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Author - Jenny Abercrombie

November 29, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 11-23-19

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #47 -- Week Ending 11-23-19 The CDC reported that seasonal flu activity continued to increase over the previous week but the level of activity and the predominant influenza virus differ according to region.  From a national perspective, ILI has been at/above baseline for three weeks.  Some areas, particularly in parts of the South and West are seeing elevated levels, while other areas still have low levels of flu activity.  According to the data, the 2019/20 flu...

November 25, 2019Read more...

A BOLO & What Can be Done for Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) in 2020

IN THE NEWS AFM is a rare syndrome (a group of symptoms in a pattern that suggests a single cause) found mostly in children, but occurring in adults as well.  It affects the gray matter of the spinal cord in nervous system and causes muscles and reflexes to become weak.  Its case definition has evolved to encompass all age groups, and includes certain lab and imaging findings, but the CDC and other stakeholders want those presenting with weakness in one or...

November 25, 2019Read more...

CDC Updated Infection Control Guidelines for Health Care Workers (Oct. 2019)

IN THE NEWS Target Audience: Leadership & management operational roles for those with occupational risk of infectious disease exposure(s) or even possible risk. All leadership & staff that are part of the occupational or medical services section of an agency, or is contracted with one that administers or provides occupational health services. The CDC just published an update to the Guidelines for Infection Control in Health Care Personnel, 1998.  One of the parts that was updated referred, in the 1998 document, to...

November 21, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 11-9-19

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #45  Week Ending 11-9-19 The CDC reported that seasonal flu activity increased over the previous week with more states reporting increased levels of Flu and ILI.  From a national perspective, ILI remains below baseline but some areas, particularly in the South, are seeing earlier-than-typically-expected increased levels.  Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as a temperature at/above100o F [37.8o C] and cough and/or sore throat without a known cause other than flu.  A Flu case, that is included in...

November 8, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 11-2-19

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #44  Week Ending 11-2-19 The CDC reported that seasonal flu activity is low, but increased some from the previous week.  These lower levels are expected for this time of year although Louisiana and Puerto Rico reported continued high levels of ILI.  Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as a temperature at/above100o F [37.8o C] and cough and/or sore throat without a known cause other than flu.  A Flu case, that is included in CDC data, indicates a positive...

November 4, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) Update

IN THE NEWS Finally, after a year, almost all the news about measles is good.  Case numbers were way down in September compared to previous months, the outbreaks in New York City and State, which provided three-quarters of all the cases in 2018 and 2019, were declared over just days shy of their one-year anniversary and, because of that, the United States will likely maintain their WHO Measles Elimination status of 19 years. Unfortunately, a new outbreak in New York State...

November 1, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 10-26-19

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #43  Week Ending 10-26-19 The CDC reported that seasonal flu activity is low, but had increased a little from the previous week. These levels are expected for this time of year.  Influenza-like illness (ILI) is defined as a temperature of at/above100o F [37.8o C] and cough and/or sore throat without a known cause other than flu). Diagnosed Flu and ILI are expected to increase in the next few weeks and months. It is recommended by public health...

October 25, 2019Read more...
Priority Dispatch, Academy Analytics on Computer

Academy Analytics Webinar Series | December 3, 2019

Using what you learned from research to make an improvement! | Once something has been proven to be helpful based on research, the next challenge is to spread or diffuse the practice so that most patients get the benefit of the new knowledge. In this session we will explore the science behind a concept and then talk about chartering and executing an improvement project. Isabel Gardett, Ph.D., the Director of Academics for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, will facilitate the...

October 1, 2019Read more...

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Update

The Eastern DRC Outbreak of Ebola began in August of 2018. Just over a year later, cases continue to be identified but the rate of new cases appear to have slowed in September. These cases occurred in nine (9) health zones within three (3) provinces in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo).  An ongoing concern, in some of these areas, is centered on threatened security and security incidents that have caused stoppages or delays in being able to provide...

October 1, 2019Read more...

MERS – CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) Update

As of September 19, 2019, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean reported only one (1) new case so far in September; August had a total of six (6) patients, with one death among the six.  These cases were all from Saudi Arabia. The September patient had no known contact with camels but was also not thought to be a secondary, or human-to-human transmission.  Two of the cases in August were a human-to-human cluster in a household.  No health...

September 18, 2019Read more...
First responder and the ResilientFirst app coming out of a phone, resilience

ResilientFirst Webinar – Enhance your team’s mental health!

Please join us for this overview of ResilientFirst, presented by Mike Taigman. You’ll have an introduction to the initial assessment and micro-task system for developing resilience and we'll discuss ways to help your team become happier, mentally healthier, and better able to manage stress. ResilientFirst is an easy-to-use, science-based way for emergency service and healthcare personnel to increase resilience in just a few minutes a day, preparing them to cope with stressors before they happen. Our vision is to make our...

September 18, 2019Read more...
AIMHI logo

AIMHI – Quality Metrics and Dashboarding

AIMHI - Quality Metrics and Dashboarding | The world is becoming more focused on data, and sometimes it feels we gather data but don’t get the results we want.  Data is a language all on its own – a language we must master in order to understand what the data is telling us.  Transitioning data into useable information takes practice, just like learning a new language.  This session will present several real-world case studies that demonstrate how to create a...

September 16, 2019Read more...

Announcement of US Ebola Screening 9-16-19

IN THE NEWS It has come to our attention at FirstWatch, that some U.S. International Airports may have begun updated screening for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on select flights, originating or connecting from Africa.  This is likely part of the response to an announcement by the WHO’s Emergency Committee that Ebola should now be considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 17, 2019.  This was done, amongst other rationale, in direct response to the spread of Ebola...

September 9, 2019Read more...
Priority Dispatch, Academy Analytics on Computer

Academy Analytics Webinar Series | September 9, 2019

Understanding the Evidence: How to Consume, Interpret, and Use Research to Improve | We frequently make comments related to research and evidence, such as: "Does the data really support that?" "Studies show..." "There’s finally enough evidence to make a protocol change." What do these phrases really mean? Understanding the purpose of research, its place in our professional world, and how to assess the quality of a study improves your effectiveness as a leader or front line telecommunicator. In this interactive webinar,...

August 19, 2019Read more...
Opioids in pill form

Opioids: How the City of Lowell, Massachusetts, is Fighting the Crisis

ICMA article delves into making real improvements within the opioid crisis, featuring our customer and friend Jon Kelley, Director of Operations, Communication, and IT for Trinity EMS, and FirstWatch Clinical Solutions Specialist, Sylvia Verdugo. Written by Audrey Fraizer, Managing Editor, Journal of Emergency Dispatch, International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

August 6, 2019Read more...
AIMHI logo

AIMHI – Models for STEMI & Stroke Hospital Activations From the Comm Center

Challenging, Choosing and Modifying Best Practices in Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) Management

Learn how Metro EMS (MEMS) developed a Stroke protocol that is based on current science—and some common sense. Hear how MEMS uses stroke assessment skills to differentiate between small and large vessel occlusions and determine the most capable hospital for the patient. The discussion includes processes such as early activation, bypassing stroke-ready hospitals, clinical outcomes, and data.

About the Speaker: Edwin "Mack" Hutchison

Mack was born in Memphis, Tennessee on August 6,...