State Agency Directory | Online Services

Bureau for Public Health

Office of Emergency Medical Services

Link to the online tools and services page


Home

About

30 Day Comment Documents

WVOEMS Department

Medical Direction

Designation and Categorization

Data and Reports

West Virginia Office of
Emergency Medical Services
350 Capitol Street
Room 425
Charleston, WV 25301

Toll Free: 1-888--747-8367
OEMS Phone: (304) 558-3956
OEMS Fax: (304) 558-8379
Trauma Phone: (304) 290-9307
Trauma Fax: (304) 558-8379

EMS Week

While the information contained in this news article was current and accurate when we posted it, it may not necessarily represent current WVOEMS policy or procedure. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 304-558-3956.

Posted: Tuesday, May 23, 2017 3:54 PM

 

There is a holiday designated for almost every day on the calendar.  There are monthly celebrations for such things as hot dogs and ice cream.  However, there is none so special and meaningful to us as May.  In May, we celebrate Trauma Awareness Month and this week, we celebrate EMS Week.  It is a time to recognize the good work that you do out there in your communities every day and the sacrifices that you make, such as, time away from your family, missed holidays, and so much more.  It is also a time to educate the community about what it is that you do.  Answer the question:  what is your value to your community?  Tell those positive stories of the lives you have saved and the services that you provide that are not related to emergency care (for example, assisting at ballgames, sponsoring community events, helping with lifting a patient at the local nursing home, assisting the local health department with immunizations, the school programs you provide, etc.)  The best way to describe EMS is that of a brotherhood or family and I have seen you and your agencies extend that love and fellowship out to your communities.
The face of EMS is changing.  Last year, I spoke at a meeting about EMS 3.0.  Gone are the days of EMS 1.0 where it was all about load and go.  Then came EMS 2.0 where we started treating illnesses and injuries and really became an integral part of the emergency care system.  Now, we are looking at EMS 3.0.  It includes non-emergency, such as community paramedicine or mobile integrated healthcare, as well as emergency care.
There are some really good links that I would like to share with you that help express gratitude for who you are and what you do.  I hope the information that I am sharing also makes you stop and think about where we are going and how we are going to get there, because it will take all of us working together to accomplish it!
http://www.emsstrong.org/faces-of-ems
http://www.emsstrong.org/stronger-together
http://www.emsstrong.org/what-is-emsstrong/
Have a great day!
Melissa Raynes
Director
Office of Emergency Medical Services
350 Capitol St., Room 425
Charleston, WV  25301-3714
304-558-3956
304-558-7125 (fax)
Email address:  melissa.j.raynes@wv.gov
Website:  www.wvoems.org

There is a holiday designated for almost every day on the calendar.  There are monthly celebrations for such things as hot dogs and ice cream.  However, there is none so special and meaningful to us as May.  In May, we celebrate Trauma Awareness Month and this week, we celebrate EMS Week.  It is a time to recognize the good work that you do out there in your communities every day and the sacrifices that you make, such as, time away from your family, missed holidays, and so much more.  It is also a time to educate the community about what it is that you do.  Answer the question:  what is your value to your community?  Tell those positive stories of the lives you have saved and the services that you provide that are not related to emergency care (for example, assisting at ballgames, sponsoring community events, helping with lifting a patient at the local nursing home, assisting the local health department with immunizations, the school programs you provide, etc.)  The best way to describe EMS is that of a brotherhood or family and I have seen you and your agencies extend that love and fellowship out to your communities.

 

The face of EMS is changing.  Last year, I spoke at a meeting about EMS 3.0.  Gone are the days of EMS 1.0 where it was all about load and go.  Then came EMS 2.0 where we started treating illnesses and injuries and really became an integral part of the emergency care system.  Now, we are looking at EMS 3.0.  It includes non-emergency, such as community paramedicine or mobile integrated healthcare, as well as emergency care.

 

There are some really good links that I would like to share with you that help express gratitude for who you are and what you do.  I hope the information that I am sharing also makes you stop and think about where we are going and how we are going to get there, because it will take all of us working together to accomplish it!

 

http://www.emsstrong.org/faces-of-ems

http://www.emsstrong.org/stronger-together

http://www.emsstrong.org/what-is-emsstrong/

 

 

Have a great day!

Melissa Raynes

Director

Office of Emergency Medical Services

350 Capitol St., Room 425

Charleston, WV  25301-3714

304-558-3956

304-558-7125 (fax)

Email address:  melissa.j.raynes@wv.gov

Website:  www.wvoems.org

 

 

Privacy, Security and Accessibility | WV.gov | USA.gov | © 2013 State of West Virginia | webmail