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The NYS Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems currently has 3 policy statements to aid in COVID preparedness/responses.  The 3 policies are as follows:

• 20-02 COVID-19 EMS Practitioner Guidance
• 20-03 COVID-19 County Emergency Manager, County EMS Coordinator, and PSAP Guidance
• 20-05 COVID-19 Response to Respiratory Emergencies (just released)

These policies can change frequently.  It is important to visit the Bureau’s policy page routinely to ensure you have the most up-to-date version of each policy.

https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/ems/policy/policy.htm

We would like to clarify the notices we sent regarding today’s conference calls.

The call at 11AM is with Erie County Emergency Services regarding Erie County COVID-19 Operations

The call at 3PM is with the NYS Bureau of EMS and Trauma Systems

The calls are not the same and EMS leaders have been invited to join both calls.

New York State COVID19 Emergency Medical Services Agency Leadership Update

Friday, Mar 20, 2020 3:00 pm | 1 hour

Phone: 518-549-0500

Meeting number: 611 461 030

Password: COVID19

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=m5362bb7da771a74b2c41c69766e8181e

 

This meeting is to update New York State EMS Agency leadership on the current events related to EMS and COVID19.

Due to the large number of participants expected, we are asking that callers please submit questions via the chat box located in the Webex platform.

If a caller is asked to “unmute” their phone to speak related to a question submitted, please use *6 to unmute your phone and then *6 again to put your back on mute.

Please remember not to put your phone on hold while on the call. Please remember to shut off your computer microphone and speakers if you are calling in by phone.

Please feel free to share this invitation with other EMS agency leadership.

We do ask that agency leadership then after the call share the information with their agency providers.

Join by phone

1-844-633-8697 US Toll Free

1-518-549-0500 Local

Access code: 611 461 030

Erie County EMS Leadership Conference Call

Friday, March 20, 2020 at 11AM

Phone #: 1-866-742-8060

Meeting Code: 8507436

This conference call has been initiated for the purpose of updating all EMS agency leadership on the current COVID – 19 Operations within the County of Erie. The target audience will be EMS leadership, healthcare systems representatives, NYS DOH representatives and local incident command staff.

Message below is from Dr. Michael O’Brien, Chairman – Western Regional Emergency Medical Advisory Committee

Due to the ongoing threats posed by the novel coronavirus and in an effort to maintain social distancing, the WREMAC meeting for today will be held online only via WebEx.  There will be no in-person meeting at Twin City Ambulance.  The online meeting will begin at 1:00 PM, as originally scheduled.

Call information is:

Dial-in:  
+1-312-535-8110 United States Toll (Chicago)

Access Code/Meeting ID: 733 403 714

WREMAC ADVISORY: Ancillary Certifications and Coronavirus Disease

Download WREMAC Advisory – Ancillary Certifications Coronavirus Disease

Many providers within the region possess ancillary certification cards (ITLS/PHTLS, ACLS, BLS/CPR, PALS) required by the Provider Privileges & CME policy set to expire on March 30th or April 30th. In an effort to limit the transmission of the novel coronavirus/COVID-19, the WREMAC will consider valid any such completion cards with an expiration (or recommended renewal) date of March 31st or April 30th until at least May 31st. This date may be extended as circumstances evolve.

No provider shall be considered out-of-compliance with policy #2013-1 (Provider Privileges and Continuing Medical Education) if their ancillary course cards expire between 3/31/2020 and 5/31/2020.

Download WREMAC Advisory – Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease, COVID-19, pose a unique risk to EMS providers. To reduce the risk of transmission, the WREMAC encourages EMS providers to strongly consider the following:

• Placing a simple mask on all patients being transported who have symptoms of a respiratory illness (fever, cough, etc.) regardless of travel history.

• Prenotification of the receiving facility for patients with upper respiratory symptoms, fever, and either travel history (China, Iran, Japan, South Korea, or Italy within 14 days of symptom onset) or confirmed contact with a Person Under Investigation (PUI) who is being tested for (or confirmed to have) the COVID-19 virus.

Watch for communications from your program agency/regional council for up-to-date information as it becomes available. Current from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be found online at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-for-ems.html

Please see the attached memo for guidance on responding with a potential modified special operating procedure.

Download the UBMD 2019 COVID Memo_rev_March_2020_v1.2

At this point, please continue to use standard PPE and assessment procedures. If COVID-19 becomes more widespread to include WNY, we will update plans accordingly.

Additionally, NYS EMS has advisories. Click here

CDC has EMS advisories, click here.

Feel free to disseminate this through your department and ranks. Please contact me with questions or concerns.

—

Joseph Bart, DO,  FACEP

Board Certified – Emergency Medicine and EMS
Director – EMS Operations

UB|MD Emergency Medicine – EMS Division

Yesterday, the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and Trauma System (BEMS) activated the New York State EMS Mobilization Plan to support ongoing DOH COVID-19 operations in Westchester County. While there are currently no additional deployment requests pending, BEMS is developing a list of available EMS agency equipment and personnel that would be available should additional requests be received. We are requesting that each EMS agency complete the “Statewide EMS Mobilization Survey” that can be accessed using the link below.

https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/NYSEMSMobilizationSurvey

The first section of the survey contains a field for “Reporting Period.” Currently, we are collecting information for two reporting periods (March 8 – March 14 and March 15 – March 21). EMS agencies should submit a survey for each reporting period. If operations last beyond March 21^st, additional reporting periods may be added to the survey and resent to you for distribution. We are requesting that surveys for reporting period of March 8 – March 14 be completed by 13:00hrs on Sunday (3/8/20).

Steven P. Dziura Jr.

Deputy Director

New York State Department of Health

Bureau of Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems

875 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206

(518) 402-0997| Steven.Dziura@health.ny.gov

www.health.ny.gov

 

Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and Erie County Emergency Services will be offering cardiac simulation education at Town Line FD at 7pm on April 20th.  For more details, including registration information, please: Download Town Line Cardiac SIM Flyer