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.
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 #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...
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...
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...
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...
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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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. ...
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...
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...
EMS1 article by Mike Taigman. In this article, Mike gives tips on how to captivate your audience by using easy-to-see visuals or following the rule of sevens, while avoiding pitfalls such as using a slide template or panel discussions, just to name a few.
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,...
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...
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...
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.
