MINUTES
Meeting of the Emergency & Disaster Services Committee
Thursday, September 3, 2009
2pm – Academy of Medicine

Attendance: Jon Van Zile, MD, Chair; William Gates, MD; Michael Hayes; Alfie Jones; Hamilton Lempert, MD; Donald Locasto, MD; Edward Metzger, MD; Gary Miller; Tom Wolf; Nancy Coomer, Academy Staff

I. Welcome/Announcements.

II. Minutes.

Minutes of the June 4, 2009 meeting were read and approved.

III. New Business.

• Drs. Gates and Metzger and Mike Hayes were present to discuss an issue that arose at the recent tabletop exercise at the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport regarding the use of tourniquets and hemostats in the event of mass casualty incidents and potential liability issues. When asked whether these procedures were addressed in the paramedic protocols, Dr. Lempert indicated that the use of tourniquets in trauma situations is included. It was suggested that the airport’s medical director could write protocol for the airport on the use of hemostats, then train all appropriate personnel. Dr. Van Zile said he would talk with Dr. Jay Johannigman about this matter and also suggested that they check with other large airports to find out if they use those procedures and what protocols exist, and invited them to report back at the next EDS Committee meeting.
• Academy associate director Donna Gilliam presented a request to merge the Tri-State Trauma Coalition into the Greater Cincinnati Health Council. She noted that the goals of the Tri-State Trauma Coalition, now a separate entity, have been achieved and the hospitals that fund this effort believe that it would be more cost-effective to merge the Coalition into the GCHC and move Coalition committees into the committee structure of the GCHC. The Academy of Medicine will maintain its seat on the Coalition board, and current board members will remain and continue their work on various committees, which the hospitals have pledged to continue to support. The Academy wanted the EDS Committee’s thoughts on the planned merger before reporting back to the GCHC; EDS Committee members approved the action.

IV. Protocol Subcommittee Report.

Dr. Lempert reported that the Protocol Subcommittee has been working on a number of revisions and new sections of the paramedic protocols, and his plan is to have the new information finalized and out for review by October 1. Dr. Locasto asked to have the ED capability study included in the revised protocols. He also thanked Dr. Lempert for all the work he and his subcommittee members have done on the protocols.

Additional changes may be made to the paramedic and EMT-I protocols to allow for the administration of the H1N1 vaccine.

V. Compliance & Inspection Committee Report.

Nancy reported that the Blue Ash visit has been scheduled for September 17 and that she is working with a number of other squads who are due for visits this year. Packets still have not been received from Evendale Fire Department (past due since 2005) and there has been no communication since mid-July. It was decided to send them a certified letter giving them 30 days to submit their site visit information or be dropped from the list of Academy-approved squads. Dr. Locasto indicated he would call Evendale’s medical director, Dr. Ed Hooker, about the matter.

VI. Prehospital Care Operations Committee Report.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, at Springfield Township. Tom is scheduled to make a presentation about Montgomery’s QA program.

VII. Disaster Services Report.

VIII. Old Business.

A list of hospital EMS coordinators was included in the agenda for information only. This information has been added to the EMS section of the web site.

IX. Next Meeting Date.

Thursday, December 2, 2 pm, at the Academy of Medicine.

X. Adjournment.

There was no further business to be discussed and the meeting was adjourned.

Jonathan Van Zile, MD
Chair