Calhoun County EMS Advisory Council
Quarterly Meeting Minutes January 27, 2011
Members Present:
Name
Kerrie Hull
Mathew Ringgenberg
Tami Kinney
Kris Kavanaugh
Kim Gutz
Mary Nelson
Jeff Vosberg
Shirley Ellis
Jason McKenney
Scott Jacobs
Dr. Frate
Representing
EMA/911 Coordinator
Lake City Ambulance
Calhoun County Public Health
Lohrville Ambulance
Pomeroy Ambulance
Manson Ambulance
Farhamville Ambulance
Stewart Memorial ER
Fire Service
Board of Supervisors
EMS Medical Director
Members Absent:
Ken Hying
Open
Luke Winkelman
Mike Anderson
Paul Arens
Darius Miller
City Mayor (Lake City)
Hospital Administration
Calhoun County EMS –Rockwell City
Law Enforcement
Iowa Central Community College
Citizen
State regional Representative:
None attended
Guests:
Diane Kirby, Lohrville EMS
Meeting Called to order at 1904 by Hull, EMS Coordinator
Approval of the October 28, 2010
Motion to approve by Ringgenberg, seconded by McKenney. Ayes unanimous.
Old Business:
A. Protocol Revision Update; New State protocols released 01/24/11 by IDPH Bureau of EMS. These
protocols serve as minimum protocols to provide a foundation of practice for local ambulance
services.
B. Develop Protocol Review Committee; Hull distributed copies of sample protocols to be reviewed/
seeking input from local ambulance services. Sample protocols are also pending new medical
director revisions. Sample protocols are based on state protocols with the additional supporting
information and algorithm. Plan for email communications and workgroup sessions to gather
local ambulance service input to be completed in by the end of March.
Calhoun County EMS Advisory Council
Page 1
New Business:
A. Election of Officers; Election of officers was held. Ballots were cast on members nominated at the
October Advisory Council Meeting. Office of President - Mike Anderson elected (Anderson 7 votes,
Vosberg 3 votes), Office of Vice President - Jeff Vosberg elected (Vosberg 5 votes, Kutz 5 votes, coin
toss determined Vosberg), Office of Secretary – Kinney elected (Kinney 8 votes, Ellis 2 votes).
B. Approval of Mary Nelson to replace Lisa Lang for Manson; Lang remains on Manson Ambulance
Service, but has conflict with work schedule to attend Advisory meetings. Motion to approve by
Gutz. Second by Ringgenberg. Ayes unanimous.
C. Addition of Dr. Frate as System Medical Director; Dr. Frate has agreed to accept EMS Medical
Director position when Dr. Knouf resigns. Hull will discuss with Dr. Knouf to determine date of
resignation. Motion to approve by Ringgenberg. Second by Kinney. Ayes unanimous.
Reports
A. Coordinator Reports
a. Training/Exercise
Training calendar distributed. Protocol reviews are now scheduled for February. Protocol
review will also include Scope of Practice & Medication reviews. EMTB training is scheduled
to begin in Manson 02/02/11. The classes will run through April or May. Classes will be
held on Tue & Thurs from 6 to 10 p.m., including some Saturdays. Existing EMTB staff may
attend for CEH hours. To register for EMTB classes or to sign up for refresher hours, contact
Paul Arens at Iowa Central Community College.
b.
Skills Reviews
Skill reviews are being completed by Devin Collins. Goal is to email skills reviews to service
directors to facilitate timely communication of information.
c.
CQI & Measurable Outcomes
Distributed to services in attendance. Upon new medical direction, Hull will review CQI and
measurable outcomes to determine priority measures to audit. To date the state suggested
measurable outcomes have been audited. The group offered no concerns or questions
regarding this process. Pending medical direction, work plan is for these audits to be
completed quarterly.
d.
EMSAC Report
Hull attended EMSAC Meeting earlier this month and EMS Leadership Seminar earlier today,
no draft meeting minutes of EMSAC meeting at this time. Services are to watch for multiple
changes in the near future. Changes will be in the areas of:
Board of Pharmacy – New rules going into Iowa Code. EMS narcotic prescription must be on
file for each narcotic, including DEA locator & physician DEA Number. Ownership drugs and
Calhoun County EMS Advisory Council
Page 2
devices – devices will be eliminated. Inventory Schedule II Control Substances will need a
double lock. Seals will no longer count as a lock. Humidity control will be a future issue.
New pharmacy agreement forms will be forth coming.
Billing Compliance – Fractional mileage is required for Medicare Billing. Services are
required to use trip odometer. Mileage can no longer be rounded for Medicare billing, must
bill mileage to the tenth of mile. Crew member signature must be legible. Services are
required to complete a crew member log of signatures. Date of service update. For run
reports you must date the report the date the patient was loaded into your ambulance. Hull
will develop & distribute forms now required to have patient signatures on file to bill
Medicare for ambulance services.
Fraud & Abuse Charges – Obama had allocated 1.9 billion dollars to fight fraud and abuse
related to ambulance billings. Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) a form of bounty hunters
has been hired to uncover fraud and abuse. RAC target areas include incorrect date of
service, signature logs of crew members, and election of benefit signatures.
HF119, Senate File 4 Volunteer Tax Credit – Both have been filed. There is good chance this
may pass this year.
Senate File 98 - Gary Brown and Senator Hancock are driving this bill in order as part of the
System Standards process for EMS by recognizing EMS Services as a required service to
secure funding/tax dollars. This is not expected to pass this legislative session, however
watch for changes in the file and future impact.
Transition to new education standards was discussed. Timelines and requirements were
discussed. All are encouraged to view the Transition tab on the Bureau of EMS website to be
functioning the first week of February.
Changes to American Heart Association – Infant AED now allowed, manual is preferred with
use of pediatric pads. If no pediatric pads are available, use adult pads. There will be an
online protocol update for CPR instructors. Kings are now acceptable airway management to
BVM & endotracheal intubation.
e.
Satisfaction Survey’s
Reports for all services distributed. No data from Lake City.
Meeting adjourned.
Calhoun County EMS Advisory Council
Page 3