EMS

March 5, 2021Read more...
Hospital Status Dashboard

JEMS – EMS Agencies Combat Patient Offload Delays Due to COVID-19

JEMS article – While offload delays aren’t a new hurdle for EMS, they have become increasingly challenging as COVID-19 cases rise. Hospitals at full capacity have led to ambulances waiting longer—in some cases for several hours—to complete patient handoffs. These delays and subsequent diversions can have a negative impact on patient care and limit the availability of emergency resources. In response, some EMS systems are implementing new processes and technology to combat the extended wait times.

November 9, 2020Read more...
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AIMHI Webinar – High-Performance/High-Value Metrics Deep Dive: Financial Outcome Measures | Recording and Handout

Knowing your High-Performance/High-Value financial metrics like cost and revenue per response, per unit hour, and per transport are crucial.  Further, changing payer mixes, payer policies and evolving service lines add to financial complexities.  This webinar will focus on the development, tracking, and evaluation of the key financial performance metrics that will prepare you for the dynamic changes occurring in the EMS industry.

November 2, 2020Read more...
CTM-Patient in back of ambulance

Patient-Centered QI and System Design

Most EMS systems claim to put the patient first, yet they still work 24-hour shifts, drive ambulances designed so that patients face the rear, and have QI systems that are not connected to the rest of the healthcare system. Facilitator Mike Taigman explored how to create a more patient- and people-centered EMS organization with Jeff Jarvis, MD, MS, EMT-P, medical director for Williamson County EMS and Marble Falls Area EMS; former paramedic and hospital executive Bill Atkinson, PhD, EMT-P; and Brian...

September 30, 2020Read more...
Conversations That Matter, a virtual roundtable series hosted by FirstWatch

EMS1 – FirstWatch to host series of Conversations that Matter for leaders in EMS and public safety

EMS1 - On Thursday, October 1, FirstWatch is launching Conversations that Matter, a series of virtual roundtable discussions featuring leaders talking about some of the most important issues facing our professions. FirstWatch Improvement Guide Mike Taigman will facilitate, engaging the expert guest speakers and audience in dialogue to encourage information sharing and collaboration to help tackle tough problems.

September 30, 2020Read more...
Conversations That Matter, a virtual roundtable series hosted by FirstWatch

JEMS – FirstWatch to Host Series of Conversations that Matter for Leaders in EMS and Public Safety

JEMS - On Thursday, October 1, FirstWatch is launching Conversations that Matter, a series of virtual roundtable discussions featuring leaders talking about some of the most important issues facing our professions. FirstWatch Improvement Guide Mike Taigman will facilitate, engaging the expert guest speakers and audience in dialogue to encourage information sharing and collaboration to help tackle tough problems.

September 18, 2020Read more...
CTM-COVID-19 Webinar

Preparing for Seasonal Flu in a COVID-19 World

Fever, cough, difficulty breathing, body aches, chills.  Sounds like the beginning of flu season—or maybe the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s likely to happen as we enter flu season during a pandemic? What can EMS systems do to set their employees and their system up to safely and effectively handle this combination? Mike Taigman, Improvement Guide at FirstWatch, facilitated a conversation with infectious disease expert Pam Farber, RN and Silvia Verdugo, MD, PhD, medical director of FirstWatch. Faculty:  Mike Taigman,...

September 8, 2020Read more...
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AIMHI Webinar – High-Performance High-Value Operational Outcome Measures

The need to optimize EMS operations has never been greater! Our profession is entering into one of the most challenging economic, clinical and human resources times in a generation. Maximizing operational effectiveness leads to economic efficiency, but must be balanced with employee satisfaction. Ken and Jimmy have mastered the art of using data and metrics to identify opportunities for operational enhancements and implementing them with a focus on the impact to employees. They have also been literally on the front lines...

September 4, 2020Read more...
CTM-Evidence Based Quality Measures

Evidence Based Quality Measures – The key to making meaningful improvement

Ask a room full of 20 EMS leaders how they measure response time and you’ll get 25 different answers. Knowing what to measure, how to measure, and why to measure something in EMS is quite a challenge. Several national attempts to build standardized EMS quality measures in the past failed to gain significant momentum or lead to meaningful improvement, but a new effort hopes to succeed where others have struggled. Facilitator Mike Taigman discussed the next generation of performance measures with...

August 21, 2020Read more...

Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM) August 2020

It is important to realize that this time, between August and November is the peak time for AFM. Furthermore, EMS Personnel and other First Responders should be aware of the signs and symptoms and other presentations of the syndrome, as well as how to further assess, monitor, stabilize/treat, and transport an individual (typically a child) with possible AFM. The inability to recognize and manage AFM appropriately, including transport to an appropriate hospital, may result in a worsening condition and potentially...

August 21, 2020Read more...

Latest Data on COVID-19 Mitigation On & Off Duty Resources & Links

There are a lot of recently published scientific & observational studies, editorials, viewpoints, and more about both medical and lay person PPE. This includes predominantly masks & respirators, but also other mitigation strategies that have been moved beyond ‘might this help?’ to ‘likely some benefit’. In some cases, recommendations from international and national organizations & agencies, as well as industry organizations, have been made. Below, are some links to some of those documents. All of them provide good information, but...

August 6, 2020Read more...

Ebola Cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Ebola outbreak in the DRC Equateur Province in Mbandaka continues to produce new cases with a total of 74 known cases and 32 deaths.  There was only one new case reported on August 3 and no new deaths, but one new case and one new death reported on August 5 by the WHO African Regional Office.