4th. Quarterly Report Final Deliverable 07-08 FY
Goals Reports
Needs Assessment
The SNAP (Statewide (regional) Needs Assessment Project) task force has met twice,
There was a review of $25,000 Grant from CRH: Ron Seedorf advised that the money would need to be spent by August 31; not just encumbered. Also, the grant guidelines require a statewide effort rather than a regional project. Theresa Jimison/Brandon Chambers sought to do use the Western model to do an assessment of the Southern Colorado RETAC. Ron and CRHC will try to come up with some ideas. Additionally, they will as for grant dollars in the coming year’s application but won’t know if it has been awarded for some time.
Special Projects Funding Request: Randy Kuykendall will present special projects requests to the SEMTAC Resource Committee. (the special projects request for the SNAP was approved at the resource subcommittee for the amount of $100,00.00 for the first year.
Review of Available Assessment Tools: Need to pick a starting point and build the common part of the tool. On line polls were taken, and consensus was reached to start with the Western model to develop the standardized portion of the assessment tool. Next meeting we will go through it item by item.
• The final report on WRETAC’s assessment will be posted to SNAP page at www.coems.info. Task force should review this report, as it may give insight into the value of some of the questions.
• Colorado Rural Health will have fiscal oversight of the project. Ron would like well‐defined deliverables. It will be up to the committee to help assess the RFP and vendors.
• Randy has asked that at least three RETACs step up to do the assessment first year.
• Next meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Mass Casualty
At the March Northeast Colorado Emergency Managers meeting Jeff presented the MCI adoption document in it’s draft form as submitted to the NCRETAC Board of Directors meeting in February. This prompted a discussion which resulted in an adoption statement MSP for the NCRETAC Mass Casualty Plan as adopted by the Northeast Physicians Advisory Board and the Northeast Colorado RETAC into the Regional Emergency Operations Plans of the Northeast Colorado Emergency Managers. This would still allow revisions to the plan without additional adoptions. Yuma County EMS Council has adopted the MCI plan and will advise the Yuma County Commissioners.
Phillips County had not yet signed the paperwork to finish the FY 06 Homeland Security Grants as the fiscal agent but it was expected to be signed without difficulties.
The web page for MCI has been updated to allow easy access to the MCI plan and the training materials. A PI goal would be to occasionally remind the providers of EMTS of where the plan is located.
At the SEMTAC subcommittee meeting (communications/MCI) April 9, 2008 there was discussion of common triage tags throughout the state. Previously there had been a statement from the SEMTAC and adopted by the department that the common 4 color tag system be used as the standard. It was apparent that some in attendance didn’t realize there had been a previous adoption statement. There is no consensus on the manufacturer as multiple manufacturers exist. Ray Jennings (chair of the communications/MCI subcommittee) made a request at the January SEMTAC meeting to have the RETAC’s submit their “regional” MCI plans to look for commonalities. Due to a server problem reported by Ray the request was made again to re‐submit the regional MCI plans. Jeff gave information to Ray that the Northeast Colorado Emergency Manager’s coordinator was working on a project to assembled common emergency operations plans that reflect the ESF 8 (emergency support function, section for Health, Medical, and Mortuary). Jeff will pass on the contact information to Kevin Kuretich.
There still seems to be a disconnect between different departments at the CDPHE, the MCI subcommittee is collecting the MCI plans, the hospital preparedness program at the CDPHE seems to be working on similar projects and the OEM (Department of Local Affairs) are working on a similar project. Maybe through RETAC involvement these 3 entities can combine forces to come out with common practice standards.
Communications
The Web CME project is progressing well. Discussion about the project over 4 (scheduled) phone calls with the web master from Weld County has occurred. A flow chart was developed that has helped guide the processes. Tables have started to be built in the database and more investigations on the requirements from the National Registry and State recertification hours were needed. Jeff discussed some of the issues with Mary Mast (American Heart National Faculty and Marilynn Bourn from the CDPHE) re; allocation of hours in the required section of both the national registry documents and the state documents. This will clarify what is needed in the tables for the database. Other discussions with local provider agencies have also occurred to help direct the project.
BOCC presentation
Jeff S. Christie Winckler and Krista Johnson met with the Phillips County Commissioners and presented the informational PowerPoint to the on April 8, 2008. The biennial plan was presented to the commissioners and questions re; TORT, viability of EMS services and funding. I would like to thank Christie Winckler and Krista Johnson for coordinating the opportunity.
Town Hall Meeting with State Staff
This project is on hold, grants have taken much of my time and the state staff is under time critical issues with SNAP, and other projects. May is our strategic planning meeting and July 1 we’ll have a large deliverable that needs to be submitted. (Possibly in the fall of 2008.)
Education Report
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joe Ruffini presentation,
“TERROR AWARENESS and PREPAREDNESS”
Reports have been submitted by
Aims Community College (Lead Agency)
Poudre Valley Hospital (lead agency)
Morgan Community College (lead agency)
There was anecdotal information from Aims that the presentation was well received and well attended. I do not know what the overall impression was of the topic or presentation.
There was also anecdotal information that the presentation was well attended in Fort Collins and that some people thanked PVHS for setting up the event. I do not know what the overall impression was of the topic or presentation.
The report from the Morgan County presentation included a link and story from the local paper.
The event in all arena’s appeared to be well advertised with good commitment from the local agencies in assisting with the event.
The Reports below have been submitted by the lead agencies.
Report by Patricia Rand EMS education Aims Community College
On February 7, 2008 Aims Community College and North East Colorado RETAC hosted Lt. Col. Joe Ruffini for two seminars on Terrorism Awareness. The first seminar was geared towards the general public as well as government officials and school district officials. The second seminar was geared towards EMS, Fire and Police personnel. Both seminars were well attended with approximately 40 participants in each. Catering was provided by Aims Community College and included light breakfast items, snacks and beverages. Advertising brochures were designed by the Aims CC graphic arts department. They were distributed via direct mail and email. Other advertising included a posting on the Aims CC website and RETAC website. Lt. Col. Ruffini was also interviewed by a local radio station on the day before the seminar.
Patricia Rand
Report by MJ Koschel EMS Clinical Coordinator PVHS Emergency Services
The Ruffini presentation in Fort Collins on the morning of April 2nd was also well attended with about 60 in attendance from various EMS, Fire, Law, Education and public backgrounds. We utilized a coffee vendor for the morning only seminar and Poudre Fire and PVH EMS split the cost of renting the Lincoln Center. EMS CE attendance certs were provided by PVH EMS. Advertising was accomplished through the PVHS VIC website and fliers.
Thank you to the NCRETAC for providing this opportunity to our community! Maryjo
Other activities since last meeting
Northeast All Hazards Homeland Security Grants Reviews March 26, 2007
~50 grants were submitted to the NEAHR grant review steering committee. The committee reviewed the grants and scored according to the matrix provided by the State All Hazards. The grants process will go through other filters prior to the submission to the state all hazards. Awards will be announced ata te.
future da
NEPAB (Northeast Colorado Physician Advisory Board)
Proceedings of April 1, 2008 meeting (neither reviewed nor approved as minutes)
1.Meeting was called to order by Dr. Hutchinson at 12:20pm. Agenda & handouts distributed (attached to original minutes).
2.Dr. Hutchison opened the meeting with introductions
3.Dr. Hutchison asked Jana Williams, Program Manager from Airlife Denver and Missy Parris, Chief Flight Nurse from North Colorado Med-Evac to present to the group.
a.Jana Williams, described that Airlife Denver has based another helicopter in Fredrick Colorado at the Fredrick Firestone Fire Protection District. Jana described capabilities of Airlife Denver.
b.Missy Parris described that North Colorado Med Evac was reorganized from Airlife Greeley and the parent company has been changed from Air Methods to Med Trans. Missy described an expansion of service to the Erie Airport and capabilities of the service.
c.Dr. Cribari asked if the expansion of service from both flight companies changes the pre-hospital destination policies. Dr. Hutchison stated that it did not since the statement in the Air Transport Column states are general enough to cover the new capabilities. (provided for background)
i.(Step 1, Respiratory) “Transport to the highest level trauma center unless otherwise indicated” (Air Transport column)
ii.(Step 2, Physiology and Step 3 Anatomy), “Transport to most rapidly accessible highest level trauma center within 15 minutes additional transport time”. (combined Ground and Air Transport column)
iii.(Step 4, Mechanism of Injury and Step 5, Comorbidity Considerations) Transport to Level I or II Trauma Center unless otherwise indicated (Air Transport column).
d.Dr. Hutchison told the group that this issue had come up at the Weld County Fire Chiefs meeting recently and all had agreed to work together to eliminate confusion and reduce delays in launching the helicopters. Other discussions about central dispatch, GPS tracking, EM Systems software and methods of locating the earliest available air medical transport. Dr. Cribari said that single dispatch for air medical transport has been an issue for some time and with the new assets in the state maybe the issue should come up at the SEMTAC meetings (8th, 9th of April 2008). There are informal agreements in place in Denver and Colorado Springs where multiple air medical services provide transport. Capabilities and lack of capabilities in the EM systems software was discussed.
4.Minutes were approved after the above discussions.
a.Jeff gave a report on the MCI project
i.The plan has been adopted by the Northeast Colorado Office of Emergency Management as an annex in the “regional emergency operations plan”
ii.A recent survey was done and was presented to the group. Deficiencies identified from the survey have been addressed and an ongoing process is in place maintain communications.
iii.MCI training under the 06 grant is still allowed until March 2009, the training still needs to be scheduled in the Plains to Peaks RETAC area.
b.Dr. Cribari started a discussion on MCI and how the facilities may be lacking in preparedness. Lori McDonald described that facilities are addressing the emergency operations plans but there should probably be more consistency between the facilities. Dr. Cribari stated since many of the medical staff are shared between facilities the consistency should be a priority. An informal task force was described as a method to look into providing consistency in the emergency operations plans/terminology.
Task force membership
EMS Practice task force
Jeff is a voting member on this task force which is looking at the practice of EMT’s in the state of Colorado and how this practice will relate to the National scope of Practice. This task force has met 4 times since January, 2008.
To date there have been the following agreements by the task force
•Agree to the scope of practice that allows EMT‐Basic with IV training
•Agree to adopt the scope of practice as identified in the national scope of practice called EMT
•Agree to adopt the scope of practice as identified in the national scope of practice called AEMT
•Agree to adopt the scope of practice as identified in the national scope of practice called Paramedic
•Agree to keep the level of care now provided by the Intermediate‐99 level as a scope of practice.
Work on how to teach and test the gap created between the AEMT level and the I‐99 level remains. Text books will be no longer published with that level identified but other text books that include the scope of practice “gaps” are available now. There will be no state test at the state of Colorado but with 13 states wishing to keep the I‐99 level there may be an opportunity to collaborate on a test, not delivered by the state but available to the training centers.
Issues still remain; one is to continue to inform the providers that the level of care now called I‐99 will not be eliminated, it may be called something different but the level will still be available.
Grants
On March 18th the Northeast Colorado RETAC held the public hearing portion of scoring the FY 2009 Colorado EMS grants. 15 grants were evaluated by 13 of the board members with no board member scoring more than 6 grants. Conflict of interest statements were signed and the comment sheets were
returned to Jeanne Marie Bakehouse from CDPHE. According to Jeanne Marie there are two more public hearings by RETAC in the next month and the SEMTAC public hearings will be held after these are completed.
The paper work in the process was huge and there are discussions on how best to do the scoring in the future. Jeanne Marie liked the fact that the NCRETAC posted the information on the web page along with the instructions and the matrix. There is a possibility that the state may do the same with all the grants next year and allow electronic scoring. A major hurdle would be where to host the hearings where online access would be available while at the same time allowing for public hearings. Technical assistance has been given to numerous agencies and individuals but because of either ongoing processes or confidentiality this is the extent of information I can make available.
1. Integration of Health Services
With the mass casualty subcommittee working on a possible annex to standardize MCI plans in the hospitals residing in the Northeast Colorado RETAC there is an opportunity to collaborate with and standardize to the Mass Casualty Plan developed by the NEPAB.
2. EMTS Research
NEPAB will be examining trauma data over the next year to look at the 15 minute rule and the Trauma Triage Algorithm
3. Legislation & Regulation
Assisting counties as needed with licensure issues,
4. System Finance
Monthly reports have been submitted to the systems finance subcommittee. There has been activitiy in the special projects/education funding.
5. Human Resources
Recruitment and Retention has been discussed at the RETAC forums and presentations have been made. The Plains to Peaks RETAC has received grant funds to research issues/best practices and provide a report in 2008.
6. Education Systems
The funding form for technical assistance funding was revised to widen the scope of funding and to be less restrictive of what could be funded from this form.
7. Public Access
No issues at the regional level. However some locals are working on effective use of 911 public education programs.
8. Communication Systems
More radios appear to be headed to the Northeast All Hazards under the 2007 grant. Presently there are a number of agencies that have fully deployed the 800 Mhz radios and are utilizing them for everyday EMTS communciations.
9. Medical Direction
See the current issues above.
10. Clinical Care
Technical assistance is given where needed or requested. The NCRETAC is not a care giver but has access to information that is helpful at times to care givers.
11. Mass Casualty
A recent survey was completed asking information about knowledge of the MCI plan, location of the plan and whether or not agencies would be willing to adopt the plan into their local operations.
12. Public Education
No new activity
13. Prevention
In the Education goals, Injury prevention local funding was seen as a priority and $1,800.00 has been allocated per county as an up front grant to counties to provide local direction on injury prevention activities.
14. Information Systems
http://www.ncretac.org web site has been used extensively to pass information as requested, publish requests for proposals and provide mission information as needed in answer to inquiries. Recently the county planning processes were made available through a web based database. Agency profile online data entry has been live for about 3 weeks. Beta tests were run and there has been continual monitoring of the technical issues. Each agency has been provided an instruction sheet on "how to enter" the information and "what to enter". The state might be interested in utilizing our database for future deployment on the states servers.
15. Evaluation
The NEPAB will be examining trauma data throughout 2006-07 to compare to the 15 minute rule as part of the pre-hospital trauma triage algorithm. Data from Poudre Valley Hospital, McKee Medical Center and North Colorado Medical Center will be compiled and compared
|
