steering Committees and Work Groups. The RTAC development in Region 1 involved all elements of the system from the beginning. The RTAC plan was submitted for approval and will be considered for approval on January 25, 2013 at the Georgia Trauma Commission meeting in Rome, Georgia. Billy Hayes, CEO of Northside Cherokee Medical Center in Canton is the Chairman and Scott Radeker of Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia is the Vice Chairman of the EMS Region 1 RTAC. The BIS Assessment was conducted by a task force to identify problems which will be addressed in the plan. The next meeting of the RTAC will establish priorities for development and timelines for implementation. Two new committees were established to address specific issues in the plan: Education Subcommittee and Data Subcommittee. The utilization of the TCC is a specific issue which will be addressed in the education component. EMS Services must be trained to recognize the advantages of using the TCC and it may be useful in determining destination in specific instances even though most of the EMS Services have traditionally utilized the same receiving facilities for trauma. Each patient should be entered into the database by contacting the TCC at some time during the patient encounter by EMS Services to achieve patient tracking requirements of the RTAC. The use of the RAD to display hospital status will also be addressed in the implementation. Scott Radeker will be in charge of the follow-up BIS assessment prioritization in April. Randy Pierson will be charge of the Education Committee. Chad Taylor will be in charge of the Data Committee. The Georgia Trauma Commission has established a Statewide RTAC Collaboration Group which will include representatives from each of the current RTACs, and those under development, in order to share ideas and information. Jennie Banks and Mike Willingham will represent the Region 1 RTAC on this group. Mr. Willingham stated that he has made some initial contacts for fund raising which will be made through the Northwest Georgia Emergency Medical Services Systems (501C3).Randy Pierson asked for a motion to approve the officers and members for the RTAC which are Billy Hayes-chair, Scott Radeker-Vice chair and Mike Willingham- Program Director/Secretary. The motion was made by Chief Brian Walker, seconded by Rick Cobb and passed.
Randy Pierson also asked for a motion to approve the RTAC plan for EMS Region 1. A motion was made by Rick Cobb, seconded by Lana Duff and was approved.

501 (C) (3) Report

/ Randy Pierson gave the Northwest Georgia Emergency Medical Services System (501C3)report. Randy Pierson informed the Council that the charter was back from the state and he will be meeting with the accountant on Monday, January 28, 2013 to complete the forms from the IRS for tax exempt status.

Old Business

/ There was no old business.

New Business

/ There was no new business.

Other

/ Claude Craig gave a weather update.
Lana Duff invited everyone to attend a retirement party for ClaudieBeaudoin on February 8, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Angel EMS Headquarters in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Adjourn

/ A motion was made to adjourn, seconded and approved.
The meeting was adjourned.

Action Plan

No.

Action Item(s)

/ Owner / Target Date

Awards Committee to meet at Northside Hospital Cherokee Conference Center on February 5, 2013 at 1 P

David Foster

February 5, 2013

2013 Awards nominations due in Region Office no later that February 20, 2013 by 4P

David Foster

February 20, 2013

Awards Banquet is March 28, 2013 at 7P at the Northside Cherokee Conference Center in Canton, GA. Invitation and registration flyer will be sent out in middle - late February 2013

David Foster

February 15-22. 2013

/ / /

Templates byPAGE 1 of 1

ON: 12/4/2008 11:10