Mt. Rose Ski Patrol ALS Pilot Project
Mount Rose Ski Tahoe Resort has presented a challenge to EMS providers over the years. When severe weather, severe injury or illness and remote patient location are combined, definitive patient care can be significantly delayed and compromised. We all know that the Mt. Rose Ski Patrol is one of the best patrols in the industry and although the Rose professional ski patrol employs many paramedics, EMT-Basic care can only be provided according to laws and the insurance carriers. After researching the subject of ski patrol ALS care, we found that there were a few areas in the U.S. that provide advanced care. In those cases, a special paramedic district was formed or the county EMS agency actually assigned medics to the area as Vail does. Our Medical Director, Dr. Ryan, was open to a proposal that could improve patient care at the Resort using current resources. There were 10 paramedics that worked for various ALS agencies, but 7 were under Dr. Ryan’s direction at North Lake Tahoe Fire (Incline) and REMSA. Over the summer and fall of 2008, the proposal was presented to all the agencies that would be involved. The management and legal counsel of Mt. Rose, REMSA and North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District worked together as a team, with the goal of providing the best patient care in the Sierras. The plan allows NLTFPD and REMSA paramedics who are working as Pro Ski Patrollers at Mt. Rose, to provide ALS care when needed according to their respective protocols. The Medic would be required to notify the EMS dispatch agency that they were “on-scene” to be able to provide ALS as would be required if they were to roll up to say, an accident scene in their POV. After numerous meetings and discussions the plan was set and all we needed was snow to get the Mt. Rose ALS Pilot Program launched. All of the supplies and equipment came from REMSA stock and Phillips generously loaned us 2 MRX monitors for the season.
So far we have treated 25 ALS patients, the majority were provided pain management for trauma but we have also treated an ACS patient and various medical complaints. There have been a lot of assessments done by the Patrol EMT-Basics with the Medics being “consulted” but ALS care was deemed unnecessary. A key benefit of the ALS assessment has been a better utilization of Care Flight for appropriate patients. A survey of patrollers revealed that they felt working with paramedics on calls helped deepen their knowledge base and gave them reassurance that their patients were getting the best possible care immediately and also felt that they were a part of that process. In a nutshell, the Pilot program appears to be a success so far. As the ski season comes to a close, there will be a comprehensive review of the program to evaluate the effectiveness and make any changes that are needed. We hope that the Mt. Rose Patrol ALS Program will be continued for many seasons in the future. To quote our first ALS patient who had to be extricated from a pile of granite with a femur fracture, “I know I’m hurt pretty badly but I was really afraid that moving me would hurt me even worse…it wasn’t so bad actually” (might have had something to do with the nitrous/fentanyl). There are many people involved in the development and success of the program but here are a few names to mention…Mike Ferrari Patrol Director, Paul Senft General Manager Mt. Rose, Patrick Smith, Dr. Joe Ryan, Chief Mike Brown, Mike Williams, Jim Gubbels, Diane Rolfs, Evan Schwartz, Russell Barnum, Bruce Hicks, Nathan Johnson, Tim Egan, Mike Schwartz, Kevin Romero, Paulette Schneider, Asst. Patrol Director, REMSA “Ski Car” Crews and Dispatch Center Staff and the Entire Mt. Rose Ski Patrol.
If you have any questions regarding the ALS pilot or are interested in being a Ski Patrol Medic contact Charlie Tabano, Program Coordinator. ctabano@remsa-cf.com, or call at 775-741-0772.
Charlie Tabano
Mount Rose Ski Patrol Paramedics
Chili’s in Reno Sponsoring Safe Kids Washoe County
On July 29, Chili’s in Reno, Sparks and Carson City is sponsoring Safe Kids Washoe County!
10% of all sales all day – in-restaurant, take out and gift cards – will be donated to SKWC to support injury prevention programs and keeping kids safe in Washoe County.
Stay out of your kitchen and let Chili’s do the cooking! Beat the heat meet for girls’ or guys’ night out after work. Take your office to lunch!
You must bring the attached flier to any local Chili’s (addresses on the flier) on July 29. Please forward this email or copy the flyer and distribute to as many people as you can to support Safe Kids!
What’s in it for you?
Win a Prize!
Besides the great perks listed above ~ Safe Kids Washoe County will sweeten the deal ~
The group with the largest total of sales at Chili’s will receive a party catered by Chili’s (just write the name of your group, i.e., “Such N’ Such business” on the flier)!
Co-workers not interested? Then take 50 of your closest friends! The individual with the largest total of sales will receive a $50 Chili’s Gift card (again, write your name on the flier).
See you at Chili’s on July 29!
2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Recipient Supports U.S. troops on Global Tour
In September, REMSA was awarded the 2008 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in Washington, D.C., the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for outstanding support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. As part of the honor, Smith met with President Bush and Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.
Read the full story HERE
Community AED Program
You Can’t predict sudden cardiac arrest, but you can prepare for it…
Every day, more than 1,000 Americans suffer a sudden cardiac arrest… where the heart’s rhythm suddenly becomes chaotic and the heart stops abruptly. Victims lose consciousness, with death usually following quickly… unless someone restores a normal heart rhythm within five to seven minutes.
Since most victims suffer an arrest away from a hospital, more than 95 percent of them die… because life saving easy-to-use automatic external defibrillators (AEDs)are not there to apply an external “shock” to restore the hearts rhythm.
The American Heart Association estimates that 20,000 or more deaths could be prevented each year if AEDs were more widely available to everyone… including your employees who might be first on scene of a cardiac arrest at your company.
Putting AEDs in place for your company can mean the difference between life and death for customers or employees who fall victim to this catastrophic condition.
REMSA’s AED Program can help make sure that your designated employees are trained to use AED equipment. You will have peace of mind knowing that your business has implemented a prudent, comprehensive AED program under the guidance of REMSA’s medical professionals.
REMSA can help make sure that you are better prepared to help save lives until REMSA’s Paramedics arrive. Through customized training and refresher programs, inspection and clinical support services, you will be better prepared to use your AED. Additionally, with REMSA the oversight of REMSA’s medical director, a board certified, experienced emergency physician, your program will have the protocols and medical leadership needed to make your AED program a success.
REMSA is uniquely prepared to help you
REMSA knows and understands how to give lifesaving emergency care in the pre-hospital setting, whether that’s on a downtown Reno street, in a high-rise hotel room, or in the middle of a huge manufacturing plant. We’re specialists, from our highly trained paramedics on our advanced life support ambulances, in our medical 9-1-1 dispatch center, to the critical care nurses Care Flight, to the skilled education professionals who teach our courses.
REMSA is a Nevada state certified training center for emergency responders and is the professional emergency medical services provider for all of Washoe County and the surrounding area; don’t settle for anything less
REMSA is at the heart of the emergency medical service continuum. We’re the first to take your medical 9-1-1 call, and we also provide that critical link to the hospital emergency rooms and the medical community. REMSA has the unique ability to effectively integrate your AED program into the community-wide emergency medical system.
The vital services REMSA provides
REMSA will provide a turnkey program with these components once you have purchased your AED:
Medical Direction
The medical director will provide medical protocols and medical oversight to your employees and to the AED program in general. The medical director’s protocols are based upon national emergency and cardiac care guidelines.
Training
REMSA paramedics and nurses will implement a 4-hour training program for your designated employees in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the proper use of the AED. It also includes an orientation on how to work effectively with basic life support/first responders, as well as the advanced life support professionals from REMSA or Care Flight. AED training includes use of the REMSA training equipment and supplies and each trainee receives take-home training information, a CPR certification card and a certificate of completion.
As you hire new employees who will be designated as AED operators, they can be conveniently trained at one of REMSA’s AED training sessions held periodically at the REMSA center at 450 Edison Way in Reno.
Then to help your employees stay proficient, REMSA will provide an on-site refresher course six months after the initial training.
Emergency Response Plan (ERP) and Support
As part of the AED program, REMSA’s professionals will work with your staff in developing or reviewing a cost- effective and comprehensive Emergency Response Plan that includes:
- strong emergency notification system and policy
- communications network established with emergency response providers and hospitals
- written, effective AED policy and procedures, including working with your current plan to keep costs down
- AED equipment inspection program and policy
- customized equipment and return-to-service plan
Quality Assurance and Support Services
Additionally, REMSA is uniquely able to provide support to you and your staff by:
- providing timely review and feedback on the outcome of each incident by reviewing the AED machine clinical data, our ambulance patient reports and hospital follow-up information after each AED incident
- providing recommendations by our medical director and other emergency professionals to help identify where more training or procedural changes can benefit your program
- keeping the records and documents of your employee’s training status
The value of professional training and support
The fees for all of these critical components of a comprehensive AED program are nominal, especially when you consider the value, the peace of mind, and the benefits to you, your employees, and customers.
Your emergency medical services specialists
It’s easy and quick to get your AED program started with REMSA’s help. For assistance or more information, you can contact us at (775) 858-5700.
We can also help your organization with other emergency services training such as basic first aid, CPR, or bio-hazardous exposure and prevention training programs); emergency services coverage for your special events with paramedics on foot, bike or with a fully-equipped ambulance; or for help in developing your emergency response plans. REMSA… we’re the professional resource that can help make sure you’re protected in an emergency.
Additional Resources:
Nevada Project Heartbeat
AED Instruction Foundation
American Safety and Health Institute
Citizen CPR Foundation
Public Access Defibrillation League
Save a Life Foundation
2006 Annual JEMS Games
Benjamin McDermott (EMT-P), Heidi Johnson (EMT-P), and Adam Heinz (EMT-I) competed in their first ever competition in the Annual JEMS Games at the 2006 EMS Today Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Preliminary Competition consists of performing critical prehospital assessment skills and treatment rendered to simulated patients. The REMSA team moved on to the finals to compete against four veteran teams.
he Final Scenario was based on an aeromedical accident involving multiple patients. The teams completed against each other while reacting to and managing a number of patient assessments, treatment, and transportation challenges. Scoring was based on skill, speed, and technical accuracy. The lead paramedic wore a wireless microphone to allow the audience to hear the team communications.
At the conclusion of the competition the team was told they handled the scenario with “eerie calm”. The Team returns with a Bronze Medal, $500.00 prize, and over a thousands dollars worth of EMS equipment.