MINUTES
Pre-Hospital Care Operations Committee Meeting
September 24, 2008
Delhi Township Fire Department

Les Allen, Loveland-Symmes Fire Department; Becky Baute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Michael Bilkasley, Blue Ash Fire Department; Troy Bonfield, Norwood Fire Department; Dennis Brown, Evendale Fire Department; Fred Buop, Anderson Township Fire & Rescue; Greg Cifuentes, City of Fairfield Fire Department; Dennis Clark, Cincinnati Fire Department; Lindsey Collett, UC Emergency Physicians; Nancy Coomer, Academy of Medicine of Cincinnati; Ken Crank, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Marcia Early, Deaconess Hospital; Mark Elam, Good Samaritan Hospital; Pam Erpenbeck, Bethesda North Hospital; Anita Fritsch, Deaconess Hospital; Linda Gleaves, Physio-Control; Jeffrey Heist, Bethesda North Hospital; Robert Kallendorf, Henry Schein Matrx Medical; Steve Kelly, West Chester Fire Department; Hamilton Lempert, MD, QESI; Judy Levy, Bethesda North Hospital; Jim Limerick, Liberty Township Fire Department; Dan Mack, Miami Township Fire & EMS; Bill Mehbod, Cincinnati State EMS Program; Jesse Moore, Delhi Township Fire Department; Joe Mueller, ZOLL Medical Corp.; Bob Murray, Deer Park-Silverton Joint Fire District; Todd Owens, Reading Fire Department; Rob Penny, Sycamore Township Fire & EMS; Al Piening; Kevin Rogers, Deer Park-Silverton Joint Fire District; Jim Rutenschroer, Green Township Fire Department; Joe Spears, Green Township Fire Department; Keith Staples, University Hospital; Joe Stoffolano, Delhi Township Fire Department; Dogan Temizer, MD, Cardiology Associates of Cincinnati; Jonathan Van Zile, MD, Medical Director, Mason Fire Department; Debbie Walker, Sycamore Township Fire Department

Dr. Van Zile called the meeting to order and introductions were made. He thanked Delhi Township Fire Department for making meeting arrangements.

Approved.

4. Presentations/Updates.

• Dr. Van Zile gave a presentation entitled "Prehospital Cardiac Arrhythmias – Diagnosis and Treatment."
  He asked that ideas for future lectures be emailed to him (drjvz41@aol.com). He also reminded everyone to fill out an evaluation form for continuing education credit.

Dr. Lempert reported that the revised Paramedic Protocols will be available on October 1, to become effective January 1, 2009. This will give everyone three months to review and become familiar with the new/revised sections, as well as renew drug licenses to coincide with the changes. He noted that the document has been reformatted and is much easier to navigate.

The Protocol Subcommittee is preparing a powerpoint presentation on the changes for anyone interested in offering an in-service; a summary of the changes is also being prepared for distribution. New protocols include adult IO, special needs, and a pediatric quicksheet; revisions include asthma/COPD, phenergan, and changing the pediatric age to 15 and under.

The Protocol Subcommittee is also working on an idea from Jerry Lautz regarding the development a protocol for pre-staging antibiotics for distribution to EMS protocol in the event of a disaster situation. This will be distributed for review and feedback.

Keith Staples reported that the geriatric trauma protocol had been put through at the state level.

Linda Gleaves announced a new STEMI Management Solution for transmitting and receiving 12 leads. Jewish Hospital has purchased the new system; most of the other area hospitals have verbally committed to purchasing it. EMS will still be able to transmit with cell phones to the old receiving system. To transmit to the new system, they will need a subscription for their LIFEPAK 12. They can still use a cell phone (technology is beginning to be decommissioned by cell carriers) or move to the new technology by using a modem or electronic tablet. For more information, call Linda at 614-582-3470.

7. Continuing Education.

• Mercy Western Hills – Dr. Lempert will present a disaster triage lecture on September 25.
• Pediatric Emergencies: Wednesday, October 1, 7-9 pm, Good Samaritan Hospital, 7th Floor auditorium, speaker is Frank Giampetro, BA, EMT-P
• TraumaScope 2008 is scheduled for Monday, October 13, at the Oasis in Loveland.

Becky Baute reported for Dr. Schwartz that the new Pedi-Packs are stocked and ready for distribution. However, there are problems with tracking system and as soon as those are resolved, an exchange program will be set up at the Liberty Township facility.

9. New Business.

• Dr. Van Zile reported on the effects of the recent electrical power outage at Jewish Hospital. There was considerable discussion about different aspects of this emergency, and it was noted that Hamilton County Communication Center was getting the word out about hospitals that did not have power. Dr. Van Zile suggested that there should be some type of incident command should this situation occur in the future, and that the EMS Caucus might take this under consideration.
• Rob Penny gave a brief report on a pilot program in which Sycamore Township and University Hospital are participating. Cameras are being installed in EMS units, which will allow University ER physicians to see and possibly begin treating patients before they arrive at the hospital. Medics call the hospital, then the ER physician logs onto a secure website where the patient can be viewed. The physician is in control of the camera and can zoom in, scan, etc. He indicated there is no audio, that they use cell phones for voice communication, and that the cameras have the potential to be hand-held.
• Joe Spears distributed information on text-messaging a call for emergency by the deaf/hard of hearing community. The number is 513-CPD-9911 (513-273-9911), which sends a text message to a 911 operator who, in turn, gets the information out to the appropriate squad.

November 19, 2008 – Bethesda North Hospital
January 28, 2009 – Springfield Township
March 25, 2009 – West Chester Medical Center
May 27, 2009 – Anderson Township
July 22, 2009 – need hospital location

Jonathan Van Zile, MD
Chairman