EMS Today

The ‘True’ COVID-19 ‘1st’ First Responders

In this episode, JEMS Editor Emeritus A.J. Heightman interviews Dr. Jeff Clawson, Jerry Overton, Greg Scott, Brian Dale and Christopher Olola, PhD, from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) and the IAED Research, Standards, and Academics Division. They discuss emergency medical dispatch centers playing a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Protocol 36,” and what the future might hold for EMS Systems, dispatch and deployment of resources.

Community Care Units Activated to Battle COVID-19

Join JEMS Editor-Emeritus A.J. Heightman for an interview with innovative frontline personnel from five Sacramento, California-area fire agencies and hospital facilities that mobilized volunteers in a week to staff four special assignment Community Care Response Units.

Skilled Nursing Facilities and the Pandemic

Skilled Nursing Facilities in many areas are surfacing as “hot spots” and clusters of COVID-19 outbreaks. On this episode of the EMS TODAY Show, Randy Katz, DO, and JEMS Editor Emeritus A.J. Heightman discuss special considerations for EMS Systems relative to the in their service area and the importance of educating and coordinating with these facilities.

The Need for Advanced Patient Ventilation

The need for advanced patient ventilation has been at the forefront of patient care during the coronavirus pandemic. The shortage of mechanical ventilators has also surfaced as an overall shortfall in many systems.

Many have raised the issue of why few prehospital response ALS Units are equipped with mechanical ventilators. JEMS Editor Emeritus A.J. Heightman reached out to EMSA, the ALS System serving Tulsa and Oklahoma City, a system that has mechanical ventilators in service for years, to discuss the topic.

Joining A.J. are Jeffrey M. Goodloe, MD, NRP, FACEP, FAEMS, and Tyler Wedman, NRP.

Jeffrey M. Goodloe is professor and chief of the EMS Section of the Department of Emergency Medicine at The University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine in Tulsa. He has the privilege of serving as medical director for the Medical Control Board in the EMS System for Metropolitan Oklahoma City and Tulsa, working with a multitude of agencies, including the Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), the Oklahoma City Fire Department and the Tulsa Fire Department. He started in EMS in 1988 as an EMT-B and has never quit learning.

Tyler Wedman works for Global Medical Response in its operations at EMSA in Oklahoma City. He serves as Director of Clinical Services for EMSA in the “Western Division” which is metropolitan Oklahoma City. He oversees new hire clinical onboarding, CQI, CME, and other clinical and educational duties.

Interview with FirstWatch's Todd Stout

Todd Stout is an award-winning EMS innovator, pioneer and catalyst for change, continuing in the footsteps of his father, Jack Stout. He has served as a stock boy, EMT, paramedic, flight paramedic and manager in a variety of high-performance public and private EMS agencies. He is the president and founder of FirstWatch, a public safety technology company that helps more than 350 communities in North America turn their dispatch and patient data into meaningful and actionable information. Todd was a recipient of the JEMS EMS 10 Innovators award.

Sitting down with Jonathan Washko

This episode is a frank and sincere talk on the COVID-19 Pandemic and innovations made by Northwell Health System with Jonathan D. Washko, MBA-EMSA, NREMT-P, AEMD, the assistant vice president in the Center for Emergency Medical Services at Northwell Health System in New York City and Long Island, N.Y.

Interview with Frank Poliafico, RN

Frank Poliafico has dedicated his life to EMS as a provider, administrator and educator. His career spanned 50 year career in emergency medical care. He has served as an Emergency Department nurse and nurse manager, and a former County EMS Director in Pennsylvania. Frank has now decided to put his magic online to help people relax.

COVID-19

JEMS Editor Emeritus A.J. Heightman talks to Rhiana Ireland, MD, about COVID-19.