Performance, Leadership and Diversity
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Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario Winter 2010/2011 Performance, Leadership High Tech and Diversity vs. The Status Quo Exploding Need How is AMEMSO vs. Limited Resources addressing the Profession’s competing Urban vs. Rural areas of focus? Canada Post Publications Agreement Number 40609661 EMS Matters The official magazine of the Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario Winter 2010/2011 Published for: The Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario (AMEMSO) Norm Gale, President Chief of EMS Superior North Emergency Medical Services City of Thunder Bay 401 E Donald Street Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5V1 www.emsontario.ca Opinions expressed in articles, reports or other content within EMS Matters are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of AMEMSO or its Board of Directors. Published by: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Publication Mail Agreement Number 40609661 Return Undeliverable Addresses to: 52 Donald Street, Suite 300 Winnipeg, MB R3C 1L6 Toll Free Phone: (866) 999-1299 contents Toll Free Fax: (866) 244-2544 www.matrixgroupinc.net Messages: President & CEO 7 Message from the President of AMEMSO, Norm Gale Jack Andress 7 Farewell Message from the Past President of AMEMSO, Paul Charbonneau Senior Publisher 8 Message from the AMEMSO Communications and Media Relations Officer, Jim Price Maurice LaBorde Publishers Peter Schulz Cover Story: Jessica Potter 9 Performance, Leadership and Diversity Trish Bird Editor-in-Chief Shannon Savory Reports: [email protected] 12 Ontario Base Hospital Group Committees: Seeking New Paramedic Editor-in-Chief Representation in 2011 Karen Kornelsen 13 At Ornge, Simulation is Key to Performance [email protected] 15 Professionalization Matters Finance/Accounting & Administration Shoshana Weinberg, Nathan Redekop, Pat Andress 16 GlobalMedic: The Year in Review [email protected] Director of Marketing & Circulation Features: Shoshana Weinberg 18 The 2010 Haiti Earthquake Sales Manager 21 Recognizing the Best in Ontario: The 10th Annual EMS Awards Gala Neil Gottfred 25 A Uniquely Northern Perspective: District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSAB) Sales Team Leader Declan O’Donovan View Points: Matrix Group Publishing Inc. Account Executives Albert Brydges, Miles Meagher, Rick Kuzie, Benjamin 28 The World Watches Ontario EMS at June’s G8 Summit Schutt, Rob Choi, Brian Davey, Randi Cameron, Jim 29 Investigation of Injury Rates and Causes of Injury Among Ontario Hamilton, Chris Frenza, Jeff Cash, Sandra Neily, Elise Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedics Jacobsen-Clarke, Selina Margetts, Susan Costen, Colleen Bell Layout & Design Association Information: Cody Chomiak 31 2010 EMS Week: Featuring Muskoka Advertising Design 32 Certified Municipal Manager (CMM) Updates 2010 James Robinson 32 AMEMSO Board Members ©2010 Matrix Group Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means, in 33 The AMEMSO Spotlight Shines On… whole or in part, without the prior written permission of 34 Buyer’s Guide the publisher. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Matrix Group Publishing Inc. www.emsontario.ca | 5 | Message from the President of AMEMSO | AMEMSO, through its members, is dedicated to delivering the best possible emergency medical service to people in the province. IT IS MY PLEASURE TO introduce this, this effort continue with energy, enthusiasm and the fourth issue of EMS Matters, with its focus focus. on performance, leadership and diversity. Our At our recent conference in Huntsville, we association magazine is now well-established as listened as speakers from as far away as Austra- an effective medium to share amongst ourselves lia and as diverse as an astronaut and television and to deliver important and germane information producer, shared their thoughts and experiences to key stakeholders in EMS. As AMEMSO’s new on our conference theme. As a proud member of By Norm Gale, President, it is also my pleasure on behalf of the AMEMSO and in my short time as its President, I President, AMEMSO Board, to welcome you to this issue. have found that we are led by a team who believe AMEMSO, through its members, is dedicated to in these very tenets. Their goal is your goal and, delivering the best possible emergency medical together, we are making a difference. While service to people in the province. To this end, we delivering excellent patient care, we are working value the partnerships we have established with towards increased relevance for the industry and senior government, municipalities, the health towards increased recognition and appreciation care sector, vendors, and, of course, our paramed- of its role. ics. We are working to strengthen the foundation From the paramedic on the street, to the of these partnerships and, as evidenced by the administrator in the back office and to the senior articles in this issue, this is coming to fruition. leaders, all are contributing to the common cause. It is in concert that we realize our aim: excel- In the end, people will be better served. I am lence in pre-hospital care. It is my desire to see honoured to be part of this effort. | Farewell Message from the Past President of AMEMSO | Thanks to the membership, I was provided with a Board whose purpose, fortunately, mirrored mine. Each member contributed as their time and talents allowed. QUITE A RIDE! THAT IS a fitting comment we shared the continuing journey toward making to use to describe my term as AMEMSO President. EMS in Ontario “world-class”. When I was considering offering my name for the Thanks to the membership, I was provided By Paul Charbonneau, position, I reflected on many things but mainly, with a Board whose purpose, fortunately, mirrored Past President, AMEMSO why? I had no significant philosophical differences mine. Each member contributed as their time and with the current members. In fact, as I quickly talents allowed. In any group, the Executive discovered, AMEMSO has been gifted with leaders accepts a bit more on their plate as it strives to whose focus is the betterment of the profession and implement the decisions of the Board as a whole. not personal gain. I honestly wanted to give back to The names of our Directors and Officers are the profession that has been my life. well known. To them, and on behalf of the mem- Although a “seasoned” veteran of EMS in bership, I offer my deep appreciation. I look for- Ontario, I experienced a learning curve as my ward to continuing to serve AMEMSO as its Past term began. I wish to acknowledge Past Presi- President and challenge all members to consider dents Terri Burton, Richard Armstrong and Joc- a position on the Board as time unfolds. It has elyn Bourgoin for providing their perspective as been my honour to serve you. www.emsontario.ca | 7 | Message from AMEMSO Communications and Media Relations Office | THE AMEMSO BOARD IS DILIGENT in its passion to complete its mandate in a transparent, business-like and democratic fashion. This continued throughout the 2010 year. Effective communication is a two-way street requiring the Board to establish a free flow of information and the membership to respond honestly and forthrightly. For Associations, this is the area requiring constant vigilance. I suggest that the major focus of the Association should be the “marquee” items that effect the profession as a whole. This involves, but is not limited to, matters of pending legislation, interaction with the MOHLTC and AMO and channeling the con- cerns of the membership into the daylight where they can be examined and actioned appropriately. As well, to foster positive progress in the profession, AMEMSO must invest in research and development. A parallel role is managing the business affairs By Jim Price, of the association and facilitating information exchange amongst the membership. Communications and Media With limited administrative support this has been a somewhat onerous task for the Relations, AMEMSO President of the day. The Board is moving to address that issue. One area where everyone can help is to become user-friendly with the website. We accept that it is a work in progress but changes are in the works to effectively My wish for AMEMSO turn it into our “web-assistant”. Things under contemplation are a form of chat is for the Board and room where items being discussed would be available to all members and archived for future reference, updating the “s.o.p.” to ensure highlights of meetings are membership to embrace posted in a timely manner, direct access by voting members to confidential areas (such as committee and working-group meeting minutes) and, my favourite, an this “coming together” of enhanced email component that will allow you to circulate your own enquiries and spirits where everyone feels alert you of messages. Not everyone enjoys similar skills in the high-tech jungle but it is a reality of business and will become even more so in the future. connected, feels that they My wish for AMEMSO is for the Board and membership to embrace this “coming together” of spirits where everyone feels connected, feels that they know what is know what is going on and going on and feels comfortable giving input and receiving advice. It’s a continuing feels comfortable giving honour being associated with you. input and receiving advice. Premier Recognizes Contribution to Haiti In recognition of their joint con- tributions in Haiti, a single symbolic certificate of recognition from Premier Dalton McGuinty, was presented to Muskoka paramedic and GlobalMedic Kevin King, General Manager of Medavie Emergency Services Ontario; Terri Burton, Director of Emergency Services for the District Municipality of Muskoka; and Tara Portelli, Muskoka paramedic and team member Tara Portelli. GlobalMedic team member. 8 | | Cover Story | Performance, Leadership and Diversity How is AMEMSO addressing the Dr. Ronald Stewart is a national advocate of Profession’s competing areas of focus? Canada’s health system and he currently holds joint appointments as Professor in Dalhousie’s EVERY ASSOCIATION HAS Deerhurst Resort and its staff for both its Departments of Emergency Medicine and Anaesthesia.