Virginia Department of Health
Office of Emergency Medical Services
Quarterly Report to the
State EMS Advisory
Board
November 11, 2020 Executive Management, Administration & Finance
1 | P a g e Office of Emergency Medical Services Report to The State EMS Advisory
November 11, 2020
MISSION STATEMENT:
To reduce death and disability resulting from sudden or serious injury and illness in the Commonwealth through planning and development of a comprehensive, coordinated statewide emergency medical services (EMS) system; and provision of other technical assistance and support to enable the EMS community to provide the highest quality emergency medical care possible to those in need. I. Executive Management, Administration & Finance
A. Replica Coordinated Database for Emergency Medical Services (CDEMS) UPDATE
In Virginia, the REPLICA legislation was signed into law on March 1, 2016. This made Virginia the third state to enact the EMS Compact. Virginia Office of EMS Director, Gary Brown, was seated to the Interstate Commission for EMS Personnel Practice at the inaugural meeting on October 11, 2017. Activation of the EMS Compact required the legislation to be enacted by ten state legislatures. This occurred on May 8, 2017 with Georgia becoming the tenth state.
The Commission was tasked with producing the commission rules; which govern REPLICA activities amongst member states. Rules for the Interstate Commission for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel Practice became effective September 1, 2019. Essential to the EMS Compact is the Coordinated Database for Emergency Medical Services (CDEMS). This multi- state database will allow member states the ability to rapidly share EMS licensure records, discipline, and investigative information between authorized state EMS offices. In addition to licensure data, the database will maintain an individual’s multi-state privilege to practice
2 | P a g e authorization. The National Registry of EMT’s (NREMT) has partnered with the EMS Compact to create and maintain the database.
The Virginia Office of EMS has worked with NREMT and has successfully uploaded ALL Virginia EMS providers into the national database. This is a live connection that updates provider information, enforcement history, and multi-state privilege to practice in real time.
B. Virginia Collaborates with NREMT for EMS Research UPDATE
In 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau published a national consensus document titled National EMS Research Agenda. One of the top recommendations from this document was:
“A large cadre of career EMS investigators should be developed and supported in the initial stages of their careers. Highly structured training programs with content directed toward EMS research methodologies should be developed.”
Based upon this call, the National Registry of EMTs established a Research Department and founded the EMS Research Fellowship program to address the National Research Agenda’s recommendation. The mission of the National Registry Research Department is to develop and foster EMS-prepared doctoral researchers to function with the highest level of scientific integrity to improve and ensure high quality and innovative National Registry products and processes through evidence and collaboration. It is further the mission to contribute to the body of scientific out-of-hospital knowledge to improve the competency, health, safety and wellness of EMS professionals and the patients they serve.
Since its inception, the National Registry Research Department has conducted numerous studies focusing on the impact of burnout on the EMS workforce, prehospital EMS provider perceptions of errors and safety, factors predicting a negative perception of patient safety in the EMS workplace; just to name a few. Identifying the importance of these national research initiatives at a state level, the Office of EMS has partnered with the National Registry to have a dedicated doctoral fellow in the EMS Research Fellowship utilizing these national research initiatives specifically towards Virginia.
Virginia will actively participate with the National Registry in the determination of future research initiatives and produce Virginia specific research results alongside national results. Further, the National Registry will provide periodic analysis to the Virginia Office of EMS, Virginia Department of Health and the Governor’s EMS Advisory Board. Upon completion of a research topic, formal results will be provided to Virginia stakeholders at the EMS Advisory Board. More information about the National Registry’s completed research projects, visit www.nremt.org.
The first research project being worked on collaboratively with the NREMT is a study on the effect of COVID-19 on the Virginia EMS Workforce as compared to the nation. While this research study is still in beginning stages, Virginia has provided considerable data elements to
3 | P a g e NREMT relative to initial education, success rates, student retention rates, and subsequent affiliation data. As this research progresses, additional information will be provided.
C. Implementation of Project Management Software
Earlier in 2020, OEMS has multiple meetings with the regional EMS councils to discuss methods for enhanced communication and collaboration of regional and statewide projects. As such, staff began to research multiple communications platforms and selected Monday.com. Monday.com as a project management platform allows OEMS and the regional councils to input current projects and work efforts for enhanced visibility while also providing a web-based platform to facilitate communications and collaboration for small and large scale projects alike. Currently, there are over 100 users enrolled in Monday.com between OEMS and the regional councils. While we are still in the early stages of implementing this software, we have had out first live training with Monday.com with more to come.
D. Tim Perkins - Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services’ Division Director Recognized by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health as Virginia’s 2020 “Community Star” Award Winner
On November 19, 2020, Tim Perkins, division director for Community Health and Technical Resources with the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) was honored with the prestigious “Community Star” award from the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH).
Every year, the NOSORH leads National Rural Health Day, an annual celebration that recognizes those who serve the vital health needs of an estimated 57 million people living in rural America, and celebrates Community Star award winners across the nation.
The Community Star Recognition Program’s nominees are selected by their state’s coalition to recognize individuals and organizations that make a positive impact in rural communities. This year, nominations were received from 48 states, a record for this annual awards program.
In Virginia, Tim Perkins was selected as this year’s Community Star award winner. As the Division Director for the OEMS’ Community Health and Technical Resources Division, he is
4 | P a g e responsible for working with rural EMS agencies, rescue squads and Regional EMS Councils throughout the commonwealth to provide a range of education, resources and technical assistance. He advocates for various agencies at the state level and oversees multiple initiatives, including mobile integrated healthcare/community paramedicine, disease management and preventative health care services.
During Perkins’ 14 years at the OEMS, there have been many changes in the provision of emergency care, which have put a strain on rural areas, including agencies that heavily rely on volunteers, an aging workforce, and recruitment and retention challenges. However, Perkins’ continues to be a leader in this field and has met those challenges by focusing his efforts on response and increased telehealth services in rural Virginia.
Perkins is an asset to Virginia’s EMS System and his contributions to rural health and the provision of emergency care is commended. The OEMS is proud to congratulate and recognize Perkins for his outstanding achievements and commitment to protect the health of all people in the commonwealth.
For more information about the Community Star award, please visit: https://www.powerofrural.org/community-stars/. Tim Perkins will appear in the 2020 edition of the book of Community Stars, published on the official National Rural Health Day website, powerofrural.org, on November 19, 2020.
E. State/Regional (Hybrid) EMS Council Reports
As previously stated, the Office of Emergency Medical Services committed to providing updates on the progress of the collaborative partnership(s) and the transition and conversion of applicable Regional EMS Councils that have requested to be a hybrid State/Regional EMS model. We began with a summary of progress and status of the Central Shenandoah EMS Council/State Regional Office. Since that time, two more Regional EMS Council Boards of Directors have unanimously voted and requested to adopt this model in collaboration with the Office of EMS. As such we have a report from each of those Councils as follows: Central Shenandoah EMS Council Please see Appendix A Blue Ridge EMS Council Please see Appendix B Rappahannock EMS Council Please see Appendix C
F. Financial Assistance for Emergency Medical Services (FAEMS) Grant Program, known as the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF)
Luke Parker, Grants Manager Linwood Pulling, Grants Specialist
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The deadline for the Fall 2020 cycle of the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) was extended from September 15 to September 16, 2020 to account for scheduled portal maintenance. OEMS received 119 applications requesting $17,145,178.39 in funding. Applicants are categorized by agency type as represented by Figure 1. Funding requests were in the following amounts by agency type: 106 EMS Agencies requesting $16,033,368.73 13 Non-EMS requesting $$1,111,809.66
Figure 1: Total Request by Agency Type
6%
Non-EMS
EMS
94%
The number of applications and total requests increased by approximately 6% and 20%, respectively, compared to the Fall 2019 cycle of RSAF. OEMS received applications from agencies within each of the EMS regions as represented by Figure 2. Funding requests were in the following amounts by EMS region:
Blue Ridge (BREMS): $442,860.13 Central Shenandoah (CSEMS): $1,453,815.50 Lord Fairfax (LFEMS): $756,192.73
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Northern Virginia (NVEMS): $607,693.97 Old Dominion (ODEMSA): $3,689,292.20 Peninsulas (PEMS): $1,430,896.25 Rappahannock (REMS): $413,084.80 Southwestern Virginia (SWEMS): $2,344,778.29 Thomas Jefferson (TJEMS): $572,617.17 Tidewater (TEMS): $3,357,396.97 Western Virginia (WVEMS): $2,076,550.38
Figure 2: Total Request By EMS Region
WVEMS $2.1M TEMS $3.4M TJEMS $573K SWVAEMS $2.3M REMS $413K PEMS $1.4M ODEMSA $3.7M NVEMS $608K LFEMS $756K CSEMS $1.4M BREMS $443K 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% Non-EMS EMS
The funds requested for this cycle represent 233 individual items and projects. Vehicles make up approximately half of the total funds requested, followed by monitors and defibrillators at 20%, and all other requests making up the remainder. These requests can be further broken down into the following item type categories: ALS Equipment: $268,259.92 BLS Equipment: $148,760.25 Chest Compression Devices: $287,192.00
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Communications Equipment – Mobiles: $12,033.69 Communications Equipment – Pagers: $10,050.00 Communications Equipment – Portables: $16,000.00 Computer Hardware: $185,681.96 Computer Software: $13,900.00 Defibrillator - Automatic External Defibrillator: $3,703,681.87 Load Systems, Cots, and Stretchers: $796,335.64 Other*: $381,407.01 Rescue Equipment – Extrication: $221,036.15 Rescue Equipment - Misc.: $30,005.50 Special Priority - Emergency Medical Dispatch: $92,861.79 Special Priority – Emergency Operations: $200,473.42 Special Priority - Innovative (Special) Projects: $58,248.92 Special Priority – Multi-Jurisdictional / Agency Projects: $685,416.40 Special Priority – Recruitment and Retention: $186, 435.00 Special Training Projects: $30,967.25 Stair Chairs - $23,867.22 Training Equipment: $311,249.78 Vehicle - Quick Response Vehicle: $260,669.89 Vehicle - Rechassis: $240,879.00 Vehicle - Specialty – Other**: $35,917.53 Vehicle - Type I Ambulance: $6,778,285.20 Vehicle - Type II Ambulance: $294,234.00 Vehicle - Type III Ambulance: $1,871,329.00
*The “Other” Category includes climate-control devices, decontamination systems, medical supplies, vehicle part accessories, testing equipment, safety vests, ballistic helmets and vests, ALS pediatric kits, public education supplies, capital improvement projects, and a personnel position.
** The “Vehicle – Specialty – Other” category includes an ATV and a cargo trailer.
8 | P a g e The Financial Assistance Review Committee (FARC) will meet to finalize recommendations for funding to the State Commissioner of Health on December 3, 2020. RSAF Award decisions will be approved by the Commissioner and announced on January 1, 2021 via the EMS Portal, email, and the RSAF web page. Please contact Luke Parker, OEMS Grants Manager, at [email protected] with any questions or concerns regarding the information presented in this report.
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EMS on the National Scene
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II. EMS On the National Scene
National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) Note: The Virginia Office of EMS is an active participant in the NASEMSO and has leadership roles on the Board of Directors and in each NASEMSO Council. The National Association of State EMS Officials is the lead national organization for EMS, a respected voice for national EMS policy with comprehensive concern and commitment for the development of effective, integrated, community-based, universal and consistent EMS systems. Its members are the leaders of their state and territory EMS systems.
A. NASEMSO Endorses H.B. 8592 – EMS Counts Act of 2020 U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) was recently joined by Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) in introducing H.R. 8592, the EMS Counts Act of 2020, bipartisan legislation that would address the chronic miscounting of first responders, particularly firefighters and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. This legislation will ensure that the federal government is collecting accurate, comprehensive data on the quantity, location, and training of first responders throughout the United States, which is essential to ensuring that communities are able to quickly respond to emergencies, including outbreaks of diseases and natural disasters. The EMS Counts Act of 2020 is endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), American Ambulance Association (AAA), National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO), National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE), International Academy of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA), National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), and Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). Text of the legislation is available HERE. B. Gainor Serves as Panelist to Qualcomm C-V2X Virtual Summit Dia Gainor, NASEMSO Executive Director, was a panelist during the Qualcomm “C-V2X Virtual Summit Featuring Road Operator Deployments” held in late September. Qualcomm (a Fortune 500 company) supports automakers and road operators worldwide to demonstrate how cellular-based direct communications provide reliable and high-performing messages to deliver improved driving safety and traffic efficiency. Topics included collision avoidance, roadside work zone safety and warnings, signal pre-emption, and the unique needs of emergency response vehicles in a connected world. The opening overview talk provides an excellent orientation to “Cellular to Vehicle-to-Everything” technology that is already transforming transportation safety and highlights emerging technology and how it will affect the roadway transportation system in
11 | P a g e the US in the future. Gainor’s presentation was “C-V2X Through the Eyes of Emergency Medical Services and Other Emergency Responders”. Videos are available through December 31, 2020. C. NASEMSO STC Updates Pediatric Transport Products NASEMSO recently endorsed the joint position statement “Clinical Care and Restraint of Agitated or Combative Patient by Emergency Medical Services Practitioners” coauthored with the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National EMS Management Association, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, and the American Paramedic Association. The document addresses the use of agency protocols, assessment and treatment, education and credentialing, indications for restraint, prohibited techniques, pharmacological management, reassessment, and more. Download the position statement here.
D. NASEMSO Joins National Orgs in Position Statement on Care of Combative and Agitated Patients NASEMSO’s Safe Transport of Children Committee has released an updated version of the Pediatric Transport Products for Ground Ambulances document. Because there are no federal or industry consensus standards in the U.S. for devices used to secure children in ambulances, the document is for the sole purpose of providing helpful information for EMS services on the products currently available for transporting children in ground ambulances in the US. Read more at https://nasemso.org/wp-content/uploads/Pediatric-Transport-Products-for- Ground-Ambulances_v2.2.pdf.
In related news, NASEMSO continues to solicit funding for a proposal to develop safety standards for pediatric ambulance transport. Read more on this initiative at https://nasemso.org/projects/testing-child-restraint-devices-for-ambulances/. E. NASEMSO Reimagined 2020 Offers Range of Topics NASEMSO joined scores of organizations that presented virtual sessions to its members in lieu of an in face annual meeting. Topics included a 2020 NASEMSO Update, Overviews of the National EMS Assessment and Specialty Systems of Care publications, FirstNet Progress, Remote Inspections and Surveys, NEMSIS, and a visionary look at EMS. An abbreviated business meeting was also held. Through the generosity of our exclusive corporate sponsor, FirstNet Built by AT&T, we were able to offer this programming at no cost to members. More info is available at https://nasemso.org/news-events/events/event/annual-meeting-2020-2/. F. NASEMSO Offers Insight to EMS Fatigue Study Funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in cooperation with the University of Pittsburgh and supported by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature, the project team has launched an experimental study to evaluate important outcomes germane to patient and shift-worker safety, personnel performance, acute fatigue, sleep quality, burnout/stress and indicators of long-term health through an experimental study.
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The study’s two primary outcomes of interest include: [1] sleep quality as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); and [2] fatigue as measured by the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ). Data collection has been approved through rigorous processes of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB Control Number 2127-0742) and an academically based Institutional Review Board. EMS agency participants will join in a series of ten educational modules with several learning objectives and upon completion of a course evaluation are eligible to receive 2.25 CEH by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE.) Fifteen peer reviewed manuscripts, including Effect of fatigue training on safety, fatigue, and sleep in Emergency Medical Services personnel and other shift workers: A systematic review and meta- analysis, were published by Prehospital Emergency Care in 2018 and can be accessed for free through our website at www.emsfatigue.org. We’ve recently updated the timeline graphic and added the learning objectives for the course modules that will be available publicly after the study is completed. In related news, "Should Public Safety Shift Workers Be Allowed to Nap While On Duty?" Free access is available for this news article published by our "Fatigue in EMS" project colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.
Communications
G. Next Generation 911 (NG911) Roadmap Progress Report The NG911 Roadmap Progress Report, a follow-up resource to the 2019 NG911 Roadmap, tracks and shares progress made at the national level – by a variety of stakeholders – toward a nationwide NG911 system. As 911 leaders and organizers forge ahead in creating interconnecting 911 systems, technical and nontechnical tasks need to be completed at the national level to ensure information sharing and avoid duplication of efforts. This collaborative tool:
Identifies primary goals and specific national-level tasks that need to be accomplished by the 911 community to achieve full migration to NG911.
Shares the community’s progress toward completing identified tasks.
Highlights opportunities where contribution from leaders like you is still needed. If you or your organization has made progress in any of the tasks, please let the program know by emailing [email protected]. Read more here.
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H. FCC Proposes to Modernize Priority Service Rules In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking adopted last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seeks to modernize its priority services rules to cover priority treatment of voice, data, and video services for emergency personnel. The Commission also proposed to streamline these rules by removing outdated requirements that may impede the use of Internet Protocol (IP)-based technologies. In addition, the Commission proposed to amend the rules to reflect current administrative responsibilities for the priority services programs while eliminating burdensome and unnecessary administrative requirements. Read more at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-97A1.pdf. I. FCC Helps First Responders Find 911 Callers in Buildings The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently adopted Enhanced 911 rules to require wireless providers to transmit the location of wireless 911 calls, obligating wireless providers to meet an increasingly stringent series of location accuracy benchmarks in accordance with a timetable, including providing the caller’s dispatchable location (such as the street address and apartment number) or coordinate-based vertical (“z-axis”) location. Beginning in January 2022, the Commission will also require wireless providers to provide dispatchable location with wireless 911 calls when it is technically feasible and cost-effective to do so, which will promote consistency in the Commission’s 911 rules across technology platforms. The Commission added a new requirement that nationwide wireless providers deploy z-axis technology nationwide by April 2025, while affording non-nationwide wireless providers an additional year (i.e., until April 2026) to do so within their service areas. Read more at https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-20-98A1.pdf.
J. FCC Designates 988 as 3-Digit Access to National Suicide Prevention Hotline The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted rules to establish 988 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. The rules require all phone service providers to direct all 988 calls to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by July 16, 2022. During the transition to 988, Americans who need help should continue to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255 (1-800-273-TALK) and through online chats. Veterans and Service members may reach the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1 after dialing, chatting online at www.veteranscrisisline.net, or texting 838255. Read more at here.
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Health and Medical Preparedness
K. New DHS Guide Helps Departments Develop an Active Shooter Program The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Emergency Services Sector Active Shooter Guide walks first responder departments through a four-step process and lists resources to create a program: 1. Awareness. Maintain a sense of organizational awareness of this issue and know where you can find resources (FBI, DHS, etc.). 2. Training. Improve local active shooter planning and preparedness through no-cost online training. The guide provides links to training. 3. Community outreach. Establish collaborative networks within your community. This helps during an actual event and makes it more likely that people will report suspicious activity before an incident to a friendly face within the public safety community. 4. Exercise coordination. Exercise the plan to identify training and planning gaps. This is a great way to build on the previous three steps. Additional information, including guides, videos and templates and are available here.
L. New NASEM Report Recommends National Framework to Strengthen PHE Response Research and funding priorities tend to shift from one disaster to the next, which has resulted in a sparse evidence base and hampers the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies in the most effective way, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. It recommends the creation of a National Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) Science Framework — led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — to establish a sustained research agenda and the necessary infrastructure to advance understanding of what works and why in disaster preparedness and response. Download the full report and companion resources at https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25650/evidence-based- practice-for-public-health-emergency-preparedness-and-response. M. New GAO Report Highlights Use of MRCs Physicians, nurses, and other providers can volunteer in their communities to help people affected by public health emergencies. These volunteers, known as the Medical Reserve Corps, provide first aid and shelter support during a variety of events—like wildfires, hurricanes, and pandemics—and provided medical aid to migrants at the southern border. They have also assisted with drive-thru testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a new report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that almost all states have a network of health care volunteers—the Medical Reserve Corps—who can augment federal, state, and local
15 | P a g e capabilities in response to public health emergencies, such as those arising from wildfires and hurricanes, and infectious disease outbreaks. Having sufficient, trained personnel, such as these volunteers, is critical to a state's capability to respond and recover from public health emergencies. According to federal data, 48 states and the District of Columbia reported 102,767 health care volunteers in 838 Medical Reserve Corps units as of September 2019, with nurses making up 43 percent. Read “Information on the Use of Medical Reserve Corps Volunteers during Emergencies” here. N. MIT Engineers Develop Reusable Face Mask as Effective as N95 Engineers at the Massachusetts of Technology (MIT) and researchers at the Brigham And Women’s Hospital in Boston have developed the Injection Molded Autoclavable, Scalable, Conformable system-- iMASC, a clear silicone rubber mask that covers the nose and mouth, with a nose bridge and two nylon elastic straps that go around the head. The fit was based on the 3M 1860 respirator, a particular style of N95 mask that's commonly used by healthcare providers. The biggest innovation? While N95 masks are made entirely from a special material that filters out airborne droplets and fluids that could contain the Covid-19 virus, the new MIT mask is made from silicone, with slots for just two small, disposable disks of the N95 material (which serve as filters). That means the masks themselves can be quickly and easily sterilized and reused, and though the small filters must be thrown out, each mask requires much less N95 material. More tests need to be done, and the group is currently working on a second mask design. The iMASC system still requires approval by the FDA and NIOSH. Read more.
Medical Direction
O. Portable, Injectable Clotting Agent Could Treat Trauma Victims on the Front Lines Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University, report an injectable clotting agent that reduced blood loss by 97 percent in mice models. The freeze-dried agent, which has a physical consistency of cotton candy, can be stored at room temperature for several months and reconstituted in saline before injection. The research is published in Science Advances. Read more at https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-portable-clotting-agent-trauma- victims.html?MvBriefArticleId=27498. P. FDA Approves New Opioid for IV Use in Hospitals The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Olinvyk (oliceridine), an opioid agonist for the management of moderate to severe acute pain in adults, where the pain is severe enough to require an intravenous opioid and for whom alternative treatments are inadequate. For more info on oliceridine, download the powerpoint.
16 | P a g e Q. ILCOR Offer Multiple Updates to Cardiovascular and First Aid Guidelines An overflowing treasure trove of information with free access is now available on line in October Supplements to Circulation from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). According to the American Heart Association, “This 2020 document is the fourth in a series of annual International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) summary publications.” It is noted that the 2020 CoSTRs for BLS and ALS are the most comprehensive updates since 2010. In addition, the “2020 American Heart Association (AHA) and American Red Cross Focused Update for First Aid” incorporates systematic reviews conducted by the First Aid Task Force of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR). Systematic reviews conducted by ILCOR provided up-to date science for international use and translated for the North American Guidelines. Overall, the 2020 Guidelines outline 491 recommendations specific to adult, pediatric and neonatal life support, resuscitation education science and systems of care. In addition to the updated and new written guidance, all of the algorithms were updated to reflect the latest science and several major changes were also made to improve the visual training and performance aids. Podcasts on the 2020 Guidelines can be found on the Digital Digest.
All manuscripts can be accessed in the October issue of Circulation:
2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (on basic life support) Originally published 21 Oct 2020 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000892 Circulation. 2020;142:S41–S91
2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (for advanced life support) Originally published 21 Oct 2020 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000893 Circulation. 2020;142:S92–S139
2020 International Consensus on First Aid Science With Treatment Recommendations Originally published 21 Oct 2020 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000897 Circulation. 2020;142:S284–S334
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Pediatric Emergency Care
R. HRSA’s National Survey of Children’s Health Each year the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) collects information from parents and caregivers on the physical, emotional, and behavioral health of children ages 0-17 years old in the United States. The survey is meant to be a tool with reliable data for researchers and policymakers on a wide range of factors that can influence children’s health – from the prevalence and impact of special health care needs, to adverse childhood experiences and mental and behavioral health. HRSA also released a new brief on Rural/Urban Differences in Children’s Health using the combined data of the 2017-2018 surveys. Find more here. S. FDA Issues Warning on New Social Media Craze The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicine diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can lead to serious heart problems, seizures, coma, or even death. The agency has issued a press release on news reports of teenagers ending up in emergency rooms or dying after participating in the “Benadryl Challenge” encouraged in videos posted on the social media application TikTok. Health care professionals should be aware that the “Benadryl Challenge” is occurring among teens and alert their caregivers about it. Encourage teens and caregivers to read and follow the Drug Facts label. In the event of an overdose, health care professionals should attempt to determine whether a patient with a suspected overdose took diphenhydramine. Read more here. T. New CDC Report Provides Insight to Teen Vaping A new report posted in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluated electronic vaping devices used among high school students. While the study was somewhat limited in number, the CDC observes that “School-based efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco product use are most effective when they are part of a comprehensive approach along with other evidence-based population-level strategies. School-level efforts could include adopting tobacco-free policies (including e- cigarettes) with enforcement measures that include access to resources and treatment for students, rather than punishment; implementing evidence-based curricula not sponsored by tobacco companies; and educating school staff members and parents about the changing product marketplace and known health risks of youth tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes.” Read more. U. P-COSCA Advisory Seeks to Improve Peds Resuscitation In 2018, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) sponsored the COSCA initiative (Core Outcome Set After Cardiac Arrest) to improve consistency in reported outcomes of clinical trials of adult cardiac arrest survivors and has since supported a new P-COSCA
18 | P a g e initiative (Pediatric COSCA). The P-COSCA includes assessment of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills. Survival and brain function are assessed at discharge or 30 days (or both if possible) and between 6 and 12 months after arrest. Cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed between 6 and 12 months after cardiac arrest. Because many children have prearrest comorbidities, the P-COSCA also includes documentation of baseline (ie, prearrest) brain function and calculation of changes after cardiac arrest. Supplementary outcomes of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed at 3 months and beyond 1 year after cardiac arrest if resources are available. To access P-COSCA (Pediatric Core Outcome Set for Cardiac Arrest) in Children: An Advisory Statement From the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, go here.
INDUSTRY NEWS
V. Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Updated Documents On July 31, CMS posted updated versions of the following Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System resources:
Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection Instrument (PDF): See page 45 for a list of the updates, including additional clarifications to the instructions in several sections of the instrument, technical and editorial clarifications and programming notes
Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) For more information, see the Ambulances Services Center website. In related news, the renewed ABN deadline has been extended. Due to COVID-19, CMS extended the deadline for using the renewed Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) until January 1, 2021. You may use the renewed form prior to the mandatory deadline. W. Ten States Receive 2020 Top Performing State Awards HRSA’s Federal Office for Rural Health Policy (FORHP) presented ten states with the 2020 Top Performing State Awards as part of the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project (MBQIP). These awards reflect state efforts to increase reporting rates and levels of improvement in rural Critical Access Hospitals. The top performers—Virginia, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Idaho, Michigan, Georgia, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Utah—built on their previous achievements through activities that lead to high-quality care for rural residents. States work collaboratively with every Critical Access Hospital and their partners to share best practices and use data to drive quality improvements. HRSA also recognized leaders from Idaho and Wyoming with the MBQIP Spirit Award for making remarkable strides in quality measurement and
19 | P a g e improvement in their communities. Read more at https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/rural- hospitals/mbqip. X. NEW!! NQF Rural Telehealth and Healthcare System Readiness Committee The National Quality Forum (NQF) is convening a multi-stakeholder committee to create a measurement framework linking quality of care delivered by telehealth, healthcare system readiness, and health outcomes in a disaster. The new Rural Telehealth and Healthcare System Readiness Committee will build on the 2016-2017 Framework to Support Measure Development for Telehealth and the 2019 Healthcare System Readiness Measurement Framework. The Committee will focus on quality of care provided in rural areas and will discuss, update, and enhance the previously developed telehealth framework to ensure its relevance for person- centered measurement, patient safety, and value-based measurement and to ensure it addresses new as well as ongoing opportunities and challenges, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For more info on the committee or to sign up for project updates, go to http://www.qualityforum.org/ProjectDescription.aspx?projectID=93747. Y. First Ever Hess Toy Ambulance on Sale; Free STEM Curriculum Also Available Of interest to collectors, the 2020 Hess Ambulance and Rescue (the series’ first ever ambulance) is now available for purchase exclusively at HessToyTruck.com for $36.99 with free standard shipping and Energizer® batteries included. More importantly, Hess also has made available for free download the 5th edition of a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum guide. Designed by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach, the guide provides 7 lessons featuring the 2020 Hess Ambulance and Rescue as a STEM learning tool. Hess’ catalog of free STEM teaching tools is available at https://hesstoytruck.com/stem/#stem-curriculum.
Z. CAMTS Offers New Accreditation Standards on Community Paramedicine Programs The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) is proud to announce the release of the first national accreditation standards for Community Paramedicine Programs. The standards reflect months of work with input from some of the national leaders in community paramedic services. As an accredited Standards Setting Organization through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), CAMTS follows the ANSI essential elements for establishing new and expanding standards. This includes solicitation and consideration of comments and suggestions for standards development. The draft Community Paramedic Program Accreditation Standards are posted on the CAMTS website (camts.org) and are now open for public comments. An online comment/suggestion form allows for new comments and assures all recommendations are logged and addressed. Feedback is provided to the submitter of each recommended change. The draft standards will be available for comments until April 2021 and the final standards will be released in the fall of 2021, with an implementation date of January 1, 2022. Programs that believe they are in substantial compliance with the standards can apply for the voluntary accreditation at that time.
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In related news, CAMTS is also establishing a Community Paramedic Program Accreditation Standards consensus committee that will review and approve any changes. If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact CAMTS at [email protected]. Include your name and contact information and your relationship to community paramedicine programs. The consensus committee will include representatives from providers, program administration, partners, and users. AA. NREMT Launches Monthly Podcast on EMS Competency The National Registry of EMTs has launched a new podcast series, Reinventing Recert, on the NREMT continued competency project. Mark Terry, the Registry’s Chief of Certification will provide listeners insight about the journey of the Continued Competency project and emphasize the importance of the project to the EMS community. The podcast will feature many special guests and serve as a historical record for the successes – and road bumps – of the project. The podcast series launched on October 22 and will be available on a monthly basis for the next year non on Buzzsprout, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. If you would like more information about the podcast or have questions regarding the content, please reach out to Mark Terry at [email protected]. BB. FirstNet Catalog Offers Range of System Compatible Apps The FirstNet mission is to deploy, operate, maintain, and improve the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety. Before choosing or promoting a mobile device application to serve first responder needs, all applications listed in the FirstNet catalog have been scanned for malware and severe security vulnerabilities to better protect the public safety community. Certified apps have passed more stringent security assessment. If it is in the FirstNet Catalog, it is relevant to public safety and the unique needs of first responders. All apps listed in the catalog have been evaluated to ensure sensitive data or important enterprise info will not be compromised. Apps are continuously being added-- readers can view the FirstNet catalog of compatible apps at https://apps.firstnet.att.com/?auth=false. CC. Last Chance to Comment on NFPA 1900/1917 Consolidation Proposal As part of its consolidation plan, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has announced NFPA 1900 (the standard on automotive ambulances) is in a custom cycle due to the Emergency Response and Responder Safety Document Consolidation Plan (consolidation plan) as approved by the NFPA Standards Council. As part of the consolidation plan, NFPA 1900 (combining Standards NFPA 414, NFPA 1901, NFPA 1906, and NFPA 1917) is open for public input with a closing date of November 13, 2020. Find the revised standard at https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/list-of-codes-and- standards/detail?code=1900&tab=nextedition.
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Division of Accreditation, Certification
and Education (ACE)
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III. Accreditation, Certification and Education
Committees
A. The Training and Certification Committee (TCC): The Training and Certification Committee meeting scheduled for October 8, 2020 was cancelled due to Executive Order 51 pertaining to COVID-19. Copies of past minutes are available on the Office of EMS Web page here: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education- certification/training-certification-committee-standing/.
B. The Medical Direction Committee (MDC): The Medical Direction Committee meeting scheduled for October 7, 2020 was cancelled due to Executive Order 51 pertaining to COVID-19. Copies of past minutes are available from the Office of EMS web page at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education- certification/medical-direction-committee-standing/
Accreditation
All EMS programs that are in need of a site visit having gained accreditation either through Letter of Review or through full accreditation have been granted an extension of expiration until December 31, 2021. No accreditation visits will be scheduled until such time as it is deemed safe due to COVID-19.
A. EMS accreditation program.
1. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
a) The following EMT programs are under Letter of Review:
(1) Arlington County Fire Department (2) Fauquier County (3) Hampton Roads Regional EMS Academy (4) Augusta County (5) Rockingham County Dept. of Fire and Rescue (6) Gloucester Volunteer Fire and Rescue (7) Fairfax County Fire and Rescue
23 | P a g e 2. Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
a) The following AEMT programs are under Letter of Review:
(1) Newport News Fire Training (2) Fauquier County (3) Hampton Roads Regional EMS Academy (4) Augusta County (5) Rockingham County Dept. of Fire and Rescue
3. Paramedic – Initial
National accreditation occurs through the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP – www.coaemsp.org).
a) Blue Ridge Community College has been issued their LOR from CoAEMSP and is enrolling students for their first cohort class.
b) Thomas Nelson Community College has completed their first cohort class and are working on submission of their initial report to CoAEMSP.
c) Henrico County Division of Fire has been issued a LOR from CoAEMSP and will be enrolling students for their first cohort class
4. Paramedic – Reaccreditation
National accreditation occurs through the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the EMS Professions (CoAEMSP – www.coaemsp.org).
a) No current activity. CoAEMSP has suspended all reaccreditation visits due to COVID-19.
C. For more detailed information, please view the Accredited Site Directory found on the OEMS web site at: https://vdhems.vdh.virginia.gov/emsapps/f?p=200:1
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Virginia Certification Online Verification
OEMS offers an online Virginia EMS Provider Certification Lookup which can be used to verify credentials online at the following URL: https://vdhems.vdh.virginia.gov/emsapps/ProviderSearch.html All certification data on this website is real-time, up-to-date, valid and accurate.
Certification Cards No Longer Required for EMS Agency Inspection Requirements
Extension of Certification Expirations
No further extension of certifications has been granted or are anticipated at this time. All providers must meet their continuing education requirements by the last day of their certification expiration month, or the provider will go into reentry per our normal regulatory requirements.
Continuing Education
All CE is available through online resources, and providers are encouraged to use those resources. https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education- certification/provider-resources/web-based-continuing-education/
TPAM Policy T-1445 – Course Scheduling
As a reminder, in the May 2020 update to the Training Program Administration Manual, we made it possible for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) to be a pre or co-requisite for initial certification programs. If CPR is offered as a co-requisite, the student must obtain a valid CPR card by the end date of the course as announced to the Office. Failure to obtain CPR by the end date of the course or marking a student as “Pass” for the course without a valid CPR card is not permitted and will be considered a violation of this policy.
Field and Clinical Requirements for EMT and Advanced EMT Programs (T-1445)
State and regional Medical Directors have reiterated, as late as August 12, 2020, the importance of students in initial certification programs successfully completing and meeting all field and clinical requirements as specified for all certification programs. Educators and Program Directors conducting initial certification programs during COVID-19 are expected to seek out all possibilities to ensure students are able to meet all field and clinical requirements until at least June 30, 2021. If an educator or Program Director has exhausted all possibilities for field and clinical sites for their students and they are unable to secure sites due to COVID-19 limitations or restrictions, then the educator or Program Director shall:
1. Secure an attestation statement from each site indicating that they will not allow access to their facility for your students due to COVID-19 limitations or restrictions.
25 | P a g e a. The attestation statement must include signatures (physical or electronic) from the educator, the field or clinical site representative and the program Medical Director. b. A sample attestation statement is attached.
2. Once attestation statements have been received for all sites, the educator or Program Director can then allow field and/or clinical competencies to be conducted with the students using programmed patients and/or advanced simulation scenarios until you are comfortable that the student is satisfactorily competent.
a. Field and/or clinical competency stations should limit the number of people in contact with one another in compliance with social distancing guidelines. b. Screening of all students and staff is required before ANY in-person meetings with them using form TR-900 – Student Screening Log. Maintain the screening log along with TR-06 – Course Roster. c. Maintain social distancing requirements of six (6) feet of separation to the best of your ability. d. ANY face-to-face field and/or clinical competency stations sessions that require being less than six (6) feet apart shall use adequate PPE to ensure all involved are protected to the highest degree possible.
3. Attestation statements are required to be maintained by the educator with their course files.
Certification Testing Changes – State and National Registry
BLS Certification Testing
Cognitive Exams – The National Registry has implemented cognitive examination testing through the Pearson OnVUE Testing process which allows remotely proctored cognitive exams to be completed in locations such as their home provided they can meet the security requirements. This process became available on May, 12, 2020.
Please direct candidates to learn more about Pearson OnVUE Remote Proctored Exams by visiting: https://home.pearsonvue.com/nremt/onvue Pearson OnVUE remote proctoring will be temporary, however the National Registry is planning to implement a more permanent remote proctoring solution in 2021. Once a candidate sits for and passes the National Registry Cognitive Exam, they will be issued a full National Registry and Virginia certification.
Psychomotor Exams – After careful consideration, the Office of EMS Management Team has decided to cancel all further Consolidated Testing at the
26 | P a g e BLS level through June 30, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many unknown factors in the months ahead and the amount of advanced planning and commitment required to hold a CTS, we determined cancellation to be in the best interest of the health, safety and well-being of all participants. Students will receive guidance from their Course Coordinator as to how their psychomotor skills will be tested in lieu of Consolidated Testing.
ALS Certification Testing
Advanced EMT Programs
Cognitive Exams – The National Registry has implemented cognitive examination testing through the Pearson OnVUE Testing process which allows remotely proctored cognitive exams to be completed in locations such as their home provided they can meet the security requirements. This process became available on May, 12, 2020. Please direct candidates to learn more about Pearson OnVUE Remote Proctored Exams by visiting: https://home.pearsonvue.com/nremt/onvue
Pearson OnVUE remote proctoring will be temporary, however the National Registry is planning to implement a more permanent remote proctoring solution in 2021. Once a candidate sits for and passes the National Registry Cognitive Exam, they will be issued a provisional National Registry and provisional Virginia certification. The candidate will have to complete and pass their National Registry psychomotor exam before full National Registry and Virginia certification will be issued. Provisional certifications can be converted to full certification once the COVID-19 threat is mitigated and the student takes and passes their NREMT required psychomotor exam.
Psychomotor Exams – The Office is working with ALS programs and the National Registry and started conducting ALS psychomotor testing on June 15, 2020 with the appropriate measures in place to meet the requirements of social distancing, temperature checks, wearing of masks and use of manikins in lieu of patients. The ALS Testing Calendar can be found on the OEMS website at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/virginia- national-registry-psychomotor-examination-schedule/
Paramedic Programs
Cognitive Exams – The National Registry is collaboration with Pearson VUE have increased the availability of Test Centers to reopen as quickly as possible. Paramedic candidates are required to take their cognitive
27 | P a g e exam at a Pearson VUE Test Centers—remote proctoring via Pearson OnVUE is not permitted for paramedic candidates.
Once a candidate sits for and passes the National Registry Cognitive Exam, they will be issued a provisional National Registry and provisional Virginia certification. The candidate will have to complete and pass their National Registry psychomotor exam before full National Registry and Virginia certification will be issued. Provisional certifications can be converted to full certification once the COVID-19 threat is mitigated and the student takes and passes their NREMT required psychomotor exam.
Psychomotor Exams – The Office is working with ALS programs and the National Registry and started conducting ALS psychomotor testing on June 15, 2020 with the appropriate measures in place to meet the requirements of social distancing, temperature checks, wearing of masks and use of manikins in lieu of patients. The ALS Testing Calendar can be found on the OEMS website at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/virginia- national-registry-psychomotor-examination-schedule/
National Registry
National Registry
National Registry & Virginia Provisional Certifications – (Advanced EMT and Paramedic ONLY!)
National Registry will cease issuing provisional certifications on December 31, 2020.
National Registry & Virginia have restarted the process of scheduling NREMT psychomotor exams.
For those who were not able to take their NREMT psychomotor exam due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of the National Registry has approved the issuance of a provisional certification. In Virginia, this will only impact the Advanced EMT and Paramedic certification levels. A provisional National Registry certification is issued when a student:
1. completes their certification program according to state or CoAEMSP requirements, and 2. sits for and passes the National Registry cognitive exam.
28 | P a g e 3. When these items are completed, a provisional National Registry certification will be issued with an expiration date of December 31, 2021. The issued certification will clearly indicate the awarding of provisional certification pending completion of the psychomotor exam when successfully completed.
Provisional certifications can be converted to full certification once the COVID‐ 19 threat is mitigated and the student takes and passes their NREMT required psychomotor exam.
Virginia has begun accepting and likewise issuing provisional certifications cards when the National Registry transmits these results to us. Please see the sample provisional Virginia certification card. We are providing this sample to you so that you are aware of what we will be issuing during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The sample is highlighted to indicate the changes that will be made to certification cards issued under this provisional authority.
The issuance of a provisional certification by the Virginia Office of EMS is not reflective that the Office is restricting provider practice. The ability for a provider to practice is solely up to the EMS Agency and the agency’s Operational Medical Director. We are issuing provisional certifications as a means of ensuring that we have a mechanism to track these providers and ensure that they complete their certification process once the COVID‐19 threat is mitigated.
When being scheduled for work, National Registry strongly urges that no two provisionally certified providers work on the same truck. There should always be a fully certified provider riding with a provisionally certified provider.
Should a provider who was granted provisional Virginia certification based off of a National Registry provisional certification not fulfill the requirements of their National Registry certification, the Office of EMS will initiate the process of revocation of the provider’s certification in the Commonwealth.
National Registry Cognitive Examinations
NREMT currently offers two different options for taking the cognitive exams: face-to- face exams at a Pearson VUE Testing Center and remotely proctored exams making use of Pearson OnVUE.
Candidates, when applying for their cognitive exam have the opportunity to select whether they would like to take their exam face-to-face exams at a Pearson VUE Testing Center or a remotely proctored exam on Pearson OnVUE. Sample face-to-face exam ATT Letter Sample Pearson OnVUE ATT Letter.
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If a candidate decides to change their method of testing from face-to-face to Pearson OnVUE or vice versa, they can do so, however the issuance of a new ATT letter will take at least 24 hours to generate before they can then schedule the examination through the process they have chosen. Click here for screenshots of how to change your testing method from face-to-face testing to Pearson OnVUE.
National Registry Releases New Certification Schemes
The National Registry’s Board of Directors voted to bring consistency and uniformity to certification schemes, as well as aligning all National Registry levels with the current National EMS Scope of Practice Model. The new policy also addresses the need for a pathway for reentry for AEMTs.
“These certification schemes were passed to clearly communicate requirements for certification in a single policy,” said Mark Terry, Chief Certification Officer. “Additionally, the new policy aligns each level with the National EMS Scope of Practice Model and the National Registry’s Practice Analysis, which identified necessary knowledge, skills and abilities for the profession.” The policy, with the new certification schemes, goes into effect on July 9, 2020. Please see the following links to view the in-depth policies for each National Registry Certification Level
EMT Certification Level AEMT Certification Level Paramedic Certification Level
National Registry Recert 2.0
On October 22, 2020 the Office published a new version of the National Registry Recert 2.0 document which details the steps Virginia EMS Provider’s should follow to recertify their National Registry certification if they are in the March 2021 recertification cycle. This information is highlighted on the main OEMS webpage as well as on the revised Recertifying Your Virginia EMS Credentials webpage.
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/education- certification/provider-resources/recertifying-your-virginia-ems-credential/
General Updates
Virginia Course Approval Requests
Another long promised enhancement to the Virginia EMS Portal is finally here. Today we are introducing online submission of EMS Course Requests through the Virginia EMS Portal. Beginning Tuesday, October 27, 2020, the Office of EMS no longer accepts electronic or
30 | P a g e paper submissions of form TR-01 – Course Approval Request. Any paper or electronic forms received from October 27, 2020 forward will be returned to the Education Coordinator / ALS- Coordinator and they will be asked to login to the Virginia EMS Portal to complete their submissions.
The Course Request feature is fully integrated into the Virginia EMS Portal and involves several approval flows/queues for your courses. At any step in the process, it is possible for your EMS Physician or the Office of EMS to deny a course request. You will be notified of the decision of your EMS Physician and/or the Office of EMS via e-mail messages from the EMS Portal.
For most courses, you will need only select the course type and fill in the requisite details and click submit for approval. However, there are occasions when you must submit an attachment as a part of your course approval:
1. All Auxiliary Courses will require that you submit a digital copy of your instructor certification from the parent organization for that program. You will not be able to complete the submission process without an attachment. Attachments can be in the form of: PDF, DOCX, JPG, PNG, TIF. 2. All “custom CE” courses will require that you submit form TR-19 - Custom CE Program Outline (attached). You will not be able to complete the submission process without an attachment. 3. All “VILT” courses will require that you submit form TR-18 - VILT Program Course Schedule and Registration (attached). You will not be able to complete the submission process without an attachment.
Please see the online training for this new module on the following page BEFORE you attempt to complete and submit a course approval the first time.
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/virginia-ems-portal-training- videos/
Digital Certification Cards
The Office of EMS introduce digital certification cards to EMS providers, EMS Physicians and EMS Agency Leadership in late October.
Digital certificates make keeping your certification with you easier than ever. The certificates are easy to pull up from a cell phone or computer. Digital certificates also make it a snap for an employer or organization to check and verify your certification levels.
Accessing a digital version of your certification card is as easy as logging into the Virginia EMS Portal. A fact sheet on digital certification cards is attached – APPENDIX D. Providers can now download their certification card directly to their devices and keep it with them in digital format wherever they go!
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Why transition to digital certification?
1. EMS providers lose their certification cards, frequently. With digital certification cards providers never have to worry about replacement cards because providers will always have access to the digital certification for the duration of their certification period. 2. Saving taxpayer money! Certification card stock, the cost of envelopes and postage, manpower to print, fold and stuff cards all cost money! Money which could be better spent on new technology resources, increased funding for the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund, and other benefits to the EMS system as a whole. 3. Instead of faxing or mailing copies of your certification card to your employer or anyone requesting proof of your training, just e-mail them your Virginia EMS Certification card. It’s fast and easy! 4. Be on the cutting edge and go green! Save our valuable natural resources whenever possible.
Concerned about Safety and Security?
Verify any Virginia EMS certification quickly on the Office of EMS website. This website allows for a search by a certificate number, first and last name and/or agency. If you are an employer and your employee has given you his or her Virginia EMS certification, or even just the certification number, you can use it to search for the certificate to validate that it’s valid as well as see when it expires.
This tool makes compliance and HR record keeping a breeze. Just go to the Virginia Office of EMS Digital Certification Verification web page and search for the certificate number you are trying to verify.
https://vdhems.vdh.virginia.gov/emsapps/f?p=200:3
Once you’ve had a digital certification card, you’ll have a hard time going back to “the way we used to do it.”
Please see the online training for this new module for how to access digital certification cards.
https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/virginia-ems-portal-training- videos/
Virginia EMS Portal Two-Factor Authentication
Late last week, our IT Team put into production an upgrade for the two-factor authentication used to verify an individual’s identity and allow for on-the-fly password changes.
By default, two-factor authentication now uses SMS to send a 6-digit authentication token to the user’s cellphone which must be entered before the EMS Portal allows a password to be reset. The addition of this new method for two-factor authentication is a much needed
32 | P a g e enhancement to our security and the ability for end-users to make password resets without the need to call or e-mail the OEMS Help Desk.
Virginia CE Requirements
As of today (October 1, 2020), very few providers will be left on the 2012 CE recertification cycle. Therefore, we released an update recertification worksheet which combines BLS and ALS CE hours together on one easy-to-read page.
The revised Recertifying Your Virginia EMS Credentials webpage has been published and can be found at the following link: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical- services/recertifying-your-virginia-ems-credential/
Also as a part of this redesign, the requirements for Provider’s in Reentry were separated into a new webpage to help distinguish reentry from recertification, which provider’s often confuse. The new EMS Providers in Reentry webpage can be found at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/ems-providers-in-reentry/
New Process for Enrolling Foreign Nationals in EMS Programs
Foreign nationals must reach out to Debbie Akers ([email protected]) with a copy of their Visa for further guidance. The US State Department may be involved. OEMS will assign a fictitious SSN which can then be used for completion of the online enrollment process the same as all other providers.
Education Program
Education Coordinator and ALS Coordinator Certification Extensions
Due to Executive Order 51 et seq., the Virginia Office of EMS will be extending the expiration dates for Education Coordinators and ALS Coordinators with an expiration date of June 30, 2021 through December 31, 2021 until June 30, 2022. The Education Coordinator Update schedule can be found online at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/ems-educator-update- schedule/
Education Coordinator Candidate Program
The Office was able to hold a socially distant Education Coordinator Institute at the end of September in Norfolk, Virginia. At the conclusion of the Institute, the Office was able to certify 22 new EMS educators.
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The Office is hopeful that we will be able to conduct the winter Education Coordinator Institute in late January:
The deadline for EC Candidates to have completed all requirements in order to be considered eligible for this institute is 5:00 pm December 6, 2020. Invitations will be sent to eligible candidates via e-mail on the morning of December 8, 2020. More information can be found at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical- services/ems-education-coordinator-requirements/
Education Coordinator Updates
The ACE Division has been able to hold three (3) socially distant Education Coordinator Updates—one in NOVA, one in Norfolk and one in Keswick—after verifying seating capacity and the ability of our host sites to accept “outside guests.”
Due to restrictions in place for COVID-19 and in keeping with the Governor’s Phase Three Guidelines, we require a registration process for all EC Updates until the pandemic is over. EC Updates will look and feel different for the foreseeable future with:
continued social distancing, and participants wearing face coverings/masks while indoors in public settings.
The schedule of updates and links to register to attend an update can be found on the OEMS web page at: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/ems-educator-update- schedule/
PLEASE NOTE: EC Updates are subject to cancellation up to 24 hours before the event is scheduled to take place depending on guidance our Office receives from the Office of the Governor, VDH or the hosting site.
EMS Training Funds
Table. 1 – Virginia EMS Scholarship Program – FY21 (Q1) Certification Level No. Awarded Amount Awarded EMR 0 -- EMT 154 $129,979.00 AEMT 28 $31,599.00 Paramedic 114 $546,324.00 Grand Total 296 $707,902.00
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Psychomotor Test Site Activity
A. BLS Psychomotor Testing has been suspended for the remainder of 2020. A workgroup of the Training and Certification Committee will continue their work, when safe to do so, on changes to the BLS testing through a more comprehensive critical thinking scenario based evaluation rather than the memorization of skill sheets.
Other Activities
Debbie Akers is serving on the committee to rewrite the Education Standards and Instructional Guidelines. The completion of this project has been delayed and the anticipated release date of the new Education Standards will be March, 2021.
Debbie Akers is serving on the workgroup who will be looking at Competency Based Education with the National Registry.
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Community Health and Technical Resources (CHaTR)
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IV. Planning and Regional Coordination
CHaTR Website
The CHaTR division has its own section on the Virginia OEMS website at the link below:
http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/chatr/
Regional EMS Councils
The OEMS continues to maintain a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Regional EMS Councils for the 2021 Fiscal Year. The Regional Councils submitted their FY21 First Quarter reports throughout the month of October, and are under review. OEMS transitioned to a web based reporting application to replace Lotus Notes for the Regional EMS Councils to submit quarterly deliverables.
The OEMS, Dr. Jaberi and the Regional Council Executive Directors met on December 6, 2019 to discuss various aspects of the regional council programs including a planning session to evaluate the current MOUs in place and any possible modifications to future MOUs. A meeting originally scheduled for April of 2020 will be held upon the relaxation of the COVID-19 meeting/gathering limitation policies.
OEMS staff has been holding COVID-19 updates via webinar with regional council staff and board members on a weekly basis since March 13, 2020. These webinars transitioned to biweekly basis on June 26, 2020. In addition, CHaTR staff have assisted in the coordination of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) distribution to the Regional EMS Councils.
The Blue Ridge and Rappahannock EMS Councils have entered into MOU agreements to become OEMS Regional Offices. OEMS staff has worked with the Board of Directors of those respective councils for implementation throughout 2020. Hiring processes for the Program Managers of both offices took place throughout March and April. The OEMS Program Managers for these Regional Offices are Mary Kathryn Allen at BREMS and Wayne Perry at REMS.
CHaTR staff have attended Board meetings and/or award programs for the Blue Ridge, Central Shenandoah, Lord Fairfax, Northern Virginia, Peninsulas, Southwest Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, Tidewater, and Western Virginia Councils.
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Medevac Program
The medevac program is in the process of transition from the CHaTR division to the Trauma/Critical Care division. This process will be completed in 2020.
The Medevac Committee meetings scheduled for August 6 and November 11, 2020 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The minutes of previous Medevac Committee meetings are available on the OEMS website linked below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/advisory-board-committees/medevac- committee/
The amount of data submitted to the Medevac Helicopter EMS application (formerly known as WeatherSafe) continues to grow. In terms of weather turndowns, there were 569 entries into the Helicopter EMS system in Q2 of the 2020 calendar year. 58% of those entries (332 entries) were for interfacility transports, which is consistent with information from previous quarters. The total number of turndowns is a increase from 441 entries in Q2 of 2019. This data continues to demonstrate a commitment to the program and to maintaining the safety of medevac personnel and equipment.
The Committee continues to evaluate the increased use of unmanned aircraft (drones), and the increased presence in the airspace of Virginia. A workgroup continues work to raise awareness among landing zone (LZ) commanders and helipad security personnel.
The Office of EMS has developed a form intended for a health care provider to notify a patient or his/her authorized representative that the health care provider is requesting air medical transport for the patient who may not have an emergency medical condition.
The form can be found via the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/23/2019/03/Air-Medical-Transport- Authorization-Form.pdf
The CHaTR division manager participates on the NASEMSO Air Medical Committee. OEMS and Medevac stakeholders continue to monitor many developments regarding federal legislation and other documents related to Medevac safety, regulation, and the cost of providing air medical services.
State EMS Plan
The Virginia Office of EMS Strategic and Operational Plan is mandated through The Code of Virginia to be reviewed and revised on a triennial basis.
Review and revision of the State EMS Plan began in early 2019. Committee chairs, OEMS staff, and Regional EMS Council staff have received the current 2016-2019 plan and the guidance documents for the triennial review and revision period. Reports from committees for edits, additions and deletions have been compiled into a draft of the 2020 State EMS Plan. On October 16, 2019, the Legislative and Planning Committee met during a special called planning session.
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During this meeting the committee reviewed and made final edits to the plan and subsequently voted unanimously to approve the draft 2020-2022 State EMS Plan.
The State EMS Plan was unanimously approved by the State EMS Advisory Board at their November 6, 2019 meeting. The Board of Health is required to adopt the plan, however the March 26, 2020 Board meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On June 4, 2020, the State Board of Health met and approved the State EMS Plan in a unanimous vote.
The current version (2020-2022) of the State EMS Plan is available for download via the OEMS website at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/state-strategic-and-operational-ems- plan/
State Telehealth Plan
During the 2020 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1332, which directs the Board of Health to complete a State Telehealth Plan by January 1st, 2021.
House Bill 1332 expresses the plan must address six provisions summarized as Delivery, Remote Patient Monitoring, Criteria for Use, Integration, Sustainability, and Data Collection. More detailed information regarding the bill language can be found at the links below: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+HB1332ER+pdf
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?201+ful+CHAP0729+pdf
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has created several workgroups to address the specific provisions of the bill language. The Office of EMS (OEMS) has worked with the Office of Health Equity (OHE) and leadership from the Injury and Violence Prevention Program to coordinate stakeholders to participate in the development of the State Telehealth Plan. Stakeholder workgroup meetings were held virtually in August and September.
The Board of Health was granted a three month extension for the State Telehealth Plan on September 23, 2020, changing the deadline for completion to March 1, 2021. The VDH workgroup is carefully crafting a framework for the State Telehealth Plan and will reconvene stakeholder workgroup meetings once the first draft of the framework has been completed.
State Rural Health Plan
For the past several months, the Office of Rural Health has been developing the first State Rural Health Plan released in over five years. Members from the Office of Rural Health, the Office of Health Equity, and the Office of Emergency Medical Services have collaborated on the document on a weekly basis since May 2020.
The scheduled completion date of the State Rural Health Plan is December 6, 2020. The newest version of the State Rural Health Plan will be available for download at a later time.
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IV. Technical Assistance
EMS Workforce Development Committee
The EMS Workforce Development Committee (WDC) was scheduled to meet in November 2020 in conjunction with the Virginia EMS Symposium. The meeting was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previous WDC minutes are available on the OEMS website, at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/advisory-board- committees/workforce-development-committee/
EMS Workforce Development Committee (Continued)
The goals of the WDC include: the EMS Officer program, the Standards of Excellence (SoE) program, the introduction of military personnel and veterans into the Virginia EMS workforce, and supporting the recruitment and retention of the EMS workforce in Virginia.
EMS Officer Program:
Since the initial release of the EMSO1 pilot in 2016, nine (9) courses have been completed. In 2020, plans were in place to hold 8-10 offerings throughout Virginia. In addition, each of these course offerings were opportunities to onboard new instructors to the EMSO1 instructor pool. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all course offerings after March 13, 2020 were cancelled. CHaTR staff will be making plans to resume instruction in the future.
The committee is currently finalizing some adjustments to the overall program and are instituting a Train-the-Trainer program. The development of the EMS Officer II program has begun, while the committee also finalizes the full release of EMS Officer 1.
The EMSO1 online education format was formatted to a Learning Management System (LMS) and was first utilized at the 40th Virginia EMS Symposium. The input from the students and
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instructors was extremely positive and is being utilized to make changes to future course offerings.
The EMS Officer section of the VDH/OEMS webpage has been updated to reflect the recent progress with the program, at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/agency-leadership-resources/ems- officer-i/
EMS Workforce Development Committee (Continued)
Standards of Excellence (SoE) Program:
The SoE Assessment program is a voluntary self-evaluation process for EMS agencies in Virginia based on eight areas of excellence - areas of critical importance to successful EMS agency management, above the requirements of the Virginia EMS Regulations.
Each area is reviewed using an assessment document that details optimal tasks, procedures, guidelines and best practices necessary to maintain the business of managing a strong, viable and resilient EMS agency.
CHaTR staff is providing technical assistance to agencies wishing to become Agencies of Excellence, however site visits are not currently possible due to the pandemic.
All documents related to the SoE program can be found on the OEMS website at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/virginia-standards-of-excellence- program/
EMS Recruitment and Retention
The network is comprised of membership from Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia with over 300 members. The mission of the Virginia Recruitment and Retention Network is “to foster an open and unselfish exchange of information and ideas aimed at improving staffing” for volunteer and career fire and EMS agencies and organizations.
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The Virginia Recruitment and Retention Network met virtually on July 22, 2020, with CHaTR staff participating. The network announced their new website, which offers resources for agencies as well as contact points for individuals interested in Fire and EMS. The network is continuing to add additional content including obtaining member information. The link to the website can be found on the CHaTR Recruitment and Retention page at the link below: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/chatr/recruitment-retention/
Several changes have been made to the Recruitment and Retention page on the OEMS website to give it a more streamlined appearance. Links to pertinent reference documents are expected to be added to the page in the coming months. The network is strongly encouraged to work with OEMS to provide updated information and resources through the website and social media for recruitment and retention across Virginia.
System Assessments/Miscellaneous Technical Assistance
CHaTR staff assists the Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) with evaluations of the Fire and EMS systems in localities in Virginia.
The most recent studies were held in Southampton County, September 25-27, 2019, and in Greene County on January 27, 2020. The final reports of those studies have not been released.
Evaluation reports for previously conducted studies can be found via the link below: https://www.vafire.com/about-virginia-department-of-fire-programs/virginia-fire-services- board/virginia-fire-services-board-studies/
ChaTR staff has been requested to conduct an EMS system study in Wise County. That study has been postponed due to the pandemic.
On March 30, 2020, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released notification to allow for an expansion of the list of allowable destinations for ambulance transports, including any destination that is able to provide treatment to the patient in a manner consistent with state and local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) protocols in use where the services are being furnished.
On April 9, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) distributed guidance in the form of a white paper to both EMS agencies and facilities considered to be allowable destinations for ambulance transports under the CMS guidance.
The white paper includes guidelines for agencies transporting patients to alternative sites, the protocols that outline the transportation options, funding for transportation to an alternate site, as well as further considerations for transportation to an alternate site.
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The white paper can be found at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/23/2020/04/EMS-Transport-to-Alternate- Sites-White-Paper.FINAL_.pdf
Mobile Integrated Healthcare/Community Paramedicine (MIH/CP) and Rural EMS
The MIH/CP workgroup that was created in 2015 reconvened on September 19, 2018, with Dr. Allen Yee again serving as chair. The workgroup last met on February 12, 2020. Future meetings have not been scheduled due to the pandemic.
Previous meeting minutes may be viewed at the link below: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/community-paramedicine-mobile- integrated-healthcare/
The workgroup has created a MIH-CP white paper and a letter of intent for agencies that are performing system evaluations to determine the feasibility of providing MIH-CP service. These documents were unanimously approved by the Medical Direction Committee at their meeting on January 16, 2020.
The white paper and letter of intent were approved by the State EMS Advisory Board at the last meeting on February 7, 2020, but the process has been postponed due to the pandemic.
CHaTR staff is also working with the VDH Office of Health Equity (OHE) to perform assessments of EMS systems that have Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) in their service areas. Due to the pandemic, those visits have been postponed.
The CHaTR division manager participates on the NASEMSO CP-MIH workgroup, the Joint Committee on Rural Emergency Care (JCREC), and is a member of the Virginia Rural Health Association (VRHA) Board of Directors.
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Division of EMS Emergency Operations
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V. Division of Emergency Operations
Division of Emergency Operations Staff Members Office Number for Staff Members 804-888-9100
Karen Owens Emergency Operations Manager, Staff Support – Provider Health and Safety Committee [email protected]
Sam Burnette Emergency Services Coordinator, Staff Support – Trauma System Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee [email protected]
Rich Troshak Emergency Operations Specialist, Staff Support - Communications Committee [email protected]
Caron Nazario Emergency Planner, Staff Support - Emergency Management Committee [email protected]
Vincent Valeriano Epidemiologist [email protected]
● COVID-19 Response
The Division of Emergency Operations continues to work closely with other OEMS staff, VDH partners, and other local, regional, and state partners to coordinate response, develop and share plans, update information, and provide guidance to the EMS agencies across the state in conjunction with the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The following is a list of activities that the division staff have conducted in support of COVID-19 response:
o Vaccination Planning
Karen Owens participated in the VDH Vaccination seminar and tabletop exercise during this quarter. The events were an opportunity to review the VDH COVID vaccination plan, discuss the roles of the various stakeholders, and provide recommendations for changes to strengthen the plan. Additionally, Karen participated in a conference call with Director Gary Brown and members of VDH to discuss the role
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of EMS in the vaccination process and the requirements that exist for EMS providers to serve as vaccinators.
o Virginia Department of Health Partner Calls
Division of Emergency Operations staff have been participating in weekly VDH Partner teleconferences held by the Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) held each Friday morning. This weekly call brings VDH partners and stakeholders together to discuss how VDH is responding to and assisting with the COVID 19 crisis in Virginia.
o Healthcare Committee Karen Owens continues to represent the Office of EMS and the EMS community on teleconferences of the Healthcare Committee for COVID response planning. In her position as EMS Subcommittee Chair, Karen continues to assist in developing the role for EMS in the ongoing response.
o Ongoing Meetings
Karen Owens, and other members of the Office of EMS staff continue to work with other VDH partners, and stakeholders to answer questions, gather information, and provide resources for response and recovery planning related to COVID response. This includes, but is not limited to, antigen testing, PPE availability, and testing resources.
● Hurricane Response Activities
Members of the Division of Emergency Operations maintained situational awareness and status review for various weather related events during this quarter. With an active hurricane season, Emergency Operations staff monitored potential impacts to Virginia, shared preparedness information, and ensures that Virginia EMS resources were ready to respond within the state or into other states, should requests be received.
● Virginia Emergency Support Team (VEST)
During this quarter, members of the Division of Emergency Operations, participated in various meetings and trainings designed to strengthen the capabilities of staff during VEST activations. This includes, but is not limited to Microsoft Teams Training, weekly VEST training events, review of the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan and the Recovery Plan. These activities ensure that Emergency Support Function (ESF) – 8, as well as other VDEM partners are best prepared to respond in emergency and non-emergency large- scale incidents.
● Virginia Hospital Alerting & Status System (VHASS)
Sam Burnette and Karen Owens have been participating in monthly virtual training on the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association’s (VHHA) Virginia Hospital Alerting and
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Status System hosted by the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition (CVHC). This recurring event provides refresher training and update information on the system that provides hospital bed availability information to incident commanders to transport patients to the appropriate medical facility during large-scale events or mass casualty incidents.
Training
● Geographic Information System (GIS) Training
Members of the Division of Emergency Operations attended GIS training on August 24, 2020. The training provided an opportunity to explore the features of ArcGIS and research methods for use of GIS in EMS response.
● Rescue Task Force for Incident Commanders
On September 9, 2020, Karen Owens and Sam Burnette participated in a webinar hosted by the International Public Safety Association (IPSA) entitled “Rescue Task Force for Incident Commanders”. The webinar presented a panel of trainers that designed and implemented 10 weeks of integrated, live scenario training on the Rescue Task Force (RTF) tactic to police, fire, EMS, and 911 dispatchers, specifically to the commanders and supervisors.
US Secret Service – Mass Attacks in Public Spaces Report
Caron Nazario and Sam Burnette participated in a webinar hosted by the United State Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) on September 15, 2020. NTAC presented the findings from the Mass Attacks in Public Spaces – 2019 (MAPS-2019). NTAC researchers studied the tactics, backgrounds, and pre-attack behaviors of the attack perpetrators to identify and affirm recommended best practices in threat assessment and prevention.
FEMA Continuity Program Managers Course
Sam Burnette participated in a virtual delivery of the FEMA Continuity Program Managers Course offered on September 22-25, 2020. The course provides information to help Continuity Program Managers to understand their roles and responsibilities and provides resources to help develop viable continuity of operations plans. By completing this course, Sam has completed the requirements of the FEMA Continuity Excellence Series – Level I Professional Continuity Practitioner program.
Caron Nazario participated in the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Continuity of Operation (COOP) Planning Course held September 21- 25, 2020. This course thoroughly covered components of Continuity of Operations development and planning. This course illustrated how continuity planning is relevant and crucial to all localities, agencies, and organizations (regardless of size). This course provided knowledge, skills, and tools necessary
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to develop and implement continuity plans according to established Homeland Security continuity requirements and guidance.
● Mass Casualty Incident Management Train the Trainer
On September 29 and 30, Sam Burnette delivered two instructor training programs in Loudoun County for the OEMS Mass Casualty Incident Management I and II courses. Loudoun County is requiring all operational personnel; both volunteer and career, to complete these courses by 2022. Providing these train-the-trainer courses will allow Loudoun County to meet the challenge of delivering these classes to their approximately 800 volunteers and 700 career personnel.
● Mass Casualty Incident Management Training Course
On October 27, 2020, Sam Burnette assisted with a Mass Casualty Incident Management I and II course held at Fort Lee. Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Services hosted this training, which was attended by their own staff and members from surrounding jurisdictions to include Prince George, Hopewell, and Dinwiddie. Over 50 EMS providers were trained with many participants representing multiple agencies in area through their volunteer and/or part-time employment.
● Analysis of Mass Casualty Incident Management Course Deliveries
Sam Burnette conducted an analysis on the number of MCIM courses delivered and submitted to the Division of Emergency Operations for certificates of completion across the Commonwealth of Virginia since June 1, 2019. Based on courses submitted for certificates, there were 20 MCIM I courses delivered to 297 students; 4 MCIM II courses with 37 students; and 42 MCIM I and II courses with 630 students. These statistics only include courses, which are submitted to the Division of Emergency Operations for course certificates. The intention of this study was to help OEMS focus training resources on the areas of the state needing additional MCIM training.
Communications/Emergency Medical Dispatch
● Regional Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) Teleconferences
Rich Troshak continues to participate in multiple regional 911 Center/Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) teleconferences hosted by VDEM 911/GIS Services Bureau. Rich continues to coordinate with the 911/PSAP community on the pending updates to telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency medical dispatch (EMD) requirements passed by the 2020 General Assembly as well as the OEMS EMD Accreditation program.
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● National Emergency Communications Program (NECP)
Throughout this quarter, Sam Burnette and/or Rich Troshak attended monthly virtual meetings held by FEMA’s National Emergency Communications Program (NECP). Presentation titles included “Lifecycle Planning for Emergency Communications”, “Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! How to turn evaluations into real world communications improvements” and “Funding Your Emergency Communications Capabilities”. Understanding this information helps OEMS understand the needs and challenges encountered by emergency communications centers across the Commonwealth.
● FirstNet Virginia Update
FirstNet hosted a virtual update specifically for updating the rollout of FirstNet in Virginia. Sam Burnette and Rich Troshak attended the event on August 18, 2020. Tom Crabbs, the then Virginia Statewide Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC), provided an overview of how FirstNet is being used in the Virginia. AT&T provided an update on the FirstNet network being deployed across the Commonwealth. Participation in these types of events, help OEMS locate and evaluate opportunities for improving EMS communications in Virginia.
● L3Harris Mission Critical Alliance Roundtable
On August 18, 2020, Sam Burnette participated in an L3Harris hosted virtual roundtable discussion with fifteen of L3Harris’ strategic partners to discuss future collaborative efforts involving L3Harris equipment. A few of the participating companies included Tait, Cradlepoint, and FirstNet. OEMS utilizing equipment and services from these vendors. The event provided information on how these products will continue to be integrated along with L3Harris radio systems. Presently, OEMS has a cache of L3Harris / Tait radio equipment in its communications equipment cache.
● State of 911 Webinar
Sam Burnette and Rich Troshak attended a 911.gov hosted webinar on September 8, 2020. This event, part of an ongoing series, was entitled “NG911 Interstate Playbooks: Case Studies in Collaboration, Coordination, and Joint Purchasing”. A portion of the presentation included discussion on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government’s NG911 project, which includes localities in Northern Virginia. Information from this webinar can be utilized to provide guidance to 911/Public Safety Answering Points on potential funding resources for increasing or enhancing their emergency communications infrastructure.
● VDEM 911/GIS Bureau Updates
Rich Troshak and Sam Burnette attended a VDEM hosted virtual event on September 19, 2020. Some of the information included the 911/GIS Bureau organizational structure, the FY22 PSAP Grant Program, Statewide NG911 deployment projects, as well as the Virginia Base Mapping Program (VBMP) orthoimagery program.
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Sam Burnette attended a follow-up webinar entitled “VBMP Orthoimagery – Flight Year 2021 and Beyond” on October 26, 2020. This VDEM hosted webinar provided detailed information on the next iteration of the Virginia Base Mapping Program, which will include three years of the vendor – Surdex- planning flights over the Commonwealth of Virginia to collect photography and other electronic data for mapping the entire state. This information will be useful in a variety of non-emergency and emergency applications by state and local agencies.
Opioid Response with Poison Control Centers and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP)
During this quarter Karen Owens brought together representatives from various public safety agencies, poison control centers, and the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to discuss the roles of Poison Control Centers and PSAPs in acute and non-acute opioid emergencies. The task force, which was developed in response to a letter from the Joint Commission on Health Care, focuses on actions that may improve the capability of the above resources to respond to acute and non-acute opioid events.
Emergency Operations Planning
National Preparedness Month Activities
Caron Nazario participated in National Preparedness Month awareness activities, which included distribution of preparedness materials to OEM staff members. National Preparedness Month is recognized to promote family and community planning throughout the year.
October is also Earthquake Preparedness Month. Caron shared materials on earthquake awareness and preparedness activities to include recommending participation in the International ShakeOut Day/Drill held on October 15, 2020. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help people and organizations be better prepared for major earthquakes and to practice how to protect themselves when they do happen.
Central Virginia Emergency Management Alliance (CVEMA) Monthly Meeting
Sam Burnette and/or Caron Nazario attended the CVEMA Monthly meetings via a virtual platform throughout the quarter. Discussions include training and mitigation grants for the region as well as training program delivery in the COVID environment. The meetings are attended by emergency management officials from local and state government organizations.
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes)
Sam Burnette has routinely participated in weekly Project ECHO - EMS Response to COVID 19 webinars hosted by the University of New Mexico. Each week presenters from various EMS agencies from across the United States share valuable lessons learned information from their COVID 19 response. These webinars began to include response to
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civil unrest as events began occurring throughout the nation.
Complex Coordinated Terrorist Attack (CCTA) Workgroup
On September 17, 2020, and October 30, 2020, Sam Burnette participated on a Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) hosted workgroup responsible for the creation/updating of a complex coordinated terrorist attack annex for the Commonwealth of Virginia Emergency Operations Plan (COVEOP).
Central Virginia Emergency Management Alliance (CVEMA)
Caron Nazario participated in the Fiscal Year 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan review on October 7, 2020. This plan review focused on hazard mitigation for the Richmond and Tri-Cities regions. It entailed updating organizational charts and decision-making matrices, funding mechanisms and opportunities and key process steps.
Mass Casualty Incident Committee – Old Dominion EMS Alliance
On October 23, 2020, Sam Burnette participated in a virtual meeting of the Old Dominion EMS Alliance (ODEMSA) Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) Committee. The purpose of the committee is the establishment of mass casualty incident guidelines, oversight, and emergency planning for EMS agencies and providers within the region.
Health and Safety
SafeHaven and Medical Society of Virginia (MSV)
Karen Owens and Vince Valeriano joined Director Gary Brown on a conference call with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV). The conference call provided the MSV members an opportunity to share information on the SafeHaven program. The program is an opportunity for licensed medical professionals to seek mental health assistance without the normal stigma associated with such an action in the workplace. The program allows for individuals and their families to receive mental health assistance through a variety of options.
First Responders Against Human Trafficking Website In an ongoing effort to raise awareness and combat human trafficking, Vincent Valeriano completed the redesign of OEMS’s anti-human trafficking webpage (https://www.vdh. virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/fraht/). The new layout aims to centralize relevant resources that equip providers to better identify and help victims of human trafficking.
Public Safety Exposure Workgroup
As a part of the 20202 General Assembly legislation, the Office of EMS is tasked with
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developing processes associated with prevention of and response to public safety exposures to decedent blood. During this quarter, the workgroup met to discuss the education and training opportunities, the process for blood collection, and other resources available to all of public safety on this topic.
Department of Human Resources Management Safety Training
Caron Nazario participated in the DHRM- Safety Responsibilities of Managers and Supervisors on September 10, 2020. This course gave participants strategies and techniques to ensure their safety programs are constantly improving. It also reviewed best practices for personnel in management or supervisory positions on how they can help the lead the safety effort in their agency or at their facility. This course emphasized that successful safety systems have management’s support that not only comes in the form of financial funding but more importantly, by taking an active role in the safety program.
Caron also participated in the DHRM- “Office Safety: It’s a Jungle in There!” on October 15, 2020. This course was developed as the result of surveys conducted to identify hazards throughout COV state offices. This course was designed to give Commonwealth of Virginia employees strategies and solutions to create a safe office work environment. This course illustrated the cost of safety and mitigation efforts versus the cost and impacts of dealing with work related injuries.
Health and Safety Infographics During this quarter, Vincent Valeriano released three new infographics surrounding provider health and safety that were shared on the OEMS webpage and social media:
o August – Fuel Like A Hero o https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/23/2020/08/Nutrition- Infographic.pdf
o September – #BeThe1To Save a Life: National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month o https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/23/2020/09/Suicid-Prevention- Awareness-Month.pdf
o October – Violence is Never Okay o https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/23/2020/09/September-2020- Violence-is-Never-Okay-.pdf
Health and Safety Webinars Vincent Valeriano attended multiple webinars focused on provider health and safety. They include: o Survive, Thrive and Matter in 2020: The ResponderStrong Tool
This year has been one massive stress test. More than ever, providers face novel challenges in their lives as responders and as humans. This webinar discussed the ResponderStrong tool (https://you.responderstrong.org/), a free responder wellness tool
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designed to support LEO, EMS, Fire, Dispatch, and ER Staff, along with their families, in surviving and thriving no matter what life throws at them.
o International Public Safety Association: Surviving the Service, First Responder Health Risks
Public safety service comes with specific and unique occupational health risks that are much different from most professions. This presentation by Chief Todd LeDuc, Editor of “Surviving the Fire Service,” examined the unique health risks that first responders face and what they can do to manage those risks to have long and healthy careers and enjoy a successful retirement. The presentation focused on case experiences of first responder health issues and the role of prevention and early detection.
o NHTSA Office of EMS: Living Well and Leveraging Adversity and Stress Over the Long Haul
Due to the challenges of everyday EMS work and the added difficulties of extraordinary events, adversity and stress are unavoidable aspects of serving as EMS clinicians. This webinar discussed ways to cultivate resilience, recognize and manage stress, and turn adversity into an opportunity for personal growth. Leaders, veterans, and resilience experts Mike Washington and Dr. John Becknell discussed self- awareness, self-care, and specific actions, practices, and wisdom for living well.
The State of EMS Provider Mental Health
Vincent Valeriano presented the 2019 Virginia EMS Provider Mental Health Survey results to the Virginia Department of Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Collaborative Network and the Suicide Prevention Inter-Agency Group. The presentation discussed background issues surrounding EMS provider mental health, the Make the Call campaign, the survey results, and what OEMS is doing to address this issue.
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Division of Public Information and Education
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VI. Division of Public Information and Education
Public Relations
Beginning in January 2020, Public Relations staff, along with VDH/OEMS staff began assisting with COVID-19 pandemic response efforts. Due to these emergency response efforts, the marketing and promotion of regularly scheduled events was postponed or cancelled in order to focus on the Governor’s emergency declaration for this pandemic. This emergency response effort is ongoing. Public Outreach via Marketing Mediums Via Virginia EMS Blog The OEMS continues to share important updates and information via the Virginia EMS Blog. This blog replaces the EMS Bulletin, which was an online newsletter that went out twice a year. This blog allows OEMS shares information in a more timely, concise and in a web-friendly format. It also offers more interactive features so readers can comment or ask questions through the blog. Via Social Media Outlets We continue to keep OEMS’ Twitter and Facebook pages active, educational and relevant by posting daily and/or weekly updates that provide important announcements and health-related topics to increase awareness and promote the mission of OEMS and VDH. Some of the subjects that were featured from July - September are as follows:
July – Holiday office closures, NHTSA Park.Look.Lock, Keep the Fire Burning July health and safety bulletin, EMS Virtual Learning Center, VA C.O.P.E.S. warmline and HHS and FEMA best practices for the preservation of personal protective equipment.
August – Isaias storm preparedness, COVIDWISE app, Rescue Squad Assistance Fund E- GIFT fall application cycle, Rescue Squad Assistance Fund, Fuel Like A Hero August health and safety bulletin, EMS Strong Virtual 5K hosted by the Southwest Virginia EMS Council, Fall 2020 Cycle of Nasal Naloxone for EMS Agencies, EMS databases emergency system update, Richmond EMT is an American Girl doll, Bruce Edwards obituary and self-dispatch during emergencies guidance.
September – National Preparedness Month, holiday office closures, RSAF online grant application system down/application deadline extension, National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, September 11 memorial, September health and safety bulletin on preventing and responding to workplace violence and Virginia Office of Health Equity’s primary care needs assessment survey.
Via GovDelivery Email Listserv (July - September)
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9/2/20 National Innovative Practices in EMS Post Overdose Response Survey
Customer Service Feedback Form (Ongoing)
PR Assistant provides monthly reports to EMS management regarding OEMS Customer Service Feedback Form.
PR Assistant also provides biweekly attention notices (when necessary) to OEMS Director and Assistant Director concerning responses that may require immediate attention. Social Media and Website Statistics
As of November 10, 2020, the OEMS Facebook page had 8,200 likes, which is an increase of 109 new likes since August 3, 2020. As of November 10, 2020, the OEMS Twitter page had 5284 followers, which is a decrease of 7 followers since August 3, 2020.
Figure 1: This graph shows the total organic reach* of users who saw content from the OEMS Facebook page, July - September. Each point represents the total reach of organic users in the 7- day period ending with that day. Our most popular Facebook post was posted on August 22, 2020. This post garnered 6,868 people reached and 769 engagements (including post likes, reactions, comments, shares and post clicks.)
*Total Reach activity is the number of people who had any content from our Facebook Page or about our Facebook Page enter their screen. Organic reach is the number of unique people who saw our post in the newsfeed or on our page, including people who saw it from a story shared by a friend when they liked it, commented on it, shared our post, answered a question or responded to an event. Also includes page mentions and check-ins. Viral reach is counted as part of organic reach. Organic reach is not paid for advertising.
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Figure 2: This graph shows the total organic impressions* over a 91-day period on the OEMS Twitter page, July - September. During this 91 day period, you earned 250 impressions per day. The most popular tweet received 1,949 organic impressions. *Impressions are defined as the number of times a user saw a tweet on Twitter. Organic impressions refer to impressions that are not promoted through paid advertising.
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Figure 3: This table represents the top five most downloaded items on the OEMS website from July – September.
July 1. RSAF Award List (128) 2. Authorized Durable DNR Form and Instructions (120) 3. Virginia EMS Scholarship Program Quick Guide (87) 4. EMT Performance (74) 5. Creating an Account for CentreLearn for EMSAT (54) August 1. Virginia EMS Scholarship Program Quick Guide (163) 2. Authorized Durable DNR Form and Instructions (108) 3. EMT Performance (98) 4. Creating an Account for CentreLearn for EMSAT (85) 5. Transport Vehicle Checklist (81) September 1. Authorized Durable DNR Form and Instructions (96) 2. EMT Performance (84) 3. TR-06 – Course Roster (84) 4. TR-01 – Course Approval Request Form (74) 5. Creating an Account for CentreLearn for EMSAT (70)
Figure 4: This table identifies the total number of unique pageviews, the average time on the homepage and the average bounce rate for the OEMS website from July - September 2020.
Unique Average Time on Page Bounce Rate Pageviews (minutes: seconds) (Average for view)
July 7,083 00:36 26%
August 8,019 00:32 25.22%
September 8,764 00:40 23.15%
Google Analytics Terms:
A unique pageview aggregates pageviews that are generated by the same user during the same session. A unique pageview represents the number of sessions during which that page was viewed one or more times.
The average time on page is a type of visitor report that provides data on the average amount of time that visitors spend on a webpage. This analytic pertains to the OEMS homepage.
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A bounce rate is the percentage/number of visitors or single page web sessions. It is the number of visits in which a person leaves the website from the landing page without browsing any further. This data gives better insight into how visitors are interacting with a website.
If the success of a site depends on users viewing more than one page, then a high bounce rate is undesirable. For example, if your homepage is the gateway to the rest of your site (e.g., news articles, additional information, etc.) and a high percentage of users are viewing only your home page, then a high bounce rate is undesirable.
The OEMS website is setup in this way; our homepage is a gateway to the rest of our information, so ideally users should spend a short amount of time on the homepage before bouncing to other OEMS webpages for additional information. Generally speaking, a bounce rate in the range of 26 to 40 percent is excellent and anything under 60 percent is good.
Governor’s EMS Awards Program
PR Assistant attended the virtual Traffic Incident Management (TIM) Awards selection committee meeting on August 17, 2020 at 10 a.m. She also assisted with the TIM awards grading process. PR Assistant prepared the Governor’s EMS Award Nomination digital packet for the Governor’s EMS Awards Nomination Committee members for review and grading PR Assistant organized the Governor’s EMS Awards Nomination Committee meeting, held virtually on September 18, 2020 at 10 a.m. PR Assistant placed order for the Governor’s EMS Award pyramids. PR Coordinator prepared the Decision Memo for awards certificates to be printed by the Governor’s Office. PR Coordinator prepared the Decision Memo for recognition video/virtual awards ceremony.
OEMS Communications
The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant are responsible for the following internal and external communications at OEMS:
On a daily basis, the PR Assistant monitors and provides assistance to the emails received through the EMS Tech Assist account and forwards messages to their respective divisions. The PR Assistant is the CommonHealth Coordinator at OEMS, and as such, she sends out weekly CommonHealth Wellnotes to the OEMS staff and coordinates events within the office. The PR Coordinator designs certificates of recognition and resolutions for designated EMS personnel on behalf of the Office of EMS and State EMS Advisory Board.
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Upon request, the PR Coordinator creates certificates for free Symposium registrations to be used at designated events. Upon request, the PR Coordinator and PR Assistant provide assistance for the preparation of responses to constituent requests. The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant respond to community requests by sending out letters, additional information, EMS items, etc. The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant provide reviews and edits of internal/external documents as requested. The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant update OEMS website with content and documents upon request from office Division Directors and Program Managers. The PR Coordinator is responsible for monitoring social media activity and requests received from the public. She forwards questions to respective OEMS division managers and provides responses to the inquiries through social media. The PR Assistant provides back-up to all social media for OEMS and VDH. The PR Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and submitting weekly OEMS reports to be used in the report to the Secretary of Health and Human Resources. The PR Assistant provides back-up assistance. The PR Coordinator assists with FOIA requests as needed. When applicable, the PR Assistant submits new OEMS hire bios and pictures to be included on the New Employees webpage on the VDH intranet.
VDH Communications Office
VDH Communications Tasks – The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant are responsible for covering the following VDH Communications Office tasks from July - September:
July – September – The PR Coordinator is responsible for working with the Communications Office to assist with coverage for media alerts, VDH in the News, weekly Commissioner’s message, media assistance, team editor, VDH social media, Shutterstock agency-wide image requests and other duties upon request.
o In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PR Coordinator was temporarily reassigned to the role of Assistant Director for the Office of Communications. This role will last March-March 2020. As such, in this role she is responsible for approving time off requests, monthly financial approvals (sign-off on employee leave/pay forms), assisting with the Joint Information Center (JIC) duties and weekend/afterhours JIC coverage, leading VDH Communications/JIC team meetings, creating daily VDH communications report, media response, writing/sending/posting press releases, coordinating press conferences, attending
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leadership meetings, assisting with VDH COVID-19 website updates and social media posts, assisting as lead PIO on VDH ICS Vaccine Unit workgroup, submitting RAPs, assisting marketing contractors with access to VDH social media advertising sites, etc.
. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PR Assistant has been helping with the following tasks: Logging media inquiries into the VDH Media Alert Generator, monitoring the VDH web feedback submissions, assisted the VDH testing team with sending notices out to local physicians regarding area COVID-19 test sites and replying to general inquiries, assisting with posting and sharing OEMS COVID-19 information and updates.
o The PR Assistant is responsible for sending VDH media alerts, updating the VDH New Employees photos for the VDH intranet, replying to website feedback via the VDH website, coordinating and sending the Commissioner’s clinician letters. The following Clinician Letters were sent from July - September: . Face Coverings and Precautions During COVID-19 – September 18 . COVID-19 Update for Virginia – September 14 . COVID-19 Long-Term Care Update for Virginia – September 9 . COVID-19 Update for Virginia – August 7 . Acute Flaccid Myelitis – August 4 . COVID-19 Update for Virginia – July 13
o The PR Assistant also serves as secondary backup for VDH social media, listserv emails and assisting with website feedback.
VDH Communications Conference Calls (Ongoing) - The PR Coordinator and PR Assistant participate in bi-weekly conference calls and polycoms for the VDH Communications team.
o PR Coordinator and PR Assistant participate in monthly Agencywide Communications Workgroup. The PR Assistant serves on the Policies and Procedures Workgroup sub-committee and the PR Coordinator serves on the Social Media sub-committee.
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Regulation and Compliance Division
While a declared state of emergency does provide for the commonsense relaxation of regulatory enforcement; it does not indicate a complete abandonment of the ideal of regulatory compliance.
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VII. Regulation and Compliance
The Division of Regulation and Compliance Enforcement performs the following tasks:
Licensure & Permitting
o EMS Agencies and vehicles
Regulatory Compliance enforcement of:
o EMS Agencies
o EMS Vehicles
o EMS Personnel
o EMS Physicians
o RSAF Grant Verification
o Regional EMS Councils
o Virginia EMS Education
o Complaint\Compliance Investigations
o Drug Diversion Investigations
o LCR Database Portal Management
EMS Physician (Operational Medical Director) Endorsements
Background Investigation Unit
o Determine eligibility for EMS certification and/or affiliation in Virginia
EMS Regulation Variance/Exemption application determinations
EMS Psychomotor Examination Accommodation Request determinations
Creation and/or Revision of EMS Regulation(s)
o Utilizing the Virginia Division of Legislative Services, Regulatory Town Hall, and Department of Planning and Budget as required
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Provide Virginia General Assembly legislative session representation for the Office of EMS
o Provide written and verbal consultation regarding proposed legislation being debated or considered, that involves or impacts the delivery of EMS in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia EMS Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Educational Resource
o Educational programs provided on request and during most EMS conferences throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia
Provide support to all Committees of and for the State EMS Advisory Board
Provide EMS regulatory and compliance consultation services for EMS agencies and localities within the Commonwealth of Virginia
Represent the Virginia Office of EMS, Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division on national boards and/or committees
The following is a summary of the Division’s activities for the third quarter, 2020:
EMS Agency/Provider Compliance
2020 2020 2020 2020
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 2020 2019 2018 Enforcement Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Totals Totals Totals
Citations 9 8 3 20 33 14 EMS Agency 2 2 2 6 13 9 EMS Provider 7 6 1 14 20 5
Verbal Warning 1 1 2 4 8 10 EMS Agency 0 0 0 0 4 8 EMS Provider 1 1 2 4 4 2
Correction Order 1 0 3 4 5 5 EMS Agency 0 0 0 0 1 4
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EMS Provider 1 0 3 4 4 1
Suspension 4 6 9 19 24 40 EMS Agency 0 0 0 0 0 0 EMS Provider 4 6 9 19 24 40 Revocation 0 0 0 0 2 0 EMS Agency 0 0 0 0 0 0 EMS Provider 0 0 0 0 2 0 Compliance Cases Investigations 89 203 160 Opened 26 37 26 Investigations 95 * 91 Closed 31 46 18
Drug Diversions 1 3 1 5 6 12
Variances 18 17 14 49 110 54 Approved 9 10 4 23 56 33 Denied 9 7 9 25 54 20
Note: Not all investigations reveal regulatory non-compliance or result in enforcement action(s). Therefore, the number of enforcement actions will not equal the total number of compliance cases. Complaints could be unfounded or resolved utilizing guided compliance.
Quarterly IFFC = Informal Fact Finding Conferences appeal hearing update
Currently the Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division has 9 IFFC hearings pending. Seven (7) of the nine (9) pending hearings are scheduled for November 10th & 12th, 2020 to be held at the Office of EMS in Glen Allen, VA.
There were no Administrative Processes Act - Informal Fact Finding Conferences (hearings) this quarter due to Covid-19 restrictions and lack of an available Administrative Law Judge.
Both Cam Crittenden, R.N., and Ron Passmore, NRP, have completed classes at the National Judicial College to obtain non-attorney, Administrative Law Judge (hearing officer) credentials and will begin hearing IFFC’s for the Office of EMS. Ms. Crittenden will be the sole hearing officer for all Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division cases.
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Quarterly EMS Agency & Vehicle Licensure Activity Licensure 2020 2020 2020 2020 2019 2018 Total Total 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
Total Agencies 584 578 578 587 607 New Agency 5 0 2 7 6 New Vehicles 90 62 17 239 4,243* Inspections 657 141 1017 2819 3,729* Agencies 43 0 95 330 288 Inspected Vehicles 532 135 904 2153 3,097 Inspected Unscheduled 82 6 18 336 389 “Spot” Inspections *Note: Statistical data unavailable or incomplete at the time of this report. Data will be included as it becomes available.
Background Investigation Unit
The Office of EMS began conducting criminal history background checks utilizing the FBI fingerprinting process through the Central Criminal Record Exchange (CCRE) of the Virginia State Police on July 1, 2014. A dedicated section with relevant information about this process is on the OEMS web site at: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/emergency-medical-services/regulations- compliance/criminal-history-record/ .
Background 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2019 Total 2018 Total Checks 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Processed 1,602 728 1977 4,307 7,613 7,318 Eligible 1,558 706 1954 4,218 6,973 6,578
Non-Eligible 15 17 11 43 47 48
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Review 29 103 12 144 Not Not Criminal Available Available history Outstanding 9 0 0 Not Not Not Waiting for Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative results Rejected 20 5 12 37 391 Not Fingerprint Available cards Jurisdiction 424 346 227 997 2,432 1,344 Ordinance
EMS Physician Endorsement
Operational 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2019 2018 Medical 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Total Total Total Directors Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter Year End # of OMD’s Endorsed 221 225 211 220 * New OMD’s 5 3 6 14 >3 * Re-Endorsed 5 0 6 11 41 * (5yr) Conditional 3 0 6 9 23 * (1yr) Expired 1 0 0 1 19 * Endorsement
The 2020 OMD workshops schedule resumed on October 30, 2020 and was the first virtually held workshop. Please visit the Virginia Office of EMS website, Regulation & Compliance Enforcement, EMS Medical Director sub-tab for the posted schedule for the remainder of 2020.
The remaining 2 workshops for 2020 will be held virtually on November 13th & December 11th. Register by clicking the link under EMS Medical Director Course Info on the EMS Medical Director subtab under the Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division section, of the OEMS website.
Dr. Lindbeck is updating the on-line OMD training program that is utilized as a pre-requisite for physician interested in becoming an endorsed EMS Physician in Virginia.
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One Portal login for all OMD roles is finally here! All EMS Physician OEMS processes are paperless and in real time online now! Apply for initial and re-endorsement, approve EMS courses, variances, agency affiliations, symposium submissions, and print your own state card via your online OEMS portal account.
Tutorial videos are available on the EMS Medical Directors subtab under Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division section of the OEMS website.
Regulatory Process Update
OEMS Regulation & Compliance Division continue to work with key EMS stakeholder groups to review suggested revisions to all sections of the current EMS Regulations (Chapter 31).
Stage 1 - A Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) posted in the Virginia Register of Regulations (Vol. 33 Issue 19) on May 15, 2017. The deadline for public comment was June 14, 2017. No public comments were submitted. OEMS Staff is working to complete the required documentation for the next step for the “Proposed” EMS Regulations.
The approved first draft of “Proposed” EMS Regulations (Chapter 32) has been manually entered into the RIS as project 5100
The required Town Hall (TH-02) form is complete which details all changes in regulatory language from Chapter 31 to 32 by comparison. This form was submitted to the Regulatory Town Hall on January 25, 2019.
The decision was made to hold this draft (Chapter 32) and include regulatory language of what will be required for agencies to become licensed as a Mobile Integrated Healthcare-Community Paramedicine and/or Critical Care Transport agency. Chapter 32 language must also be consistent and compliant with REPLICA language.
Stage 2 - Submission of the completed TH-02 document on January 25, 2019 for project 5100 (Chapter 32) will be presented to the VDH – Board of Health once final edits are complete; to initiate the Executive Branch Review process which requires the Office of Attorney General, Department of Planning and Budget including an Economic Impact Analysis, Cabinet Secretary, and Governor of Virginia to review; then posted for a 60 day public comment period on the Virginia Regulatory Town Hall.
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Following the 60 day comment period, all comments will be considered (adopted) and final regulatory language will be revised
Stage 3 – Submission of the completed (TH-03) document for project 5100 as the final regulatory package via the Town Hall to again receive a repeat Executive Branch review and final public comment period before adoption into law.
Additional Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division Work Activity
The Regulation and Compliance Enforcement Division bi-monthly staff meeting(s) resumed on August 12th through 14th in South Hill VA and October 14th through 16th at the Office of EMS. Social distancing and masks were required during these meetings.
Division staff were released to resume field operations on August 1st 2020 with required social distancing, face masks, and hand hygiene.
o Division mission is to complete all EMS agency & vehicle inspections that were due in 2020 by December 31, 2020. This will return all agencies to their routine bi-annual inspection schedule . This will require the Field Investigators to complete 10 months’ worth of agency & vehicle inspections within a 5-month period. o Field Investigators are also actively conducting 65 compliance investigations and have 77 pending new vehicle temporary permits to inspect.
Division Field Investigators have assisted the OEMS Grants Manager and the RSAF program by performing reviews of submitted grant requests. Field Investigators currently have 130 RSAF grant awards to inspect for purchase compliance verification.
2020 Agency Data Compliance Initiative Launched on January 1, 2020
o Per 12VAC5-31-560-C All licensed EMS agencies are required to submit Patient Care Records with the required minimum data set on a schedule established by the Office of EMS as authorized in §32.1-116.1 of the Code of Virginia. o Field Investigators continue to work with their agencies regarding data compliance during this quarter, in support of Trauma & Critical Care Divisions data compliance mission.
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o The most current compliance report as well as contact information for resources to assist each EMS agency in becoming compliant are provided on the OEMS website under Regulation & Compliance Enforcement tab, then click the Data Compliance Report sub-tab.
Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division website updates:
New Sub-Tab EMS Medical Directors – all OMD information has been relocated on the Office of EMS website to the Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division section under its own EMS Medical Directors sub-tab.
o EMS Physician Portal User Guide Tutorial video is available
o On-line EMS Medical Director Initial Course is also being updated
o Application process for OMD Endorsement or Re-Endorsement is now online (paperless)!
o OMD Workshops (required for continuing endorsement) are currently being held virtually on November 13th & December 11th 2020.
. Register for one of these workshops by visiting the EMS Medical Director subtab on the OEMS website under the Regulation & Compliance Enforcement Division section.
o Many other links, documents, course information, and related links are available for OMD’s on this page
o Relaxation of EMS Regulations during declared State of Emergency (SOE).
. While a declared SOE does provide for the commonsense relaxation of regulatory enforcement; it does not indicate a complete abandonment of the ideal of regulatory compliance.
. Covid-19 related requests for EMS Agency regulatory variances are being tracked by the Regulation & Compliance Division.
All agencies that requested and were granted Covid-19 variances have concluded their requested period of variance and have returned to standard regulatory compliance.
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Regulation and Compliance Enforcement Division Structure Profile
Ronald D. Passmore, NRP
Division Director, Regulation and Compliance Enforcement Phone: (804) 888-9131 Fax: (804) 371-3108
Oversees the Division of Regulation and Compliance Enforcement, focus is on the following broad areas:
EMS Physician initial and re-endorsement EMS agency initial and re-licensure EMS vehicles permitting and renewal EMS regulations development and enforcement Variances and Exemptions processing for provider, agencies and entities OEMS policy advisor to Executive Management Provide technical assistance & guidance to all committees of and the state EMS Advisory Board OEMS Staff Liaison to the Rules and Regulations Committee Manages Operations Education Track for Virginia EMS Symposium Technical assistance to local governments, EMS agencies and providers Background investigations on EMS certified personnel and EMS students Regulatory enforcement, complaint processing National issues involving licensure and regulations
Marybeth Mizell Senior Administrative Assistant, Physician Endorsement & Background Investigation Unit Phone: (804) 888-9130 Fax: (804) 371-3108
Provides direct administrative support to the Division Manager while managing all Virginia endorsed EMS physicians, to include all applications for OMD endorsement and re-endorsement, and provides technical support assistance to field team administrative assistants.
Update and maintain listing of all Virginia endorsed EMS Physicians Provides staff support to the Rules and Regulations and Transportation committees
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Kathryn “Katie” Hodges Shirley Peoples Administrative Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Background Investigations Regulation & Compliance Team Support Phone: (804) 888-9133 Phone: (804) 888-9125 Fax: (804) 371-3409 Fax: (804) 371-3409
Provides support to field team and coordinates background investigation activities to include:
Receiving and processing results of all fingerprint based background investigations Notification to agencies regarding member eligibility status per background investigations Assist Field Investigators (Program Representatives) with all administrative tasks Assist customers by navigating requests to the appropriate resource for resolution
OEMS Program Representatives (Field Investigators)
Provides field support to EMS agencies, local government, facilities and interested parties in the development of EMS to include the following:
EMS agency initial and renewal licensure by inspections EMS vehicle initial and renewal permits and spot inspections EMS regulation development and compliance enforcement EMS complaint investigations Verify awarded EMS grants to eligible recipients from RSAF program Liaison and OEMS representative at various local and regional meetings with organizations to include but not limited to local governments (county, city, town), regional EMS Councils, VDEM, VDFP, OCME, federal/state and local law enforcement agencies, etc… Subject matter experts on the delivery of EMS within the Commonwealth Facilitator for matters related to OEMS through the various Office of EMS programs
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Sr. Supervisor, Jimmy Burch, NRP ([email protected]) – Virginia - East Wayne Berry, NRP ([email protected]) – Coastal Steve McNeer, EMT-I ([email protected]) – Central Doug Layton, EMT-P ([email protected]) – Shenandoah
Supervisor, Paul Fleenor, NRP ([email protected]) – Virginia - West Ron Kendrick, EMT-I ([email protected]) – Appalachia Scotty Williams, EMT-P ([email protected]) – Highlands Len Mascaro, NRP ([email protected]) – Northern Virginia
The Regulation and Compliance Team of professionals provide the Commonwealth of Virginia with more than 153 years of combined experience specific to EMS regulations and compliance enforcement; in addition, this team of twelve has more than 322 years of combined experience with the delivery of Emergency Medical Services as clinical providers and EMS administrators.
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Division of Trauma and Critical Care
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VIII. Division of Trauma and Critical Care
● Patient Care Informatics
A major focus of Division leadership has been the creation and posting of the Request for Proposal for a statewide EMS EPCR, state data repository, and trauma registry system. We were able to incorporate lessons learned from the last contract period to be very specific in our needs for today, and to allow for strategic growth over the contract period. As we have previously shared with the Advisory Board and our EMS Agencies, OEMS/VDH does not “own” any parts of the EMS patient medical record- that ownership remains with the individual EMS agency. The COV makes it clear that OEMS only has ownership of the data elements specified in the data dictionary.
To move the EMS medical record “closer” to our agencies and to continue our ongoing collaboration with our Regional Councils, the Western EMS Council will be the contract holder for the next award and OEMS will manage the system operations (just as we do now). A copy of the RFP for Board review is attached as an Appendix E.
We had a Pre-Proposal Conference on Friday, November 6, 2020, and had close to 50 attendees. The conference generated close to 70 additional questions from the interested parties. To say we are excited to see what these vendors have to offer Virginia would be an understatement!!
In this quarter, the Informatics team addressed over 500 general support tickets, emails, and phone calls. The ongoing zip code cleanup project is about 75% complete. We continue monitoring the data import and export processes to ensure information is received and distributed properly. The monitoring of the reporting database continues as well. While the reporting system works properly the majority of the time, this monitoring did discover an issue in August. The problem was identified within two hours of its occurrence. Once identified, the vendor (ImageTrend) was notified and corrective actions were taken. As a result of our monitoring processes, the reporting database was back to normal within an hour of vendor notification and no adverse effects were reported.
In regards to support, the majority of reported issues during the quarter were related to general user account issues such as locked accounts or forgotten credentials. In an attempt to mitigate these types of issues, the informatics team is reviewing these in- depth to develop additional educational resources. Our goal will be to provide users
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with a better understanding of user account functionality so they can avoid any interruption of access. We are also going to work with individual EMS agencies to ensure they have enough administrator-level access to address locked account issues locally.
● Virginia Elite Updates
o OIM and VITA are working together to move our data that is currently housed in the CESC to another environment that will utilize a cloud infrastructure. There may be intermittent system unavailability but those instances will be communicated to EMS and our Hospitals with as much advance notice as possible. We are hoping that once the move is completed our end users will notice an improvement in system performance.
The Informatics team participated in this move by developing multiple test plans and time evaluation spreadsheets as well as facilitating all external communication. By working together, the servers were swapped using a staggered process, which ensured no downtime occurred. The test plans were used before and after the move to ensure the system functioned properly. Time measurements were taken before and after to see if any performance improvement was found. All information was given to VITA for evaluation.
o Based on feedback from the epidemiology team and a software issue introduced by a 3rd party vendor, we have added additional monitoring processes. We now run daily checks looking for issues with how the Primary Role of the Unit is documented and to ensure the use of destination code 102, designated to identify Out of state hospitals – not listed, is used correctly. When questionable issues are found, those are communicated to the primary contact at the agency with a request they review the issue and make any needed updates. We are evaluating available options to see what additional functionality can be added to reduce these issues.
o We continue to receive monthly updates to the Virginia Elite system. The updates this quarter were all related to software fixes, so no new functionality was added.
● EMS Data Submission and Data Quality
o Overall data quality improved to approximately 98% during this quarter. The improvement is directly related to the new “Checker” program, which is described in
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the next section. The number of agencies missing a portion of the required demographics data is approximately 200. During the next quarter, the Informatics team is going to start reviewing all demographic data items to provide agencies with a comprehensive list of items missing items.
o One of the major changes related to data quality improvement was the implementation of a “Checker” program by ImageTrend. The purpose of this program is to scan all records exported by agencies using an ImageTrend system, block the submission of non-compliant (data that is not aligned with Virginia’s minimum dataset requirements), and notify the sending agency of the issue so they can proactively take corrective action. Once this program was implemented, the number of non-compliant values submitted steadily dropped from a high of around 14,000 at the beginning of the quarter down to just over 2,000 by the end of the quarter. We are reviewing these remaining items to see what additional changes can be adopted to reduce this even more.
o OEMS has established a scoring system that reflects whether an agency is submitting/recording information correctly. Based on this score, called “Incident Validity Score,” the agencies are classified as I) Excellent, II) Good, or III) Poor. The staff works monthly with EMS agencies and the Regulation and Compliance Division to improve the quality of the data submitted to the Elite system.
o The latest Data Quality Report and Data Submission Compliance Reports are on the Knowledgebase: Knowledgebase - Data Submission Report
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Table 1: Number of Virginia EMS Agencies Classified by Average Incident Validity Score, July 2020 – September 2020
Validity Score Scale July August September Excellent (98-100) 454 455 454 Good (95-97.99) 53 46 36 Poor (< 95) 41 37 39 Failed to Submit 45 55 66
Validity Score Scale July Augu Septem st ber
Excellent (98-100) 454 455 454
Good (95-97.99) 53 46 36
Poor (< 95) 41 37 39
Failed to Submit 45 55 66
● Virginia Trauma Registry
o During this quarter, additional work was done on updating and removing obsolete validation rules based on NTDB standards in the Virginia State Trauma Registry (VSTR) system. The Administrative Procedure document was completed and copies were sent to all of the registry contacts we have on file for both hospitals and trauma centers.
o The submission issues that had been affecting the timeliness of trauma center submissions were corrected by facility vendors and ImageTrend this quarter. Now that trauma centers can properly submit records, we will be able to produce accurate Trauma Center quality reports at the end of each quarter beginning at the end of the 3rd quarter.
o One of our team members (Barry Reeves) participated in the Association of Virginia Trauma Registry (AVaTR) meeting. During the meeting, they created a
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rough draft of the Trauma registry resource manual. They also went over any updates/announcements throughout Virginia.
● Biospatial Implementation
o In this quarter, the Informatics team distributed emails to VDH EPI and all EMS agencies informing them about the Biospatial platform. The number of agencies that responded and expressed interest was less than 15% of the total agencies contacted. We are in the process of “enhancing” our messaging about Biospatial functionality and will be sending out additional emails.
o For those agencies that did respond, multiple training webinars were provided by Biospatial personnel highlighting the various ways Biospatial can be used. Additional training assistance was provided by Informatics team members. User accounts, once approved, were setup when requested.
o Our team continues to monitor the daily export of EMS data to Biospatial, ensuring information is provided promptly. Soon, trauma centers will be able to take advantage of the benefits Biospatial has to offer.
o The use of the various dashboards has greatly improved how we monitor performance measures for agencies throughout the state. Now, the COVID-19 dashboard is a great tool we use daily to monitor our current climate. It helps us get a handle on areas where COVID-19 numbers increased substantially over other areas. Below is the COVID-19 Dashboard for Q3 2020. Multiple views and layers can be customized in this interactive program
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● EMS Epidemiology o Team Updates:
We are happy to share that our Epidemiology team is back to full strength. The OEMS Epidemiology Program Manager, Jessica Rosner, wrapped up her 8-month COVID-19 response assignment on October 15, 2020. While serving as the VDH COVID-19 Community Mitigation Team Co-Lead, Jessica was involved in a variety of projects. Specifically, Jessica worked with the Governor’s Office on the development of Virginia phase guidance and executive orders, served as a VDH subject matter expert for collaborations with the Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) on the Virginia Emergency Temporary Standard, and acted as a member of the VDH DOLI steering committee. She also assisted with maintaining VDH COVID-19 business website materials, responded to constituent emails and FOIA requests, and partnered with business representatives and other internal and external partners to develop and maintain COVID-19 community mitigation guidance documents and reopening plans.
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o Meeting Attendance and Training Participation:
The OEMS Epidemiology Program Manager participated in an Injury and Violence Prevention Collaborative Network meeting on September 9, 2020. During the meeting, the OEMS Emergency Operations Epidemiologist presented data from the 2019 Virginia EMS mental health survey.
The OEMS Epidemiology Program Manager attended training sessions on both Biospatial and performance management systems in July 2020.
In November 2020, the Division of Trauma and Critical Care provided EMS council regions with training on the Virginia Pre-Hospital Information Bridge (VPHIB). Representatives from various EMS council regions attended the training. The training session was recorded and was provided to synchronous participants and to those who were unable to attend the live session. The main training topics included:
● Introduction to the VPHIB reporting system
● Finding information in the Knowledgebase
● Validation rules while reporting an incident
● Data quality reporting
● Creating and running reports in Report Writer
● Creating custom data elements in Report Writer
● Saving, sharing, and exporting reports from Report Writer
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● EMS Calls Summary:
Virginia EMS agencies received/responded to 394,389 transport calls in the third quarter of 2020 (reported as of 10/15/2020). Summaries of the calls by incident disposition, sex, age, and EMS council regions are tabulated below (Tables 1-4).
Table 1: EMS Calls by Incident Disposition, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Incident Disposition EMS Calls Patient Treated, Transported by this EMS Unit 262,993 Canceled 45,547 Assist 27,574 Patient Refused Evaluation/Care (Without Transport) 21,055 Patient Treated, Released (AMA) 13,365 Standby 6,106 Patient Evaluated, No Treatment/Transport Required 5,504 Patient Treated, Transferred Care to Another Unit 4,836 Patient Dead at Scene 3,879 Patient Treated, Released (per protocol) 1,569 Patient Refused Evaluation/Care (With Transport) 998 Patient Treated, Transported by Law Enforcement 561 Patient Treated, Transported by Private Vehicle 261 Transport Non-Patient, Organ, etc. 131 Blank 10 Total 394,389
Table 2: EMS Calls by Patient Sex, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Patient Sex EMS Calls Female 166,827 Male 152,592 Not Recorded 13,131 Not Applicable 7,087 Blank 2,720 Unknown (Unable to Determine) 248 Total* 342,605 *Note: Total does not include canceled EMS calls, standbys, or transport of non- patients, organs, etc.
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Table 3: EMS Calls by Patient Age Group, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Patient Age Group (Years) EMS Calls Under 15 9,824 15 – 29 32,409 30 – 44 38,493 45 – 59 57,484 60 – 74 88,505 75 and Above 92,761 Blank 23,129 Total* 342,605 *Note: Total does not include canceled EMS calls, standbys, or transports of non- patients, organs, etc.
Table 4: EMS Calls by EMS Council Region, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
EMS Council Region EMS Calls Blue Ridge 13,439 Central Shenandoah 15,121 Lord Fairfax 11,207 Northern 70,098 Old Dominion 80,995 Out of State/Other 402 Peninsulas 37,523 Rappahannock 19,017 Southwest 28,225 Thomas Jefferson 12,285 Tidewater 62,794 Western 43,283 Total 394,389
● Opioid Usage and Naloxone Administration: Virginia EMS providers administer Naloxone (Narcan) to patients with opioid overdoses. A total of 3,830 Naloxone administrations for 2,733 incident overdose cases were reported from July - September 2020. Of the Naloxone doses administered, an improved response was documented for 2,047 of the doses; the 2,047 doses were provided for 1,673 incident overdose cases. Comparing the number of incident
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overdose cases (N=2,733) and the incidents with improved responses (n=1,482), 54.2% of the overdose cases had a positive response to Naloxone administration documented.
Figure 1: Naloxone Administrations by Patient Sex, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Figure 2: Naloxone Administrations by Patient Age Group, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
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Table 5: Naloxone Administrations by EMS Council Region, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
EMS Council Region Naloxone Administrations Blue Ridge 78 Central Shenandoah 65 Lord Fairfax 191 Northern 541 Old Dominion 1,043 Out of State/Other 4 Peninsulas 378 Rappahannock 247 Southwest 129 Thomas Jefferson 62 Tidewater 716 Western 376 Total 3,830
● Causes of Injury
o Trauma Incidents:
Of the total EMS calls (394,389) reported in the third quarter of 2020, 22,732 calls were trauma-related (5.8% of the EMS call volume).
Table 6: Injury Types by Abbreviated Injury Scale Body Region, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Injury Types Counts of Incidents Injury – Lower Extremities 5,228 Injury – Unspecified 4,793 Injury – Head 4,181 Injury – Upper Extremities 3,576 Injury – Face 1,598 Injury – Spine 1,355 Injury – Neck 867 Injury – Thorax 595 Injury – Abdomen 495 Multiple Injuries 44
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Table 7: Top Ten Hospital Destinations for Injury Calls, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Destination Hospital For Trauma Incidents Counts of Incidents Fairfax Hospital 1,214 Roanoke Memorial Hospital 931 VCU Health Systems 923 Norfolk General Hospital 817 Riverside Regional Medical Center 719 Chippenham Hospital 707 UVA Health System 658 Virginia Beach General Hospital 635 Northern Virginia Medical Center 590 Mary Washington Hospital 534
Table 8: Causes of Injury, Third Quarter 2020, Virginia
Causes of Injury Counts of Incidents Falls, slips/trips 8,231 Unspecified 7,375 MVC-related 4,297 Blunt force trauma 934 Sharp object-related 583 Non-motorized transport 366 Firearm 335 Machine-related 152 Animal-related 139 Burn, smoke inhalation, electrocution, explosion 96 Self-harm 86 Recreational 62 Abuse 28 Overexertion/strain 10 Asphyxiation 9 Toxic chemical-related 9 Environmental/weather-related 6 Human bite 6 Aircraft 4 Drowning 4
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● Ad Hoc Reports:
OEMS completed a total of 12 data and/or data analysis requests in the third quarter of 2020. Two specific requests are discussed below.
● Report on the administration of controlled substances within the Blue Ridge EMS Council Region:
o A report on the administration of Ketamine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Versed, Succinylcholine, Rocuronium, and Etomidate between January and September of 2020 was requested. The report highlighted the number of times these medications were administered and the percent change by month for the Blue Ridge EMS Council Region.
Table 9. Number of Controlled Substance Medication Administrations and Percent Change from Prior Month, Blue Ridge EMS Council Region, January – September 2020
Month Medication Administrations Percent Change January 253 0 % February 276 9.1 % March 265 -4.0 % April 148 -44.2 % May 189 27.7 % June 257 36.0 % July 247 -3.9 % August 196 -20.6 % September 140 -28.6 % ● Report on pediatric EMS calls in Old Dominion EMS Council Region:
o Information on pediatric EMS calls was requested for the Old Dominion EMS Council Region. The date range included was January 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020.
● A total of 14,291 pediatric calls occurred in 2019, equating to an average of 39.2 calls per day.
● A total of 6,302 pediatric calls occurred between January 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020, equating to an average of 29.6 calls per day.
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Table 10: Number and Percent of Pediatric Responses by Reported Level of Care, Old Dominion EMS Council Region, January 2019 – July 2020
Response Level of Care Number of Patients Percent of total ALS 15,985 77.6% BLS 4,133 20.1% Specialty Critical Care 475 2.3%
Trauma and Critical Care
● Trauma System Status
On March 12, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Virginia in response to the continued spread of the novel Coronavirus Disease known as COVID-19. The White House also declared COVID-19 a national emergency.
Under these emergency declarations, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and at the direction of State Health Commissioner Dr. M. Norman Oliver, MD, MA, the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) suspended all triennial trauma center verification visits scheduled to take place during 2020 (provisional trauma centers were excluded from the one-year extension.)
● A trauma site visit was conducted at Chippenham Hospital as they were operating under a provisional designation as a Level I center. One-year provisional visits are modified in nature; however, multiple efforts were made to ensure the safety of hospital staff and site review staff. There was no large opening conference and as the team had toured the facility a year ago, that was eliminated from the agenda as well. An unintended benefit was to allow the team a greater amount of uninterrupted time to spend on medical records and policy and process review. The team recommended to the State Health Commissioner that Chippenham receive full designation as a Level I trauma center and after reviewing the team report, the Health Commissioner agreed and conferred full designation.
● Division staff is working with the Office of Information Management (OIM) to create a trauma center portal (similar to the EMS portal) which will allow a secure electronic platform to upload trauma center designation application documents, and to store previous triennial visit application documents for quick review and reference. There will be a section that will house and maintain site reviewer documents (such as CV’s and W9’s) and a central site review scheduling document for the reviewers. The portal will include automatic notices to centers and will be tied directly to the current
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trauma designation criteria and the application checklist. We are still in the early phases, however, are hoping to pilot it with a center by the end of the first quarter of 2021.
● Trauma Fund
o The annual FY2020 Trauma Fund Report to the General Assembly has been posted to the OEMS website. As feared, and predicted, FY 2021 revenues have declined drastically as a result of the last General Assembly’s removal of driver's license suspension for non-driving-related offenses (2019 Budget Bill included Amendment No. 33 Item 3-6.03 – Adjustments and Modifications to Fees Driver’s License Reinstatement Fee. This amendment eliminates the driver’s license reinstatement fee transfer to the Trauma Fund and eliminates the loss of driving privileges for individuals who have only failed to pay fines, court costs, forfeitures, restitution, or penalties assessed against them).
If collections continue at the same rate as of today, the fund is predicted to contain approximately four million dollars at next year's payout. OEMS and Division leaders have met with the VHHA to share out concerns and to offer advice and guidance on alternate sources of revenue. The Trauma Fund is in jeopardy--this is a system issue and will be an ongoing topic of communication throughout the year.
o Highlights from the Report:
Table 1. Trauma Center Funding by Trauma Center FY2020
FY2020 Trauma Center Funding Amount
Level I Carillon Medical Center - Roanoke $780,583.85
INOVA Health Care Services (Inova Fairfax Hospital) $1,512,890.07
Sentara Norfolk General $1,597,641.60
University of Virginia $1,753,902.24
VCU Health Systems $3,528,387.46
Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters $246,914.04
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Chippenham Hospital (Provisional Level I Designation) **
Level II AHA Training Center c/o CENTRA Health Inc. (Lynchburg) $521,032.28
Mary Washington Hospital Inc. (Fredericksburg) $419,065.59
Riverside Regional Medical Center (Newport News) $1,267,905.17
Valley Health Systems (Winchester) $731,586.87
Henrico Doctors Hospital, Forest $421,714.08
Reston Hospital Center $840,174.77
Level III
Johnston Willis Hospital $225,726.16
Carillion New River Valley Medical Center $188,647.36
Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery Inc. $182,026.15
Southside Regional Medical Center $301,207.99
Sentara Virginia Beach General $507,789.86
Inova Loudoun Hospital $195,268.58
TOTAL $15,222,464.12
Table 2. Utilization of Trauma Center Funds by Category for CY 2019
Total Funds Percentag Category Used e Support an administrative infrastructure $6,579,790 53.0% Support higher staffing levels $3,758,050 30.0% Support extensive trauma-related training of staff $704,234 6.0% Support injury prevention/community outreach $633,993 5.0% Support a trauma-specific comprehensive PI $351,278 3.0% program Support for trauma-related research $238,192 2.0% Support for outreach programs $108,649 0.08% Procure trauma-specific patient care equipment $50,217 0.04%
Totals $12,424,405 99.1%
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Table 3. Comparative Analysis of Trauma Center Fund Amounts per Center
Trauma Center FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20 Level I Carilion Medical Center - Roanoke $ 1,202,947.09 $ 1,267,100.73 $ 1,423,380.04 $780,583.85 INOVA Health Care Services $ 1,442,391.28 $ 1,237,360.38 $ 993,201.75 $1,512,890.07 (Inova Fairfax Hospital) $ $ 1,064,671.58 $ 1,132,932.81 $1,597,641.60 Sentara Norfolk General 928,548.22 University of Virginia $ 1,030,857.23 $ 1,107,951.59 $ 1,300,530.85 $1,753,902.24 VCU Health Systems $ 2,391,097.13 $ 2,317,908.77 $ 2,569,048.07 $3,528,387.46 Children’s Hospital of the King’s * * $ 176,604.37 $246,914.04 Daughters Level II AHA Training Center c/o CENTRA $ $ $ $521,032.28 Health Inc. (Lynchburg) 263,312.17 386,779.29 396,693.50 Mary Washington Hospital Inc. $ $ $ $419,065.59 (Fredericksburg) 412,861.90 389,418.12 400,624.67 Riverside Regional Medical Center $ $ $ $1,267,905.17 (Newport News) 557,190.24 525,023.86 755,476.62 $ $ $ $731,586.87 Valley Health Systems (Winchester) 307,020.57 445,401.39 571,345.47 Chippenham and Johnston Willis $ $ $ Hospitals (Chippenham Medical ** 229,772.19 491,186.59 461,732.25 Center) $ $ * $421,714.08 Henrico Doctors Hospital, Forest 233,336.52 425,368.89 $ $ * $840,174.77 Reston Hospital Center 172,667.50 351,485.00 Level III Chippenham and Johnston Willis $ $ $ $225,726.16 Hospitals (Johnston Willis Hospital) 106,063.38 168,511.45 177,007.41 Carilion New River Valley Medical $ $ $ $188,647.36 Center 111,833.52 174,758.07 140,469.67 $ $ $ $182,026.15 Montgomery Regional Hospital Inc. 111,559.14 172,367.66 130,816.11 Petersburg Hospital Company Inc. $ $ $ (Southside Regional Medical $301,207.99 127,506.01 200,900.07 189,958.10 Center) $ $ $ $507,789.86 Sentara VA Beach General 422,481.57 445,030.24 334,777.51 INOVA Health Care Services $ * * $195,268.58 (Inova Loudoun Hospital) 148,309.74
$ $ $ $15,222,464.12 TOTAL 9,781,565.00 10,664,250.48 12,079,762.80 Notes: *Not a Designated Trauma Center during that FY **No disbursement due to Provisional status Source: VDH OEMS
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● Division of Trauma and Critical Care Staffing
o The Trauma and Critical Care Program Manager Position is open for recruitment until 11/13/2020. To date, there are eight applicants with several of them meeting the minimum requirements of the role.
o We reported out in the second-quarter report that OEMS received preliminary approval to create a statewide performance improvement specialist position to work with our Epidemiologists, Regional Council partners, Trauma, and Stroke system stakeholders to design programs to improve health outcomes for our citizens. Unfortunately, it appears that we not be allocated an FTE for this role. We will continue to work with our VDH leadership in the hopes we will receive the FTE in the future.
● NASEMSO
o The Trauma Managers Council held their annual meeting virtually this year and by and large it was a success. There was great participation from those states’ that normally don’t allow their Trauma Managers to travel. It was no surprise that most of the conversations surrounded conducting operations during a global pandemic. Multiple states budgets have been impacted significantly and their Program Managers are uncertain if they will be able to continue their services.
● Trauma Triage
o The American College of Surgeons and NHTSA has announced that the 2011 Field Triage Guidelines are undergoing revision and they are seeking input on the current guidelines from all stakeholders at all levels and in all roles. They are specifically looking for insight into the perceived strengths and challenges of the current guidelines and they have developed an EMS Stakeholder Feedback Tool. They have sent out a request that leadership from key partner organizations use the tool to provide feedback and to forward the tool to their membership. The deadline to submit comments is January 15, 2021, and the survey should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please share the link with your stakeholders: EMS Stakeholder Feedback Tool
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● Virginia State Trauma Registry Data
o We are sharing the Trauma Registry Administrative Procedure document again so that you can share it with your constituents. The revised procedure will go into effect on January 1, 2021. We have been sending out quality and compliance reports and working with each facility to bring them to an acceptable standard. The reports are posted on the OEMS Knowledgebase Below are the reports for none and trauma designated hospitals. The non-designated hospitals are required to report data in the month following the patient’s discharge or transfer from their facility. The designated centers are required to report data 60 days after the last day of the previous quarter. Please See Appendix F
o
Virginia State Trauma Registry Administrative Procedure
Authority and Purpose
The Code of Virginia § 32.1-116.1(C) states “All licensed hospitals which render emergency medical services shall participate in the Virginia Statewide Trauma Registry by making available to the Commissioner or his designees abstracts of the records of all patients admitted to the institutions with diagnoses related to trauma. The abstracts shall be submitted in the format prescribed by the Department and shall include the minimum data set prescribed by the Board.”
Pursuant to the above named Code section, the Office of EMS has developed the following procedure for the administration of submissions to the Virginia Statewide Trauma Registry (VSTR).
This procedure is divided into two parts: Submission Compliance and Data Quality.
Part 1: Submission Compliance
Data from the patient medical record must be submitted to the VSTR on any patient who presented for initial treatment of an injury within 14 days of sustaining the injury and met one of the following criteria:
● Was admitted to a hospital for treatment of his/her injury;
OR ● Was transferred from a hospital or free-standing emergency department (FSED) for treatment of his/her injury;
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OR ● Who died at a hospital or FSED from his/her injury.
See Appendix A for the full inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Hospitals that are designated trauma centers and those that are not designated trauma centers report on different schedules.
Designated Trauma Centers
Submissions are made quarterly, with submissions due two months after the end of the quarter in which the patient was discharged:
Discharge Date Submission Deadline January, February, March May 31 April, May, June August 31 July, August, September November 30 October, November, December February 28
Non-Designated Hospitals
Submissions are made monthly, with submission due by the last day of the month following the patient’s discharge.
For Non-Trauma Center Hospitals
1. On the first business day after the end of a submission period, OEMS staff will generate a report of the total number of records submitted by each hospital for that submission period. If your facility did not have any records meeting the reporting criteria, your facility must contact the Office of EMS via email stating so. Hospitals without submissions will be deemed non- compliant. 2. OEMS staff will contact the data submission contact and the director for each non-compliant facility. Contact will be by e-mail with the ‘Request read receipt’ function activated.
● The data submission contact of the non-compliant hospital will be informed of the timeframe in which no data was submitted.
● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is up to 90 days in arrears.
● The hospital will have 60 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears by 90 days or greater.
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3. If the data submission contact does not respond within one week, OEMS will contact the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of the facility. The CNO will be informed of the contact attempts made in #2 (above).
● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is up to 90 days in arrears.
● The hospital will have 60 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears by 90 days or greater.
4. If the CNO does not respond within one week, OEMS will contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the facility. The CEO will be informed of the contact attempts made in #2 and #3 (above).
● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is up to 90 days in arrears. The hospital will have 60 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears by 90 days or greater.
5. If the records are not submitted by the deadline established in #4 (above), the hospital will be listed on the OEMS website as “Non-Compliant with Code of Virginia § 32.1-116.1.”
● The non-compliance website posting will remain until the records in arrears are received, at which time the posting will be withdrawn.
For Trauma Centers
1. On the first business day after the end of a submission period, OEMS staff will generate a report of the total number of records submitted by each trauma center for that submission period. Trauma centers without submissions will be deemed non-compliant.
2. OEMS staff will contact the Trauma Registrar and the Trauma Program Manager (trauma program staff) for each non-compliant facility. Contact will be by e-mail with the ‘Request read receipt’ function activated.
● The trauma program staff of the non-compliant hospital will be informed of the timeframe in which no data was submitted.
● A deadline will be established to begin the submission of records in arrears.
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● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears.
3. If the trauma program staff does not respond within one week, OEMS will contact the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) of the facility. The CNO will be informed of the contact attempts made in #2 (above).
● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears.
4. If the CNO does not respond within one week, OEMS will contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the facility. The CEO will be informed of the contact attempts made in #2 and #3 (above).
● The hospital will have 30 days from the date of contact to submit data that is in arrears.
5. If the records are not submitted by the deadline established in #4 (above):
● The Commissioner of Health will be informed of the Trauma Center’s lack of compliance with the Code of Virginia and the data submission requirements of the Virginia Trauma Center Designation Manual.
● The Commissioner, at his/her discretion, may alter or withdraw the hospital’s designation as a Trauma Center.
● The hospital will be listed on the OEMS website as “Non-Compliant with Code of Virginia § 32.1-116.1.”
● The non-compliance website posting will remain until the records in arrears are received, at which time the posting will be withdrawn.
Part 2: Data Quality
The purpose of the Virginia Statewide Trauma Registry is to provide a database of patients injured in Virginia and admitted to hospitals in Virginia or surrounding states. Trauma registries are an integral part of the operations of a trauma center. The quality of trauma registry data is of great importance to the overall success of trauma programs for performance improvement, research, injury prevention, resource utilization, and the creation of state standards and benchmarks.
A key element in the performance improvement process is having accurate data portraying trauma patient injury, severity, the process of care, outcome measures, type of trauma, and cause of injury. The trauma registry functions as the information resource driving this process. Thorough reporting, therefore, is critical.
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Data quality will be assessed by the following:
● VSTR will have validations placed to prevent logic errors at the time of data entry or submission. Examples of logic errors are records with patient discharge date preceding patient arrival date, or records of patients with negative ages.
o Records with logic errors will be rejected.
● The number of blank fields will be divided by the total number of data elements to obtain a percentage of missing data. This number will be subtracted from 100 to determine the percentage of complete data. Scoring will be placed in a Red-Yellow- Green (RYG) scorecard format with the following values:
▪ Green: 98 – 100%, Acceptable
▪ Yellow: 95 – 97.9%, Below Average
▪ Red: <95%, Poor
o The data submission contact person or the trauma registrar for each facility with red or yellow scores will be contacted by OEMS staff and will be informed of the poor or below average quality of their submission. A deadline will be established to begin the submission of updated records.
o The facility will have 30 days from the date of contact to correct the blank field errors and resubmit the data.
o The RYG scorecard will be posted to the OEMS website 15 days after the data quality assessment is performed.
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Sample Monthy VSTR Data Quality Report
Average Submissions Validity December January February March up to date? score OEMS 2019 2020 2020 2020 April 2020 May (last 12 last 6 Hospital Name ID Validation Validation Validation Validation Validation Validition months) months Gretna Medical Center 218 99.85 97.91 99.91 100.00 99.833333 97.38 Yes 99.15 Halifax Regional Hospital 21 94.83 99.20 97.94 98.40 100 100.00 Yes 98.40 Failed to Hanover Emergency Center 217 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.666667 submit No 99.93 Failed to Failed to Harbour View Health Center 201 97.17 91.20 100.00 74.25 submit submit No 90.65 Haymarket Medical Center ED 216 93.27 99.93 98.13 99.94 100 100.00 Yes 98.54 Henrico Doctors' Hospital - Parham 26 99.44 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.85 99.89 Yes 99.86 Independence Hospital 24 100.00 100.00 100.00 99.17 100 100.00 Yes 99.86 Inova Alexandria Hospital 1 98.57 95.21 97.34 95.09 97.7 100.00 Yes 97.32 Failed to Inova Emergency Room - Fairfax 202 100.00 100.00 98.33 100.00 100 submit No 99.67 Inova Emergency Room - Leesburg 203 99.08 97.29 98.21 100.00 100 100.00 Yes 99.10
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VIRGINIA EMS for CHILDREN (EMSC) PROGRAM
November EMS for Children Committee--CANCELLED
Due to safety reasons and circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the EMS for Children Committee of the EMS Advisory Board had to cancel their scheduled November 2020 meeting. As soon as the next meeting can be scheduled, all will promptly be notified of the time and place.
Annual Survey of Virginia EMS Agencies Begins in January
In partnership with the University of Utah, the National EMSC Data Analysis Resource Center is preparing a new EMS for Children Survey. This survey will launch to Virginia EMS agencies on January 6, 2021. The questions will focus on HRSA’s Performance Measure’s 2 and 3.
EMSC 02 recommends that EMS agencies and Emergency Departments appoint a pediatric emergency care coordinator to provide pediatric leadership for the organization. The goal is that 90% of EMS agencies in Virginia have a designated individual by 2026. EMSC 03 recommends that EMS providers are required to physically demonstrate the correct use of pediatric-specific equipment. The goal is that 90% of agencies will have such a process in place by 2026.
The OEMS epidemiologists are in the process of updating NEDARC’s Contact List Management System to reflect EMS Agency Leadership (as documented in the LCR Database) as the primary point of contact for the survey.
We will send out reminders before, and during, the survey period.
Volunteers Needed for EMSC Projects:
If you have passion and/or expertise concerning pediatric emergency care issues, the Virginia EMSC Program can use your assistance. Consider helping us with the following topics:
Workgroup to develop recommended EMS agency protocols for restraining children during ambulance transport.
Workgroup to support the development of EMS Agency Pediatric Champions.
Workgroup to develop recommended evidence-based pediatric protocols.
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Best practices in creating a recognition program for hospital emergency departments who have demonstrated a specific readiness level in caring for children (medical).
Pediatric medication dosing safety.
Templates for and examples of written hospital emergency transfer guidelines and agreements (that specifically refer to pediatric patients).
Including children in hospital disaster plans and practices.
Local family reunification strategies and resources.
EMSC Program-Funded Child Restraint Systems Are Still Available
A small number of “ACR-4” child restraint systems funded by the federal EMSC State Partnership Grant are still available for distribution to Virginia EMS agencies with need. Contact David Edwards at [email protected] or (800) 888-9144 to discuss this if your agency is not currently using a pediatric restraint system or device. Once current supplies are exhausted, agencies still in need will be kept on a waiting list to be prioritized for the next child restraints procurement.
Every child transported by ambulance in Virginia should be appropriately restrained. Agencies should adopt safety policies and procedures requiring the use of child restraints by their providers. A Virginia EMSC Program workgroup will develop a model set of recommended policies and procedures that can be offered to Virginia providers. If you have interest in serving on this group, please contact David Edwards at [email protected] or (800) 888- 9144.
(Funding for the child restraint systems was through the EMSC State Partnership Grant [H33MC07871] via the Health Resources & Services Administration [HRSA] and administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau [MCHB] Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Health.)
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STILL POSTPONED--National Pediatric Readiness Assessment (Hospital ED’s)
The National Pediatric Readiness (NPRP) Assessment originally set to begin in Summer of 2020 is still on hold due to the continuously evolving COVID-19 situation. We will provide more detail on the timing of the NPRP Assessment as details emerge--visit www.pedsready.org to stay up on assessment details.
Regional Pediatric Disaster Preparedness:
The Virginia EMSC Program continues as a partner in projects with several regional hospital coalitions in developing Pediatric Annexes to augment existing regional disaster and mass casualty plans. The groups focused on identifying and addressing gaps in preparedness related to the pediatric population.
PEPP and ENPC Course Funding Assistance
The Virginia EMSC Program continues to offer support for Pediatric Education for Prehospital Professionals (PEPP) and/or Emergency Nurses Pediatric Course (ENPC) courses in regions that have difficulty in accessing pediatric training. Please let us know if you are trying to set up a course(s) and need some form of support for instructors, fees, or materials in order to get these courses out there. We need to provide more of these courses in Virginia—ask us for help, please.
Suggestions/Questions
Please submit suggestions or questions related to the Virginia EMSC Program to David P. Edwards via email ([email protected]), or by calling 804-888-9144 (direct line). The EMS for Children (EMSC) Program is a part of the Division of Trauma and Critical Care, within the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS).
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The Virginia EMSC Program receives significant funding for programmatic support through the EMSC State Partnership Grant (H33MC07871) awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), and administered by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) Division of Child, Adolescent and Family Health.
Respectfully Submitted
OEMS Staff
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Appendix
A
Central Shenandoah EMS (CSEMS) Regional Office
I. Regional Infrastructure A. Regional Office ■ The Central Shenandoah EMS Regional Office headquarters is located at 2312 W Beverley St., Staunton, VA. With approximately 5,600 square feet of operating space, the facility offers administrative offices for staff, an intern suite for VDH interns, 3 shared office space for visiting OEMS employees, two classrooms, and six breakout rooms for small group training and simulation. The office is open from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the staffing model, as employees have been permitted to telework more frequently. In the event regional activities and staffing does not permit open facilities, notices are provided via social media and email distribution lists. Under COVID-19 restrictions, all visitors and staff are screened prior to entering the facility, including temperature screening. The same process is used when the training center is open after hours. Routine cleaning and disinfecting of all high touch areas has been in place, using an electronic log that automatically notifies staff when cleaning is required. Visitor IDs are provided to all visitors upon signing in, assisting in limiting the total number of occupants in the building to 15. Additionally, signage has been placed strategically to remind occupants to frequently wash their hands, maintain social distancing, and wear face coverings. Currently, most meetings are being held virtually, while providing equipped conference rooms with limited capacity for people who need access to web conferencing technology. B. Continuity of Operations ■ Regional staff have been working with the Central Shenandoah Health District to revise continuity of operation plans, mutually. As a state office, the CSEMS facility will soon have access to the Commonwealth of Virginia Network, offering the capability for Virginia Department of Health (VDH) employees to access networks. This creates opportunities for shared continuity plans that take advantage of the common resources between facilities. Plans to test continuity plans were being planned for Spring 2020, but have been delayed due to the pandemic response for both organizations. The unforeseen nature of the pandemic has prompted additional revisions to incorporate telework capabilities. Office space,
conference rooms, and classrooms are now available in the VDH central scheduling calendar, and can be accessed and requested by VDH employees statewide. C. Staffing ■ As of September 30, 2020, the regional EMS office is staffed by one employee of the VDH, Daniel Linkins (Regional Director), and one Central Shenandoah EMS Council, Inc. (CSEMSC) employee, Laurie Cook. ● The CSEMSC Administrative Coordinator, Dawn Varner resigned in September, 2020. This position will not be replaced under the new hybrid model. ● The OEMS Technical Resource Specialist, Brandon Havens, resigned in September 2020. ■ Positions in the process of review for recruitment include temporary contract positions for performance improvement and technical resource assistance, and three full-time employees as follows: ● EM031 - Program Coordinator (Technical Resource Specialist) ● EM032 - Regional Health Emergency Coordinator (Performance Improvement Specialist) ● Not yet classified - Administrative Coordinator ■ CSEMSC employs part-time instructors for the American Heart Association Community Training Center, which funds the non-profit organization and provides community outreach to support improved health and emergency response. D. Organizational Information ■ The Central Shenandoah Regional Office is a hybrid model, intended to operate as a collaborative partnership between the Office of EMS and the Regional EMS Council. Managed by VDH-OEMS staff, the regional office serves as an access point for technical assistance, regional coordination and planning, and agency support. CSEMSC is overseen by a 15-member board of directors. Board meeting minutes available online at www.csems.org. E. Committee Meetings ■ CSEMSC coordinates regional planning through standing committees and workgroups. The COVID-19 pandemic has limited most meetings to virtual format, and some projects have been postponed until the staffing transition is complete. The committees below met during the first quarter of FY2021. ● Medical Control Review Committee 9/15/2020 ● Pharmacy Committee 7/15/2020 F. State Committee Responsibilities ■ Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, state committee meetings have been canceled. However, the regional director has participated in bi-weekly virtual meetings with the Medical Direction Committee to discuss pandemic response and pressing issues that may impact Virginia’s EMS
system. OEMS division staff present a bi-weekly update for Regional Council Directors bi-weekly on Fridays (recordings posted on the OEMS website). A separate meeting is held bi-weekly on Wednesdays with Regional Council Directors to collaborate and unify processes across the state. II. Regional Medical Direction A. CSEMSC maintains a contract with Dr. Asher Brand, an experienced Emergency Medicine physician who began his career as an EMS provider. Dr. Brand is very active in the EMS system, and is available to providers, agency leaders, and regional staff 24 hours a day. He participates in regional and agency meetings, hosts provider briefings as needed, and assures that protocols and practices are current with the latest science. He chairs the Medical Control Review committee, and actively participates in regular workgroup meetings. Information on current workgroups is available at https://www.csems.org/agencies/performance- improvement/ B. Regional Protocols ■ Beginning in October, 2019, a regional protocol workgroup has worked tirelessly on a complete rewrite of the regional protocols. To make the document flexible for real-time updates, a new digital format will be utilized. The protocols were finalized in June 2020, and education is being developed for a rollout with implementation scheduled in late Fall 2020. Due to delays in onboarding staffing for the CSEMS office, the education has taken longer to develop than originally anticipated. Additionally, there is an expected delay with the release of the 2020 AHA guidelines, which will require revisions to the resuscitation protocols. C. Regional EMS Supplies Restocking Program ■ The regional pharmacy committee met on 7/15/2020, but did not make changes to the current restocking plan. D. Regional Medication Exchange Program ■ The regional pharmacy committee met on 7/15/2020, and approved changes to the medication list consistent with the new protocol revisions. Documents are available on the CSEMS website for review. A preview of an online reporting form was provided to the committee, which will simplify the reporting and tracking of incidents. The committee also discussed potential changes with the anticipated release of new DEA regulations. Note: A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was subsequently filed on 10/2/2020. III. Regional Planning A. Regional EMS Plan ■ Development of the regional EMS plan is still in progress, pending onboarding of staff to coordinate the completion project. Components of the plan include MCI/WMD/Pandemic response, collaboration with local health districts, performance improvement, triage, and hospital diversion and surge planning, which are already in development.
B. Participation in agency planning ■ CSEMS regional staff attend meetings across the region in support of EMS operations. In these meetings, CSEMS is able to provide regular updates to agencies regarding state and regional initiatives. Staff is informed on local practices in order to improve coordination of regional resources. Staff attended the following meetings during the first quarter of FY2021. ● Northwest Region Healthcare Coalition (Brandon Havens) - 7/9/2020 ● Staunton-Augusta-Waynesboro LEPC virtual Meeting (Daniel Linkins) - 7/15 ● Fairfield Rescue Squad Award Banquet (Daniel Linkins & Brandon Havens) - 7/18/2020 ○ Daniel Linkins conducted the Officers’ Installation ● Sentara Rockingham Memorial Hospital EMS Task Force (Daniel Linkins) - 9/13/2020 ● Rockbridge Emergency Rescue Group meeting (Daniel Linkins) - 8/26/2020 IV. Regional Coordination A. Regional Information & Referral - ■ CSEMS maintains a website to provide information to the region’s more than 1,700 EMS providers and more than 50 instructors within the 57 licensed EMS agencies. Information is updated regularly at www.csems.org. The website is currently transitioning to the VDH-OEMS website using a phased approach to minimize service interruptions to the site. ■ Because nearly all regional, state, and national conferences are canceled, CSEMS looked for opportunities to provide access to vendor exhibit halls that were no longer available. Vendors were contacted and information posted on the CSEMS website inviting any vendor to demonstrate products at the CSEMS headquarters. Exhibit participants were screened prior to entry, and a maximum of 4 people were permitted at a time. This enabled vendors to demonstrate products in a manner that was safe and effective. Participants were required to schedule appointments in advance. Participating vendors included: ● Gaumard Scientific - 7/24/2020 ● CAE Healthcare - 8/28/2020 ● Z-Medica Quikclot - 8/28/2020 ● Nasiff - Cardiocard Virtual Demo - 9/10/2020 ● Laerdal Medical - 9/25/2020 B. Regional Performance Improvement Program ■ CSEMS is in the process of developing a comprehensive Continuous Quality Improvement program. The Medical Control Review Committee identified a key list of topics for review, and plans are being developed to address these needs. Recruitment is in progress for a Performance
Improvement Specialist, which will lead these projects. During this quarter, the Trauma Performance Improvement workgroup met on 8/11/2020 to discuss metrics for trauma triage. Key areas will include: ● Mistriage incidence and causes ● Temperature management of trauma patients ● Outcomes in the use of TXA in trauma patients ● Airway management C. Trauma Triage Planning ■ The 2020 Protocol revision reviewed and revised the Trauma Triage plan in accordance with best practices and available resources in the region. This plan will continue regular revisions as a part of the performance improvement plan. D. Rescue Squad Assistance Fund ■ During the Fall 2020 RSAF cycle, eleven agencies submitted grant applications, requesting a total of 33 items. ● 33 Cardiac Monitors were requested at a cost of $521,529.98, of which $328,342.93 was requested from RSAF funds. ● 7 Patient moving devices (stretchers, stair chairs, etc.) were requested at a total cost of $121,972.52, of which $91,959.51 was requested from RSAF funds. ● 3 Ambulances were requested at a total cost of $749,500.00, of which $599,600.00 were requested from RSAF funds. ● 7 Other items, including CAD devices, automated CPR devices, etc. were requested at a total of $60,813.00, of which $30,406.50 was requested from RSAF funds. ■ CSEMS staff assisted the REMS and BREMS offices in implementing an electronic tool for summarizing committee grades for RSAF virtual grading processes. This technology duplicates the portal grading process used by the Financial Aid Review Committee for use by regional committees. E. Critical Incident Stress Management Program ■ No CISM responses were requested during this quarter. A reorganizational meeting was scheduled for October 2020 to revise policies and discuss future goals of the team. F. Regional EMS Awards ■ The Regional Awards Selection Committee met on 7/23/2020 to review nominations. Due to the pandemic, the nomination period was extended to June 30, 2020, with submissions due to OEMS by July 31, 2020. Because COVID-19 precautions prevented the ability to safely conduct the traditional awards ceremony, CSEMS organized an “Award Patrol” to conduct multiple small ceremonies throughout the region. These ceremonies were a surprise to the award recipients, and were conducted via Facebook Live. A press release was distributed online celebrating this
year’s award winners. Winners of the regional award for each category will be nominated for the Governor’s EMS award, where applicable. G. Education ■ CSEMSC is an authorized training center for the American Heart Association (AHA) under the direction of Laurie Cook and, most recently, the National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) under the direction of Daniel Linkins. Class capacity has been reduced to provide more than six feet of physical distance between students. Students are provided their own manikins (1:1 ratio) for all classes, and masks are required during classes. Enhanced disinfecting and sanitation practices have been implemented in accordance with AHA and CDC guidelines. Courses have not yet begun for the NAEMT Training Center. AHA Training Center activity is listed below for the first quarter of FY21:
V. Special Projects A. Multiple projects have been underway at the CSEMS regional office: ■ Graphics with the new CSEMS Regional EMS Office logo were installed at key locations throughout the building and at the entrances, along with the organizational mission statement. ■ Much needed paint was applied throughout the facility. ■ The parking lot spaces were widened from approximately 8 feet to more than 9 feet, with wider spaces to accommodate emergency vehicles and improve accessibility. ■ Safety barriers were installed on the reception desk to provide safety for staff during screening and transactions with visitors. B. OEMS implemented Monday.com across the state and regional offices, as well as all Regional EMS Councils. This technology improves communications and
tracking of projects through cross-functional teams. CSEMS staff have assisted in the implementation and training of users across the state. C. On 8/12/2020, the CSEMSC Board of Directors signed an agreement as the fiscal agent to implement the BlackBoard Learning Management System for all Virginia EMS educators, through a contract modification with the Virginia Office of EMS. This program will enhance virtual education by adding consistency and efficiency. D. CSEMS continues to deliver Personal Protective Equipment to agencies that experience delays in delivery of supplies. EMS Agency Superusers received access to a password-protected request form. Software calculates a distribution allowance based on average call volume, staffing levels, and number of units operating at peak system times. Local Emergency Managers are automatically notified with each agency distribution, in order to improve coordination of PPE between OEMS and VDEM processes. At least 3 other Regional EMS Councils are utilizing this system, for which CSEMS continues to provide technology support. E. Regional Office Directors for CSEMS, BREMS, and REMS continue to meet regularly to develop a Best Practices document for transitioning a Regional Council to a Regional Hybrid Office of EMS. This is expected to be completed by December, 2020. F. Network designs are being finalized for the regional office, along with audio/visual enhancements to improve virtual meeting coordination, educational programs, and workflow management.
Appendix
B .
Blue Ridge EMS (BREMS) Regional Office
I. Participation in Local, Regional and State EMS Activities BREMS/OEMS Staff participate in local/regional activities in support of agency operations as a regional system. Our regular monthly and quarterly meetings have been conference calls. BREMS coordinates efforts with the Centra hospital system to continue emergency management conference calls. Regional Medical Director, Dr. Wendy Wilcoxson, provided information updates for EMS. The bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly calls help to identify goals and objectives necessary to meet regiona l needs. The BREMS region encompasses a committed and engaged group of EMS Leadership, EMS providers, EMS agencies, and physician medical directors. The following activities were attended by BREMS leadership: A. Local and Regional virtual conference calls during the 1st quarter FY 20: Regiona l EMS Council Director’s Group Weekly conference calls during the quarter: • 7/1/2020-MDC Bi-weekly Call • 7/1/2020- Regiona l Director’s Group (RDG) Call • 7/6/2020- Regional Offices and Regulation/Compliance Discussion • 7/6/2020- BREMS positions conference call • 7/7/2020- BREMS Staff Meeting • 7/8/2020- RDG call • 7/13/2020- Technical Resource Support by Regional Offices Discussion • 7/15/2020- MDC Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call • 7/15/2020- RDG Call • 7/22/2020- RDG Call • 7/22/2020- VHAC State Meeting • 7/22/2020- COVID-19 Healthcare Coordinator’s Meeting • 7/24/2020- OEMS Quarterly Report Due • 7/24/2020- Went to Richmond State Office • 7/27/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 7/28/2020- EMX32 Position Recruitment Interview • 7/29/2020- Meet with BOD Treasurer • 7/29/2020- RDG Call • 7/29/2020- MDC Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call
. • 7/30/2020- Meet with BOD Treasurer • 8/3/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 8/5/2020- Google Meet with Dr. Jaberi • 8/6/2020- VHAC Meeting • 8/10/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 8/11/2020- G Suite Discussion • 8/12/2020- MDC Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call • 8/12/2020- RDG Call • 8/12/2020- Goals completed for Cornerstone • 8/13/2020- Meet with BOD Treasurer • 8/17/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 8/19/2020- Virginia Biospatia l Training • 8/19/2020- BREMS Staff Meeting • 8/24/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 8/25/2020- STEMI and Chest Pain Regional Discussion • 8/26/2020- MDC Bi-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call • 8/26/2020- Director’s Call • 8/26/2020- COVID-19 Healthcare Coordinator Call • 8/28/2020- Regional Medical Directors Meeting • 8/31/2020- Meet with BOD Treasurer • 9/2/2020- BREMS Staff Meeting • 9/4/2020- MK travel to Charlottesville to meet OEMS • 9/7/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 9/9/2020- MDC BI-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call • 9/9/2020- RDG Director’s Call • 9/14/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing • 9/16/2020- BREMS Staff Meeting • 9/16/2020- VHAC Steering Committee Call • 9/17/2020- BREMS BOD Meeting • 9/21/2020- Regional OEMS Director Informatio n Sharing • 9/23/2020- RDG Call • 9/23/2020- MDC BI-Weekly COVID-19 Conference Call • 9/24/2020- Staff meeting • 9/28/2020- Regional OEMS Director Information Sharing