Please see the document “Guidance for Emergency Medical Services Personnel to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination”.
We wanted to make sure this document got out as quickly as possible and recognize it will generate additional questions. A Statewide EMS Leadership call will be scheduled the near future to further discuss the document and answer questions. Thank you to all the NYS EMS agencies and your providers for truly going above and beyond in 2020! We look forward to the EMS Providers becoming vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of Phase 1A of the Vaccination Distribution plan! Thank You! Ryan _______________________________________________________ Ryan P. Greenberg Director Bureau of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems New York State Department of Health 875 Central Avenue, Albany, New York 12206 ryan.greenberg@health.ny.gov www.health.ny.gov Within the last 24 hours, despite national recommendations and previous planning considerations, NYS is NO LONGER including EMS personnel in Tier 1a (First Distribution) availability for COVID Vaccine. Given our unique work environment – operating in a confined space for extended periods of time with COVID patients – there are no words for my frustration. Specifically “Following the vaccination of 'high risk' health care workers, the priority will shift to all long-term and congregate care residents and staff, EMS and other health care workers.” How EMS is not considered “High Risk” is beyond my comprehension. https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-updates-new-yorkers-states-vaccination-distribution-plan Please consider communicating to elected officials, specifically the Governor and Commissioner of Health, as well as any other elected leaders at the state, County, and even federal level, that EMS must be included alongside our high risk hospital care providers else our already crumbling system will collapse. Attached is a toolkit from the AAA and a draft letter that you may edit and communicate to elected officials. Email, call, smoke signal. Get the word out. The need is now, this is moving fast, do not wait. Vaccine will be here in days and I fear we may have already missed the window to advocate for our own lives. Communicate to elected media, leverage media connections and use social media. The need is now although I fear too late as this rug was pulled out from under us. Jeremy ________________________________________________________ Jeremy T. Cushman, MD, MS, EMT-P, FACEP, FAEMS Associate Professor and Chief, Division of Prehospital Medicine Departments of Emergency Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Monroe County, City of Rochester, and Monroe-Livingston Regional EMS Medical Director ![]()
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With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the county and region we have updated our PPE recommendations for EMS providers. We want to assure providers that this is not being done due to any exposure or incident with our providers. Our guidelines from the beginning have held up, kept our providers from getting infected, and are still inline with CDC recommendations. That being said, out of an abundance of caution we are increasing some of our PPE recommendations due to the high community transmission rate we are seeing to further protect our providers. In recent discussions with many of you, it appears many agencies are already utilizing an approach similar to these changes. These are also similar to what our hospitals are employing. Attached is the updated guidance. There are a few changes I would like to highlight.
Dr. Faulk & Dr. Walters Brian M. Walters, D.O., FACEP, FAAEM County Physician Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services Chautauqua County Office of Emergency Services Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Amanda Farrell | Director of Donor Recruitment ConnectLife 716.529.4417 | AFarrell@connectlife.org 4444 Bryant and Stratton Way | Williamsville, NY 14221 ConnectLife.org Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn ![]()
The Blood Donation Process
5 Simple Steps Whether you donate blood at a mobile drive or at a neighborhood blood donation center, your experience will involve the same steps. Dear Future EMT Original Participant
EMT Program registration is PENDING DOH APPROVAL. All registrations will be processed when approval comes in. You will receive acceptance notification when all information is processed. PLEASE COMPLETE ATTACHED APPLICATION AND PAPERWORK. This will make the process easier when approval is received.
Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, all forms and responses for the EMT program will be handled electronically. Once the application is completed and emailed back to me, you will have until September 10th to complete the items on the checklist. The Student Data form and the Certificate of Residence for Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties can now be completed online. The rest of the information can be sent via email to the parties listed on the form. PLEASE NOTE IN IN YOUR EMAIL THAT YOU ARE AN EMT STUDENT. If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact me. The best way will be by email, as I am working remotely. Thank you Sandi McGuire Workforce Readiness Assistant sandramcguire@mail.sunyjcc.edu 716-338-1334 Please see the attached Travel Advisory from Chief Richardson, Olean City Fire Department. Road Construction on Front Street in the City is in progress and is expected to hinder emergency vehicle traffic that is inbound to Olean General or Route 16 from Route 417, East of the City of Olean.
Emergency vehicles traveling on Route 417 west bound (from East of the City) towards Olean General and/or Route 16 are encouraged to follow the "Emergency Vehicle Route" that is outlined on the attached map. Additionally "Emergency Vehicle Route" signs have been installed along the alternate route. Construction is expected to be in progress for at least the next 30 days. Click here for the Travel Advisory. Click here for the Emergency Vehicle Detour Map. Wednesday, August 12, 2020 – The New York State Emergency Medical Services Council and State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee will hold sub-committee meetings as follows:
More information on how to view the meetings will be posted at: The Bureau Staff asks for your patience as this will be the first time that we are holding our meetings virtually and everyone has been working very hard to make sure they run as smoothly as they can be. To register for the meetings on Wednesday, August 12 – click here. To register for the meetings on Thursday, August 13 – click here. To download the full agenda – click here. All EMS Providers & First Responders,
I want to thank all of you for your hard work and diligence throughout the COVID-19 period. I have received several compliments from area hospitals about how well our providers have taken appropriate infection control precautions, managed potential COVID patients brought in the ED, donned appropriate PPE. This is reflected in the fact that our providers have transported numerous COVID patients without becoming infected. While the number of COVID cases across NYS has decreased dramatically, we are still seeing sustained low levels of transmission in the community. Remind all your responders to remain vigilant when responding to calls to ensure appropriate social distancing, limit the number of responders in contact with the patient and family/bystanders, screen patients for COVID symptoms or contacts, and to wear appropriate PPE for all calls. We don't want to see any of our providers exposed to the virus. Attached you will also the NYS DOH guidance for healthcare workers returning to work after travel or exposure to a COVID person. This document provides appropriate precautions and timeframes for EMS providers in these circumstances. Thanks again for all your continued efforts throughout the pandemic. Brian M. Walters, D.O., FACEP, FAAEM Please find the attached documents that are applicable to EMS agencies and providers. The attachments include:
NY Forward | New York Forward Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) | Department of Health Bureau of EMS Policy Statements and SEMAC Advisories - New York State Department of Health Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | CDC The NYS Office of Attorney General's Charities Bureau has issued Guidance for Conducting Virtual Meetings of Members of New York Not-for-Profit Corporations. As many of our ambulance, ALSFR and BLSFR services are not for profit based organizations, please review the guidance.
EMS agencies are always encouraged to review guidance like this with their own legal counsel. We also continue to recommend NFP EMS agencies consider looking into whether or not the NYS Council of Nonprofits, Inc. could be helpful to them as it has been to several Regional EMS Program Agencies. Click here to download the guidance. (May 7, 2020), the FDA reissued the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for Non-NIOSH-Approved Disposable Filtering Facepiece Respirators Manufactured in China to revise one of the eligibility criteria – the criterion for authorization of respirators based on review of test reports from recognized independent test laboratories submitted to the FDA by the manufacturer or importer – and accordingly removed from Appendix A the respirators that had been authorized under that criterion, regardless of whether they passed or failed the NIOSH testing. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/letters-health-care-providers/certain-filtering-facepiece-respirators-china-may-not-provide-adequate-respiratory-protection-letter?utm_campaign=2020-05-07%20Concerns%20with%20Filtering%20Facepiece%20Respirators%20from%20China%20-%20Letter%20to%20HCP&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua Daniel J. Clayton, BS, EMT-P Chief, Operations Section Bureau of Emergency Medical Services New York State Department of Health 875 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12206 (518) 402-0996 | daniel.clayton@health.ny.gov | https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/ The Central New York Program Agency is hosting a BEMS approved virtual Certified Instructor Update (CIU) on Saturday, May 16, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
This class will be held online using GoToMeeting and is only for current or re-certifying CLIs and CICs. Click here to register. If you have any questions regarding the Virtual CIU, please cotact Susie Surprenant at director@cnyems.org. This week's Vital Signs Academy Webinars!
For all events, go to: https://vitalsignsacademy.com/calendar/ Tuesday, May 5th Presenter: Anthony Caliguire Title: Pediatric and Geriatric Trauma https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7e3e1f16e9fa31d30fee8c580cf8dc1c Wednesday, May 6th Presenter: Chris Ebright Title: When Your Patient Reacts – The Breaking Point https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea4848fc14e5a0ef4c855714561b059a Thursday, May 7th Presenter: Dan Batsie Title: Crashing Asthma https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e0d42816c3888f0d8fc632f7394d7b788 Please see the attached memo regarding the “COVID-19 Public Health Emergency EMS Cardiac Arrest Standards of Care” which has been rescinded by the New York State Commissioner of Health.
______________________ Ryan P. Greenberg, MBA, FACPE, NRP, EMD Director Bureau of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems New York State Department of Health P: 518-402-0996 E: Ryan.Greenberg@health.ny.gov Click here to download the memo. After discussions with the NYS BEMS, the protocol that was released and disseminated a few days ago regarding cardiac arrest during COVID-19 was not intended to be released in the manor it was. After further discussions with the BEMS and the EMS medical directors in the region, the WREMAC have put forth the following statement.
We anticipate that the NYS guidance entitled, “The COVID-19 Public Health Emergencies EMS Cardiac Arrest Standard of Care,” will be modified by the state shortly. Agencies should notify their providers to delay implementation of this guidance until further notice. This standard was built as a crisis guideline. At the date of this memo, our EMS medical directors of the WREMAC do not feel we meet a community crisis standard. The WREMAC will issue new cardiac arrest guidance in the near future. Providers should continue managing cardiac arrest in accordance with the current NYS Collaborative Protocols and agency practices. We have requested that the WREMAC be granted the ability to activate this protocol in the future, should the need arise. We apologize for any confusion this has created in the interim. We will be putting forth additional guidance in the near future. Brian M. Walters, D.O., FACEP, FAAEM Please click here to download the WREMAC guidance document. |
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