Peninsula Emergency Medical Service Council Inc

THE MISSION OF THE PENINSULAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COUNCIL IS TO ASSIST THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA, MIDDLE PENINSULA, AND NORTHERN NECK LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES AGENCIES, AND HOSPITALS BY ASSESSING, IDENTIFYING, COORDINATING, PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM. COUNCIL'S WORK HELPS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT IMPROVED PREHOSPITAL CARE TO THE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA, MIDDLE PENINSULA, AND NORTHERN NECK PENINSULA, WHO NEED EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. OUR OVERSIGHT OF VITAL AREAS IN THE PREHOSPITAL CARE SETTING INCLUDES REGIONAL TREATMENT PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL MEDICATION BOX SYSTEM MANAGEMENT, REGIONAL EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE AGREEMENT MANAGEMENT, TRAUMA TRIAGE, STROKE ASSESSMENT AND CARE, AND MASS CASUALTY RESPONSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE COUNCIL PREPARES HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND OTHER REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL PLANNING, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PROVIDER TRAINING, CONTINU

I. REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTION - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL MAINTAINS A MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MAC), WHICH DEVELOPS, APPROVES, IMPLEMENTS, EXPANDS, AND IMPROVES PROGRAMS OF MEDICAL CONTROL AND ACCOUNTABILITY. THE COMMITTEE COORDINATES THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF REGIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT PROTOCOLS AND MEDICAL OVERSIGHT OF EDUCATION AND TESTING FOR ALL LEVELS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE CERTIFICATION WITHIN THE REGION. THE POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BY THE MAC ARE THE DEFAULT "STANDARD OF CARE" FOR THE PROVISION OF PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE PENINSULA, MIDDLE PENINSULA, AND NORTHERN NECK. IN FY22, PEMS ENTERED INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH AMIR LOUKA, MD, AS THE REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR (RMD) FOR PEMS, CONSISTENT WITH RESPONSIBILITIES LISTED UNDER THE VIRGINIA EMS REGULATIONS 12 VAC 5-31- 1890. II. PROTOCOL, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES IMPLEMENTATION - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES AND MANAGES THE REGION'S ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (ALS), BASIC LIFE SUPPORT (BLS), PEDIATRIC CARE, AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION (WMD) PATIENT CARE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES FOR ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EMS AGENCIES, EMS PROVIDERS, EMS PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS WITHIN THE PEMS REGION. THE PEMS PATIENT CARE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES ARE ADOPTED BY THE MAC AS A REGIONAL TEMPLATE AND GUIDE FOR THE PROVISION OF PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE. PEMS MAINTAINS A PROTOCOLS, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES COMMITTEE (PPP) THAT DRAFTS NEW AND REVISES PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THROUGH THEIR WORK, THE PPP ENSURES THAT REGIONAL PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES CONTINUES TO MEET NATIONAL STANDARDS WHICH REFLECTS CONTINUOUSLY CHANGING MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND EVER MORE EFFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES. IN 2022, TWO SEPARATE NEW AND/OR REVISED PROTOCOL SETS WERE REVIEWED AND ENACTED BY THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE FIRST SET BECAME EFFECTIVE ON MARCH 1, 2022, AND THE SECOND SET BECAME EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 2022. IN THE JULY 2022 PROTOCOL RELEASE THE FORMATTING OF THE PEMS REGIONAL PROTOCOLS POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WAS REVISED TO ALIGN WITH THE REVISED OEMS "SCOPE OF PRACTICE- AND "MEDICATION FORMULARY". IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PROTOCOL, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW PROCESS, PEMS PROVIDED A SYSTEM WHEREBY ANY MEMBER OF AN AGENCY, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC CAN MAKE KNOWN THEIR CONCERNS REGARDING SPECIFIC PATIENT CARE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES, OR PROCEDURES. III. EMS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL MAINTAINS AN ONGOING PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO REGULARLY ASSESS EMS SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT IN PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE AND OUTCOMES. THE COUNCIL'S EMS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT WORK IS LED BY ITS MULTI-DISCIPLINARY PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE (PIC) WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSURING AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PREHOSPITAL CARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE REGION. THE PIC IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSISTING THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH MEDICAL CASE REVIEWS, AND EVALUATION OF PATIENT CARE AND SYSTEM PERFORMANCE DATA. IN ADDITION, THE PIC CONDUCTS STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS TO SUPPORT THE TRAUMA, STEMI AND STROKE COMMITTEES AS WELL AS OTHER COMMITTEES AND WORKGROUPS AS NEEDED. THE PEMS EMS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT (PI) PLAN AND THE REGIONAL PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT TEMPLATES WERE REVIEWED WITHOUT REVISION BY THE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN 2022, OEMS TRANSITIONED THE ELECTRONIC PREHOSPITAL PATIENT CARE REPORTING SYSTEMS FROM "IMAGE TREND" TO "ESO." THE NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS THE COUNCIL TO PULL PERFORMANCE MEASURES ON PATIENT CARE PROVIDED IN THE REGION. THE DATA REPORTS ARE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE MEDICAL DIRECTION, CLINICAL CARE OR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE FOR EMS QUALITY MANAGEMENT. IV. MEDICAL INCIDENT REVIEWS - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES AN ONLINE MIR (MEDICAL INCIDENT REPORT) FOR EMS PROVIDERS AND HOSPITAL STAFF TO DOCUMENT "INCIDENTS" FOR REVIEW. THEY ARE SUBMITTED TO A HIPAA SECURE EMAIL TO PEMS STAFF TO ENSURE REVIEW BY THE APPROPRIATE AGENCY, FACILITY, DEPARTMENT OR PEMS COMMITTEE. GENERAL DATA ON TRENDS FROM MIR REPORTS CAN ALSO DRIVE LOCAL OR REGIONAL PROCEDURE/POLICY/PROTOCOL CHANGES. V. REGIONAL MEDICATION AND EMS SUPPLIES RESTOCKING PROGRAMS - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES A REGIONAL MEDICATION AND EMS SUPPLIES RESTOCKING AGREEMENT WITH ALL EMS AGENCIES AND THE TEN HOSPITALS IN THE REGION WITH FULL-SERVICE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS. THIS AGREEMENT MEETS ALL CURRENT CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES (CMS) FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND DESCRIBES THE REGION'S RESTOCKING PROCEDURES BETWEEN THE HOSPITALS AND EMS AGENCIES LOCATED IN THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGION. THE PENINSULAS INTERFACILITY COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (PICO), THE COUNCIL'S STANDING HOSPITAL FACILITIES COMMITTEE, MAINTAINS THIS AGREEMENT. REGIONAL EMS SUPPLIES RESTOCKING PROGRAM AND AGENCY/HOSPITAL AGREEMENTS ARE UPDATED TO REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH REGIONAL PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES. THE NEW AGREEMENT WAS REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. IN FY22, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL RENEWED BOTH ITS CLASS 6 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE REGISTRATION AND CLINICAL LABORATORY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT (CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER) FOR EMS AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGION. VI. MEDICATION KIT STANDARDIZATION AND EXCHANGE - MEDICATION KITS, RAPID SEQUENCE INTUBATION (RSI) MEDICATION KITS, AND TRAINING MEDICATION KITS ARE LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGION IN SUPPORT OF THE REGIONAL STANDARD OF CARE AS IDENTIFIED IN THE REGIONAL PATIENT CARE PROTOCOLS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. WHILE THE INDIVIDUAL EMS AGENCIES PURCHASE ADDITIONAL OR REPLACEMENT MEDICATION KITS, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ASSUMES THE OWNERSHIP OF THE BOXES FOR REPAIR, REPLACEMENT, AND SYSTEM OVERSIGHT. THE COUNCIL PROVIDES THE MEDICATION KITS AND "EPI" DRUG BOXES. THE CONTENTS OF THE MEDICATION KITS, RSI MEDICATION KITS, AND "EPI" DRUG BOXES ARE RESTOCKED AFTER USE AND ARE OWNED BY THE REGION'S HOSPITAL PHARMACIES. A TRAINING MEDICATION SUPPLIER STOCKS THE TRAINING MEDICATION KITS. THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE PHARMACY COMMITTEE, DEVELOPS THE CONTENT LISTS FOR BOTH MEDICATION KITS AND THE RELATED PROTOCOLS. ALL EMS AGENCIES WITHIN THE REGION COMPLY WITH THE STANDARDIZATION OF THE MEDICATION KITS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE REGIONAL MEDICATION KIT EXCHANGE PROGRAM MANAGED BY THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL'S PHARMACY COMMITTEE. THE COUNCIL'S EMS FIELD COORDINATOR (OPERATIONS) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INVENTORY CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE OF THE REGION'S DRUG BOXES. THE PHARMACY COMMITTEE WORKED TO ASSURE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF APPROVED MEDICATIONS, OR IN THE FACE OF CONTINUED NATIONAL MEDICATION SHORTAGES, WORKED WITH THE MEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE TREATMENT MODALITIES. SYSTEMS WERE ALSO ESTABLISHED TO IDENTIFY DRUG BOXES WITH INCOMPLETE CONTENTS. THE PHARMACY COMMITTEE MODIFIED THE CONTENT LIST FOR THE REGION'S DRUG BOXES TO SUPPORT CHANGES IN REGIONAL TREATMENT PROTOCOLS. IN 2022, AFTER YEARS OF USE, AN INHERENT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE FLAW WAS IDENTIFIED WITH THE PLASTIC DIVIDERS, INTERIOR LATCHES, AND INTERIOR HINGES OF THE MEDICATIONS KITS WHICH RESULTED IN MANY OF THE MEDICATION BOXES GETTING DAMAGED. AFTER RESEARCHING SOLUTIONS, THE COUNCIL WORKED WITH A VENDOR TO MODIFY AND REPAIR BROKEN DRUG BOXES WITH ENHANCED IMPROVEMENTS OF A MORE RESILIENT PLASTIC DIVIDER, METAL HINGES AND LATCHES. THESE MODIFICATIONS WILL EXTEND THE LIFESPAN OF THE MEDICATION KITS. SEVENTY-FIVE MEDICATION KITS HAVE BEEN REFURBISHED.

I. REGIONAL STRATEGIC EMS PLAN - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL UTILIZES A REGIONAL STRATEGIC EMS PLAN WITH ESTABLISHED STRATEGIES AND INITIATIVES, TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL AND STAFF GUIDANCE WITH CONTINUAL DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE REGIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEM OVER TIME. THE DOCUMENT FOCUSES ON FIVE CORE STRATEGIES: PROMOTING COLLABORATIVE APPROACHES, CREATING TOOLS AND RESOURCES, DEVELOPING INFRASTRUCTURES, ASSURING QUALITY AND EVALUATION, AND STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL COUNCIL. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL COMPLETED AN ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE REGIONAL STRATEGIC EMS PLAN AND ITS CORE STRATEGIES AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES. II. THE COUNCIL'S CONTINUITY OF OPERATIONS PLAN (COOP) WAS UPDATED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. THE COOP WAS UTILIZED SUCCESSFULLY THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGINNING MARCH 15, 2020, UNTIL APRIL OF 2022. PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS WERE MAINTAINED AND ENGAGEMENT OF PARTNERS, AGENCIES, PROVIDERS AND OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS WAS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE UTILIZATION OF VIRTUAL MEETING PLATFORMS AND SHAREPOINT SITES. IN FACT, SOME COOP PROCESSES WERE SO EFFECTIVE, THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THEM AS PART OF NORMAL OPERATIONS. THUS, THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT PEMS WOULD ADOPT A HYBRID MODEL FOR COMMITTEE WORK BY OFFERING AN OPTION OF BOTH IN-PERSON MEETINGS COUPLED WITH THE VIRTUAL MEETING PLATFORMS WHICH WOULD GIVE PARTICIPANTS AN OPTION OF HOW THEY WISHED TO ATTEND THE MEETINGS. III. MCI SUPPORT - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES COORDINATION AND ASSISTANCE WITH MASS CASUALTY PLANNING AND TRAINING ON LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATE LEVELS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HAMPTON ROADS METROPOLITAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM AND THE TIDEWATER EMS COUNCIL, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES AND UPDATES A REGIONAL MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT (MCI) PLAN AND GUIDE FOR ALL EMS AGENCIES, EMS PROVIDERS, EMS PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS IN THE REGION. THE HAMPTON ROADS MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT RESPONSE GUIDE INCORPORATES THE PROCESSES OF THE VIRGINIA TRIAGE TAG AS WELL AS THE SIMPLE TRIAGE AND RAPID TREATMENT (START) AND JUMPSTART (PEDIATRIC) PATIENT TRIAGE WHICH WERE ADOPTED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES MCI EXERCISE PLANNING AND EVALUATION, AND MCI TRAINING, ON REQUEST, THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THE COUNCIL ALSO WORKS WITH THE PENINSULAS INTERFACILITY COOPERATION ORGANIZATION (PICO) AND THE EASTERN VIRGINIA HEALTHCARE COALITION TO MONITOR THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL DIVERSION PLAN. IN FY22 THE COUNCIL, IN COORDINATION WITH THE TIDEWATER EMS COUNCIL AND THE HAMPTON ROADS METROPOLITAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM BEGAN A COMPLETE RE- WRITE OF THE HAMPTON ROADS MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NEW DOCUMENT WILL BE COMPLETED IN 2023. IV. HAMPTON ROADS METROPOLITAN MEDICAL RESPONSE SYSTEM (HRMMRS) - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE TIDEWATER EMS COUNCIL, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ASSISTS WITH THE MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HRMMRS. THIS PROGRAM STRIVES TO IMPROVE REGIONAL MEDICAL RESPONSE TO ANY LARGE-SCALE DISASTERS OR ACTS OF TERRORISM WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONS SERVED BY THE HAMPTON ROADS PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION (HRPDC), INCLUDING SURGE CAPACITY PLANNING. SUSTAINMENT FUNDING FROM THE SIXTEEN HRPDC CITIES AND COUNTIES AND VARIOUS FEDERAL CONTRACTS AND GRANTS FUND THIS PROGRAM. IN FY22, THE HRMMRS CONTINUED REGIONAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE HEALTH SYSTEM RESPONSE TO DISASTERS BY ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL GROUPS SUCH AS VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EMERGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE PLANNERS (VDH EP&R), THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (VDEM), THE HAMPTON ROADS ALL-HAZARDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC PLANNING GRANT WORKGROUP, REGIONAL CATASTROPHIC PLANNING GRANT PLANNING TEAM AND MASS CARE AND SHELTERING WORKGROUP, SECURE COMMONWEALTH HEALTH AND MEDICAL SUBPANEL, THE EASTERN VIRGINIA HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS COORDINATING GROUP, THE CITIES READINESS INITIATIVE AND THE REGIONAL ALL HAZARDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE. V. EASTERN VIRGINIA HEALTHCARE COALITION - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PARTNERS WITH THE EASTERN VIRGINIA HEALTHCARE COALITION TO DEVELOP RESILIENCY WITHIN THE HAMPTON ROADS AND EASTERN VIRGINIA REGION'S HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE FACILITIES, EMS AGENCIES, NON- GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS AND SERVICES AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN TIMES OF CRISIS. THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVES ON THE COALITION'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. AN "EXERCISE AND TRAINING" WORKGROUP WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST THE AREA HOSPITAL SYSTEMS WITH CONTINUED REGIONAL PLANNING AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH SYSTEM RESPONSE TO DISASTERS BY PARTICIPATING IN TABLETOP, FUNCTIONAL AND FULL- SCALE EXERCISES IN ORDER TO ASSIST WITH EXERCISE PLANNING AND EVALUATION SUPPORT. WITH THE NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES OF COVID- 19 DIMINISHING PEMS NOT ONLY PARTICIPATED IN VIRTUAL TABLE TOP EXERCISES, BUT ALSO PARTICIPATED IN FUNCTIONAL EXERCISES WITH RIVERSIDE HEALTH SYSTEMS AND BON SECOURS MERCY HEALTH SYSTEMS.

I. REGIONAL INFORMATION AND REFERRAL - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AIDED LOCAL JURISDICTIONS, EMS AGENCIES, EMS PROVIDERS, EMS PHYSICIANS, HOSPITALS, OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS, AND THE PUBLIC WITH EMS INFORMATION AND REFERRALS; SERVED AS A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR REGIONAL AND STATE EMS PAMPHLETS, POSTERS, DISPLAYS AND OTHER EMS PUBLIC RELATION AND RECRUITMENT MATERIALS; MAINTAINED AND UPDATED AN INFORMATIONAL WEBSITE. ALL COURSE OFFERINGS WERE POSTED, TO INCLUDE COURSES OFFERED BY THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AS WELL AS OTHER EMS-RELATED COURSES. ON-LINE REGISTRATION FOR TEST SITES, COURSES, ETC. WERE ALSO INCLUDED ON THE WEBSITE. THROUGH THE COUNCIL WEBSITE, STAFF ALSO PROVIDED CONTACT INFORMATION, INCLUDING TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND E-MAIL ADDRESSES SO THAT AGENCIES, PROVIDERS, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY COULD CONTACT ANY STAFF MEMBER WITH A MINIMUM OF DELAY. ALL COUNCIL BUSINESS INVOLVING HIPAA/PHI COMMUNICATIONS TAKES PLACE USING SECURE EMAIL AND FAX SYSTEMS. THE COUNCIL SPONSORS A LISTSERV, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER ACCOUNTS AND DISTRIBUTES INFORMATION TO SUBSCRIBERS ON A FREQUENT BASIS. SUBSCRIPTION IS MADE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE INTERESTED. EMS EDUCATION AND TRAINING - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES, FACILITATES, AND SUPPORTS EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING CONTINUING EDUCATION "REQUIRED TOPICS," THROUGHOUT THE REGION BY COORDINATING INSTRUCTOR NETWORKING WHICH FACILITATES AND AIDS IN THE PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION TO SUPPORT EMS AGENCIES WITHIN THE REGION. THE COUNCIL PARTNERED WITH HOSPITALS IN THE REGION TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL TRAUMA SYMPOSIUM FOR PRE- HOSPITAL AND HOSPITAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE PROVIDERS, MAINTAINED CDC, VDH AND OTHER HEALTH-RELATED INFORMATION ON THE COUNCIL WEBSITE, PARTNERED WITH EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTERS INCLUDING RAPPAHANNOCK COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMS PROGRAMS (EMT-BASIC, EMT- INTERMEDIATE AND EMT- PARAMEDIC) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, THOMAS NELSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE (EMT-BASIC, EMT-INTERMEDIATE AND EMT-PARAMEDIC) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND THE TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE (EMT-INTERMEDIATE AND EMT- PARAMEDIC) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, & ECPI (PARAMEDIC) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. IN FY22, PEMS CONTINUED THE SCHEDULING AND COORDINATION OF UNIQUE STATE FUNDED CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 16 JURISDICTIONS MAKING UP THE PEMS REGION. CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM) TEAM - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL SUPPORTS AND MANAGES ONE OF THE SIXTEEN CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM) TEAMS RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA. THE PEMS CISM TEAM PROVIDES CRITICAL SUPPORT TO THE ENTIRE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMUNITY, INCLUDING POLICE, FIRE, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES, EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, AND HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHO EXPERIENCE PSYCHOLOGICALLY TRAUMATIC EVENTS OR SUFFER FROM THE EFFECTS OF CUMULATIVE EVENTS. THE PEMS CISM TEAM ALSO PROVIDES SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN SIMILAR EVENTS. TEAM MEMBERS PROVIDE PRE-INCIDENT EDUCATION, POST-INCIDENT DEFUSING, DEMOBILIZATION, AND DEBRIEFING. IN FY22, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL'S CISM TEAM RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR CISM TEAM INTERVENTIONS AND EDUCATION REQUESTS FROM BOTH AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE REGION. HOSTED AND PROVIDED STAFF SUPPORT AT SEMI-ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE CISM TEAM. IN FY22, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL CONTINUED LIAISON SUPPORT WITH EMS, FIRE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY PEER SUPPORT TEAMS IN THE REGION, COORDINATING EDUCATION AND ASSISTING THEM WITH STATE ACCREDITATION. II. CONSOLIDATED EMS TESTING - ON MAY 5, 2022, THE STATE EMS ADVISORY BOARD APPROVED A MOTION BY THE MEDICAL DIRECTION COMMITTEE TO ELIMINATE CONSOLIDATED TESTING AT THE BLS LEVEL AND REPLACE IT WITH THE NEW BLS PSYCHOMOTOR COMPETENCY VERIFICATION GUIDANCE DOCUMENT BASED ON TWO YEARS OF DATA AND EVIDENCE GAINED DURING THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC. ON JUNE 15, 2022, THE PEMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED A RESOLUTION TO ELIMINATE THE PEMS CTS COMMITTEE. III. REGIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM - EACH YEAR, THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL CONDUCTS A REGIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM. THESE AWARDS RECOGNIZE THE UNIQUE AND ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT EMS PLAYS IN THE COMMUNITY AND HONORS THE INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES THAT HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO EMS IN THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGION. THE REGIONAL AWARD WINNERS ARE NOMINATED FOR THE GOVERNORS EMS AWARDS. THE COUNCIL ALSO WORKS WITH ITS PARTNERS TO PROVIDE A REGIONAL AWARD PROGRAM TO HONOR THE NOMINEES AND RECIPIENTS OF THE ANNUAL REGIONAL EMS AWARDS. IN 2022, PEMS HOSTED THE ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY AT EMS DAY AT BUSCH GARDENS. THE 2022 MICHAEL B. PLAYER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN EMS WAS AWARDED TO GARY SAMUELS, NRP EMS OUTREACH COORDINATOR, BON SECOURS HEALTH SYSTEM. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR INNOVATION EXCELLENCE IN EMS WAS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT ANDRE DORSEY, NRP FOR THE CARE PROGRAM, NEWPORT NEWS FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE 2022 JOSEPH B. HOWARD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PREHOSPITAL PROVIDER WAS AWARDED TO CAPTAIN TYLER N. REID, NRP, YORK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY. THE 2022 GAYLORD RAY, MD AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMS PHYSICIAN WAS AWARDED TO DR. JAMES MCCORRY, D.O., EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, RIVERSIDE WILLIAMSBURG DOCTORS' HOSPITAL. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PREHOSPITAL EDUCATOR WAS AWARDED TO DONNA M. GALGANSKI-PABST, NRP, PARAMEDIC/EMS EDUCATOR, JAMES CITY COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, YORK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY. THE 2022 MELISSA HOLLOWAY AWARD FOR NURSE WITH OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMS WAS AWARDED TO LOU ANN MILLER, RN, TRAUMA PROGRAM MANAGER, RIVERSIDE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER. THE 2022 RUSSELL L. LOWRY, JR. AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMS LEADERSHIP WAS AWARDED TO BATTALION CHIEF MELISSA M. DOAK, NRP, YORK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE WAS AWARDED TO RICHMOND COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMS AGENCY WAS AWARDED TO NIGHTINGALE REGIONAL AIR AMBULANCE. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMS FOR CHILDREN WAS AWARDED TO PEMS PEDIATRIC PROTOCOL RE-WRITE COMMITTEE, (CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KING'S DAUGHTERS, PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF RICHMOND AT VCU HEALTH). THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO EMS HEALTH AND SAFETY WAS AWARDED TO ASSISTANT CHIEF ANDREW J. WATERS, NRP, YORK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF FIRE AND LIFE SAFETY. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CALL OF THE YEAR WAS AWARDED TO NEWPORT NEWS FIRE DEPARTMENT. - ETHANOL FIRE WITH MULTIPLE BURN VICTIMS. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING EMS TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WAS AWARDED TO TIFFANI P. SOULT, EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATOR/DISPATCHER, JAMES CITY COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS CENTER. THE 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR WAS AWARDED TO OLIVIA N. SCHULTZ, EMT, GLOUCESTER VOLUNTEER FIRE AND RESCUE SQUAD, GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL/GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL FOR MARINE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. 2022 PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL REGIONAL PRESIDENT'S AWARDS WERE PRESENTED FOR "EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PEMS COUNCIL AS BOARD MEMBER 2017-2022" - JAMES W. BRANN, NRP, MIDDLE PENINSULA CITY/COUNTY GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE, "EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PEMS COUNCIL AS BOARD MEMBER 2016-2022" -JASON A. SWEET, NRP, PENINSULA LICENSED EMS AGENCY REPRESENTATIVE, "EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES FOR THE PEMS COUNCIL 1991-2022" - LOU ANN MILLER, RN, 30 YEARS HAMPTON ROADS TRAUMA SYMPOSIUM, PEMS TRAUMA TRIAGE COMMITTEE, PEMS PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, VIRGINIA TRAUMA SYSTEM PLAN TASK FORCE, EMS ADVISORY BOARD TRAUMA ADMINISTRATIVE AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE. THE RECIPIENTS OF THE REGIONAL AWARDS WITH CORRESPONDING STATE EMS AWARD CATEGORIES WERE SUBMITTED AS NOMINEES FOR THE COVETED 2022 GOVERNOR'S EMS AWARDS, WHICH WERE ANNOUNCED AT THE VIRGINIA EMS SYMPOSIUM IN NOVEMBER, 2022. FIVE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL NOMINEES RECEIVED GOVERNOR'S AWARDS; GARY SAMUELS NRP, LOU ANN MILLER RN, TYLER REID NRP, THE PEMS COUNCIL PEDIATRIC PROTOCOL REWRITE COMMITTEE, AND THE NIGHTINGALE REGIONAL AIR AMBULANCE. IV. RESCUE SQUAD ASSISTANCE FUND (RSAF) - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL PROVIDES LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, HOSPITALS, AND EMS AGENCIES WITH COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES FOR EMS GRANTS INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL PROVIDES EQUIPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EXTENSIVE FEDERAL, STATE AND REGIONAL GRANT PROGRAMS. THE COUNCIL'S RSAF GRANT REVIEW COMMITTEE CONDUCTED REVIEWS IN THE SPRING AND FALL TO GRADE THE REQUESTS AND MAKE COMMENTS. THE GRADES AND COMMENTS WERE FORWARDED TO THE VIRGINIA FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER DURING THEIR PROCESS OF RECOMMENDING VIRGINIA RESCUE SQUAD ASSISTANCE FUND GRANTS AWARDS. IN FY22 PEMS COUNCIL EMS AGENCIES WERE AWARDED 186,100.80 IN RSAF GRANTS.

I. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL INTERACTS WITH THE VIRGINIA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES COMMITTEES TO PROVIDE AVENUES FOR TWO-WAY INFORMATION SHARING AND STATEWIDE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS AND ENHANCEMENTS. STATE COMMITTEES FOR WHICH THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL HAS COMMITTED STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND RESOURCES INCLUDE: STATE EMS ADVISORY BOARD, STATE MEDICAL DIRECTION COMMITTEE, STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, STATE EMS AWARDS COMMITTEE, STATE MEDICAL DIRECTION COMMITTEE, STATE LEGISLATION AND PLANNING COMMITTEE, STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, STATE TRAUMA PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, STATE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, VIRGINIA STROKE CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY GROUP, STATE PROVIDER HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE, GOVERNOR'S SECURE AND RESILIENT COMMONWEALTH PANEL, HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES SUBPANEL. II. COVID-19 - THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL OFFICE OPERATED VIRTUALLY FROM HOME FOR THE THREE QUARTERS OF FY22. DURING THAT TIME, ALL STAFF, BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS WERE CONDUCTED VIA CONFERENCE CALL/WEBINARS. THE COUNCIL CONTINUALLY MONITORED THE STATUS OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. THIS INCLUDED NUMBER OF CASES, NUMBERS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS, NUMBERS OF TRANSPORTS OF PATIENTS SUSPECTED OF HAVING CONTRACTED THE VIRUS, THE NUMBER OF ILLNESSES OF EMS PROVIDERS, ETC. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL CONTINUED TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDELINES FROM THE CDC, VDH AND THE OTHER VIRGINIA REGIONAL EMS COUNCILS WITH OUR AGENCIES ALONG WITH NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL PANDEMIC INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ALSO UTILIZED SEVERAL INFORMAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS TO COORDINATE COVID-19 INFORMATION USING AVAILABLE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL MONITORED SYSTEMS AND CRITICAL SYSTEMS, AND PARTICIPATED IN COVID-19 PLANNING, MITIGATION AND RESPONSE ACTIVITIES WITH REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY PARTNERS. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL MAINTAINED AN EMERGENCY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) CACHE - RECEIVED DONATIONS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) FOR EMS AGENCIES FROM THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC STOCKPILE, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OFFICE OF EMS, PRIVATE CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS AND DISTRIBUTED THEM TO EMS AGENCIES BASED ON NEED. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ALSO RECEIVED ABBOTT BINAXNOW COVID-19 ANTIGEN AGCARD TEST KITS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO ITS CONSTITUENTS. THE STRONG COLLABORATION OF THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HELPED TO SEEK OUT AND DEVELOP ECONOMIES OF SCALE IN ORDER TO REAP THE BENEFIT OF JOINT PURCHASING TO MAXIMIZE AVAILABLE RESOURCES. IN THE LAST QUARTER OF FY22, AS THE NUMBER OF AFFECTED PATIENTS IN THE PEMS REGION SUBSIDED, THE DECISION WAS MADE FOR PEMS STAFF TO RETURN IN-PERSON TO THE PEMS' OFFICE. A MODIFIED/HYBRID SYSTEM FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS WAS DEVELOPED TO ALLOW FOR A SIMULTANEOUS IN-PERSON MEETING AND VIRTUAL MEETING TO BE CONDUCTED. III. GREATER WILLIAMSBURG HEARTSAFE ALLIANCE - A COMMUNITY PROGRAM INVOLVING THE GREATER WILLIAMSBURG AREA (THE CITIES OF WILLIAMSBURG AND POQUOSON AND THE COUNTIES OF JAMES CITY AND YORK), THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY, THE GREATER WILLIAMSBURG CHAMBER AND TOURISM ALLIANCE, RIVERSIDE HEALTH SYSTEM AND SENTARA HEALTHCARE. IN FY22 THE GREATER WILLIAMSBURG HEARTSAFE ALLIANCE ENGAGED THE GREATER WILLIAMSBURG COMMUNITY THROUGH CITIZEN EDUCATION, HANDS-ONLY CPR TRAINING AND AWARENESS OF AED ACCESS. THROUGH THE USE OF THE ALLIANCE'S FUNDED TWO SMART PHONE APPS "PULSEPOINT- AND "PULSEPOINT AED," THE TWO PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINTS PROVIDING 9-1 -1 EMERGENCY DISPATCHING IN THE GREATER WILLIAMSBURG AREA, NOTIFIED CITIZENS WHEN CARDIAC ARRESTS OCCURRED IN PUBLIC AND THE LOCATION OF THE CLOSEST AVAILABLE AED. IV. EMS SYSTEMS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY - IN 2022, THE EMS SYSTEMS - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST ASSISTED THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL IN THE ASSESSMENT, ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LARGE-SCALE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS SUCH AS CLOUD NETWORK SERVICES, LAPTOP SYSTEMS, SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS, LOCAL AND CLOUD- BASED SOFTWARE, UPGRADES AND TRANSITIONS. THESE ARE EMS SYSTEM (PLANNING, DELIVERY, AND EVALUATION) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TOOLS. THE ADOPTION OF A NEW HYBRID COMMITTEE MEETINGS FORMAT, REQUIRED ADAPTATIONS TO BE MADE TO THE MEETING ROOMS WITH INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS, INTEGRATION OF TELEVISION AND PROJECTION SYSTEMS AS WELL AS AUDIO CONTROL SYSTEMS SO THAT MEETINGS COULD TAKE PLACE IN THE PEMS FACILITY WHILE BEING DELIVERED SIMULTANEOUSLY ON A VIRTUAL PLATFORM. NOT ONLY DID THIS PROJECT INVOLVE CHANGES TO THE HARDWARE, BUT IT ALSO INCLUDED ADOPTION OF MS TEAMS MEETING PLATFORMS AND ASSOCIATED SOFTWARE TO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY CONDUCT NECESSARY MEETINGS AND OTHER PEMS BUSINESS. THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ACTED AS THE REGIONAL RESOURCE AND ADVOCATE FOR TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO SECURE TIMELY AND EFFECTIVE REGIONAL EMS SYSTEM DATA COLLECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND SHARING. THE EMS SYSTEMS IT SPECIALIST WORKED WITH COUNCIL STAFF, COMMITTEES AND VOLUNTEERS, EMS AGENCIES, JURISDICTIONS AND HOSPITALS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR EMS SYSTEM PLANNING, PATIENT CARE DELIVERY DECISIONS AND EVALUATION. WITH THE HELP OF THIS INDIVIDUAL THE PENINSULAS EMS COUNCIL ASSISTED EMS AGENCIES AND THE VIRGINIA OFFICE OF EMS TRANSITION THE ELECTRONIC PREHOSPITAL PATIENT CARE REPORTING CONTRACT FROM IMAGE TREND TO ESO.