VITAL SIGNS Compassion, Excellence, Community Service

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "VITAL SIGNS Compassion, Excellence, Community Service"

Nelson Alexander
5 years ago
Views:

F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Fall 2015 Compassion, Excellence, Community Service Syverson Receives Awards Sherm Syverson, Executive Director of F-M Ambulance Service, recently received two

This award was established in 2011 by Sanford Health to recognize Sanford employees that exemplify the Sanford values of Courage, Passion, Resolve, Advancement and Family.

There have been many hurdles that F-M Ambulance Service has had to overcome as a team and organization, and Sherm s consistency has played a huge role in the company s success.

for new ways to be innovative with the resources that are available. He always has an open door policy, and has made time for individual and team development.

1 F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Fall 2015 Compassion, Excellence, Community Service Syverson Receives Awards Sherm Syverson, Executive Director of F-M Ambulance Service, recently received two notable awards. In June, Sherm was surprised at the annual company picnic with the Sanford Management Employee of the Year. This award was established in 2011 by Sanford Health to recognize Sanford employees that exemplify the Sanford values of Courage, Passion, Resolve, Advancement and Family. In his nomination letter, it was noted that Sherm is not afraid to get down into the trenches and work alongside with F-M Ambulance Service employees at every level. There have been many hurdles that F-M Ambulance Service has had to overcome as a team and organization, and Sherm s consistency has played a huge role in the company s success. He frequently shares his pride of the team members at F-M Ambulance Service. Sherm constantly encourages team members to challenge the status quo and search Syverson, pictured with his mother, Jane. for new ways to be innovative with the resources that are available. He always has an open door policy, and has made time for individual and team development. He takes the time to get to know his employees, hear their concerns and celebrate their successes. Most importantly, Sherm constantly looks to the future and how the actions of today will impact the lives of people, whether they be employees, families, or patients. Sherm is an amazing example of leadership in the Sanford organization. In addition to the Sanford award, Syverson was also awarded the Jerry Decker Award from the Rural Cass County Ambulance and Rescue Association. This award is given annually to an EMS provider for outstanding dedication and service. Jerry Decker was a volunteer with Hunter Ambulance Service. In 1992, Decker responded to a cardiac call; while he was transporting the patient he suffered a heart attack and died. Decker's life was filled with the need to help others; during his life, he was also a peace officer and a firefighter. In appreciation for all that he has done for the ambulance squads in Cass County, and because his life is also filled with the need to help others, Sherm Syverson was chosen for this award. F-M Ambulance Service is very proud to have such a great guy leading our team! Syverson, pictured with Mike Drees, RCCARA treasurer.

Crisis Intervention Training In order to help with the increasing numbers of calls dealing with patients with mental illnesses or psychological emergencies, F-M Ambulance Service has been sending

CIT is a program to help emergency responders identify when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis and adapt strategies for these individuals.

CIT is a 40-hour class taught by law enforcement officers who specialize in mental health crisis response.

CIT training also gives responders the tools they need to understand what someone in a mental health crisis may be experiencing and to direct someone in crisis to appropriate care.

Fargo AirSho Approximately 25,000 people gathered in north Fargo on July 25 and 26 for the 2015 Fargo AirSho. F-M Ambulance Service provided medical coverage and a misting tent at the show.

2 Crisis Intervention Training In order to help with the increasing numbers of calls dealing with patients with mental illnesses or psychological emergencies, F-M Ambulance Service has been sending employees to Crisis Intervention Training (CIT). CIT is a program to help emergency responders identify when someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis and adapt strategies for these individuals. The CIT approach has been proven to dramatically decrease the risk of injuries or death to both responders and people with mental illnesses, and it also reduces the number of repeat calls. CIT is a 40-hour class taught by law enforcement officers who specialize in mental health crisis response. The training promotes de-escalation skills before using force when confronting these patients. CIT training also gives responders the tools they need to understand what someone in a mental health crisis may be experiencing and to direct someone in crisis to appropriate care. CIT training also builds lasting partnerships between specialized officers, emergency responders, mental health providers, people with mental illnesses and family members in the community. Fargo AirSho Approximately 25,000 people gathered in north Fargo on July 25 and 26 for the 2015 Fargo AirSho. F-M Ambulance Service provided medical coverage and a misting tent at the show. Many employees enjoyed working and watching the great show at the same time! Did You Know F-M Ambulance Service works with area long-term care facilities and assisted living facilities on their tactical and mass casualty incident plans. In July, Edgewood Vista planned and executed a fullscale evacuation drill. F-M Ambulance Service had a team on-site to assist with planning and help during the evacuation. The team provided suggestions to improve the next drill or real-life event, if it were to ever happen. Drills like the one that Edgewood Vista completed are essential in order to figure out what works and what doesn t work before a real incident happens, and can really make a big difference in how efficiently and effectively an evacuation takes place. F-M Ambulance Service also assists long-term care these facilities facilities and assisted living facilities with table-top mass casualty exercises and keeping their tactical plans up-todate.

Active Shooter Exercise On Friday, August 7, 2015, law enforcement from our community worked

Drew Schwan, Operations Manager for F-M Ambulance Service, said that overall the drill went very

need to know how to respond to similar situations if they do happen in our community.

fire and emergency service providers in our community, took part in a simulated airplane crash

Patients were moulaged (makeup that simulated injuries) and gathered in a bus, which acted as the

3 Active Shooter Exercise On Friday, August 7, 2015, law enforcement from our community worked together with the Fargo Fire Department and F-M Ambulance Service to work through an active shooter training exercise. The atmosphere was intense as officers and firefighters lead and carried victims out of Davies High School to awaiting ambulances. Gunshots could be heard as officers fired blanks to simulate a true active shooter. Drew Schwan, Operations Manager for F-M Ambulance Service, said that overall the drill went very well. It s important to practice scenarios like this as much as we don t want this to happen, we need to know how to respond to similar situations if they do happen in our community. FAA Disaster Drill On June 2, 2015 F-M Ambulance Service, along with many other law enforcement, fire and emergency service providers in our community, took part in a simulated airplane crash disaster drill. Patients were moulaged (makeup that simulated injuries) and gathered in a bus, which acted as the crashed airplane. Firefighters entered the bus to remove the patients and bring them to awaiting paramedics and EMTs, who then treated and transported the patients. F-M Ambulance Service used several ambulances along with the MCI truck and the AmBus during the drill. Thank you to all of the emergency responders and community members who volunteered their time for this event!

2015 Company Picnic and Awards F-M Ambulance Service celebrated 2015 with a company

Jason Eblen and Todd Neumann were both recognized for 15 years of service.

Hiatt, Lindsey Hiatt, Roger Kotchian and Tyler Tougas.

pre-hospital care and transportation while maintaining a commitment to excellence and

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution National EMS Award for EMS

F-M Ambulance Service has a special team in place to respond to a potential patient with

These team members are trained to use special equipment designed to limit exposure to the

4 2015 Company Picnic and Awards F-M Ambulance Service celebrated 2015 with a company picnic and awards ceremony at Rheault Farm in June. Jason Eblen and Todd Neumann were both recognized for 15 years of service. The 2015 Achievement in Excellence award winners were Shannon Butler, Kelsey Bodvig, Ryan Hiatt, Lindsey Hiatt, Roger Kotchian and Tyler Tougas. This award is given to employees who provide compassionate, competent and quality pre-hospital care and transportation while maintaining a commitment to excellence and continuous improvement to the community and each other. The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution National EMS Award for EMS and Honor Guard Performances was awarded to Mike Sylstad for his dedication to the F-M Ambulance Service Ceremonial Unit. F-M Ambulance Service and Sanford participated in an infectious disease exercise in July. F-M Ambulance Service has a special team in place to respond to a potential patient with an infectious disease. These team members are trained to use special equipment designed to limit exposure to the infectious disease. Infectious Disease Exercise Welcome to Our Team! Welcome to all of our new employees! Adam Braaten Dispatcher FMA Kali Muchow Paramedic FMA Katrina Wiens EMT FMA Nissa Washburn EMT FMA Devon Pekas EMT HAS Aaron Wiger EMT HAS Cole Sogge EMT HAS McKenzy Diehl Driver HAS Riley Kramer EMT HAS Ashleigh Erdmann EMT TRF Welcome to the team!!

Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Service Did you know that in 2008, F-M Ambulance Service purchased Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Service (TRFAA). TRFAA covers a population base of about 12,000.

This year, TRFAA has been busy responding to a record numbers of calls and also attending various community events! Ambulance personnel participated in TRF Night to Unite.

TRFAA employees also participated in the Digi-Key Safety Expo and explained what EMS does in the Thief River Falls community.

They also took part in the community parade.

5 Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Service Did you know that in 2008, F-M Ambulance Service purchased Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Service (TRFAA). TRFAA covers a population base of about 12,000. The primary service area consists of 1200 square miles, covering all of Pennington County and portions of Marshall and Beltrami Counties in Northwestern Minnesota. This year, TRFAA has been busy responding to a record numbers of calls and also attending various community events! Ambulance personnel participated in TRF Night to Unite. Two ambulances and the Quick Response Vehicle were at the event, along with Paramedics and EMTs, who answered questions about what EMS providers do and gave tours to kids. TRFAA employees also participated in the Digi-Key Safety Expo and explained what EMS does in the Thief River Falls community. At the Pennington County Fair in July, Paramedics and EMTs spend as much time as they can standing by and monitoring for any injuries or medical issues that may arise. They also took part in the community parade. It is important for TRFAA to be a vital part of the community, which is why ambulance service members try to take part in as many community events as possible. Are you interested in a career in EMS or joining TRFAA? Contact Tim Schmeets at (701) to see how you can be on our team! Charge Medics Amanda Danielson, Ryan Hiatt, Todd Neumann and Stefan Winkler have been named F-M Ambulance Service full-time Charge Medics. F-M Ambulance Service Charge Medics will be tasked with many duties essential for day-to-day operations. They are a valuable resource for F-M Ambulance Service and we are excited to launch this position in a revised role! Other qualified Charge Medics who will fill in as needed include Sondra Bergem, Jaymes Feil, Sam Heyen, Tyler Tougas and Login Wysocki. Congratulations Did You Know Did you know that F-M Ambulance Service sends paramedics and EMTs out on bikes at certain events? New Trek bikes were purchased this year and outfitted with equipment. The bikes were used for the first time at the 2015 Fargo AirSho. The bicycles allow paramedics and EMTs to get to patients who may be located in an area that would normally be difficult to reach by ambulance or other vehicle. Watch for the FMA bikes out and about again next summer!

Health Highlight I am having some chest pain but I will just drive myself in to the emergency department. Dialing 9-1-1 is a call you never want to make.

They may not want to bother first responders, they are close enough to drive themselves in, or may not think that they need immediate medical attention.

6 Health Highlight I am having some chest pain but I will just drive myself in to the emergency department. Dialing is a call you never want to make. However, when it comes to heart attacks and strokes, every second counts. People commonly have several reasons for not calling They may not want to bother first responders, they are close enough to drive themselves in, or may not think that they need immediate medical attention. But, calling instead of driving yourself, or a loved one, to a nearby emergency department can be the difference between life and death. Quick treatment can help limit damage to the brain or heart and increases the chance of a full recovery. When the call is made, an emergency medical dispatcher will provide pre-arrival instructions until the first responders arrive and gather information and symptoms. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are also trained with lifesaving techniques they can use if needed. According to the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, 50 percent of people drive themselves to the hospital when heart attack and stroke symptoms are present. Nationally and locally, the average time from arrival to treatment is significantly reduced by calling an ambulance. Once first responders assess the patient, they contact the hospital emergency department informing them of a possible heart attack or stroke patient. While en route to the hospital, paramedics alert medical staff to begin preparation for arrival, thus saving time. The hospital will arrange medical equipment, specific treatment rooms or labs, and ensure that specialists and staff are brought together. If someone drives on their own, the hospital has no prior information on the patient, unlike arriving by ambulance. Hospital staff will then need to assess the patient and determine if a heart attack or stroke is present, before treatment can begin, causing further delay. Another danger of driving yourself: you place yourself and others at risk if you were to lose consciousness. Source: Thank You for Wearing a Helmet! Paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service spent the summer handing out coupons for ice cream to kids who were wearing their helmets! Thank you to all of the kids that received one of these coupons, and thank you to Culver s for teaming up with us once again to help promote safety in our community! Over 100 ice cream coupons were handed out this summer as part of the F-M Ambulance Service / Culver s initiative. Bike helmets can reduce the risk of brain injury or death by up to 85%, yet only about 45% of all children nationally wear a helmet when they ride a bike or scooter.

SHEMSE Update NAEMSE Kyle Janssen, Laurie Hill and Ron Lawler attended the 20 th annual National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) Symposium in Nashville, TN.

Ron presented research about EMT level testing at the poster and oral abstract sessions. This is the third time he has presented research at this national conference. Laurie presented last year.

NREMT The National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) hosts item writing workshops 12 times a year at their office in Columbus, OH.

NREMT computer adaptive tests. These tests are used to certify that students are competent at the four levels of providers.

7 SHEMSE Update NAEMSE Kyle Janssen, Laurie Hill and Ron Lawler attended the 20 th annual National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) Symposium in Nashville, TN. They participated in classes about the latest educational technology, tips for classroom management and research on the latest trends in education of adults and EMS providers. Ron presented research about EMT level testing at the poster and oral abstract sessions. This is the third time he has presented research at this national conference. Laurie presented last year. Our goal is to present every year! Ron and Laurie are also member of NAEMSE national committees. NREMT The National Registry of EMTs (NREMT) hosts item writing workshops 12 times a year at their office in Columbus, OH. These sessions bring in teams of 10 people who are working EMS providers, educators, administrators, medical directors, state regulators and subject matter experts to write questions (items) for the NREMT computer adaptive tests. These tests are used to certify that students are competent at the four levels of providers. This summer, Kelly Wanzek and Ron Lawler both attended separate workshops to provide and edit questions at the Emergency Medical Responder level. Between the two teams, nearly 600 items were added to the test banks. Ron previously attended a workshop at the EMT level in EMT and Medic classes Sanford Health EMS Education (SHEMSE) is honored that 40 students have chosen to take our paramedic program starting this fall. We have distance students from over 300 miles away again this year. EMT classes have also started and have strong participant numbers. The EMS program has made some revisions over the last couple of years with improvements to when the courses are offered and to online coursework. In partnership with NDSCS, SHEMSE has now integrated all of the initial courses. Starting with the EMT students and continuing through the AEMT level, students can take courses that will not only allow them to gain those certifications, but will also count towards their paramedic certificate or AAS degree. This eases the credit load at the paramedic level so those students can concentrate on the advanced topics they need to learn. We hope that you have enjoyed this edition of Vital Signs, a quarterly newsletter distributed by F-M Ambulance. An electronic edition of Vital Signs can be found on our website, If you have any ideas, questions, or comments about Vital Signs, please contact Kristi at (701) , or kristi.engelstad@fmambulance.com.

VITAL SIGNS Compassion, Excellence, Community Service

VITAL SIGNS Compassion, Excellence, Community Service F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Fall 2014 Compassion, Excellence, Community Service F-M Ambulance Service Company Picnic The weather was a bit rainy on Thursday, July 10, but F-M Ambulance Service employees