AMBUGLANCES
VOL 25 NO 3 THE NUMBER ONE EMS REGION IN GEORGIA MAY 2011
TIME IS ALMOST UP FOR RE-LICENSURE
June 30, 2012 is the deadline for all EMS personnel to complete all the requirements for re-licensure in Georgia. The first step is to complete the update modules and pass the test with an 85% on three attempts in the EMS classroom on the Office of EMS website at http://ems.ga.gov/ the second step is to complete 40 hours of approved continuing education either live or on-line. You can do this on the EMS classroom or by attending any of the conferences or training courses. The next step is to obtain a current BCLS card (and ACLS card for Cardiac Technicians and Paramedics). The final step is to pay $75 and complete the re-licensure form at
http://ems.ga.gov/programs/ems/emsdocs/2012-License_Renewal_Form-Fillable.pdf
DRUG SHORTAGES CONTINUE TO PLAGUE EMS
The Georgia EMS Medical Director Advisory Council (EMSMDAC) has sent a letter to the Department of Public Health asking for consideration of several potential responses to the nationwide drug shortage. The first potential reaction is to allow EMS to adjust the expiration dates of expired drugs. The use of expired drugs is not allowed without approval by state and national regulatory agencies. The second is the use of drugs contained in the national strategic stockpile. A third is to urge local medical directors to seek alternative drugs or restrict drugs to critical situations. Until these decisions are made, all services are urged to consider possible actions when the drug supplies reach critical levels.
GEORGIA EMS AWARDS BANQUET NEARS
The 2012 Georgia EMS Awards Banquet will be held this year on May 17, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth, GA. The cost will be $20 per person and you must RSVP by May 14, 2012. See the Georgia EMS Association website at
http://www.ga-ems.com/
for the invitation. See you there.
RSI PILOT PROJECTS NOT APPROVED IN GEORGIA
EMSMDAC has decided that RSI pilot programs will not be approved in Georgia. Dr. Patrick McDougal announced this decision at the EMS Council meeting in Rome on April 26, 2012.
RTAC AND 501C3 TOPICS OF DISCUSSION AT EMS COUNCIL MEETING
The EMS Council approved continuing efforts to form a 501C3 not for Profit Corporation. The recommendation was to avoid incorporating the EMS Council on the advice of the Office of EMS but to create a separate corporation. A report on the progress of the creation of a Region 1 RTAC was also discussed. Funding is available from the Georgia Trauma Commission to support this creation. This funding will go through Floyd Medical Center as a Trauma Center for the initial stages. The Regional Trauma Advisory Committee (RTAC) will create a trauma system in EMS region 1 and will be advisory to the EMS Council. The Georgia Trauma Commission hopes to regionalize the entire state by the end of 2013 to create a state-wide trauma system. If you are interested in serving on this committee, contact David Foster or Randall Pierson.
MEMBERS SOUGHT TO SERVE ON 2013 REGION 1 EMS AWARDS COMMITTEE
We hope to make the 2013 Region 1 EMS awards banquet the best ever. In order to fund the event and the potential door prizes it will be necessary to search out donors and obtain funds or prizes. If you are interested in being a part of this please contact David Foster at