EMS on AIR Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Mark Piehl and Dr. Peter Antevy discuss why EMS must adopt a more thoughtful approach to fluid resuscitation for critically ill or injured patients.  Specifically, patients in shock. It turns out that EMS needs to take a more of a proactive approach to recognizing the need for and administering fluids for certain patients. Dr. Piehl, and Dr. Antevy are here to put a spotlight on the value of fluid resuscitation in the pre-hospital setting, walk us through the data, and discuss the how EMS can provide the right amount of fluid in the right amount of time to make a big impact for our patients.  Dr. Peter Antevy is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, as well as an EMS Medical Director for several fire-based EMS agencies in South Florida.  Dr. Mark Piehl is a Pediatric Intensivist at WakeMed Health & Hospitals.  He is also the Assistant Medical Director for WakeMed Mobile Critical Care, and an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. On top of all that Dr. Piehl is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of 410 Medical, Inc. as well as the inventor of LifeFlow. LifeFlow is a device used to deliver rapid fluid boluses or blood transfusion for patients with signs of shock.  Visit 410medical.com for more information about LifeFlow.  Click here for access studies and information that support the information expressed in this episode:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/152po79RnJcXI53-AlxRsoUKbH_ODnqDh?usp=sharingPlease keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback, and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at Geoff@EMSonAIR.com Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AAS.  Host/Producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Sponsorships, GuardianCME.comGeoff@EMSonAIR.com      Support the show

This episode is a preview of the interviews and discussions scheduled EMS on AIR Podcast Season 3.  Below are links to information and references from this episode.  Visit GuardianCME.com for access to free CAPCE accredited EMS CE courses.  Visit https://general-devices.com/ for more info about e-Bridge.Visit 410medical.com for more information about LifeFlow.  Visit CarterKits.org for more info about their sensory bags.  Article:  Recommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities from the Prehospital Stroke System of Care Consensus Conference. (https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033228)Visit Stroke.org/stroke transportplansPlease keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback, and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at Geoff@EMSonAIR.com Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost/Producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Sponsorships, GuardianCME.comGeoff@EMSonAIR.com      Support the show

During this episode, we welcome Nathan Stanaway, MS, NRP and Alina Capatina MSN, CCRN-K, CNL. These skilled process improvement professionals discuss the strengths and potential roadblocks of integrating a new app that supports EMS when they notify the hospital of an incoming STEMI patient.  Nathan Stanaway is the Senior Manager of Mobile Care EMS, Critical Care Transport, and AHA Training Center at Baystate Health.  Alina Capatina is the former STEMI Program Coordinator at Baystate and has since moved on to the Operations Excellence Department.  In recent years, Alina and Nathan were directly involved in the implementation of e-Bridge into their system. Specifically, their focus was on maximizing care for STEMI patients being transported by EMS.  For scale, Baystate Health is the biggest and busiest STEMI program in Massachusetts.  They receive upwards of 400 STEMI patients per year from the field and from 10 sending facilities around the region.  To them, the importance of EMS in STEMI care is obvious.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback, and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at Geoff@EMSonAIR.com Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost/Producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Sponsorships, GuardianCME.comGeoff@EMSonAIR.com      Support the show

This episode is yet another COVID update from our resident experts Steve McGraw, D.O. and Dr. Russell Faust, MD, PhD.  Steve and Russ are both considered experts in their respective fields and they’re back to give us a COVID-19 update, as well as answer recent questions we’ve received from the EMS and hospital communities.  Most importantly, what they have to say is based in the latest scientific data and literature.  In this episode, our guests provide an update of the COVID-19 pandemic, variants, and vaccines for the EMS and ED communities. Our guests also discuss things to consider as we close out summer and enter a new school season.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback, and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost/Producer, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Education, American CMEFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentQi@ocmca.org Steve McGraw, D.O.Co-Medical Director, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS Medical Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority steven.mcgraw@ascension.org Russell Faust, MD, PhDCo-Medical Director, EMS on AIR Podcast Medical Director, Oakland County Health faustr@oakgov.com Support the show

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Christian Martin-Gill, MD, MPH, who is here to provide us with his perspective regarding the development of stroke systems of care in the suburban environment.  Doc is an ED physician with a deep background in a variety of EMS systems.  Specifically, Dr. Martin-Gill serves as Chief of the Division of EMS, the EMS Fellowship Director, and is an Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He has been a nationally registered paramedic for over 20 years and is also a certified Flight paramedic.   Doc was a co-author of the 2021 Recommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities from the Prehospital Stroke System of Care Consensus Conference, which is the focus of today’s episode.  This landmark consensus provides local and regional EMS agencies and stroke advisory committees with guiding principles and recommendations for how to integrate the elements of a stroke system of care in three key regional settings: urban, suburban, and rural settings.  The consensus seeks to inform or update EMS about new models and systems of acute ischemic stroke care, especially mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke, and how they affect their stroke systems of care.  To maximize the power of the recommendations, the American Heart Association / American Stroke Association produced a very cool and very useful website full of resources and information directly related to helping EMS develop and or fortify their stroke systems of care.  I highly recommend you visit www.Stroke.org/stroketransportplans and use it to consider evolving the stroke system of care in your community. Dr. Martin-Gill is here to help us appreciate what is at stake for stroke patients, as well as the nuances, advantages, and disadvantages of the suburban environment regarding EMS and stroke.  Finally, Doc provides his recommendations regarding how EMS systems should use the contents of the consensus and the stroke.org/stroketransportplans website resources to improve their Stroke Systems of Care and strengthen their stroke chain of survival. Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Recommended resources referenced in the episode:www.Stroke.org/stroketransportplansRecommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities From the Prehospital Stroke System of Care Consensus Conference:  https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.120.033228Contact the episode participants:Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost, EMS on AIR Podcast EMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)FF/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentDirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.org Christian Martin-Gill, MD, MPHAssociate Professor of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicineChief, Division of EMSProgram Director, EMS Fellowshipmartingillc2@upmc.edu Support the show

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Christopher Richards MD, MS, FAEMS, FACEP to the show.  Dr. Richards is an emergency medicine and EMS physician in the Division of EMS in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Cincinnati, as well as a member of the UC Stroke Team. He is the EMS medical director of several EMS agencies in southwest Ohio, as well as the UCHealth Mobile Stroke Unit. He collaborates nationally as a committee chair of the Prehospital Guidelines Consortium, an Advisory Board member of the American Stroke Association, and as a representative to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Brain Attack Coalition.The doc is here to provide us with his perspective regarding the development of stroke systems of care in the urban environment.  Doc is an ED physician with a deep background in a variety of EMS systems.  Most recently, Doc was a co-author of the 2021 Recommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities from the Prehospital Stroke System of Care Consensus Conference, which is the focus of today’s episode.  This landmark consensus provides local and regional EMS agencies and stroke advisory committees with guiding principles and recommendations for how to integrate the elements of a stroke system of care in three key regional settings: urban, suburban, and rural settings. It also takes into account the differences in resources, hospital certifications, geography, and population density. Additionally, it seeks to inform or update EMS about new models and systems of acute ischemic stroke care, especially mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke, and how they affect their stroke systems of care.  You can find a link to the 2021 Recommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities in the episode description.  To maximize the power of the recommendations, the AHA/ASA produced a very cool and very useful website full of resources and information directly related to helping EMS develop and or fortify their stroke systems of care.  I highly recommend you visit www.Stroke.org/stroketransportplans and use it to consider evolving the stroke system of care in your community. During this episode, Dr. Richards will help us appreciate what is at stake for stroke patients.  From there, we dive into the meat of the discussion, which is a focus on the nuances, advantages, and disadvantages of the urban environment regarding EMS and stroke.  Finally, Doc will give his recommendations regarding how EMS systems should use the contents of this paper to improve their Stroke Systems of Care and strengthen their stroke chain of survival.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode participants:Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost, EMS on AIR PodcastQi@ocmca.orgChristopher T. Richards, MD, MS, FAEMS, FACEPAssistant ProfessorDivision of Emergency Medical ServicesDepartment of Emergency MedicineUniversity of Cincinnati College of Medicinechristopher.richards@uc.eduSupport the show

In this episode, Dr. Samantha Mishra and I introduce you to Dr.Kelly Levasseur, DO, MS, who is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician at Children’s Hospital of Michigan located in Detroit.  Dr. Levasseur is a graduate of Michigan State University School of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her pediatric residency and pediatric emergency medicine fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Throughout the pandemic many of us were under the impression that kids aren’t as negatively impacted by a COVID-19 infection as adults, especially the elderly and those with co-morbidities.  Although this statement is truly in a very general sense, there’s still plenty to be concerned about and understand.  Dr. Kelly and Dr. Sam help us appreciate what is at stake for children who are infected by COVID-19.  Then, Dr. Levasseur lends her expertise to help EMS understand MIS-C, or multi-inflammatory syndrome in children, what it looks like and its relationship to COVD-19. Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode host or guests:Geoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/C Creator, host and producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.org Kelly Levasseur, DO, MSPediatric Emergency Medicine Physician, Children’s Hospital of MichiganChair, American Academy of Pediatrics, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Quality Improvement sub-committeeAssociate professor, Children’s Hospital of Michiganklevasse@dmc.orgSamantha Mishra DO, MPHEMS for Children Coordinator – State of MichiganMichigan Department of Health and Human ServicesBureau of EMS, Trauma, and PreparednessMishraS@michigan.govSupport the show

Right now, stroke systems of care are being developed and/or fortified all over the world in order to connect the latest advancements in hospital stroke care directly to stroke victims through collaborative, data driven strategic planning and execution with EMS.  In today’s episode, we welcome two new guests to discuss stroke, FAST-ED and data driven decisions.  Jonathan R. Studnek PhD NRP, Deputy Director of Operations, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, and Patricia Dowbiggin, MPH EMT-P, Process Improvement Advisor, Mecklenburg EMS Agency, have been invited to the EMS on AIR podcast to discuss their stroke study and successful implementation of the FAST-ED stroke severity scale into their EMS agency, so that we can all gain knowledge from their lessons learned.  During this episode, our guests help us appreciate what is at stake for stroke patients.  Then, they’ll describe why it’s important for EMS to evolve their ability to appreciate, recognize and respond to stroke patients.  Finally, our guests discuss the importance of data driven decisions and publishing research for the field of knowledge.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode host or guests:Geoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/C Creator, host and producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.org Steve McGraw, D.O.Co-Host and Co-Medical Director, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS Medical Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority steven.mcgraw@ascension.orgJonathan R. Studnek PhD NRPDeputy Director of Operations, Mecklenburg EMS Agencyjonst@MEDIC911.comPatricia Dowbiggin, MPH EMT-PProcess Improvement Advisor, Mecklenburg EMS AgencyPatriciad@MEDIC911.comSupport the show

In today’s episode, we discuss tranexamic acid, or TXA. TXA is a medication that helps prevent the body from prematurely breaking down clots. It doesn’t make new clots.  It protects existing clots as they are formed. TXA was originally developed for the treatment of hemophilia and to reduce bleeding in patients undergoing oral surgery. Eventually, it was shown to be an effective preoperative drug that minimizes the need for large amounts of whole blood during general surgery procedures. TXA is now being used by EMS to treat severely injured trauma patients in the field who have or are at risk for severe hemorrhage.  Starting June 2021, TXA will be added to the drug box on my rig, along with every other EMS rig in Michigan’s Southeast Region, which includes over a half dozen counties in the area. This new addition to the box will affect thousands of EMS units, paramedics, and hundreds of EMS agencies.  If you are a paramedic in my area, I suggest you reach out to your EMS coordinator and find out if this change will impact your treatments.  This change impacts the following protocols for Southeast Michigan EMS providers:  1) Shock and 2) Southeast Michigan Medication Exchange and Replacement Procedure.  You can download these protocols at www.OCMCA.org/protocols. Or at the OCMCA EMS Protocols App, which you can download for free from Google Play or the Apple Store.  To assist us in this discussion, we welcome back Dr. Steve McGraw, DO who is an ED physician at Ascension Providence Hospitals in both Southfield and Novi, Michigan, as well as the EMS medical director of the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA), which provides oversight to 50 EMS agencies.We also welcome  John Theut, MS, Paramedic, EMS-IC, the QA/QI Coordinator for the OCMCA right here in southeast Michigan.   Finally, we welcome our MCA neighbor Luke Bowen, MBA, Paramedic I/C to the show.  Luke is the Operations Manager for the Macomb County Medical Control Authority, which is one county east of Oakland County, Michigan.   In today’s episode, our guests help us describe what TXA is and what it does. Then, they’ll list and describe the indications and contra-indications. After that, we’ll get into the dose, route and method of delivery for TXA. And finally, our guests will list and describe adverse reactions and side effects that may be witnessed by EMS after administration of TXA.Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode host or guests:Geoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/C Host/producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, OCMCADirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.org Steve McGraw, D.O.Co-Host, EMS on AIR PodcastCo-Medical Director, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS Medical Director, OCMCA steven.mcgraw@ascension.orgLuke Bowen, MBA, Paramedic I/COperations Manager, Macomb County Medical Control Authority luke.bowen@mcemsmca.orgJohn Theut, MS, Paramedic, EMS-IC QA/QI Coordinator, OCMCAShift Captain / EMS Coordinator, Ferndale Fire DepartmentQi@ocmca.org Support the show

According to the CDC SUID Case Registry Project, every year approximately 150 sleep-related infant deaths occur in Michigan.  That’s about three deceased infants a week.  The causes typically include a person or an object in the baby’s sleep space that leads to suffocation.  Common objects associated with these events include pillows, blankets and stuffed toys.  Sadly, preventable sleep-related causes are the number one contributor of infant deaths in Michigan, as it is in many areas around the United States.In this episode we welcome Dr. Samantha Mishra DO, MPH back to the show.  Sam is the EMS for Children Coordinator for the State of Michigan.  Today, my buddy Sam has brought along representatives from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Infant Safe Sleep Program.  Their mission is to prevent sleep-related infant deaths.  Our guests include Colleen Nelson, LMSW, the Michigan Infant safe sleep program coordinator, as well as Patti Kelly, LMSW, MPH, the sleep program consultant.  Part of their job is to know the incidence, occurrences and circumstances of infant deaths in the entire State of Michigan.  They are most familiar with our State-wide data, so it makes sense to bring them into the fold to help guide us towards understanding the problem in our back yard.  Understanding the problem and appreciating what we can do to solve it is vitally important. The State of Michigan EMS office and the Infant Safe Sleep Program have been working very hard to bring the DOSE Program to Michigan. In this episode, our guests will help us appreciate what is at stake for newborns sleeping in unsafe situations.  Then, they’ll describe what the State of Michigan Infant Safe Sleep Program is doing to team up with EMS to reduce the number of preventable sleep-related infant deaths every year.For more information check out DOSEprogram.com, as well as Michigan.gov/SafeSleep to learn more. Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. and follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode host or guests:Geoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/CCreator, host and producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.orgSamantha Mishra DO, MPHEMS for Children Coordinator – State of MichiganMDHHSBureau of EMS, Trauma, and PreparednessMishraS@michigan.govColleen Nelson, LMSWInfant Safe Sleep Program Coordinator – MDHHSnelsonc7@michigan.govPatti Kelly, MPH, LMSWInfant Safe Sleep Program ConsultantKellyp2@michigan.govSupport the show

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Edward Jauch, the Chief of System Research, at the Mission Research Institute/Mission Health System.  Dr. Jauch served as the Chair of Stroke Council for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and was the primary author for the 2013 Acute Ischemic Stroke guidelines. He is a co-author of the flagship American Heart Association / American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) guidelines for telemedicine use in stroke, primary prevention of stroke, prehospital care of stroke, and stroke systems of care, as well as over 20 other AHA guidelines and scientific statements.  Collectively Dr. Jauch’s efforts have focused on improving access to care, increasing the quality of acute stroke care, and educating both the public and healthcare professionals on developing integrated stroke systems for care for all patients.Most recently, Ed was the primary author of the 2021 Recommendations for Regional Stroke Destination Plans in Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities from the Prehospital Stroke System of Care Consensus Conference, which is the focus of today’s episode. This consensus paper provides local and regional EMS agencies and stroke advisory committees with guiding principles and recommendations for how to integrate the elements of a stroke system of care in three key regional settings: urban, suburban and rural settings. It also takes into account the differences in resources, hospital certifications, geography, and population density. Additionally, it seeks to inform or update EMS about new models and systems of acute ischemic stroke care, especially mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion stroke, and how they affect their stroke systems of care.  In an effort to maximize the power of the recommendations, the AHA/ASA produced a very cool and very useful website full of resources and information directly related to helping EMS develop and or fortify their stroke systems of care.  I highly recommend you visit www.Stroke.org/stroketransportplans and use it to consider evolving the stroke system of care in your community.  During this episode, Dr. Jauch helps us appreciate what is at stake for stroke patients.  Then, we discuss how EMS can best serve their stroke system and strengthen the stroke chain of survival.  From there, we get into the details of the intent and key recommendations from the consensus paper.  Finally, Dr. Jauch gives his recommendations regarding how EMS systems should use the contents of this paper to improve their Stroke Systems of Care.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Recommended resources referenced in the episode:www.Stroke.org/stroketransportplansContact the episode participants:Geoff Lassers, Paramedic I/C, AASHost, EMS on AIR Podcast Qi@ocmca.org Steve McGraw, D.O.Co-host and Co-Medical Director, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS Medical Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority steven.mcgraw@ascension.orgEdward C. Jauch, MD, MS, FAHA FACEPChief of System ResearchMission Research Institute / Mission Health SystemEdward.Jauch@HCAHealthcare.comSupport the show

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Sam Mishra, DO, MPH, the EMS for Children Coordinator for the State of Michigan. Our buddy Sam brought along the founders of Carter Kits™, which is an amazing organization that is helping first responders understand, appreciate and care for children with autism and other special needs in a way that best serves child and their family.  Carter Kits™ Sensory Bags contain items known to comfort and appropriately focus children who are on the autism spectrum, as well as many other children who occasionally find themselves overwhelmed or otherwise impacted by traumatic events.  For more information, visit www.CarterKits.com.  During this discussion, our guests help us appreciate being prepared for pediatric emergencies, as well as the value of EMS provider education about Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD.  Then, we discuss the intent and purpose of Carter Kits and how you can implement them into your EMS agency or system.  In 2019, Carter Kits™ began as a grass roots call to action embodied by a simple text message sent by Justin Severs, a Detective at the Saginaw Twp. Police Department here in Michigan.  He sent the text to his friend Brandon Hausbeck, the Training Officer at the Saginaw Fire Department, and another friend, Andrew Keller, a realtor in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  The text read, “We need a tool to help us when we arrive at a scene with a special needs child." Justin's son Carter has autism, and he is the inspiration of their organization. Justin’s idea is to equip as many police, fire and EMS vehicles as possible with the means to calm distressed children like Carter when arriving on scene. Andrew reached out to a family friend, Dr. Ellen Preen, a clinical neuropsychologist who has both a daughter with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and extensive experience working with individuals impacted by autism, trauma, anxiety, depression and learning challenges. Together, Andrew, Justin, Brandon and Dr. Preen saw the need to expand the scope of their efforts to ANY child in crisis who may benefit from the contents of Carter Kits™ Sensory Bag.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Contact the episode host or guests:HostGeoff Lassers, AAS, Paramedic I/C  Creator, host and producer, EMS on AIR PodcastFirefighter/Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control AuthorityDirector of Education, American CMEQi@ocmca.org GuestsSamantha Mishra DO, MPHEMS for Children Coordinator – State of MichiganMichigan Department of Health and Human ServicesBureau of EMS, Trauma, and PreparednessMishraS@michigan.govBrandon Hausbeck, EMT-BasicManaging Partner, Carter KitsTraining Officer, Saginaw Fire Department brandon@carterkits.comJustin SeversManaging Partner, Carter KitsDetective, Saginaw Twp. Police Department justin@carterkits.comSupport the show

In this episode, we introduce you to Joe Ferrell, Senior Program Manager, Customer Technical Solutions, Biospatial, Inc.  We also welcome back Emily Bergquist, the Medical Control Authority Coordinator for the State of Michigan EMS Office.  As a part of her job, Emily gathers, measures and evaluates a LOT of EMS data with the use of Biospatial.  Biospatial, Inc. combines EMS electronic patient care reports from a growing network of thousands of EMS providers with other electronic healthcare data sources using proprietary artificial intelligence to support State and local EMS systems.  Essentially, Biospatial makes EMS data easy to access, organize and make decisions.  They’re a fantastic organization that has been working with many States across the country, including Michigan, to help us leverage our EMS electronic patient care record, or ePCR, data to support our quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives.  For more information, visit www.biospatial.io.Joe and Emily are here to lend their professional expertise and share their thoughts about the value of well-organized, accessible and usable EMS run volume data.  During our discussion, we will:Describe the value of, “knowing,” your EMS agency and/or system by way of reliable ePCR data.  List and describe various issues that obstruct the progress of EMS data entry and analysis.Describe various resources that are available to assist EMS agencies and systems collect, measure and evaluate their EMS ePCR run data.  This is a great conversation if you’re new or interested in EMS quality improvement programs.  Believe it or not, “knowing,” your EMS ePCR data is way more interesting and valuable than you could ever imagine, and Joe and Emily are here to help me express the why and how.  This is the first of MANY conversations that I intend on having about EMS quality improvement processes and I promise to do my best to show you the value, provide you access to excellent resources and entertain you at the same time.  You can find Joe and Emily’s email address in the episode description.  Joe FerrellSenior Program ManagerCustomer Technical SolutionsBiospatial, Inc.joe.ferrell@biospatial.ioEmily Bergquist MSA, Paramedic I/CMedical Control Authority Coordinator State of Michigan EMS OfficeBergquistE@michigan.govPlease keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Support the show

We're back! It’s been over two months since our last COVID update, so we thought we’d kick off our return to season 2 with a discussion with our resident experts, Steve McGraw, D.O. and Dr. Russell Faust, MD, PhD.  Steve and Russ are both considered experts in their respective fields and they’re back to give a COVID-19 vaccine update, as well as answer recent questions from the EMS and hospital communities.  Most importantly, all of their answers are based in the latest scientific data and literature that clearly demonstrates the safety of the current COVID vaccines that are currently available.  In today’s episode, we focus on the recent pause on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  Recently the CDC put a pause on use of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine so that they could review 6 cases of patients that experienced a rare clotting type that MAY be related to the vaccine.  Keep in mind, this was 6 people out of 6.8 million that received the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  The six cases occurred in women between the ages of 18-48, six to 13 days after receiving the vaccine.  Steve and Russ will get into the details of what this all means and why you should still get your COVID vaccine.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Support the show

This month marks the one-year anniversary of the EMS on AIR Podcast! During this brief episode, we reflect on what we’ve achieved in our first year, as well as what we have planned for the near future.  We’re currently in season 2, which kicked off in October of 2020 with a primary focus on stroke, although we met some new friends along the way that are helping EMS prevent infant sleep related deaths.  Season 2 will return in mid-April and run until June 2021 and we have at least another five to ten episodes lined up.  This includes interviews with experts from the American Stroke Association, Biospatial, CarterKits.com and other cool and interesting people and organizations.  In addition, we will also bring you content focused on the emotional, mental and physical well-being of first responders.  And, of course, we will continue to give you COVID-19 and vaccine updates, as needed. Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and download the EMSonAIR Impact Report. Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at EMSonAIR@gmail.comSupport the show

This episode is the second in a four-part series focusing on EMS patient care reports, or PCRs.  This series has been developed in collaboration with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) and various EMS providers as a way of providing information and guidance to EMS agencies and personnel.  Although we reference the OCMCA and our local and State EMS protocols, this series is beneficial to all EMS agencies and providers.  In this episode, we discuss the value of EMS PCRs.  Primarily, our goal is to increase EMS’ appreciation and awareness of the value and relevance of EMS patient care documentation, as well as how to implement best practices into their work.  To accomplish the goal, our guests help us aappreciate the hierarchy and role of laws related to EMS documentation, administrative rules, EMS protocols, and agency policies and how they all work in concert to cultivate quality and consistency amongst EMS patient care documentation.  Then, we’ll list and describe applicable protocols related to drafting and submitting EMS patient care records.  Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Geoff Lassers, Paramedic EMS-IC (QI@ocmca.org)Host, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Firefighter / Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentAmerican CME, Director of EducationGuests:Bonnie Kincaid (Bonnie@ocmca.org)Executive Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Emily Bergquist, MSA, Paramedic, EMS-IC (BergquistE@michigan.gov)State of Michigan MCA Coordinator, MDHHS, BETPEmily Baker, BS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (emily.holstine@ascension.org)EMS Coordinator, Ascension Providence SouthfieldCQI Supervisor, Alliance Mobile HealthJohn Theut, MS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (Qi@ocmca.org)QA/QI Coordinator, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Shift Captain / EMS Coordinator, Ferndale Fire Department Support the show

This episode is the first in a four-part series focusing on EMS patient care reports, or PCRs.  This series has been developed in collaboration with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) and various EMS providers as a way of providing information and guidance to EMS agencies and personnel.  Although we reference the OCMCA and our local and State EMS protocols, this series is beneficial to all EMS agencies and providers.  In this episode, we discuss the value of EMS PCRs.  Primarily, our goal is to increase EMS’ appreciation and awareness of the value and relevance of EMS patient care documentation, as well as how to implement best practices into their work.  To accomplish the goal, our guests help us:  Appreciate the value of consistency and quality when drafting a PCR.  Then, we’ll list and describe benefits experienced by patients, EMS providers, EMS agencies or systems and hospitals regarding consistency and quality when drafting a PCR.  And finally, describe current data and trends identified in PCR quality assurance and quality improvement initiatives found throughout Michigan and the US. Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Geoff Lassers, Paramedic EMS-IC (QI@ocmca.org)Host, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Firefighter / Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentAmerican CME, Director of EducationGuests:Bonnie Kincaid (Bonnie@ocmca.org)Executive Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Emily Bergquist, MSA, Paramedic, EMS-IC (BergquistE@michigan.gov)State of Michigan MCA Coordinator, MDHHS, BETPEmily Baker, BS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (emily.holstine@ascension.org)EMS Coordinator, Ascension Providence SouthfieldCQI Supervisor, Alliance Mobile HealthJohn Theut, MS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (Qi@ocmca.org)QA/QI Coordinator, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Shift Captain / EMS Coordinator, Ferndale Fire DepartmentSupport the show

This episode is the fourth in a four-part series focusing on EMS patient care reports, or PCRs.  This series has been developed in collaboration with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) and various EMS providers as a way of providing information and guidance to EMS agencies and personnel.  Although we reference the OCMCA and our local and State EMS protocols, this series is beneficial to all EMS agencies and providers.  In this episode, we discuss the value of EMS PCRs.  Primarily, our goal is to increase EMS’ appreciation and awareness of the value and relevance of EMS patient care documentation, as well as how to implement best practices into their work.  To accomplish the goal, our guests help us list and describe the use of various EMS narrative writing methods including SOAP, CHART, the chronological method and DRATT.  Then, we’ll list and describe the minimum information that should be included in the ePCR narrative of every EMS transport of a patient, as well as the additional information required for an EMS transport of patients with time sensitive emergencies.  Finally, we’ll list and describe the minimum information that should be included in the ePCR narrative of every patient care refusal, as well as what must be included in the ePCR narrative of every EMS patient pronounced on scene. Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Geoff Lassers, Paramedic EMS-IC (QI@ocmca.org)Host, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Firefighter / Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentAmerican CME, Director of EducationGuests:Emily Bergquist, MSA, Paramedic, EMS-IC (BergquistE@michigan.gov)State of Michigan MCA Coordinator, MDHHS, BETPEmily Baker, BS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (emily.holstine@ascension.org)EMS Coordinator, Ascension Providence SouthfieldCQI Supervisor, Alliance Mobile Health.Support the show

This episode is the third in a four-part series focusing on EMS patient care reports, or PCRs.  This series has been developed in collaboration with the Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA) and various EMS providers as a way of providing information and guidance to EMS agencies and personnel.  Although we reference the OCMCA and our local and State EMS protocols, this series is beneficial to all EMS agencies and providers.  In this episode, we discuss the value of EMS PCRs.  Primarily, our goal is to increase EMS’ appreciation and awareness of the value and relevance of EMS patient care documentation, as well as how to implement best practices into their work.  To accomplish the goal, our guests help us list and describe the terminology related to PCR data entry.  Then, we list and describe the minimum data elements that must be completed in the PCR of an EMS transport of a patient.  From there, we’ll discuss the additional elements required in the PCR of an EMS transport patients with time sensitive emergencies.  We round out the discussion by listing and describing the minimum data elements that must be completed in the PCR of an EMS patient care refusal, an EMS patient Dead on Scene and an EMS Termination of Resuscitation in the field.Visit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details.  Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.  Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Geoff Lassers, Paramedic EMS-IC (QI@ocmca.org)Host, EMS on AIR PodcastEMS System Manager, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Firefighter / Paramedic, West Bloomfield Fire DepartmentAmerican CME, Director of EducationGuests:Bonnie Kincaid (Bonnie@ocmca.org)Executive Director, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Emily Bergquist, MSA, Paramedic, EMS-IC (BergquistE@michigan.gov)State of Michigan MCA Coordinator, MDHHS, BETPEmily Baker, BS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (emily.holstine@ascension.org)EMS Coordinator, Ascension Providence SouthfieldCQI Supervisor, Alliance Mobile HealthJohn Theut, MS, Paramedic, EMS-IC (Qi@ocmca.org)QA/QI Coordinator, Oakland County Medical Control Authority (OCMCA)Shift Captain / EMS Coordinator, Ferndale Fire Department.Support the show

In this episode, we welcome Dave Roth, DrPH, BSN, RN and Samantha DeMont, BSN RN.  Dave is the Oakland County Public Health Nursing Supervisor as well as the Health Division Safe Sleep Coordinator and the Coordinator for the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review, or FIMR.  Samantha is an Oakland County Public Health Nurse and FIMR Parent Interviewer.  Dave and Samantha have tough jobs, as they are all too familiar with infant mortality and preventable infant sleep related deaths.  Part of their job is to know the incidence, occurrences and circumstances of infant deaths in Oakland County, Michigan.  They are most familiar with our local data, so it makes sense to bring them into the fold to help guide us towards understanding the problem in our back yard.  Understanding the problem and appreciating what we can do to solve it is vitally important.  Today, Dave and Sam lend their expertise and data help us appreciate what is at stake for newborns sleeping in unsafe situations.  Then, they describe what Oakland County Health is doing to limit preventable infant deaths in Oakland County, Michigan.  We finish off our discussion by describing how Oakland County Health is helping to implement DOSE into as many EMS agencies and systems, as possible.  To learn more about how you can implement DOSE or to obtain more info, go to their website, www.DOSEprogram.com. Guest contact info:Dave Roth, DrPH, BSN, RN: rothd@oakgov.comSamantha DeMont, BSN RN:  demonts@oakgov.comVisit EMSonAIR.com for the latest information, podcast episodes and other details. Follow us on Instagram @EMSOnAIR.Please keep emailing your questions, comments, feedback and episode ideas to the EMS on AIR Podcast team by email at QI@OCMCA.org.  Support the show