​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:

• 8:30 am - 11:00 am Medical Standards Committee
• 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Education and Training Committee
• 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Systems Committee
• 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Finance Committee
• 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Safety Committee
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm Legislative Committee
  
  

Thursday, August 13, 2020 – The New York State Emergency Medical Services Council and State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee will hold the following meetings:

• 9:00 am – 11:30 am State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee
• 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm State Emergency Medical Services Council
  
  

Due to the recent events and limitations on gatherings, all meetings will be held virtually via WebEx. Persons who would like to view the meeting webcast can use the links below to access the online registration form to receive the WebEx meeting invitation.

More information on how to view the meetings will be posted at:

• https://www.health.ny.gov/events/meetings/ 
• https://www.health.ny.gov/events/webcasts/
  

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:

1. Business Reopening Safety Plan Template
2. Essential Employer FAQ (see question #9)
3. Interim Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection of Public and Private Facilities for COVID-19
4. Interim Guidance for Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers Arriving in New York State Following Out of State Travel
5. Revised Protocols for Personnel in Healthcare and Other Direct Care Settings to Return to Work Following COVID-19 Exposure or Infection
6. Protocol for COVID-19 Testing Applicable to All Health Care Providers and Local Health Departments
7. New York State Registered Disinfectants Based on EPA List
8. NYS Health Care Provider Webinar Slides (June 18, 2020)
9. Interim Guidance for Fourth of July Observance and Celebrations During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
   ​

Additionally, all EMS agencies and providers are reminded to frequently check the websites below for updated guidance and advisory documents. 


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/
​

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. 
​

Below are the new guidelines from Dr. Walters and Dr. Faulk for face coverings for Chautauqua County Fire & EMS Providers. 


Chautauqua County COVID-19 Face Coverings for EMS/Firefighters
PPE Flowchart for EMS

The NYS Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems has implemented an EMS Certification Reinstatement Program for providers whose NYS certification is expired.
Below, please find the details pertaining to this program:
For providers whose certification expiration date was September 1, 2019 through today:

1. Submit to receive a verification form at: https://forms.gle/xwqdZGvo8Kr3NgWK9

For providers whose certification expiration date was January 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019:

1. Apply for reinstatement: 
   https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/expired-verification 
2. If no issues with previous certification, provider will receive new card that expires 12/31/2020
3. The new certification will be issued at the level of care to which the provider was previously certified

For providers whose certification expiration date was January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2018:

1. Apply for reinstatement: 
   ​https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/expired-verification
2. If no issues with previous certification, provider will receive new card that expires 12/31/2020
3. The new certification will be issued at the Basic EMT level (unless the provider was previously certified as a CFR - in this case a CFR card will be issued).