12/29/11

Public Affairs: Matt Zavadsky, Senior Editor

AAA Government Affairs E-Update 12-28-11

Dec 29, 2011, 6:12:28 AM

Special Report

2011 National EMS Assessment Report Released

The Federal Interagency Committee for Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS) has released the 2011 National EMS Assessment. Sponsored by FICEMS and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the report provides the first ever comprehensive description of emergency medical services, EMS emergency preparedness and 911 systems at state and national levels using existing data sources.

Dec 28, 2011, 12:40:58 PM

World

Wife pays tribute to hero paramedic killed after winch line was cut - Australia

Mick Wilson, 41, died when a helicopter winch line he was attached to was cut during the rescue of two canyoners at Carrington Falls, southwest of Wollongong, on Christmas Day.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:55:43 PM

World

HSE 'ignored door warnings for years' before paramedic's death - Ireland

WARNINGS about dangerous ambulance doors were ignored for three years before the death of a paramedic who fell from a moving emergency vehicle.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:55:05 PM

Medevac

Medical Helicopter Makes Unexpected Landing - Ohio

The crew, based in East Liverpool, was flying back from St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, where they had taken the driver of a crashed propane tanker truck in Lisbon.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:55:02 PM

Military

Army medic from Marshfield killed in Afghanistan on Christmas Day - Wisconsin

After he finished his second tour of duty in Iraq, Joe Altmann could have switched careers and found a safer job. But the Army medic from Marshfield never gave it a thought; he just couldn't bring himself to leave his fellow soldiers.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:46:29 PM

Bodily Assault Log

EMT Worker Assault While Responding To A Call - North Carolina

As he provided medical assistance to the injured person and waited for the EMS crew to arrive, Watson says, the family became upset with Rosene's service and started hitting and kicking him.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:44:56 PM

Bodily Assault Log

Dickson City man attacked officers, EMT responding to medical call - Pennsylvania

A borough man overdosed on drugs Christmas morning then fought with police and medical personnel responding to his home to treat him, according to a criminal complaint.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:43:46 PM

Ambulance Crash Log

Ambulance crash in North Hollywood injures four people - California

Four people were hurt Monday when a Los Angeles Fire Department ambulance collided with another vehicle in North Hollywood.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:42:48 PM

Ambulance Crash Log

Investigation under way after helicopter crash - Florida

Federal investigators were in Florida on Tuesday examining the wreckage of a helicopter crash that killed three people on a medical flight, officials said.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:36:56 PM

America

Update on Lewis County, Ky. Ambulance Response Times - Kentucky

Family said he was freezing and shaking. They also said Mosley laid there for over two hours before the ambulance showed up to help.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:36:21 PM

America

EMS bill would raise costs, threaten volunteer network - New Jersey

The volunteer EMS community is urging all New Jerseyans to contact the governor’s office to request he veto the bill, as it would spell disaster for the state’s EMS system.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:33:14 PM

America

Preston ambulance cited for low staffing - Minnesota

A southeastern Minnesota ambulance service that failed to always keep two workers on duty must undergo an assessment and make sure it is fully staffed, according to an order by the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board in November.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:32:25 PM

America

Salem County freeholders take key step toward establishing countywide ambulance service - New Jersey

The Countywide Emergency Medical Services Plan would ensure faster responses to emergency medical situations, officials say. It would not, however, replace current paid and volunteer ambulance squads operating in Salem County.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:31:23 PM

America

Ambulance Workers and Pension Reform - Hawaii

In the course of examining whether Honolulu’s ambulance fleet adequately meets the island’s needs, the audit uncovered excessive overtime use by employees. In some cases, workers earned between 200 percent and 350 percent of their regular salaries in overtime.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:30:17 PM

America

EMS director calls 1st year success - Ohio

The county was forced to start its own EMS after the three-decades-long Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Service was disbanded.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:28:32 PM

America

Computer systems restored at Aspirus - Wisconsin

Fire departments were alerted at about 8:20 a.m. to send their ambulances with patients to other hospitals. Ambulances were allowed to bring patients to the Aspirus emergency room at 1 p.m. The emergency room remained open during the down time to walk-in complaints, Aune said.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:27:10 PM

America

Peoria company declines purchase of Clinton Ambulance - Illinois

Peoria-based Advanced Medical Transport will not buy Clinton Ambulance Service, Dr. John Warner Hospital CEO Earl Sheehy told the hospital board Tuesday. The hospital plans to terminate its ambulance service in December 2012.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:26:07 PM

America

City of Sturgis renews ambulance contract - Michigan

The committee, which oversees a contract for ambulatory services with LifeCare, includes about a dozen area governmental entities.

Dec 29, 2011, 8:24:29 PM

America

Controversial EMS bill awaits governor's nod - New Jersey

The Assembly passed bill A-2095, which is designed to introduce legislation that will lead to major overhauls in the current EMS system

Dec 29, 2011, 8:23:20 PM

America

Quick actions by family, emergency responders save Arlington man - Texas

Pace nearly died while putting up Christmas decorations along the gutter of his Arlington home.

Dec 29, 2011, 1:40:37 AM

America

Ambulance Service Providers denounce Medi-Cal reimbursement cuts - California

The California Ambulance Association (CAA), which represents the state’s emergency ambulance service providers, is denouncing the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) decision to cut Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, and calls into question DHCS’ continued practice of increasing costs on insured patients and diminishing the quality of emergency 9-1-1 care for all Californians in order to subsidize the Medi-Cal program.

Dec 27, 2011, 2:43:06 PM

Ambulance Crash Log

3 dead in medical helicopter crash - Florida

Three people -- a surgeon, a medical technician and a pilot -- were killed Monday when a medical helicopter crashed in Florida, the Mayo Clinic said.

Dec 26, 2011, 2:51:18 PM

America

Arlington paramedic/firefighter saves man at graduation ceremony - Texas

The paramedic/firefighter was at the ceremony watching her own daughter graduate. Peña was there with her other child, who also is a trained paramedic, and together they helped bring Campbell back to life.

Dec 25, 2011, 3:15:02 PM