emsCharts Named Certified ePCR Provider in West Virginia

Article Source: Homeland1.com

Patient data collection products approved for use by WV EMS agencies

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – The West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services announced this week that emsCharts, Inc. products have achieved certification as a West Virginia third-party EPCR solution provider and are approved for use by West Virginia EMS agencies.

The State Trauma & Emergency Care System and the Office of EMS have partnered with the EMS Performance Improvement Center (EMSPIC) in Chapel Hill, NC to conduct the vendor certification process. emsCharts, Inc. worked with State officials and the EMSPIC to meet West Virginia’s EPCR vendor requirements for submitting data to the State EMS Data System. This data is collected by the State for statistical purposes and to assure system quality and accountability. EMS agencies operating within the State of West Virginia may now use emsCharts products to electronically capture emergency transport information and report this data to the State Trauma and Emergency Medical Information System (TEMIS). Customers in West Virginia can now enter Phase II of the process in which they submit their initial test data.

“We’re very pleased to have emsCharts as an option for our agencies looking for an electronic solution,” says Jerry Kyle, Director, Office of EMS in West Virginia. “Their products will provide a reliable avenue for agencies to submit their data to us.” Mr. Kyle acknowledged several agencies in the state already using emsCharts products, and mentioned that quite a few others are planning to implement. “We are happy that emsCharts customers in West Virginia can now begin Phase II of the data submission process.”

Pete Goutmann, Vice President of emsCharts, Inc. states, “We work continuously to make sure that our products are compliant with data submission requirements across the nation. Every state has their own unique requirements, and our customers rely on us to keep them in compliance.” Goutmann continues, “We are extremely proud to be able to offer our certified products in West Virginia.”

emsCharts helped to pioneer real-time and electronic data collection with the use of the Web to connect first responders with hospitals and reporting agencies; thus expediting the entire process and leaving more time to focus on patients’ needs. emsCharts, Inc. also offers mobile, offline versions of their web product.

About emsCharts
emsCharts (www.emscharts.com) provides pre-hospital care professionals with dynamic, state-of-the-art solutions for optimized patient health care, quality assurance and operational productivity. Developed in conjunction with and fully tested by medical and public safety professionals, emsCharts software products provide a total solution from dispatch through billing, at a flat monthly fee.

Click here to learn more about emsCharts

Mass Oxygen Distribution System

New to Penn Care’s Disaster Response Division, the Mass Oxygen Distribution System or MODS is revolutionizing the way organizations and communities prepare for disaster. These MODS provide over 64,000 gaseous liters of oxygen (stored as only 75-liters of LOX) to multiple patients. In fact, the oxygen capacity of just one MODS-75 system is equivalent to 12 large high-pressure H cylinders. Furthermore, LOX costs less than Gaseous Oxygen and uses ALL of the oxygen volume, whereas Gaseous Oxygen cylinders only utilize 80% of their volume. In short, MODS are a cost-effective and space-conscious way to deliver oxygen to multiple patients in the event of a crisis.

For More information, go to www.penncare.net

7 Springs Regional EMS Conference

Penn Care recently attended the Twenty-Second Annual Premiere Regional EMS Conference hosted by EMS Intsitute and Western Regional Emergency Medical Services held at 7 Springs Mountain Resort. At the Penn Care booth, some of the items we showcased were several 2009 Braun Ambulances, Ferno Cots and Stairchairs and emsCharts Trip Sheet Software.

One of the several speakers at the conference,  Dr. Thomas Stein, gave a presentation about the Medical Surge Plan and Surge Capacity for Pennsylvania. "Surge Capacity" refers to the maximum delivery of services that a system can provide if all available or potential resources are mobilized.

"This is a resource that every EMS System needs, but very few have." A point emphasized in an Insitute of Medicine report. Dr. Stein was able to demonstrate the Surge Capacity capabilities now available in Pennsylvania through the use of Surge Capacity Trailers from Penn Care Inc.

Few, if any hospitals in America today could handle 100 patients suddenly demanding care. Surge Hospital Trailers will supplement an exsisting hospital in the event of an emergency. The Surge Capacity Trailer allows a health care system to expand quickly beyond it's normal services to meet an increased demand for medical care. One of the components of the Hospital Surge Trailer is the MODS. The MODS, or Mobile Oxygen Distribution System, solves the problem of supplying large amounts of oxygen (64,000 gaseous liters of oxygen stored as only 75-liters of LOX) to patients in a mass casuality or surge capacity situation.

Did you attend the Conference? Post a comment and let us know where you're from and your experience at 7 Springs this year.

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National Security

The continuing terrorist threat against the U.S. homeland “is real,” the commander of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services today as he outlined an aggressive defense program aimed at preventing another Sept. 11-type attack.

“Those who wish us harm have not gone away,” Air Force Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr., who also commands North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the senators. “The threat is real. It is there.”

Terrorists “only have to be lucky once,” Renuart said, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance.

“We work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to ensure that does not happen. We want to keep the momentum that we have built,” he said. “We want to remain alert because the mission of protecting our families and our nation is the most important mission we have.”

While focused on external threats, Renuart also is the Pentagon’s point man for providing Defense Department support to civilian authorities in the event of a natural disaster. Renuart cited the Oct. 1 standup of a dedicated force to respond to potential biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosive incidents as a major step in supporting that mission. The team is trained and equipped to provide search-and-rescue, decontamination, medical, aviation, communications and logistical support.

“Our Consequence Management Response Force is a great example of an interagency approach, and how [the Defense Department] can support in a large-scale, catastrophic, nuclear, biological or chemical event,” he said.

In the event of a hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster, Northcom and its assets would work as part of a combined team to support civil authorities.

“It is a national response,” Renuart said. “We coordinate with international, federal and state partners, with the governors and with the National Guard from each of the states, and the emergency mangers.”

Two large-scale exercises, Ardent Sentry and Vigilant Shield, tested this collaboration this year, as well as 30 smaller regional, state and local exercises. In addition, Northcom and NORAD exercised with Canada in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Renuart called the relations being built and solidified through this process “a real success story” for Northcom, NORAD and the American people they work to protect.

“We train hard to execute our mission,” he said. “We exercise with all of our partners in government and we must be prepared to ensure that we never let the country down.”

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