Version 1.21 changes

• Change formatting, spelling and table of contents issues.
• Documented the already established use of field E02_12 to record the West Virginia assigned vehicle sticker number in place of the Radio Call Sign.
• Corrected the naming of the Field E23_11 in the list comparing the NEMSIS Gold, the WV required elements and the National (NEMSIS Silver) data elements.

Version 1.2 changes

• Version 1.2 has added the requirement for the reporting of Field E13_01 and E23_11.
• Field E23_11 has been added because; by NEMSIS definition, field E23_11 identifies the content of NEMSIS field E23_09 and E23_09 cannot exist without E23_11. As E23_09 will only and always contains the "Medical Command Run Identification Number" when available, field E23_11 should contain the text "Medical Command Run Identification Number" to identify the contents of E23_09.
• Field E13_01 has been added because; WVOEMS has determined that it is impossible to appropriately evaluate the appropriate delivery of EMS Services without inclusion of the free formed narrative.

Download the NEMSIS Version 3 Final Draft here:  http://www.nemsis.org/media/pdf/NEMSISV3Draft2.pdf

Download and Spreadsheet of recommended National, State, and Performance Measure Data Elements here:  http://www.nemsis.org/media/pdf/NEMSISV3PerfMeasures.pdf

Public Comments will be accepted online through the NEMSIS website beginning Monday (February 8th) through March 31st, 2010.  Comments prior to March 1, 2010 are appreciated.

This is the second of 3 draft documents leading to a final Version 3 dataset in May of 2010.  During this same time period the NEMSIS dataset is migrating into the HL7 based standards with a goal of formal HL7 balloting and approval ending in 2012.

The goal of this draft release is to allow all NEMSIS users, EMS experts, and interested parties to review the dataset and provide comments and/or suggestions through the NEMSIS website at www.NEMSIS.org. To focus this review, the draft 2 document has been consolidated to provide only the key information relative to data collect data collection and application.  Software related business logic/rules, XML structure, data element value codes, and Version 2 to 3 translational mapping is not included in this public comment.  A separate public comment period will be provided for the business logic and XML structure components of NEMSIS Version 3 in the 2^nd quarter of 2010.

The first few pages of the NEMSIS Version 3 Draft provides an overview and summary of the document.  Additional content will be provided over the next week to better describe the changes between Version 2 and Version 3.

The NEMSIS Technical Assistance Center is interested in all comments.  With each comment please provide insight into the reason for the recommended change. Review of this draft should focus on the following:

• Missing EMS topics or information that NEMSIS should collect
• National and State Data Element groups.  Recommendations to increase or decrease each list
• The completeness of all NEMSIS data element definitions and their associated values
• Comments on any of the Performance Measure Topics and their associated data element list
• Comments on how to improve the NEMSIS dataset use or implementation

Version 3 of NEMSIS will be finalized in May of 2010 based on all comments received during this public comment period.  In an effort to assure this document has been developed through an objective EMS industry consensus process, the only changes or additions to the NEMSIS Version 3 Draft considered are the comments received through the NEMSIS Version 3 wiki found at www.NEMSIS.org.

Deadline for comments:  March 31, 2010

Go to www.NEMSIS.org to submit comments

Thanks for your participation in this important process.

Preference may be given to applicants with experience in prehospital and emergency department management of the acutely ill or injured patient; experience in on-line, base station radio direction of prehospital emergency units; experience in the training of basic and advanced prehospital personnel; experience in the medical audit, review, and critique of basic and advanced prehospital personnel; and Board Certification in Emergency Medicine.

A job description and the position requirements have been posted on the WV Division of Personnel web site.

The posting closes March 7, 2010. Application instructions are on the web site link posted above.

Expired

The TSN Martinsburg Program Director position is no longer open.

Historically, West Virginia EMS providers and the regional Medical Commands have utilized aeromedical resources regardless of West Virginia licensure. This practice was permitted due to the lack of availability of WV licensed providers in certain areas of the state. While this condition continues to exist in some areas, the vast majority of the state now has WV licensed aeromedical providers available within a reasonable distance. Thus, a change of policy is being implemented regarding the utilization of unlicensed aeromedical agencies within West Virginia.

West Virginia Code mandates that decisions regarding the care and transportation of patients shall be the responsibility of the EMS line officer under the direction of medical command. This statute is the reason all requests for scene utilization of aeromedical resources are required to be authorized by the appropriate regional Medical Command. Failure to abide by this policy is just reason for disciplinary action upon a provider's certification.

At the recent Medical Policy and Care Committee meeting held on December 4, 2009, the issue of unlicensed aeromedical agencies providing services in West Virginia was reviewed. This committee concluded that in order to ensure that medical care provided to the citizens of WV meet our standards, it was imperative that WV licensed providers be utilized whenever possible. As a result, the following policy was developed to assist the Medical Command centers in authorization of scene aeromedical responses.

Effective 12:01 a.m., January 1, 2010, the following policy will be utilized by all regional Medical Commands:

Upon receiving a request for aeromedical assistance at the scene of an EMS incident in the State of WV, the regional Medical Command shall first determine the appropriateness of the request, and if determined to be medically appropriate, the Medical Command shall coordinate dispatch of the closest WV licensed aeromedical provider. If the difference between the nearest WV licensed aeromedical provider's base and a non-licensed aeromedical provider's base is greater than ten (10) miles, the regional Medical Command may utilize the non-licensed aeromedical provider.

At the current time, the only WV licensed aeromedical providers are HealthNet Aeromedical Services and Air Evac Lifeteam.

This policy is intended to ensure that the care and service provided to sick and injured patients meet the standards as established by the West Virginia State Trauma and Emergency Medical System.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Deron Wilkes by e-mail (deron.e.wilkes@wv.gov) or by telephone (304-5583956).

Thank you for assistance as we take steps to ensure the very best care is made available to the citizens of West Virginia.

He is survived by his wife and three sons, C. Vincent, Jr. and his wife, Julie, Gary Miles Townsend, MD. JD. and Robin Wade Townsend D.V.M. and his wife, Janet. He is also survived by his dear grandchildren, C. Vincent III, Carson Hunter, Sage Noel, Sarah Bucko, Austin Hux, Troy Kearney and Amber Dawn Townsend. He was preceded in death by his parents; Clarence William and Roxie Mae Townsend.

He was a graduate of Martinsburg High School, Potomac State College, Keyser, WV, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV and the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, VA. He was president of Sigma Chi fraternity at WVU and a member of Phi Beta Pi at MCV. He served as a Medical Officer at Portsmouth Naval Hospital and aboard the USS Adirondack AGC 15.

He was active in many facets of his hometown community in addition to his private practice of Internal Medicine for forty years. Over the years he was president of Kings Daughters Hospital and City Hospital staff, Eastern Panhandle Medical Society, Eastern Panhandle Heart Association, Rotary Club of Martinsburg, Junior Board of Trade, Exhausted Roosters, Eastern Panhandle Shrine Club, Burke Street School PTA and the Medical College of Virginia Valley Chapter and West Virginia Chapter. He was a member of the General Adam Stephen Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Fraternal Order of Elks, Lodge 778, the Henry Kyd Douglas camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and Berkeley Post 14 American Legion; Voiture Local 1356 of La Societe des Quaante Hommes et Huit Chevaux. He was also a Trustee and Past Master of Robert White Lodge #67 AF & AM in Martinsburg and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia AF & AM. He was a member of the Palestine Commandery, R.A.M., the Scottish Rite 32nd and the Royal Order of Jesters.

He had been Medical Director of Paramedics for Eastern West Virginia, Medical Director of Civil Defense and Medical Director of Regions 8 and 9 Emergency Medical Services for which the office building was named the C. Vincent Townsend, M.D. Building. He was chosen from the EMS regions for the 2001 state Samuel W. Channel Award and received the 1999-2000 Rural Health Physician of the Year award from the West Virginia State Medical Association.

He was a past Director of the local Chamber of Commerce, past Director of the West Virginia Heart Association, past Director of Old National Bank and One Valley Bank and a Director Emeritus of Branch Banking and Trust.

Memorials may be sent to the Dr. C. Vincent Townsend Scholarship Fund, Shepherd University Foundation, PO Box 3210, Shepherdstown, WV 25443-3210 or Robert White Lodge #67 AF & AM, 1007 W. King Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401.

A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 11AM at the Trinity Church in Martinsburg WV.

We'd like to take this opportunity to bring you up to date on progress in working through the transition of the State Trauma and Emergency Care System since the departure of Dr. William Ramsey. Over the past several weeks, we've spent considerable effort evaluating the current system and looking at the direction we need to go. We've consulted with many of you to hear your concerns and suggestions. At this time, I would like to make you aware of the following:

• Effective January 1, 2010, the name of the State Trauma and Emergency Care System (STECS) will become the State Trauma and Emergency Medical System (STEMS).
• Effective January 1, 2010, the name for the Centralized Hospital and Emergency Medical Triage and Coordination Center (CHEMTAC) will be changed to the State Medical Coordination Center (MCG).
• We are making every effort to operationalize medical command communications for WestCom at MCC in Flatwoods by January 1, 2010.
• The determination has been made that there will be a full-time administrative director and a full-time medical director for STEMS. We expect that job announcements for these two positions will be posted and advertized before the end of the year. Interviews for these positions are expected to begin shortly after the first of the year.

Please share these announcements with others who may be interested. We plan to keep you up to date as progress continues on these and other matters. Thank you for your dedication and the hard work you do every day to provide the citizens of West Virginia with vital emergency medical care. I wish you and the people you hold dear a wonderful holiday season and a healthy, happy new year.

Sincerely,

Chris Curtis, M.P.H.
Acting Commissioner
West Virginia DHHR-Bureau for Public Health