2010 EMSC Program News
EMSC and ATS Gear Up for National Trauma Month (03/11/2010)
The EMSC Program is teaming up with the American Trauma Society (ATS) to promote National Trauma Awareness Month. Occurring during the month of May, the commemorative celebration is designed to raise awareness about trauma and trauma prevention. This year’s observance will focus on distracted driving, demonstrating the dangers of driving while eating, texting, using a cell phone or other hand-held devices.
The EMSC National Resource Center created the artwork and an informational brochure for this year’s observation. It along with other materials will be distributed to more than 200 trauma centers throughout the country. Electronic copies of the brochure are available for download on the NRC website.
EMSC Releases Targeted Issues Grant Guidance (03/08/2010)
The Health Resources and Service Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau has released its EMSC Targeted Issue Grant Guidance for the fiscal year 2010 new competition. EMSC Targeted Issue grants are intended to improve the health infrastructure and systems of care, as well as assuring quality of care. Applications should address specific needs in the field of pediatric emergency care that transcend state boundaries.
Typically the projects result in a new product or resource or the demonstration of the effectiveness of a model system component or service of value to the nation. Objectives must meet a demonstrable need, and methodologies and strategies for achieving the objectives must be realistic, appropriate, and scientifically sound. Each application must contain an evaluation plan that contains measurable outcomes and clearly defined time frames for conducting the evaluation.
The Health Resources and Service Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau anticipates making five awards at $300,000 a year for three years with a project start date of September 1, 2010. Applications are due in Grants.gov on April 23, 2010. Applicants should carefully review the project focus areas on pages 1 - 2 of the application guidance.
New York EMSC Advisory Committee Posts Pediatric Regionalization Paper (03/04/2010)
New York’s EMSC Advisory Committee has recently posted online the document Pediatric Regional Critical Care Hospitals: White Paper on Evidence and Improvement Opportunities in New York. The white paper focuses on the regionalization of pediatric care, and may be of assistance to EMSC grantees working on facility recognition programs, as applicable to performance measures 74 and 75.
Puerto Rico EMSC Shares Updates on Program Activities (03/04/2010)
On March 3, 2010, the Puerto Rico EMSC program excitedly shared their successes with moving forward on legislation (PR public law 544) authorizing the Secretary of Health to establish a trauma system in Puerto Rico. The amendment seeks to create a uniform protocol for handling and transferring trauma patients. It also requires the establishment of a process to designate trauma centers. For all of their hard work on this issue, special recognition goes to: the EMSC program staff; Dr. Lorenzo González, Secretary of Health; and Thomas Rivera Schatz, president of the Senate of Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico also continued its efforts to train medical professionals by sponsoring a Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) course.
NEDARC Announces 2010 Workshops (02/18/2010)
The National Emergency Medical Services for Children Data Analysis Resource Center (NEDARC) has posted finalized 2010 workshop topics and locations based on results from a recent workshop topics needs assessment survey. Workshops will address: improving EMSC performance measure survey response rates, creating tables and charts for presentations and reports, scientific grant writing, and analyzing state EMSC performance measure data. Attendees are responsible for arranging their own travel, lodging, meals, and incidentals.
EMSC NRC Releases Interactive Tool for Disaster Volunteers (02/05/2010)
In partnership with the Mailman School of Public Health and the National Center for Disaster Preparedness, the EMSC National Resource Center has developed an online interactive map designed to provide health care professionals interested in volunteering a resource to identify disaster volunteer agencies in their state. As you click on the desired state, agencies recruiting volunteers will be listed in alphabetical order along with the type of health care volunteers needed and any required training and certifications. Volunteer applications for each agency are also provided. For additional information about the new tool, contact Jaclynn Haymon at jhaymon@cnmc.org.
EMSC Announces Changes to Pediatric Equipment List (02/04/2010)
The EMSC Program has updated an item on the Recommended Pediatric Equipment List for BLS and ALS Ambulances. After a survey and lengthy discussion amongst experts, states and territories will now be allowed to carry UNCUFFED AND/OR CUFFED Endotracheal (ET) Tubes for sizes 2.5 to 8.0. This change affects EMSC Performance Measure 73, which requires that all states and territories have essential pediatric equipment and supplies as outlined in national guidelines.
Hannah Stream Joins EMSC as Utah’s Program Manager (02/02/2010)
EMSC welcomes Hannah Stream as Utah’s new program manager. Hannah most recently served as an emergency disaster planner in the Utah Department of Health’s Preparedness Program where her duties included supervising the Continuity Program, coordinating pandemic influenza response plans, and overseeing aspects of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response grants.
Hannah holds a Masters Degree in Public Health from The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her educational background also includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Mercyhurst College, as well as a certificate in cytotechnology from the Johns Hopkins School in Clinical Cellular Sciences. She has experience working in pathology in the hospital laboratory setting at the Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Pennsylvania.
Hannah can be reached at hstream@utah.gov.
Nominate Your Colleague Today for an EMSC National Hero Award (02/01/2010)
The EMSC National Resource Center (NRC) is currently seeking nominations for the 2010 EMSC National Heroes Awards (NHA). These awards are presented to individuals who make an outstanding contribution to the EMSC program.
This year's award categories include: EMSC Project Coordinator/Manager of Distinction, EMSC Provider Leadership, EMSC Family Volunteer of the Year, EMSC Advisory Committee Member, Outstanding EMSC Research Project, State EMSC Policy Leader of Distinction, and EMSC Lifetime Achievement.
To nominate an individual, please complete the online nomination form. Nominations will only be accepted using the EMSC National Resource Center's online nomination process. Criteria used to select the winning candidate in each category are available for download. All nominations are due no later than Friday, March 12.
National Heroes Award winners will be announced at this year's Annual EMSC Program Meeting to be held May 25 - 27, at the Doubletree Hotel and Executive Meeting Center in Bethesda, MD.
Save the Date: EMSC to Sponsor Three Upcoming Webcasts (01/20/2010)
The federal EMSC Program will sponsor the following three webcasts in February and March:
For more information or to register for a webcast, click on the name of the webcast above. Please register at least one day in advance
Oregon EMSC Advisory Committee Member Presents Online Pediatric Education (01/07/2010)
Oregon EMSC Advisory Committee Member Cynthia Cristofani, MD, along with staff from Providence Medical Center, presented the webinar “Caring for the Pediatric Brain.” The presentation includes slides, audio, and a video of pediatric patients receiving a neuro -assessment for behavior. The presentation also reviews several types of seizures.
NRC Provides Updates on Health Reform Legislation and Information (01/07/2010)
On November 7, 2009, the House of Representatives passed their version of health care reform legislation, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The Senate followed suit and passed their version of such legislation, H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, on December 24, 2009. The EMSC National Resource Center's Karen Belli has available the various EMS-related provisions in both bills. The House and Senate will have to work out the differences between the legislation and vote on a final, compromise bill before health care reform can become law.
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