Reliable Health Information
Posted April 15, 2008

A reliable source compiling studies relating to health care and all things medical is Medline Plus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. You can view the studies by date or by topic. Here's one on uninterrupted chest compression. The Medline Plus site has information on general health topics including diseases and conditions, drugs and supplements, it has a medical dictionary, and encyclopedia, and plenty of other resources.

National EMS Museum
Posted April 15, 2008

The stated mission of the National EMS Museum is "... memorializing and commemorating the history of EMS and the individuals and organizations that provide emergency care to the sick and injured." Begun with a thought in June of 2006, and with startup funding from the National Association of EMTs, the museum is being developed in three phases, a virtual museum, traveling presentations, and a building for permanent display and storage. You can see the virtual museum online now.

Just for Fun
Posted April 15, 2008

No matter what your politics are, or what your feelings are about George W. Bush, this is a great video of President Bush and Steve Bridges impersonating President Bush. Pull up a chair; it's about 11 minutes long.

• March, 2008

Honoring Lives, Working Towards Change... Domestic Violence Homicides in Maine
Posted March 19, 2008

The 2008 report of the Homicide Review Panel was recently released by the Maine Attorney General. This year's report, the panel's seventh, is called "Honoring Lives, Working Towards Change... Domestic Violence Homicides in Maine."

The Domestic Abuse Homicide Review Panel, established in 1997 by the Maine Commission on Domestic and Sexual Abuse, is chaired by an Assistant Attorney General, who is also a homicide prosecutor. Members of the Panel include the Chief Medical Examiner, a physician, a nurse, a law enforcement officer, the Commissioners of Corrections and Public Safety, a judge, a prosecutor, an Assistant Attorney General who handles child protection cases, a victim-witness advocate, a mental health service provider, a facilitator of a batterers' intervention program, and persons designated by the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence.

Microsoft Offers Office Ultimate 2007 Programs at Low Cost to Students
From Kelly Roderick
Posted March 19, 2008

Microsoft is offering college students the opportunity to get Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 for $59.95. You can direct students to The Ultimate Steal to see if they are eligible; you can read the Microsoft press release here.

Benefit for Lance Sanborn
From Dora McCarthy, NEEMS
Posted March 19, 2008

For those who do not know Lance, he is a FF/Paramedic with Bucksport Fire and Capital Ambulance. He was hurt very badly in a head-on collision on the new Narrows Bridge in Bucksport in February. He had multiple breaks in both legs and will be at least six months before he is able to put any weight on them.

Lance and his wife are also expecting their first child in May.

Most all news and photos will continue to be posted on Lance’s Caring Bridge website, thanks to Lance’s cousin, Laurie.

The “Souper Supper for the Sanborns” will be on April 5th, at the Miles Lane School, Bucksport (off Broadway, parallel to & behind Bucksport High School). Seatings will be at 430 PM and 6 PM. Several selections of soups, chowder, stew, and chili will be prepared by world renowned chef Tom Gutow (Tom is the owner of The Castine Inn , and is a Castine FF/EMT). An advance head-count is needed, and though walk-ins are welcome, they run the risk of not having a seat or much selection to sample! Adults: $10, age 4 to 12: $5, age 3 & under are free, and Families: $25 max. Tickets may be ordered by sending a check payable to:
Bucksport FF Assoc.
c/o Marie Stubbs
45 Turkey Path Rd.
Bucksport, ME 04416

Tickets should also be available at BookStacks in downtown Bucksport.

Terry Grindle
Capt./Safety Officer
Bucksport Fire Dept.

• February, 2008

MEMS Memo Addressing Conversion to All-Electronic Run Reporting Format
Posted February 2, 2008

January 31, 2008
To: Maine EMS Services
From: Ben Woodard, Data Coordinator
Subject: MEMSRR Start Date

At their meeting on January 2, 2008, the Board of EMS established January 1, 2009, as the date for all EMS services to convert to electronic run reporting using the Maine EMS Run Reporting System (MEMSRR). This date was chosen after taking in consideration many factors, including the time needed to train providers and the budget impact of running two parallel data systems (paper-based and electronic format).

To help make this transition as smooth as possible, effective dates for electronic data entry have been established on a regional basis as follows:
• July 1, 2008: for Aroostook EMS and Tri County EMS Services
• October 1, 2008: for Kennebec Valley EMS and Mid Coast EMS Services
• January 1, 2009: for Northeast EMS and Southern Maine EMS Services

There are three methods to enter run reports into MEMSRR:
• Enter an electronic run report from a computer with Internet access at the hospital, service base, or other location. This method will utilize the free Internet application at: www.memsrr.org .
• Enter an electronic run from the ImageTrend EMS Field Bridge application. Run reports created using Field Bridge are then uploaded to the State Bridge via the Internet. Field Bridge is a Windows-based client application that requires one licensed copy per tablet PC or laptop.
• Import an electronic run from a state certified software vendor. Effective January 2, 2008, Maine EMS will only test data imported from software that has been NEMSIS certified at the Gold standard.

MEMSRR training for State Bridge and Field Bridge will be conducted at the regional level by Maine EMS. In addition, live Internet-based “webinar” training conducted by ImageTrend will be available directly to services. There will also be MEMSRR instructors to help services with training; however, it is recommended that each service identify a service administrator to attend the train-the-trainer programs conduced by Maine EMS.

To help with the purchase of hardware and software, there are limited grant funds available. These funds do require a cash match provided by the service that ranges from 25% - 50%. Services interested in applying for grant funds should do so as soon as possible.

Please feel free to contact me at: 626-3860 or ben.woodard@maine.gov for more information on training options, the availability of grant funds, and general questions on how to start using the MEMSRR system.

Thank you.

• January, 2008

Free and Copyright-free Image Database
Posted 1/29/08

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health has a searchable database of drawings that are free of copyright restrictions. They have anatomy/physiology, lifestyle, and instructional themes, and would enhance handouts and PowerPoint presentations.

Posted 1/29/08

The Maine Center for Public Health, established by the Maine State Legislature in 1996, is a non-governmental organization whose focus is, according to their web site, "to complement the work of committed but over-stretched state and local public health agencies and partners." The MCPH has a listing of upcoming conferences and trainings from a variety of public health resources.

Free Online Books
Posted 1/29/08

I found two sources for free online books. In no particular order, they are:

Wowio -- free e-books in PDF format, but the catch is that you have to sign up, and the e-mail address you give them can't be an anonymous one (like Hotmail or Gmail, where you can sign up with a fake name). There is a way to get around it, which involves giving them some form of identification. I can't say one way or the other if that's a wise thing to do, but if you try it and like it, let us know!

The Open Library -- this site is still in development, but it has the coolest way of looking at books. It's like you're actually looking at book pages, and you turn the pages by just tapping on them. I don't know how long it will be free, but for the time being, it's worth checking it out.

Just for Fun
Posted 1/29/08

I just thought this was a fun catalog, in a silly kind of way. Give it a minute until it starts to "do something." It doesn't matter that you don't know how to read Swedish.

• December, 2007

Maine EMS Takes a Stand on Central Line Access
Posted 12/29/07

The MDPB unanimously voted to discontinue the MEMS Central Line Access Protocol. This will be reflected in the protocol update due out in mid-2008, but they strongly recommend ceasing this practice effective immediately. View the letter Dr. Diaz sent to EMS Service Chiefs, Regional EMS Offices, and Hospital Emergency Department Directors earlier this month.

Maine EMS has New Education and Training Coordinator
Posted 12/29/07

Jay Bradshaw writes:

I am very pleased to share with you that Jan Brinkman, RN, EMT-P, has been hired as the Maine EMS Training & Education Coordinator and will begin in that position on January 22.

Jan has a B.A. in Health & Recreation from UMF and over 20 years of EMS experience, starting as a Basic EMT in 1984 and completing her Paramedic training in 1987. She also received an RN degree in 2003 and has an impressive background providing education at the community level to school age children, at the college level as an instructor at UMF for the past 18 years, and in the prehospital EMS community.

We are looking forward to having Jan as part of the Maine EMS staff and to introducing her to you in the coming weeks.

Diabetes Links
Posted 12/13/07

I taught a class I called "Beyond EMS: Living with Diabetes" at the Samoset last month. I told the folks in my class that they could find links to some very helpful sites on my page, and told them how to access the links. I've since found several more that I think would be helpful. And the more I've thought about it the more I realized that, even if you didn't attend my class, you might be interested in checking out some of these resources. So please feel free to go to my diabetes links page.

Send a Message to the Troops
Posted 12/13/07

By going to this Xerox web site, you can easily have a printed postcard sent to our troops to thank them for their service and to let them know you are thinking about them during the holidays.

MEMS Updates The Look of Its Web Site
Posted 12/13/07

MEMS has updated its web site to comply with the state's template. Please take a few minutes to check it out and find your way around. Oh, and I should mention that they have a section for JoMEMS as well. I don't know what the plans are for putting older issues online, if any, but they do have the two most recent issues up for us. What that means is that the I/C News, which has been included within the Journal for the past couple of years, is also now available online!

NREMT to Require Accreditation
Posted 12/13/07
From the November 2007 NREMT EdNet Communique

On November 13-14, 2007, the National Registry of EMTs Board of Directors voted to require that applicants for national Paramedic certification graduate from a nationally accredited educational program after December 31, 2012.

The motion was introduced in June 2007 and tabled to enable consultation with other members of the EMS community. Following discussions with other national EMS organizations, the board passed the motion unanimously on November 14, 2007. The rationale for the change is based on the recommendations in the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach as well as the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report titled Emergency Medical Services at the Crossroads.  These two publications call for a linkage of paramedic educational program accreditation with eligibility for certification.

Currently, fourteen states require national accreditation of paramedic education programs and, there are over 240 nationally accredited programs. Most experts believe that this represents about one-half to one-third of the active paramedic education programs in the country. “The CoAEMSP is committed to helping programs understand and meet the standards and guidelines for accreditation,” stated Randy Kuykendall, the current Chairman of the Committee on Accreditation for EMS Educational Programs (CoAEMSP).

William E. Brown, Jr., NREMT Executive Director said “We believe that the major barrier to achieving accreditation will be institutional support. We hope that this policy provides paramedic program directors with the leverage to get the same resources as other allied health education programs. There is simply no reason why any quality program cannot achieve accreditation in the next five years.”

Another concern is the number of paramedic programs that are in "non-traditional" educational settings. Dr. George Hatch, CoAEMSP Executive Director, stated “We currently have accredited programs in all types of locations and institutions. The CoAEMSP has a variety of mechanisms to meet the sponsorship requirements. Virtually any type program, including proprietary and agency based, can meet the sponsorship standard through seeking independent institutional accreditation or collaborating with other organizations to form a consortium.”  

While the EMS Education Agenda for the Future calls for educational accreditation for all levels of EMS personnel, the IOM report recommends requiring accreditation only at the paramedic level. The NREMT motion affects only paramedic eligibility.  Jimm Murray, NREMT Vice-Chairman (of the Board of Directors) concludes that “the current evidence supports requiring accreditation at the paramedic level. We may revisit the issue of accreditation at other levels at a later date.”  

“This is an important step forward for the discipline of paramedicine,” concluded Sandy Bogucki, MD, PhD and Chairman of the NREMT Board of Directors. “Every occupational group that has evolved and gained credibility as a profession has done so through strengthening their educational and credentialing systems. We know that this change will be a challenge, but the Board feels confident that accreditation will improve paramedic education and ultimately the quality of care that patients receive in the out of hospital setting.”

Paramedic in Review CD Retired
Posted 12/13/07
From the November 2007 NREMT EdNet Communique

Following the release of the 1998 Paramedic National Standard Curriculum, the NREMT made available a product entitled Paramedic in Review. This CD included a large number of test items related to the content of the new paramedic curriculum and was designed to assist candidates in preparing for in-class related examinations.

The NREMT has recently decided to discontinue the Paramedic in Review CDshifted to support computer . All item development efforts have been adaptive testingproperly. Finally, numerous . In addition, the CD content references old CPR and ACLS standards and requires older software to run commercial products are now available to help students prepare for classroom tests and certification exams. 

We currently have approximately 250 CDs in stock. They will be sent free of charge to registered EMS educational programs in the order that requests are received. Anyone interested in receiving a free copy of the discontinued Paramedic in Review CD, can e-mail Lisa Bragg (lbragg@nremt.org). Please include the name and mailing address of your educational program in your request.

EMTLife.com
Posted 12/13/07

I'll admit that I haven't spent a lot of time (okay, I'll admit it, I haven't spent any time) reading this forum, but with that said, here it is for you all to read and make your own judgments. If you know of any other EMS forums, please e-mail me and I'll add them.

Killer Presentation Skills
Posted 12/13/07

Okay, so they aren't necessarily killer, at least not in this youtube video, but there are still a few good tips.

Random Stuff
Posted 12/13/07

Date and time

There's so much this web site can do for you I'm not even going to try to summarize it. But basically if it has to do with dates and web site can do it.

Cat Bowling

I'm a little late with this -- I suppose it would have been most appropriate at Halloween. But if you like bowling, whether or not you like cats, this is a fun little time-waster.

Ventriloquist?!

Did any of you happen to see the ventriloquist, Terry Fator, on America's Got Talent? I got the biggest kick out of him. Here he is doing some holiday wishes for People Magazine.

Se earlier "What's News" articles items. (For everything from October 2007 and before.)

• A Collection of Published Articles

General Articles:

E-Mail Etiquette (from the I/C News section of the July/August/September, 2005 issue)
Twelve Tips for Twelve Leads (April/May/June, 2005)
The Exam Committee: A Year in Review (October/November/December, 2004)
Maine Spine Assessment Comparison between 1994 and 2002 Protocols (April/May/June, 2003)
Is That Your Final Answer? When No Doesn't Mean No (October/November/December, 2002)
IO: A Procedure Review (April/May/June 2002)

Documentation Series:

Part 4: Documentation: The Finishing Touches (July/August/September, 2004)
Part 3: The A&P of SOAP (April/May/June, 2004)
Part 2: Objectively Speaking (January/February/March, 2004)
Part 1: Simply Subjective (October/November/December, 2003)

John Bastin, PA-C
First Responder Weapons of Mass Destruction Training (Fall, 2004)
WMD Resources on the Web (Winter, 2003)

Daryl Boucher, MS, RN, EMT-P
Jumping through Hoops -- Immunization and Other Pre-Matriculation Mandates For EMS and Allied Health Students (October, 2007) New December 2007!
Use of Dimensional Analysis to Reduce Medication Errors in EMS (June, 2007) New, December 2007!
Help! I've Been Asked to be a Peer Reviewer (Spring, 2006)
Research Review: Conducting Research -- Helpful Tips (Winter, 2005)
Why Did You Do That? Evidence Based Research as Part of Teaching (Fall, 2004)
Using Case Studies to Teach EMS (Part III) (Spring, 2004)
Using Case Studies to Teach EMS (Part II) (Winter, 2004)
Using Case Studies to Teach EMS (Part I) (Fall, 2003)

Mike Carroll, EMT-P
HIPAA and the EMS Instructor (Winter, 2005)

Joanne LeBrun, EMT, MSEd
The Games People Play (Winter, 2003)

Dan Limmer, EMT-P, I/C
Teaching Affective Concepts In the EMS Classroom (Winter, 2006)

Dan Palladino, CCEMT-P
What is NAEMSE? (Winter, 2004)

• Upcoming Courses

• Recent Courses

Mid-Coast Maine EMS
26th Annual EMS Seminar
Cardiac Protocols: Asystole to Zap
I Fall to Pieces
November, 2006

• MEMS Continuing Education

• Maine EMS and its Regions

close file close file

Maine EMS Exam Committee minutes

• Maine EMSer's Pages

Sean Hall

Clarence Spady

Dan Limmer's home page Added 10/23/07
Dan Limmer's blog Added 10/23/07

• Other Maine Sites

• Maine Hospitals

• Maine's EMS Services

If your service has a site, please e-mail me and I will update this list to include it.

• Maine's Educational Institutions
  which haveEMS Programs

• EMS Instructor Resources

Also available from NHTSA:
2002 Supplemental Airway Modules for EMT-Basic
1995 Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (Ambulance) Instructor's Guide
1996 EMD Instructors Guide
2002 EMS Educator Guidelines

Teaching Resources for Instructors in Prehospital Pediatrics
TRIPP ALS
TRIPP BLS

Other
Less Stress Instructional Services
Quia (make your own online classroom-type activities)
EMS Educational Resources page
Trainers of Emergency Medical Services
Learner Associates

American Heart Association Instructor Information page

Presentations available online:
EMS Professions PowerPoint Presentations This amazing site has PowerPoint presentations for every topic in the paramedic curriculum. You have to see it to believe it! And the site says they're there for you to use for your studies and classes.

Guidelines to Effective Graphics

• EMS/Nursing/
  Medical Publishers, Clearinghouses, and On-line publications

AAOS Paramedic anatomy and physiology review

• General Emergency Medicine and EMS Resources

• Articles/Specific Resources

Miscellaneous
AEDs May Negatively Impact Outcomes
Auscultation Assistant
Bystander CPR Still Matters
EMS Agenda for the Future (Be patient, the link takes forever to open.)
EMS is Hyperventilating Resuscitation Patients
EMS Researchers Call for Action
First Aid for Soldiers (1/25/06 Available in PDF format)
Institute for Safe Medication Practices, ISMP
HIV/AIDS, STDs and TB information from the CDC
How to Use a Stethoscope; and The State of the Stethoscope
Latex Allergy Links - EMS
Jeff Mann's Emergency Medicine Guidemaps
National EMS Scope of Practice
On the Road to Successful IV Starts (no longer available free online)
Researchers Show Arm Position Matters when Measuring Blood Pressures
Rural/Frontier EMS Agenda for the Future
RSI in the Prehospital environment
Selective Spinal Immobilization
Telemetry Certification Online
The Value of Bystander CPR
Transport of Stroke Patients May Become More Specialized

• On-line Continuing Education
  Credit Resources

EMS:
EMCert (EMS, sign up for periods of 1 or 2 years, with options ranging from 4 CEUs to an unlimited number during your desired time frame)
LearnATest (programs for those reviewing for licensure testing)
Wild Iris Medical Education (courses ranging from $6-36, and 1-11 contact hours)

Nursing:
E-learners (nursing)
NetCE (nursing, courses from $0-39, 1-15 hours' credit each)
NursingSpectrum (pay as you go, or sign up for unlimited hours)
RN.com (nursing, offers at least one free CEH program each month)
Wild Iris Medical Education (nursing, $10-65 per course)

Both:
EMInet/Healthstream (EMS, nursing; doesn't separate out EMS into ALS or BLS courses)
MEDCEU (seems to have both, but I haven't figured out yet how they're divided)

• Nursing Links

• Physician Links

• Domestic Violence Links

• On-line Medical Texts and
  Resources

• National Organizations

• State EMS agencies

• Bioterrorism, Disaster Planning,
  and other Related Sites

• Hospital Uniform Shopping

• EMS Products

• EMS/Medical/
  Nursing Blogs

E-mail me if you find any others!

• Just for Fun