In March 2017, Memphis, Tennessee, based Baptist Memorial Health Care signed a master services agreement with Priority Ambulance for it to become the ambulance transport provider for the healthcare system. A few weeks later, Priority Ambulance had sent 10 ambulances and more than 60 employees to Baptist’s vice medical facilities in the greater Memphis area. A year into the relationship has yielded 31 vehicles and more than 300 ambulance employees providing medical transport to more than 30,000 patients per year. It also provides six communities with 9-1-1 service in Mississippi and West Tennessee.

The plan began in 2016, when the two organizations worked to define improvements for moving patients needing a higher level of care located at smaller regional locations across three states with the ultimate goal to delivery patient delivery at the right place at the right time, keeping patients as close to home as possible. A final goal was to improve patient flow efficiency through transportation. The two organizations achieved this by integrating Priority Ambulances dispatch center with Baptist’s bed management system/transfer center at the Patient Placement Center, which is staffed with experienced registered nurses that track the status and manage all 2,700 beds in the Baptist system. 

For more information on this integration, visit http://www.emsstrong.org/delivering-innovation-to-baptist/.

Via EMS Strong

One of the worst calls an EMS provider can experience is a child drowning. Fire captain and EMT Mike Filson of the Chula Vista (CA) Fire Department and his colleagues know this feeling all too well. After his department saw three drowning calls in four weeks, he knew something had to be done to thwart these preventable tragedies. 

“It became evident that the best way to save these children was through prevention,” he says. “We started a public awareness campaign in an effort to educate our citizens about drowning prevention.”

RELATED: Halton: We Owe You a Ticker Tape Parade

Filson’s comprehensive drowning prevention program—called WARN—which stands for Water Awareness in Residential Neighborhoods, centers around high-quality education for both fellow EMS providers and the public. This complete training program features a slideshow, safety messages, brochures, handouts and “Water Watcher” tags. Filson garnered the support of the Fire Chief, the City Council, the Mayor and the Parks and Recreation Department—who have all helped promote his campaign throughout Chula Vista. 

A Far-Reaching Program

Not only is Filson’s campaign broad in scope, but it is far reaching. In the past few years, he has worked to provide awareness training to over 50 fire departments—including every department in San Diego County through the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association. In an effort to ingrain his drowning prevention message, Filson and the City of Chula Vista set up an annual process to contact every household and business in the city that has a pool.

A recipient of the 2018 Nicholas Rosecrans Award (presented by the California Paramedic Foundation and EPIC Medics), Filson has made his entire WARN program available online so anyone can download the materials and customize them with their agency logos—all free of charge.  

Going Beyond the Call

Filson and the Chula Vista Fire Department’s willingness to go Beyond the Call—to step forward, build and spearhead a successful program—has made a lasting impact in the community. Clearly, Filson understands that EMS can play a major role in community care. “We have a duty to provide the best emergency care for our patients,” he says. “This entails more than the EMS skills we execute. We need to treat the whole person during our short time with the patient, not just the physical symptoms. We can also provide an important voice in our communities for public health and wellbeing.”

He also feels a sense of responsibility to use his leadership skills outside of his everyday job duties. “As EMS professionals we have the enviable position of respect in our community,” notes Filson. “I encourage you to use your voice. Find an issue in your community, gather the right people and you’ll be surprised how effective you can be.”

Learn more about the program and get everything you need to start your own WARN program HERE.

MORE

EMS Week and Going ‘Beyond the Call’: The Federal Perspective

MILWAUKEE, WI—REV Group, Inc., a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of specialty vehicle brands, has announced that an exclusive First Responders sweepstakes to win an ultra-light travel trailer is now open. 

This comes on the heels of the announcement that the NTT IndyCar series REV Group Grand Prix June 20-23, 2019, at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, would allow all active-duty first responders to have free entry. 

Any active duty first responder can visit https://www.revgroupgp.com to enter for a chance to win a Lance 1475 Ultra-Light Travel Trailer in REV Group’s “Answer the Call Sweepstakes.” As the manufacturer of fire and ambulance vehicles such as E-ONE, Ferrara, KME, Horton, and Wheeled Coach, REV Group understands the long hours and hard work that first responders put into their communities. This ultra-light trailer can be hitched to almost any midsize tow vehicle to have even more flexibility when it comes time to relax and "take a load off!" 

“We are honored to have the REV Group Grand Prix as a platform to recognize first responders. The employees of REV wanted to share our appreciation for the dedicated people who use our vehicles each day to serve their communities,” said Tim Sullivan, president, and CEO of REV Group.

As part of the tribute, all active-duty first responders will receive free entry to the REV Group Grand Prix during the entire weekend of activities including the NTT IndyCar feature race.  All first responders, including law enforcement, fire, paramedics and emergency medical technicians, will be admitted free of charge by showing valid identification indicating active service Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23. Free admission must be redeemed at the gate and is only valid during the event weekend.

Select fire and ambulance vehicles from REV’s E-ONE, KME, Horton, AEV, and Wheeled Coach brands will be on display, allowing race fans to get a close look at some of the vehicles that equip the nation’s first responders. 

To be eligible for a chance to win the “Answer the Call” Sweepstakes, entrant must be 18 years of age or older, a legal resident of the contiguous 48 United States (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) or the District of Columbia, and an active duty, paid or volunteer, first responder (defined for the purpose of this Sweepstakes as someone designated or trained to respond to an emergency such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, firefighters and rescuers) (a “First Responder”). Limit one entry per person/authorized phone number during the Sweepstakes Period. Approximate retail value of $30,152. This Sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on June 30, 2019. For more information and official rules, please visit: https://www.revgroupgp.com. 

For more information on REV Group, visit Read more

• 389
• 0
• Article rating: No rating