FirstWatch Announces Launch of ResilientFirst™
EMS World Press Release: FirstWatch Announces Launch of ResilientFirst™
In The Beginning There Was Mike, Then There Was EMS: The Mike Taigman Interview
The Wilco EMS PodSquad presents: In The Beginning There Was Mike, Then There Was EMS: The Mike Taigman Interview
Guiding choices and opening doors: Mentoring revisited
Mentorship comes full circle for EMS leader Mike Taigman, with collaborations in quality improvement and advancing EMS in this EMS1 article.
Resource Planner Webinar Series
This is part of an ongoing series of webinars for Resource Planner™ customers. (If you’re not a Resource Planner customer, but are interested in attending, please contact sales@firstwatch.net.) This Month's Resource Planner Training Webinar: Demand Analysis Spreadsheet and Resource Planner Overview We are excited to introduce a new monthly webinar series to help walk you through Resource Planner, focusing on the powerful, but complex features and functionality. The first webinar in this series is on June 28th from 11am to 12pm Pacific Time...
Response Time Performance Improvement through System Re-design
EMS1 article by David Murphy and Mike Taigman. Riggs/SEMSA Ambulance, in Merced County, California, accomplished faster response times, penalty savings, and improved morale across EMTs, paramedics, and EMS leadership by making changes in policies, training, and practices.
Ebola has Spread to a Neighboring Country, Uganda 6-12-19
The WHO, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Health Minister, and the Ugandan Health Minister have all announced that there have been confirmed cases of Ebola (EVD) in Uganda. The numbers, officially reported in the WHO’s Situation Report, as of 6/10/19 follow: DRC: 2008 cases; 1977 confirmed & 94 probable – 1396 deaths; 1302 confirmed & 94 probable Uganda: 3 cases; 3 confirmed –1 death confirmed (Uganda reports a 2nd confirmed death) A subsequent report by the Minister of Health for Uganda...
Building a More Effective and Efficient EMS Quality Improvement System
JEMS article by Lane Kilpatrick, quality improvement manager for Community Ambulance in Georgia. FirstWatch automates the QA process and helps to provide immediate feedback to crews and focus on the things that matter to patients.
U.S. Measles Cases number over 1000 in 2019
According to the CDC, another measles milestone has been reached and, as of 6/6/19, there were 1,022 confirmed cases of measles in 28 of the 50 states. This is the largest number of cases tallied in the past 27 years (1992), and that was 8 years BEFORE measles was considered eradicated from the U.S (2002). Refer to the CDC Map and Chart located on the 2nd page of this document. There are currently ongoing outbreaks (3 or more cases in a...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 6-1-19
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week #22 -- Week Ending June 1, 2019 The CDC reported Flu & ILI activity remained low throughout the nation during Week #22. This year’s Flu Season has finally ended, although flu cases will likely continue to occur in small numbers, with flu-related hospitalizations, and perhaps adult & pediatric deaths due to flu, taking place occasionally. This Influenza Update will conclude FirstWatch’s reporting for the 2018-2019 Flu Season with a summary of this week’s stats, as well as...
Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the DRC
Note: There have been previous posts on Ebola to the Health Intelligence Page. Please see those articles for background, as well as more detailed information on EVD. You can find these articles by clicking on the button marked ‘View all Posts & Resources,’ found at the bottom of the In the News and Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases categories, and then looking for Ebola. The current outbreak began in August 2018 but there was another DRC outbreak earlier in 2019 on the Western...
Update on the Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the DRC – 5/25/19
IN THE NEWS Note: There have been previous posts on Ebola to the Health Intelligence Page. Please see those articles for background, as well as more detailed information on EVD. You can find these articles by clicking on the button marked ‘View all Posts & Resources,’ found at the bottom of the In the News and Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases categories, and then looking for Ebola. The current outbreak began in August 2018 but there was another DRC outbreak earlier in 2019 on...
Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States
The Data:* According to the CDC, from January 1st through May 24, 2019, there have been 940 confirmed cases of measles in 26 states within the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 60 cases in just the past week. This jettisons this year’s cases to the highest number since the decade before (1994) Measles was considered eradicated, which was 2000. There are currently 10 outbreaks of Measles located in seven (7) states: multiple...
Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States – 5/27/19
IN THE NEWS The Data: According to the CDC, from January 1st through May 24, 2019, there have been 940 confirmed cases of measles in 26 states within the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 60 cases in just the past week. This jettisons this year’s cases to the highest number since the decade before (1994) Measles was considered eradicated, which was 2000. There are currently 10 outbreaks of Measles located in seven (7)...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 5-18-19
For week #20 (ending 5-18-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), stayed low throughout the nation during Week #20, as this year’s Flu Season is finally ending after a record long number of weeks. Only one (1) state had widespread flu activity. ILI remained under the national baseline of 2.2%; all 10 Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI. Respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 3.8% last week. The number of hospitalizations from...
Data Without Borders
Fire/EMS agencies in the National Capital Region use FirstWatch to monitor hospitals across the region. With our help, they’ve created a Regional Hospital Dashboard that pulls CAD data from multiple counties and departments. By sharing data across jurisdictional lines, they have a much more accurate picture of just how busy local hospitals are. We’re proud to partner with these agencies and visionary leaders as they break down silos in order to serve their communities. The potential to connect data and...
AIMHI – Value-Based Finance Models for EMS
How successfully has EMS proved its value—as defined by the people who pay for our services? The answer to that question is crucial as the healthcare system continues its rapid transformation to economic models based on value. This informational, and at times controversial, webinar will guide participants through examples of the healthcare finance value transformation, illustrate the recent publications that seem challenge the value of the current EMS economic model, and highlight ways EMS can change and tailor the value...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 5-4-19
For week #18 (ending 5-4-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to decline during Week #18, as this year’s Flu Season repeated a decrease in almost all flu markers. Only two (2) states had widespread flu activity and ILI is again under the national baseline of 2.2%. Nine (9) out of 10 Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI less than each of their region-specific baselines. The percentage of respiratory specimens...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-27-19
For week #16 & 17 (ending 4-20 & 4-27-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to decline during Weeks #16 and 17, as this year’s Flu Season finally showed a decrease in almost all the flu markers. Only a few states (3) had widespread flu activity and ILI is now under the national baseline of 2.2% for the second week in a row. All Regions reported “Normal” activity with ILI...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-13-19
For week #15 (ending 4-13-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased again but was still elevated during Week #15, particularly for so late in the season. This Flu Season has been elevated for 21 weeks, a new record (it was 20 weeks in 2014/15). The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 11.8% from 15.1% last week. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase. ...
Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 4-6-19
For week #14 (ending 4-6-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased again but was still elevated during Week #14, particularly for so late in the season. This Flu Season has been elevated for 20 weeks; the last time the season was so lengthy was in 2014/15. The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 15.1% from 18.1% last week. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued...
