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Author - Jenny Abercrombie

April 25, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, from January 1st through April 19, 2019, there have been 626 confirmed cases of measles in 22 states in the U.S.A. (compared to 127 cases as of February 14, 2019), with an increase of 71 cases just in one week.  This jettisons this year’s cases to the second highest since Measles was considered eliminated in 2000, with 2014 only slightly ahead with a total of 667 cases for that complete year vs. this year’s...

April 10, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-30-19

For week #13 (ending 3-30-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased but was still elevated during Week #13.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 18.1% from 22.1% last week, while all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baseline. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels at least through mid-April,...

April 5, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-23-19

For week #12 (ending 3-23-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), decreased but was still elevated during Week #12.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased to 22.1% from 26% last week with all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baseline. Also, the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels into mid-April, however none...

March 27, 2019Read more...

Building Resilience to Prevent PTSD, Decrease Suicides, and Increase Happiness

The little black ribbon across a uniform badge or posted on social media signals that we’ve lost another one of our own. More and more of those tragic deaths are from suicide, leaving public safety professionals searching for ways to help our colleagues before it’s too late. One promising approach is focused on increasing resilience, defined as the ability to advance despite adversity—to handle day-to-day stressors and major events like school shootings and natural disasters without suffering serious psychological damage....

March 26, 2019Read more...
Academy Analytics dashboard outliers

Academy Analytics Webinar Series | May 17, 2019

Sign up for the free Academy Analytics Webinar Series to learn more. You’ll hear from colleagues as well as experts in the field of quality improvement about how you can use your data for quality improvement and operational awareness. Each webinar will feature a case study about how others are using this tool to enhance performance. In this webinar Mike Taigman, Mike Thompson, and Isabel Gardett, Ph.D., will facilitate this introduction to Academy Analytics and the science of quality improvement. Webinar Date:...

March 25, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-16-19

For week #11 (ending 3-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), was elevated during Week #11.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased slightly to 26% from 25.8% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels into April, however none of the numbers...

March 22, 2019Read more...
Suboxone strips

Q&A: Naloxone is not enough

EMS1 article by Mike Taigman and Silvia Verdugo MD, MPH, where Medical Director and Emergency Physician Gene Hern explores the potential for treating patients with opioid use disorder with buprenorphine. Visit website here.

March 21, 2019Read more...

Measles Cases Continue to Escalate throughout 15 States in the U. S.

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the nearly 11 weeks from Jan 1st until Mar 14, 2019, there have been 268 confirmed cases of measles throughout 15 states (compared to 127 cases in 10 states a month ago). However, since then, individual counties have posted an increase in cases as of March 19, so the number is actually a little higher now.   It is not considered an outbreak until there are three or more cases in an area; less than...

March 21, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-9-19

For week #10 (ending 3-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #10.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly again to 25.8% from 26.1% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above their baselines, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for the rest of March, however...

March 21, 2019Read more...
Opioid Overdose Data Elements per Data Source

Recommendations for Surveillance of EMS Data for Opioid Overdoses

An International Society for Disease Surveillance (ISDS) Webinar Following up on the poster presentation at ISDS 2019, Silvia R. Verdugo, MD, MPH, Mike Thompson, and Todd Stout of FirstWatch, will provide recommendations for mining EMS data to find opioid overdoses using approaches ranging from highly sensitive to very specific, depending on the need. These approaches are intended [...]

March 16, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 3-2-19

For week #09 (ending 3-2-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #9.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.1% from 26.4% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels for at least a few more weeks, however...

March 5, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-23-19

For week #08 (ending 2-23-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), remained widespread during Week #8.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu decreased slightly to 26.4% from 26.7% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) Update 2-23-19

The CDC released a new update of confirmed cases and PUIs (persons under investigation) for AFM through 2/18/19.  With five (5) new confirmed cases reported for 2018 included, it brings the total number of 2018 confirmed cases to 215, which are part of the 371 reports of PUIs to the CDC.  This number is the largest number the CDC has reported since CDC tracking, compilation and reporting began in August of 2014. Local and State Health Departments, in conjunction with treating...

March 1, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-16-19

For week #07 (ending 2-16-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase during week #7.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 26.7% from 24.6% last week, all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase, setting a new high for this flu season.  The CDC expects flu and ILI activity to stay at elevated levels...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Outbreaks/Emerging Diseases:  MEASLES (Rubeola)

Although Measles was declared eradicated in 2000 within the United States, there have been individual cases of measles reported in most years, mostly as outbreaks (3 or more confirmed cases in one area).  2014 had the highest number of cases with 667, followed with preliminary data from 2018 of 372 cases, as a result of 17 outbreaks.  Other years had lower levels of measles cases but numbering over 100 (in 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017).  According to the...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Measles (Rubeola) in Multiple States in the United States

IN THE NEWS According to the CDC, in the seven (7) weeks since January 1st through February 14, 2019, there have been 127 confirmed cases of measles throughout ten (10) states in the United States.  However, since then, individual counties have indicated an increase in cases as of Feb 18, so the number is actually higher now.   There are currently five (5) outbreaks of Measles located in four (4) states:  multiple areas of New York State (Rockland County, Monroe Country and...

February 20, 2019Read more...

Influenza (FLU) Update for Week Ending 2-9-19

For week #06 (ending 2-9-19) the CDC reported that Influenza (Flu) activity, which includes diagnosed flu as well as ILI (Influenza-Like-Illness), continued to increase with all of the markers increased during week #6.  The percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for flu increased to 24.6% from 21.6% last week; all 10 Regions reported flu levels above baseline, and the number of hospitalizations from flu continued to increase.  This indicates that this Flu Season still seems to be worsening.  The CDC expects...

February 19, 2019Read more...
EMS Agenda 2050 Logo

EMS Agenda 2050

EMS Agenda 2050 is the result of a collaborative and inclusive two-year effort to create a bold plan for the next several decades. The new Agenda for the Future envisions people-centered innovative possibilities to advance EMS systems and is now available to download here. FirstWatch supported the effort by lending out our own Mike Taigman to serve as the facilitator for this important project. Visit website here.