Video of Midstate EMS Regional Council on February 24, 2009 on funcems. Watch video here.

On March 31, at 7PM the New Hartford Fire Department will present Lyn C. Stevens, MS, NP, ACRN Deputy Director, Office of the Medical Director, NYSDOH Aids Institute. She will be presenting on the changes in the Ryan WHite Act and will update providers in source patient testing and new Post exposure guidelines for providers. This is open to all agencies in the Midstate Region. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact NHFD EMS Chief Jim Monaha RN, AEMT-P at 368-8252.

Linda Kokoszki RN, BSN, CIC the Infection Control Practitioner from St Elizabeth Medical Center will be presenting a lecture on Bloodborne Pathogens as well as topics including MRSA and VRE which has become a hot topic in Healthcare
and the community in recent months. It will be held at the New Hartford Fire Department on February 24, 2009 from 1900 until 2100. Any questions, they can call Jim Monahan, RN, AEMT-P, EMS Chief at 368-8252.

The Oneida County EMS Advisory Board will sponsor transportation to the funeral services for Mark Davis for those members of the Oneida County EMS community who wish to attend. Please contact Linda at MidState EMS so we can get an accurate number of attendees. (315) 738-8351 Buses will leave from the Westmoreland Fire Department at 09:00 sharp on Saturday. Departments wishing to send apparatus are asked to limit it to one piece. Apparatus are welcome to meet with us at the Westmoreland FD and go as a group.

We have been informed that University Hospital is overrun with EMS equipment and has requested that all EMS Agencies please make arrangments to pick up their equipment. Equipment not retrieved in a reasonable time will be donated to local EMS training programs.

Ambulance Need Hearing Video of January 27, 2009

In January 2009 Faxton – St. Luke’s HC was designated as a NYS Stroke Center. Please refer to NYS Basic Life Support Protocol M-17 dated 1/05 for information. Any patient having an abnormal (positive) Cincinnati Stroke scale must be transported to a Designated Stroke Center. Exceptions to transporting to a Stroke Center are: cardiac arrest, unmanageable airway, other medical condition that warrants transport to a closer facility, onset of symptoms to arrival at Stroke Center is greater than two hours, under direction of Medical Control. When in doubt contact Resource for direction

Article 30 Section 3003 of Public Health Law charges the Midstate Regional Emergency Services Council of Madison, Oneida and Herkimer Counties (Midstate REMSCO) to make determinations of public need for the establishment of additional emergency medical services and ambulance services.

Public Need is defined in the law as: The demonstrated absence, reduced availability or an inadequate level of care in ambulance or emergency medical services available to a geographical area which is not readily correctable through the reallocation or improvement of existing resources.

The Midstate REMSCO has scheduled a public hearing where they will hear witness, receive written statements, ask questions and accept testimony in any form that will lend credibility to the hearing and ultimate determination of public need for the City of Utica to provide an ambulance service.

Any written comments must be received no later than January 23, 2009 and should be addressed to the:

Midstate REMSCO Ambulance Committee 2521 Sunset Ave. Utica, NY 13502

The Public Hearing shall be held at the:

Radisson Hotel 200 Genesee St. Utica, NY 13502 January 27, 2009 7PM

A copy of the City of Utica application to provide ambulance service is available for inspection Monday through Friday 9AM – 4PM at the Midstate Offices.

Emrich Family

At the July 2008 Whitesboro Fire Department meeting the Emrich family thanked the Whitesboro Fire Department, Kunkel and Central Oneida County Ambulance for a quick response and life saving treatment provided to their mother and wife.

Jessica while enjoying a walk on May 23 suddenly felt “didn’t feel well” and sat down to rest, a friend called 911.

The Whitesboro Fire Department, Central Oneida County and Kunkel Ambulances also responded, Jessica suffered a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. After a ten day stay and cardiac surgery Jessica was discharged.