Syllabus:                                                             

              2008 Greater-Westchester

              EMS Conference

Stephen R. Wirth, Esquire, EMT-P

Is a founding partner in the national EMS law firm of Page, Wolfberg & Wirth, LLC. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Steve had a distinguished two-decade career in public safety as a career and volunteer EMT and paramedic, EMS instructor, EMS administrator, firefighter, and fire department officer. He has years of hands-on business experience as a key manager for a large ambulance service. Currently Steve serves as one of three members of the panel of commissioners for the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS), the national accrediting body for the ambulance industry. He is an assistant professor at George Washington University and the University of Pittsburgh where he teaches in the EMS degree programs. Steve has also authored or coauthored many articles on a variety of EMS management topics. Steve continues in public service as an active firefighter/EMT and engineer for the Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Company in Mechanicsburg, PA.

 Keynote Address: Hey, This Used to be Fun: Coping With Change in EMS

Remember the days of Johnny and Roy in Squad 51 and why we got into EMS in the first place? Too much stress and you don’t enjoy being in EMS anymore? It seems like EMS today is more about paperwork and “risk management” and less about taking care of people—or is it? Well, maybe you need the “12-Step Recovery Program” to reduce EMS stress, have more fun, and make practical improvements to your system and feel good doing it presented by EMS attorneys who have been there! This presentation will help you focus on the bigger picture and the important issues that really make a difference, instead of sweating the small stuff!

Dynamic Documentation: This Is Not Your Father’s PCR!
Think this is “just another documentation session?” Well, think again! This all-new session will explore the important links between documentation and reimbursement, and explain how to meet the new documentation challenges that have come about as a result of new Medicare rules and other payor requirements. This session will review the various signature requirements and the reasons that EMS providers must capture adequate information in the field to support the billing that takes place after the call.

Electronic Data Collection in the Field - The Legal, Clinical and Financial Aspects
While increasing numbers of ambulance services have embraced field data collection technology, many continue to resist it. While there are reasons that ambulance services may choose to continue to document on paper, some resist changing to electronic data collection because of the fear that electronic patient care reports might not stand in court, or that they are too complicated, or sometimes, just because “old habits die hard.” This session will take an objective look at the legal, clinical and financial aspects of doing your field documentation electronically – and give you an accurate picture of how electronic documentation would “stand up” in court.

The Liability of Apathy
What are the most significant “weak spots” in ambulance service liability and what can you do to minimize risk? What motivates patients and others to want to sue you? Much has to do with the “basics” of providing ambulance service in the first place—to help other people in need—and this session will provide dynamic insight into the “root cause” of ambulance industry litigation. The bottom line is that most people will not sue you if they like you! Studies show that the main reason that malpractice litigation occurs is because of “communications issues.” Much can be done to avoid liability in the first place by improving communications skills and by applying common sense approaches to risk management in the critical areas where your system can fall apart.

Mark J. Reis, MBA, EMT-P                       Sponsored by:     Vidacare / EZ-IO                       The Former Assistant Director of EMS for the City of New Orleans, Louisiana; Mark has worked for several municipal and private ambulance services and has had an opportunity to be an educator, supervisor, recruiter and lastly a manager for the largest privately employee-owned ambulance service in the United States. In 2004, Mark left the private sector to return to help in the reorganization of New Orleans EMS division. Mark has lectured at numerous state and national conferences during his career and continues to practice as a Paramedic in Tennessee. In 1995 he was recognized by the United States Senate, as one of the sixty stars of life recipients, for contributions and dedication to pre-hospital emergency care. Currently Mark works as Vidacare Corporation’s Clinical Applications Manager.

Emergency Vascular Access: When Seconds Count

Bill Toon, MEd, NREMT-P,

Bill is a 33-year EMS veteran.  He has worked as an EMT and paramedic in both suburban and urban communities, including New York City.  Bill has been a paramedic educator since 1985.  Bill is now a full-time Battalion Chief – Training for Johnson County MED-ACT in Johnson County Kansas.  Bill has presented numerous didactic, practical, and clinical programs.

Controversies in Prehospital Critical Airway Management: Past, Present, and Future!

Paul R. Hinchey, MD, MBA, EMT-P          As Presented at: EMS Today

Paul R. Hinchey, MD, MBA, EMT-P, a former Westchester County resident and paramedic, is the medical director of WakeMed Mobile Critical Care and the assistant medical director of Wake County EMS in North Carolina.

Dr. Hinchey is one of the nations leading experts on pre-hospital induced hypothermia in the cardiac arrest patient.

Cool-Induced Hypothermia

Hypothermia is a hot topic! Drs. Hinchey will discuss in detail the CIE program in Raleigh/Wake County, N.C., one of the first pre-hospital hypothermia programs in the U.S. Practical information on methods to cool patients immediately after ROSC will be provided, and political considerations will be reviewed. Job aides and other references will be provided to assist participants in development of their own hypothermia program. Actual case studies will demonstrate the effectiveness of the program.

Erik Larsen, MD, FACEP

Dr. Larsen is currently the White Plains Hospital Center, Associate Medical Director, Emergency  Department as well as, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. Previously he has served as Associate Medical Director, LifeNet-NY/STAT Flight and Medical Director of the STAT Flight Program.

A Tale of Two Disasters

Robert Gurliacci, EMT-P, CIC

Paramedic Curriculum Chair

SUNY/Westchester Community College

ACLS for the BLS Provider

The American Heart Association sets the standard for the treatment of

acutely ill cardiac patients and teaches them to physicians, nurses

and paramedics in the context of their well-known Advanced Cardiac

Life Support courses.  In this discussion, we will go beyond the

basics of BLS CPR to demystify these treatment algorithms and explain

the purposes of the various medications and invasive procedures

involved.  From the causes of cardiac arrest, to the importance of

Nicholas DeRobertis, MD, FACEP

Dr. DeRobertis, is probably the best-known member of the Westchester EMS community. For over 20 years he has provided unmatched, hands-on support of EMS in Westchester and well beyond. As the Director of the Emergency Department at St, Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, NY, Chairman of REMAC and now the Medical Director for St. Josephs: Dr. DeRobertis oversees one of the busiest EMS systems in the country. With his guidance this system has consistently been the first to bring the latest, most advanced patient care protocols and treatment guidelines as well as cutting-edge medical technology to the patients they serve.

20Years Hasn’t Changed us That Much