Tag Archives: Ohio Division of EMS

March 1, 2012

To: Ohio EMS agencies, EMS medical directors, hospitals, and hospital pharmacists From: Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Medical Services Subject: The February 22, 2012 announcement of drug shortages from the FDA. In light of recent events, your prompt attention is requested to review practices by your agency for substituting drugs that are unavailable or in limited supply that are used by EMS agencies.

BACKGROUND

The recent announcement of drug shortages from the FDA has impacted on hospitals and may have a negative impact on the ability of EMS professionals to provide the traditional standard of care in the prehospital environment for some patients, as about half of the medications on the FDA’s list are commonly stocked and administered by EMS agencies.

RATIONALE FOR REVIEW

The following suggestions for alternative drugs are solely based upon the February 22, 2012 drug shortage report from the FDA; therefore, continuous communication with the pharmacists and frequent reassessment of the FDA drug shortage list is imperative. The ongoing drug shortage situation is a dynamic one and the medications in short supply may change on a daily basis. The highest priority must be given to maintaining patient care while at the same time following Ohio law. All transitions to alternative medications must be done in compliance with Ohio’s State Board of Pharmacy and the DEA’s regulations. It is also imperative that EMS medical directors serve as the party to initiate the transition to and implementation of alternative medications for EMS agencies. The addition of any alternative medication to an EMS protocol must be paired with training, continuing education, competency assessment, and continuous performance improvement measures. The National Association of State EMS Officials (NASEMSO) Medical Directors Council has discussed this issue as well as the increased risk of potential conflict with DEA regulations when EMS professionals and EMS medical directors may contemplate administration of expired scheduled medications. Temporary waivers of drug expiration dates are currently being explored for potential viability as an avenue of relief.

The NASEMSO Medical Directors Council acts in an advisory role to NASEMSO and does not have the authority to grant states the ability to waive the expiration dates of medications for EMS agencies or emergency care facilities nor does it have the authority to create policies for the FDA or DEA. Nevertheless, we are committed to be a lead partner with EMS organizations and other stakeholders within our emergency care system to definitively address this dilemma that we believe that the incidences of drug shortages will be ongoing for some time. The FDA has ultimate authority of approval for the administration of medications beyond the expiration dates. An additional consideration is that the FDA’s list of drug shortages includes scheduled medications. For these medications, approval from the DEA, in addition to the FDA, may be required to waive the expiration date of a scheduled medication. The presence of active and involved EMS medical direction is critical and required. EMS medical directors may wish to create and/or implement “just in time” protocols for alternative medications to ensure seamless quality patient care and to maintain patient safety in the pre-hospital setting.

Best regards,

Dr. Carol Cunningham,

State Medical Director

Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2011

Contact: China Dodley, Public Information Officer  (614)-466-2551

New Law Revises the Requirements for Ambulance Staffing and Driver Requirements

It also revises priorities for distributing grant funding, specifies additional titles used by EMS personnel and extends a moratorium on issuing fireworks manufacturer and wholesale licenses. 

(COLUMBUS)

 –A new law revising the requirements for staffing ambulances takes effect Sept. 23, 2011. The Ohio Fire Chiefs Association spearheaded the legislation [Substitute H.B 128] in an effort to improve driver safety and reduce the number of emergency vehicle–related crashes. 

“The Division of EMS’ goal is to educate Ohio’s EMS community regarding the new requirements to ensure that our providers remain in compliance and continue providing the highest level of care to their patients,” said Executive Director of the Division of EMS Jeffrey Leaming. “The revised priorities for grants and the specification of titles for EMS personnel help us move one step closer to the national EMS education standard and program accreditation.” The Board adopted the national accreditation of the state’s paramedic training programs in February 2010, requiring Ohio-accredited paramedic programs be nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program by 2018. Grant funding has been added to assist Ohio Paramedic Training Programs that are in the process of obtaining national accreditation.

The bill: 

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Revises the requirements for staffing ambulances. The new requirements vary, depending on whether the ambulance is traveling to the emergency scene or from the emergency scene and carrying a patient, and whether the emergency medical service is a volunteer organization or is substantially utilizing volunteers. The bill also establishes who may drive ambulances, generally requiring a first responder or EMT, or with proper staffing a certified firefighter. (Ohio Revised Code Section 4765.43 http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/4765.43)

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Revises the priorities for distributing grants for emergency medical services, including giving priority to paramedic programs seeking national accreditation. 

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Allows entities that provide ambulance, emergency medical, and nonemergency patient transport services on behalf of townships to collect and retain any fee that the township may charge for each run involving such services.

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Add new National certification level titles to the existing certification titles. Ohio will add Emergency Medical Responder to the First Responder level; EMT will be added to the EMT-Basic level to now mean the Basic level only; Advanced-EMT will be added to the current Intermediate level, and the EMTParamedic level will be simply “Paramedic.”

-MORE

B. 128 continued …

PAGE 2

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Imposes a general moratorium until December 15, 2015, on the issuance of licenses for fireworks manufacturers, fireworks wholesalers, and the geographic transfer of those licenses.

A complete synopsis of Substitute H.B. 128 can be found online at http://www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses129/11–

hb128-129.pdf 

Frequently Asked Questions have been added to the Division of EMS Web site as an additional resource. Visit

www.ems.ohio.gov

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From the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Division of EMS:

In preparation for the 10th anniversary of September 11 and in recognition of National Preparedness Month, the Ohio Department of Public Safety has released a short film titled I Remember September 11. The film features seven local first responders who were dispatched to New York’s World Trade Center. The film gives first-hand accounts of the first responders’ experiences in the rescue and recovery efforts.

“This film reflects a poignant moment in history, highlighting the personal experiences of seven local individuals,” ODPS Director Tom Charles said. “It raises awareness of the bravery, dedication and service of our first responders during a vulnerable moment for our country.”

Many of the film’s subjects are members of the elite Task Force One, one of 28 Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) teams that function within the National US&R Response System managed by FEMA.

The following is a complete list of the participants in I Remember September 11:

Gene Thomas- Ohio Task Force 1 member, Technical Search Specialist, World Trade Center

Sandra Lesko- Willoughby Hills Fire Department, K9 handler, World Trade Center

Dr. Randy Marriott- Ohio Task Force 1 member, Medical Team Manager, World Trade Center

Steve Shupert- Ohio Task Force 1 member, Team leader, World Trade Center

Jack Reall- Ohio Task Force 1 member, Team leader, World Trade Center

Mike Palumbo- Ohio Task Force 1 member, K9 handler, World Trade Center

Darrell Perkins- Volunteer, Box 21 Rescue Squad, Dayton, World Trade Center

I Remember September 11 can be viewed online at:

http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/iremember/remember_index.htm during the month of September.

The film project is part of ODPS’ efforts to honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and to recognize National Preparedness Month.

As part of the effort, the Ohio Statehouse Lawn will again display its Field of Flags: 2,298 American flags decorating the west lawn, outlining the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon. Each flag represents an American life lost on that fateful day, September 11, 2001. A Statehouse ceremony including Governor John Kasich will be held Friday September 9 at 11:30 a.m.

From the Ohio Division of EMS…

Colleagues,

There is a new player in the battle for public safety broadband who sounds like a public safety broadband network supporter but is not.

“Connect Public Safety Now” (www.connectpublicsafetynow.org) was, until December 2nd, the “4G Coalition”. Under both names, it is T-Mobile, Sprint, MetroPCS and others who want the broadband D Block opened for general auction, rather than allocated to public safety, so that they can buy more bandwidth to better compete with Verizon and AT&T (who claimed the lion’s share of bandwidth in the last auction and could be limited from participating in an open D Block auction).

We continue to seek Congressional and White House action to have the D Block allocated to public safety and are continuing to make good progress. The Senate (S.3756)and House(HR. 5081) bills have gained co-sponsors and momentum and will be reissued under new numbers early next session. Please take a look at the Public Safety Alliance (to which NASEMSO belongs) website at www.psafirst.org for updates.

“Connect Public Safety Now” (CPSN) is a new store window for the 4G Coalition whose message fell flat under its old name. You may be well be asked for your thoughts on this group. Buyer beware.

I have attached the ex parte communication that CPSN filed for a meeting with the FCC after it changed its name.

Kevin

Kevin McGinnis, MPS, EMT-P

Communications Technology Advisor,

Joint National EMS Leadership Conference:

–National Association of State EMS Officials

–National Association of EMTs

–National Association of EMS Physicians

–National Association of EMS Educators

National EMS Management Association

Mail: 57 Central Street, Hallowell, Maine 04347

The Fall issue of The Siren from the Ohio Division of EMS is now available;

Click here to download

We are pleased to announce that the Ohio Fire Awards ceremony

will be held at 8:30 a.m.on October 7th, 2010 in the ODOT Auditorium at the

Ohio Department of Public Safety / Ohio Department of Transportation

complex, 1980 W. Broad St., Columbus, OH.

.

The Ohio Fire Awards recognizes outstanding career achievements and honor

those in Ohio’s fire service whose accomplishments rise above the day-to-day

excellence of the service. They are a tribute to those individuals and

organizations whose overall contributions go beyond their basic duties and

responsibilities and who represent the finest traditions of our profession.

.

This year’s recipients are:

Ohio Volunteer Fire Department of the Year: Fredericktown CFD (Knox Co.)

Ohio Fire Service Instructor of the Year: Brian Gulat (Milford)

Ohio Fire Officer of the Year: Robert Reinholz (Cleveland Heights)

Ohio Fire Prevention Educator of the Year: Robert Smith (Cincinnati)

Ohio Fire Educator Lifetime Achievement: Jerome Barhorst (Fort Loramie)

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We will honor these recipients during National Fire Prevention Week. The Ohio

Department of Public Safety will be honoring our Ohio fire service by flying the

National Fallen Firefighter Everyone Goes Home Flag during National Fire

Prevention week.

For more information contact Doug Orahood, State Fire Coordinator, at

dorahood@dps.state.oh.us .