WVEMS e-NEWSLETTER - April 1, 2024
WVEMS e-NEWSLETTER – April 1, 2024
WVEMS – RUC Paramedic Program – Roanoke
Western Virginia EMS Council in conjunction with Radford University Carilion will hold an EMT to Paramedic Course in Roanoke. The course will run June 14, 2024-May 2, 2025. Class meets in person on Fridays with the occasional Thursday. There will be a significant amount of independent, online work assigned weekly. The application can be found in this email as well as on our website.
Radford University Carilion – Summer EMT
Please find the attached flyer for the upcoming Summer EMT Course for Radford University Carilion. Application Deadline is May 9th, 2024, with the course beginning on May 30, 2024.
OEMS Triage Tag – Update
Please find the attached Memo from the Division of Emergency Operations Division regarding the update on the triage tags. If there are any questions, please reach out to Karen Owens, Deputy Director - Operations.
American Heart Association – Training Site
WVEMS has been an American Heart Association Training Site for two years. We can offer courses available by the American Heart Association. Please contact Daryll Perry with any questions about AHA!
WVEMS Regional Medication Exchange Program
Western Virginia EMS Council first made notification to EMS agency leadership on January 23, 2024, regarding changes to the Regional Medication Exchange Program. WVEMS continues to work behind the scenes on the future of the Regional Drug Box Program. We know there will be significant changes due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Supply Chain Security Act that will begin enforcement November 27, 2024. When this regulation was discovered, a statewide workgroup was immediately formed. This workgroup continues to meet to review every viable option. This is a very fluid process, but we urge all agencies to apply for their Controlled Substance Registration if applicable.
Please reach out to Chris Christensen – cchristensen@PROTECTED with any questions or if your agency needs assistance. We will provide an update to the region as soon as we have additional information.
National Ketamine Shortage
There is currently a national shortage of Ketamine. There will be no substitute during the shortage. Should pharmacies be unable to replace, the box will be marked that there is no Ketamine due to shortage. WVEMS remains in contact with pharmacies and will update agencies as more information becomes available.
IV and Medication Storage - Temperature Extremes
It is that time of the year that we must remain vigilant about medication and IV fluid temperatures on our licensed EMS vehicles. Please remember that Regional Drug Boxes and IV Fluids must be kept within the manufacturer's temperature guidelines. Failure to do so could result in your agency being charged the cost to replace medications damaged by exposure to extreme temperatures. 12VAC5-31-520 Storage and security of drugs and related supplies.
Bio-Hazard Trash at WVEMS Hospitals
WVEMS Hospitals request your assistance with utilizing the correct bins for trash and bio-hazard waste. Please do not place regular trash in the bio-hazard (red) cans.
WVEMS Region Facing Many Hospital EMS Diversions
WVEMS and SVHC continue to monitor and assist EMS agencies and Hospitals with navigating the Hospital Diversions affecting our region, which includes Planning Districts 4, 5 & 12. These EMS Diversions do not apply to any ALERTS (Gold, Trauma, OB, Stroke, Heart, etc) or any CRITICAL Patients. Please contact WVEMS with any questions.
Western Virginia EMS Council
1944 Peters Creek Road NW
Roanoke VA 24017-1613
tel 540.562.3482
fax 540.562.3488
www.wvems.org
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