Rice Emergency Medical Services New Member Orientation Packet All of Rice EMS official policies, procedures and protocols are contained in your SOP/Protocol binder. Attending this orientation is not a substitute for reading and learning the content of that binder. Should you find any discrepancy between this informational packet and what that binder says, always go with the binder.
History of REMS Written by Noah Reiter, Annotated by Aaron Heckelman The concept of a university based Emergency Medical Services began shortly after Mark Escott (Jones 96) matriculated in 1991 at Rice University. This was a difficult concept to sell to the university which lies across the street from the largest medical center in the world. After examining the response times of the municipal EMS service, which averaged around 9-10 minutes, the university was convinced that in a serious emergency that this delay could be life threatening. The program was funded in 1995, and REMS was established. The first Rice University Emergency Medical Technician training course was held in the spring of 1996 in order to create a staff of students to respond to emergencies. After years of roadblocks, discussions with local EMS providers, meetings with administrators, data crunching, budgeting, and development, REMS began emergency response operations on October 4, 1996. Just eight days later, on October 12, 1996, REMS had its first CPR save. The incident occurred at a wedding reception at the Faculty Club, during which an elderly female collapsed on the dance floor in sudden cardiac arrest. A REMS EMT (a graduate of Rice s first EMT class in the spring of 1996) was working as a waitress in the Faculty Club, witnessed the arrest, and began CPR within 30 seconds of the arrest. REMS duty crew and supervisors arrived approximately 1 ½-2 minutes later to continue efforts, with the Houston Fire Department and EMS Medical Director arriving shortly thereafter. The patient was defibrillated, regained spontaneous respirations while on scene and was extubated en route to the ER. She was conscious and talking upon arrival. REMS staff involved in the CPR save, and the REMS program in general, received recognition from the Houston City Council and commendations from the President of the University. Two months later to the day, REMS held a save reception to honor those who participated in the event. Ironically, that very evening REMS had its second cardiac arrest, and second CPR save, this time in front of the Board of Governors, University contributors, and the University President at a gala to honor the outgoing Chairman of the Board of Governors. Again REMS was on scene and initiating CPR within 2 minute. This time the patient never had to be intubated and was awake and talking while still on scene--again the patient made a complete recovery. The third REMS save came on April 5, 1999 at approximately 4:45 in the evening. A professor of the School of Music was watching a student recital and collapsed in sudden cardiac arrest. Bystanders initiated CPR immediately and called REMS. REMS arrived on scene within 45 seconds of the dispatch and the patient was defibrillated approximately 1 minute later. Again, the patient never had to be intubated and was awake and talking in the ER. This event marked the first successful defibrillation of an individual in the city of Houston, and possibly even the State of Texas, using an AED (outside of the municipal EMS service). At a reception to honor REMS and bystanders, representatives from the American Heart Association spoke and praised the efforts of REMS as a leader in the fight for wider access defibrillation programs. In the years since, REMS has time and again demonstrated its excellence in its wide variety of EMS operations. In addition to daily responses, REMS now provides coverage for many university special events. This includes varsity athletic events, Matriculation, Commencement, Beer Bike, Baker Institute functions and several other university events. REMS annual call volume has increased steadily over the years. In 2004 we received 560 calls, and we are already on pace to surpass that number in 2005. Despite this increase in call volume, REMS average response time remains one of the best in the state of Texas, and its quality of patient care, as measured by continuous surveying of patients, remains excellent. In early 2005 long-time EMS administrator Cathy Sunday was hired to serve as REMS full time Director. Our organization on the whole, however, remains primarily a volunteer, student-run, student-operated service, as it always has been. 1
Chain of Command Chief of Police Bill Taylor EMS Director Cathy Sunday Scheduler Jenn Howse Katie Chang Captain Aaron Heckelman Education Lieutenant Loyola Gressot Operations Lieutenant Cameron Decker Special Events Lieutenant Jennifer Russell Wiess EMT s Sid EMT s Martel EMT s Baker EMT s WRC EMT s Jones EMT s Lovett EMT s Hanszen EMT s Brown EMT s Go to the On-Duty Supervisor for: Issues having to do with this particular shift Equipment/supply issues during your shift (e.g. the stockroom is out of something you need, the golf cart is acting up, etc.) Anytime you want to go off campus during a shift Incidents / Exposures during your shift Go to your College Lieutenant for: Administrative issues Anything having to do with your file General Rice EMS questions, comments, complaints and suggestions 2
Requirements to Become (and Stay) an Active Member 1) Turn in current, valid copies of the following: a. TDH certification card b. CPR certification card c. Negative TB skin test or chest X-ray (repeat every year) d. Hepatitis B vaccination or waiver e. VFIS Information sheet f. Drivers license and car insurance proof (if responding in POV) 2) Attend all General Membership Meetings 3) Ride at least 36 hours on an outside ambulance every semester 4) Do whatever you personally need to do to stay competent on skills and knowledge 5) Don t do anything horrendously stupid on scene Immediately notify your College Lt. should you come under investigation by U-Court, Judicial Affairs or any law enforcement agency Our Service Area Primary Service Area Everything inside the hedges Sections of Greenbriar, University, Rice and Main St. that border campus Outer Boundaries of REMS Vehicle Service Area Bissonnet, Kirby, Main St. 3
How We Operate Person Requests Us 1) *6000 2) (713) 348-6000 3) Blue-light Phone 4) Request by RUPD RUPD Dispatcher 1) Collects information 2) Dispatches RUPD if required Broadcasts EMS request over radio Sends out page to REMS Duty Crew and On-Duty Supervisor Duty Crew and On-Duty Supervisor 1) Respond to scene 2) Treat patient 3) Make transport decision Pick One Patient refuses transport or agrees to go to hospital in POV RUPD escort to hospital (Minor Cases Only) Patient Requires Ambulance 1) Dispatch contacts HFD 2) REMS manages care until HFD arrives 3) REMS gives report and turns over pt. care to HFD 4
Shift Responsibilities as a Duty Crew EMT Prior to Your Shift 1) Send in your scheduling preferences to the scheduler as soon as they ask for them each month. 2) If you can t take an assigned shift for some reason, find a replacement well in advance. Let the Scheduler and On-Duty Supervisor know who your replacement is. 3) Know when your shifts are. Contact the person on before you well in advance to decide when and where to do your shift change. At the Beginning of Your Shift 1) Make sure the pager you are receiving is charged and empty. 2) Inventory your Duty Bag and send in an Online Inventory form. 3) Switch your radio battery with a charged one at Brown or Lovett. 4) Perform a radio check. 5) Get the EMS golf cart if you plan to use it; Make sure it s charged. During your Shift 1) Respond to every call you get; Disregard immediately if you are disregarded. 2) Keep the bag near you at all times. 3) Do not be in any environment that would prevent you from hearing the radio/pager. 4) Do not leave campus without notifying the On-Duty Supervisor. 5) If a scene is at all unsafe, exit it immediately and call RUPD via radio. 6) Do your best to not disrupt traffic with your parking. Important Numbers (713) 412-6279 --- On-Duty Supervisor cell (713) 412-6896 --- Captain cell (713) 412-2864 --- Director cell (713) 704-3100 --- Hermann Occupational Health Uniform Duty Crew Uniform Rice EMS T-shirt, polo or jacket Closed-toes shoes and socks Shorts or pants that look professional Official Rice EMS ID Dress Uniform Black Rice EMS dress shirt Long black EMS pants Black belt Black shoes and socks Official Rice EMS ID 5
REMS Golf Cart Before using the golf cart you must attend a golf cart orientation. If both Duty Crew members want to use the golf cart, it goes to the person who does not have a POV to respond in. If neither has a POV, figure it out between yourselves. Pick up the key from Dispatch or from the person who was on shift before you. Indicate on your online Inventory Form if you have the cart. Keep the golf cart plugged in while parked. Do not let it go dead. Conduct Appear and act professional at all times while on duty. Just use common sense. No alcohol within 8 hours of going on duty. No drugs. Period. Never drink or do anything illegal while wearing REMS apparel. Never be around people drinking or doing anything illegal while wearing REMS apparel. Do not use your ID universal access to enter a building outside normal hours unless you are acting on REMS business. Do not use it for jacks on other colleges. Remember that it s traceable. On scene, the On-Duty Supervisor has the final say on patient care. If you disagree with them, save it until the call is over, unless you feel the patient s life/limb are at risk. Don t argue with the Supervisor or other EMT s in front of a patient. Zero-tolerance for patient confidentiality violations. Disciplinary Action Probation Period in which a REMS member of equal or higher standard supervises you. You must still attend General Membership Meetings and perform all other member duties, but you are not allowed to work paid Special Events. Suspension Period in which you are not allowed to be on the schedule or participate in any REMS functions, including General Membership Meetings. Termination Permanent removal from REMS. We very rarely carry out any disciplinary action on our members. It s reserved for absolutely flagrant violations of policy/protocols. Please don t do anything to make us do any of these things to you. 6
Incidents & Exposures Anytime something seriously wrong happens on a shift, document it in an Incident Report. Signed, dated paragraph that you write up and turn in to the On-Duty Supervisor. If the On-Duty Supervisor is the subject of the incident, turn it in to the Captain. If it s the Captain, turn the report in to the Director. HFD Incidents Unless patient care is being seriously compromised, let it go. Alert the On-Duty Supervisor, write an Incident Report and let us take care of it at the administrative level. If patient care is being seriously compromised on scene, tell the On-Duty Supervisor immediately. Exposures Anytime you stick yourself with a needle or get any bodily fluid in a cut, in your mouth, eyes or ears you have been exposed. Tell the On-Duty Supervisor immediately. He/she will have you fill out an Exposure Form and you will need to write an Incident Report. Should the situation require it, you will be referred to Rice Risk Management and sent to Hermann ER for testing/care. Special Events You must have at least two months active REMS experience to be eligible for paid Special Events. If you want to Special Event trained once you have this required experience, contact the Special Events Lieutenant. Leave of Absence (LOA) Leave of Absence (LOA) is a period of time, usually a semester, in which an EMT requests to be taken off the duty schedule. Reasons for an EMT to request LOA status range from study abroad to medical conditions to personal issues. While on LOA you cannot work paid special events. In order to go on LOA, you must submit a letter or email to both your College Lieutenant and the EMS Director. 7