F-M AMBULANCE SERVICE VITAL SIGNS Summer 2013 Service SIM ND Compassion, Excellence, Community Jason Eblen has recently been appointed to the newly created SIM ND and QI/QA Specialist position at F-M Ambulance Service. SIM ND stands for Simulation in Motion North Dakota. Four large simulation vehicles are located around North Dakota (Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck and Minot). Each truck has a simulated Emergency Department room (front) and a simulated ambulance (rear). In between is a control room from which the simulators are programmed, operated and the AV equipment is managed. There are four simulator manikins in each truck an adult, adolescent, baby and a female birthing simulator. A grant from the Leona and Harry Helmsley Charitable Trust to ND STAR (ND Simulation, Teaching & Research) Center for Healthcare Education at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine has helped make SIM ND possible. Oversight for SIM ND is provided by the North Dakota State Department of Health. The six major health systems in ND provide crews for the trucks. The purpose of SIM ND is to provide education in emergency patient care to all of the Critical Access Hospitals and EMS units in ND. In Eblen s QI/QA role at F-M Ambulance Service, he will help continuously improve patient care that is delivered by researching, evaluating, proposing, and implementing new medical protocols. Eblen is excited about his new position. This position is a tremendous opportunity to connect with providers both inside and outside of our organization. I look forward to sharing the lessons and skills we have all learned to even further improve the great care we give. Eblen has worked at F-M Ambulance Service since 2000.
Did You Know That in January of 2013, there were over 70 students enrolled in the EMT program through F-M Ambulance Service? There were also EMT classes in Casselton and Kindred that were taught by F-M Ambulance Service instructors. Are you interested in becoming an EMT? There are a few things that you should know: - In 2012, the National Registry of EMTs implemented some new training standards. The EMT course went from 120 hours to 150+ hours. This added a LOT of information to the course and expanded the scope of practice for EMTs quite significantly. - There are currently three opportunities to take EMT class at F-M Ambulance Service. Courses start in January, May and August. - College credit is available for the EMT course through NDSCS (North Dakota State Science School) and MSCTC (Minnesota State Community and Technical College). - You should be certified in American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR before you start EMT class. - There are an estimated 700,000 EMS professionals in the United States. About 50% of EMTs in the United States are volunteers. - There are four nationally defined levels of emergency medical professionals Emergency Medical Responders, Emergency Medical Technicians, Advanced EMTs and Paramedics. - For more information on EMT class or any classes that F-M Ambulance Service offers, please go to www.fmambulance.com Name Change for Sanford s Lifeflight When Sanford and Meritcare merged in 2009, each facility had longestablished flight programs Sanford Intensive Air in Sioux Falls, and Meritcare LifeFlight in Fargo. In Sioux Falls, Intensive Air started with a single airplane in 1977 and added the helicopter in 1986. LifeFlight started in Fargo as an airplane operation in 1984 and added a helicopter to its program the following year. Over the years both programs saw changes in staffing models, types of aircraft, and specialty services offered. In 2012, Lifeflight and Intensive Air worked closely together to add another helicopter operated out of Bemidji, MN under the LifeFlight name. This summer Sanford will begin operating a helicopter in Bismarck, ND. As the Sanford flight programs have grown, it has become obvious that the two programs need to have a single identity to reflect the new way they are operating in the region. In May 2013 Sanford announced that "Sanford AirMed" would be the common banner to unite the two flight programs. Sanford AirMed currently employs 250 personnel consisting of pilots, flight RN's, paramedics, certified nurse practitioners, medical directors, communication specialists, and mechanics. Within its fleet, Sanford AirMed has 4 airplanes and 4 helicopters. As Sanford AirMed continues to move into the future, its staff will continue to provide excellent critical care service to the area by employing the latest proven advancements in the field.
The Clinical Corner The state of North Dakota is participating in a recertification pilot project with the National Registry of EMTs. What does this mean for you? If you are a North Dakota EMT recertifying with an agency affiliation, your recertification guidelines have changed. You will no longer need to complete a 24-hour refresher plus 48 hours of continuing education. You will now complete 40 hours of continued competency training. This training will consist of three different sections national continued competency requirements (NCCR), local continued competency requirements (LCCR) and individual continued competency requirements (ICCR). As part of your recertification in 2014 or 2015, you will take a self assessment exam. The results of this exam will be available to you and only you in order to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses as an EMT. These results will help you determine your ICCR (see below). They are also de-identified and sent to your training officer in order to help determine a squad s LCCR. - NCCR are determined by the NREMT and will change every 5 years. You will need to complete 20 hours of NCCR. - LCCR are developed and delivered at the local EMS level. The LCCR topics are chosen by the training director at the agency you are affiliated with. LCCR are determined as a group based off the self assessment exams. - ICCR are chosen by you based on your self assessment exam. Confused? It s OK your training officer will help you figure this all out, and there will be more information on the F-M Ambulance Service website very soon! Helmer Receives Award Scott Helmer was recently awarded the VFW Gold Medal Award for EMS. Helmer was nominated for this award because of his consistent hard work and dedication to the field of emergency medicine. Helmer has been part of the F-M Ambulance Service Disaster Team for many years. He has played integral parts in the organization, education and training of the committee to prepare F-M Ambulance Service and EMS in general for disasters and emergency preparedness. Helmer was deployed in 2009 and 2010 as part of the ND State Flood response in Fargo/Moorhead and Valley City. He helped repatriate Minot after the Souris River flooding in 2011. Helmer is a shining example of what EMS is all about. Congratulations Scott! Welcome to the Team! Welcome to our new employees! Tom Dobrzynski Educator F-M Ambulance Service Laurie Hill Educator F-M Ambulance Service David Hoffman Paramedic F-M Ambulance Service Drew Schwan Paramedic F-M Ambulance Service Jason Sinning Paramedic Thief River Falls Area Ambulance Audra Walseth EMT Thief River Falls Area Ambulance
North Dakota State EMS Conference F-M Ambulance Service was well represented at the ND EMS Rendezvous in Bismarck. This year F-M Ambulance Service sponsored a state EMS competition. The goal was to provide a learning environment through team scenarios watched by others (and of course, bragging rights for the winning squad). Each team was given the same scenario and then graded on their performance. Two of the national speakers at the conference were the judges to maintain impartiality. Once the teams (all BLS this year) had completed their scenarios, a debriefing was held and we discussed the scenario with the teams, judges and bystanders. This year the scenario was a single motor vehicle accident. a Points were gained for properly treating the trauma, securing the scene (there was a rifle on the front seat), finding and treating the gunshot wound (which caused the accident following a self-inflicted wound), and making good reports to the receiving hospital. The competition was won by a team from Napoleon. They won $100 cash and the right to say they are the best. Until next year anyway. The F-M Ambulance Service Honor Guard took part in a moving ceremony paying tribute to those volunteer and career EMS personnel who are no longer with us. The Honor Guard also presented colors for the opening and closing ceremonies at the conference for the second consecutive year. The Honor Guard is made up of a select number of paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service that devote many hours each year to Honor Guard activities, including parades, funeral services, and ceremonies. Members of the Honor Guard include Don Martin, Josh Weber, Brendan Krupich, Brett Wigglesworth, Chris Neu, Tim Lenzmeier, Nathaniel Dutt, Mike Sylstad, Stefan Winkler, Sean Knodel, Justin Rosenfeldt, Amanda Wolf and Lisa Davis. Ron Lawler led a session at the conference titled What Are You On?, which reviewed many common and uncommon patient medications that paramedics may encounter in the field. Summer Is Here! Summer is finally here, and summer weather brings busy times for the ambulance not only on the street, but also working at public events. F-M Ambulance Service recognizes the benefits of showing the general public what emergency medical services (EMS) is all about. F-M Ambulance Service will send a paramedic to your facility to do a 10 15 minutes talk about the ambulance along with a short tour. We will also do short talks on what to do before an ambulance arrives for free. If your group is interested in a talk or tour, please call Kristi Engelstad at (701) 364-1759, fill out the form on our website, or email kristi.engelstad@fmambulance.com.
On May 1, 2013 F-M Ambulance Service took part in a program presented by the Moorhead Police Department called Every 15 Minutes. This nationally recognized program was held to help stop underage alcohol consumption and driving. It was a four part, two day program that involved over 800 juniors and seniors in the Moorhead School District. Part I: Living Dead 27 students were removed from class and not allowed to speak to other students for the next 24 hours. Part II: Mock Vehicle Crash Did You Know Part III: Student Retreat Students involved in the event were taken to an overnight retreat where they had to write letters to their parents that began with, today I died in an alcohol-related accident and never got the chance to tell you. Parents also wrote letters to their children. Part IV: Memorial Service with guest speakers whose lives have been changed due to alcohol related crashes. Congratulations Two very important awards were handed out in May. Alanna Velo was awarded Paramedic Student of the Year. This award goes to the student who demonstrates excellence in academics, commitment to the program, and leadership in the classroom, laboratory and clinical sites. Taylor Fontaine was awarded F-M Ambulance Service Preceptor of the Year. Taylor is an excellent teacher and takes the time to explain things to the students in a way that they understand. Taylor communicates with the students and instructors and tells them what they are doing well as well as what they need to work on. Instructors rely on great preceptors to help teach the paramedics of tomorrow. Congratulations also goes out to the D-13 Paramedic Program participants for completing all of their didactic courses and entering Phase IV of paramedic training! Top D13 Paramedic Program Graduates: Tanner Bombenger, Joey Paul, Lacie Nyberg, Dee Entzi, Kayci Allen, Mike Sylstad, Kelsey Bodvig, Ian Staudinger, Jessie Pestel, Alanna Velo Left Paramedic Student of the Year Alanna Velo, with Clinical Coordinator Jodi Holston and Director of Education Katie Lyman Right Preceptor of the Year Taylor Fontaine with Director of Education Katie Lyman
Mass Casualty Training On April 12, 2013 F-M Ambulance Service, in conjunction with Essentia Hospital and Sanford Health, conducted a mass casualty training drill. Patients were moulaged and brought to both hospitals to simulate a mass casualty. After the hospital drills were over, the patients were brought to the Fargo Civic Center to conduct more training with the F-M Ambulance Service SWAT paramedics. Citizens Academy Have you ever wondered what EMTs and paramedics do every day? What kind of calls they go on? What they do when they aren t responding to calls? If you ve always wanted to take a glimpse of what a day is like for a paramedic, the F-M Ambulance Service Citizens Academy would be the perfect fit for you! The Citizens Academy is a hands-on opportunity for community members to see and learn what F-M Ambulance Service paramedics and EMT s do every day. Participants will have the opportunity to ride along with crew members and see how they deal with actual emergencies. The academy will educate participants about F-M Ambulance Service and teach them skills that they can use in an actual emergency. F-M Ambulance Service will hold a Citizens Academy beginning this fall. If you are interested in the Citizens Academy, please contact Kristi kristi.engelstad@fmambulance.com Did You Know June 1 7 was National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Do you know CPR? If not, now is a great time to take a class! Check out our website, www.fmambulance.com, for course dates and times. Don t want to take a class? You can learn hands-only CPR in as little as 2 minutes! Go to handsonlycpr.org and start learning now!
What is a TBI? Health Highlight A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) occurs when an external force traumatically injures the brain. TBIs are a major cause of death and disability worldwide, especially in children adults. and young Causes ffff include falls, vehicle accidents, and violence. What happens when someone has a TBI? TBI can cause a host of physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral effects. Outcome can range from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. What are some signs and symptoms of a TBI? Symptoms depend on the type of TBI and part of the brain that is affected. Unconsciousness tends to last longer for people with injuries on the left side of the brain than for those with injuries on the right. Headache, vomiting, nausea, lack of motor coordination, dizziness, difficulty balancing, lightheadedness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue, behavioral or mood changes, confusion and trouble with memory, concentration attention or thinking. How can I help prevent having a TBI? Prevention is key. Seat belts and sports or motorcycle helmets are essential in preventing traumatic brain injuries they help protect the brain in case of a traumatic injury occurring. Prevention measures also include use of technology to protect those involved in vehicle accidents. Safety education, programs and enforcement of traffic laws also help reduce the number of automobile accidents. Did You Know The origin of the word ambulance is from the early 19 th century French words meaning mobile (horse-drawn) field hospital hopital ambulant. Ambulant is a Latin term for walking. Ambulances were first used for emergency transport in 1487 by the Spanish. The six points of the Star of Life stand for the six tasks of EMS and rescuers: Detection, Reporting, Response, On Scene Care, Care in Transit, and Transfer to Definitive Care. Marathon Many people in our community worked hard to prepare for the Fargo Marathon on Saturday, May 18, including paramedics and EMTs from F-M Ambulance Service. The morning started off well but as soon as the sun came out, the heat and humidity took a toll on some of the runners. It was a record-setting day, with 86 requests for ambulances and 77 patients transported to area hospitals. Many patients from the marathon were hyperthermic, with some reaching internal body temperatures of over 105 degrees. Thank you to everyone who worked or volunteered, including Casselton Ambulance personnel, to help make this years marathon a safe place for our runners! Information from www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/ 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, www.fmambulance.com. If you have any ideas, questions, or comments about Vital Signs, please contact Kristi at (701) 364-1759, or kristi.engelstad@fmambulance.com.