Recognizing how labels shape narratives in prehospital medicine
EMS1 Article by Mike Taigman. EMS leaders must be conscious and intentional in applying labeling lenses to patients and providers.
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...
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...
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...
How Improving Resilience Can Make You Healthier, Happier and More Effective
JEMS Q&A with FirstWatch Improvement Guide, Mike Taigman. In this interview, Taigman talks about the science behind resilience, what it means for EMS and what he’s learned about himself during his own efforts to increase his resilience.
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...
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...
Improve performance, hospital relationships and morale with process owners
Montgomery County, Maryland Fire & Rescue Service’s Russell Patterson shares how process ownership is streamlining their ACS, STEMI management in this EMS1 article by By Tim Burns and Mike Taigman.
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...
Are You Using Data the Right Way?
Our friends Dave Williams Ph.D., and Brandon Bennett just published a wonderful article that everyone who uses data to make decisions should read.
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.
EMS/First Responder Application of the CDC Measles Recommendations
The CDC has recently published a new document called Interim Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations Guidance for Measles in Healthcare Settings (7/19). It is a comprehensive document aimed at a person who provides health care to individuals who may have measles. It basically provides the framework to plan and develop policies and procedures for, as well as apply definitions and evidence-based care, to both a suspected or known case of measles. It further provides for the protection of First Responders...
Measles Outbreak Update with a Link to New Recommendations for Health Care Personnel
IN THE NEWS Measles: According to the CDC, from January 1 through July 25, 2019, there have been 1164 confirmed cases of measles in 30 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). More information from the CDC with a map, charts, and specific outbreak info/links can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html There are currently 5 ongoing outbreaks (3 or more...
Acute Flaccid Myelitis
IN THE NEWS Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AFM), a very rare syndrome affecting the spinal cord and causing muscle weakness/paralysis, continues to be identified in 2019. According to the CDC, so far this year, there have been 11 confirmed cases in eight states (CA, MD, NE, NC, PA, TX, UT, and WV) with 57 reports of people under investigation (PUIs). The number of cases in 2018 was greater than in any previous year, since it was first identified in large numbers in...
Quick Take: Building First Responder Resilience
EMS1 article featuring a webinar from the Pinnacle Webinar Series with Jim Marshall and Mike Taigman offering specific leadership strategies to build a resilient team of first responders.
Pinnacle EMS Quick Take: Match supply to demand to provide optimal performance
EMS1 article: It’s been more than four decades since economist Jack Stout introduced the concept of system status management (SSM) to EMS. The idea that systems should use data to match supply to demand in an effort to meet response time goals transformed how some communities deployed EMS units.
Pinnacle: Building a Resilient Team
EMS World article: This week at the 14th Pinnacle EMS Leadership Forum in Orlando, one session provided a different perspective on PTSD—a topic that needs to be talked about more in the EMS community.
FirstWatch Launches ResilientFirst™
EMS1 article: FirstWatch launches ResilientFirst™ to improve EMS provider wellness
Ebola Case in Large City of Goma and PHEIC Declared by WHO 7-17-19
IN THE NEWS Ebola Case in Large City of Goma and PHEIC Declared by WHO 7-17-19 The WHO leadership was concerned about recent Ebola (EVD) news so the Emergency Committee was convened in Switzerland to determine if a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) should be announced. This was the fourth meeting of this type however, when considered on previous occasions, all the criteria had not been met. This time, it was decided that they would recommend the announcement and the...
FirstWatch Announces Launch of ResilientFirst™
EMS World Press Release: FirstWatch Announces Launch of ResilientFirst™
