RTAC - Jan Victorson reported for the Lake Superior RTAC. · PHTLS instructor course · PHTLS course in Hayward is full · PSA's will begin to air this weekend. · Next meeting is June 30th in Superior

Be SOMEBODY - The Be SOMEBODY kick-off event is planned for Friday, May 20th along Hwy 2 in Brule from 3 PM to 6 PM. This event is being used as much for awareness that emergency services are being provided by volunteers as for recruitment that we need more help. Donations are still welcome to support the ads being run on Channels 3 and 6 out of Duluth as well as covering the cost of the live radio coverage from the kick-off event. State and local legislators and public officials are also being invited.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT - Jan asked service directors to review/update their contact information as needed. She also asked the group interested in working on fire rehab to plan on getting together in the near future.

LIFE LINK III - Iron River is hosting a regional helicopter training class on Saturday, May 7th beginning at 9:00 AM. RSVP to Gary Victorson in order to assure a chair and treats.

John Huot announced that Life Link III will cease ground operations after June 30th. Discussion related to helicopter vs. fixed wing. Cost of a helicopter transport is $12,000 to $22,000; cost of a fixed wing is $6,000 to $11,000 (extra ambulance runs to deliver patient to/from airport on either side).

There was a discussion about fixed wing being offered to a dispatcher when the helicopter could not fly. Time for a fixed wing to Ashland is 22 minutes. It is not more expensive but it does add lots of time on both ends. If a fixed wing is activated the service will need to get the patient to the appropriate airport; Life Link III will take care of the patient from there. It is not as weather dependent.

Life Link III will be carrying blood products and chest tubes soon.

BASO - Dan Clark has several items to share with the membership: 1. Bayfield County Sheriff has implemented an announcement - location of crash and am paging fire and ambulance - on the law frequency. 2. Encourage staff to get off the repeater whenever possible. This includes reports given to intercept service. Talk short whenever possible. Consider using EMS A as an alternative. 3. There has been an increase in emergency detentions and suicides since the first of the year. Remember scene safety. And watch your own folks. Discussion related to Minnesota CRT (critical response team). 4. Dispatchers sometimes receive calls from an individual requesting an EMT rather than the ambulance. Consensus that a service should be paged.

Motion made by Gary Victorson, seconded by Pete Schenck, to develop a letter to send to 9-1-1 centers stating that if an individual dials 9-1-1 and asks for one EMT, please page the ambulance service. Motion carried.

This policy will ensure scene safety for EMS staff, decrease liability and verify occurrences, and maintain consistency in response. (Call 9-1-1 = get an ambulance.)

5. Dan reviewed Project Lifesaver - a program/project being undertaken by the Sheriff's Department. It is a tracking/recovery program for those who will wear a watch type device and could be used for those with alzheimers, autism, downs syndrome, etc. Start up costs for the project will be around $6000. This would provide a tracking device to pinpoint those individuals wearing receivers they could rent. Donations will be requested in the future. 6. There is an educational opportunity for a young woman.

Motion made by Dan Clark, seconded by Gary Victorson, that the Council donate $100 to Dena Hambrecht for this educational opportunity. Discussion. Motion withdrawn.

Motion made by Gary Victorson, seconded by Dan Clark, to establish a scholarship fund for interested people who wish to forward or advance themselves in the health field; and further that the MDAC act as a scholarship committee. Motion carried.

MEDICAL DIRECTOR - Jonathan Shultz reported reviewing most runs from each service. He encouraged services to mark those that require review - intercept and any other that should be reviewed. A couple of services have implemented electronic patient care reporting. In response to this Jonathan has received a letter from MMC referring him to the administrative rule (DHS 110) which requires a paper copy be left with the hospital. There was a lengthy discussion that included options for those doing reports on computer- print out run report form in the EMS room while at the hospital and/or photocopy notes taken during prehospital care. The most important documentation is patient information, vital signs, what interventions were done and how the patient responded. The prehospital documentation contributed to continuity of care for the patient.

BILLING ISSUES - contact Linda Hafstad at Ashland Fire Department.

EMS WEEK - Discussion about possible events for EMS Week. NEXT MEETING - The next meeting of the EMS Council is scheduled for Thursday, May 26th at 7:00 PM.

Motion made by Tam Hofman, seconded by Gary Victorson, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned.

IN ATTENDANCE

  Ron Brendalen		Mellen
  Merrilee Carlson	MMC/Ashland
  Dan Clark		Washburn
  Steve Cordes		Mason
   Lyn Cornelius		Bayfield
   Marie Cupp		Washburn
  Brett Friermood		Barnes
  Viola Friermood 	Barnes
  Dean Hambrecht 	Great Divide
  Tam Hofman		APIS and South Shore
  Ed Hofstrand		Life Link III
  John Huot		Life Link III
  Pete Schenck		South Shore
  Jonathan Shultz		Medical Director
  Tom Walters		Ashland
  Gary Victorson		Iron River
  Jan Victorson		BA Emergency Management