February 2018 PMREMS Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2018

PMREMS newsletter

regionalresource

a time to sign I

t’s a magnificent time to sign on and see some amazing opportunities in EMS. Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services is proud to share outstanding efforts for the benefit of our community you have just got to see!

From announcing area EMT’s soon to gain new professional identities as Paramedics satisfying a growing

Monroe County need; we give thanks to Dr. Peter Favini and his efforts through Monroe County Ambulance Association.

Then we’ll share how easy it is to help us help you with our Annual Subscription Drive now through May 15.

Learn how and why just $75 pays off positively when you Subscribe to our Drive.

Stay connected

for videos, photos and up to the minute news PoconoMountainRegionalEmergencyMedicalServices

IN THIS EDITION 2 Paramedic Persuasion Scholarship Aid

4 Helping Us Help You

Subscription Time to Sign

5 LVHN:Questions for the Doctor Antibiotics Answers

6 Community Invitation to an Egg-cellent Celebration

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PARAMEDICS

Photo from left to right: Nick Dewitt, Dr. Peter Favini, Michael MacArt, Stacy Steinmetz, Mariah Meckes, Bryan Evans

M onroe County Ambulance Association presented checks to

three Monroe County EMTs paving their way to PA-State Paramedic Certification during the January 31 meeting. Two Pocono Mountain Regional EMS professionals, Stacey Steinmetz and Michael MacArt, each received contributions under MCAA’s Dr. Peter Favini, M.D. Scholarship. As did West End Ambulance EMT, Mariah Meckes. All will be attending Emergency Medicine Institute in Lehigh Valley.

Created as, “A way to encourage EMTs to further their education and provide Monroe County with additional Paramedics,” the caveat for consideration comes with a commitment to complete two years of work as a medic in the association’s area.

Since 2009, funds raised have fostered an ability to balance work and study without the sting of financial burden for students; while alleviating a Paramedic shortage throughout the county. Consistently donating towards the fund, Dr. Favini’s contributions undoubtedly have aided in its success.

“Dr. Favini’s generosity has truly been a crucial part in making this work since the start,” noted PMREMS Operations Manager, Denise Doremus.

Adding, “He was the medical director for the county EMS services at the time and saw first hand something had to be done so he matched contributions made through fundraising.”

Wanting the generous deed not to be his own legacy, instead, making memories for others, suits the St. Luke’s Medical Director just fine.

Dr. Favini’s generosity has truly been a crucial part in making this work since the start

STACY STEINMETZ EMT with Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, West End Ambulance and Bushkill Township EMS, Stacy has a well versed resume in Emergency Services.

Volunteer firefighter, 911 dispatcher, Emergency Room technician and now an EMT Supervisor; she intends to add Paramedic certification to continue “Giving the highest level of care to her patients.”

Giving back through public education and assisting other providers in their own career growth adds to this future Paramedic professional’s pay-it-forward plans.

MICHAEL MACART EMT Supervisor with Pocono Mountain Regional EMS, Michael recognizes the concerns faced with retaining Paramedics in the area.

Reasoning the scholarship has served and continues to serve a “real need to get and keep welltrained ambulance professionals in the county,” he smiled adding, “When you call 9-1-1 you want them to come.”

Care to Contribute?

Send donations to

Dr. Peter Favini, M.D.

SCHOLARSHIP

MONROE COUNTY AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION P.O. Box 10 Tannersville, PA 18372

- Denise Doremus

Intentions of community involvement are in the cards for this five-year veteran of the force after completing Paramedic training.

A passion for teaching and education adds to the incentive to encouraging success in completion.

MARIAH MECKES Experience volunteering with Wind Gap EMS at the age of 17 set the course for this West End Community, Wind Gap and East Allen Township ambulance EMT. Completing Paramedic certification to “provide better care for patients” is the start as this professional prepares to further her career as a Flight Paramedic.

TIME DRIVE to signup &SubscriBE

fo r the

GOING ON NOW UNTIL MAY 15, 2018

CLICK

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$ 5 PAYr th7 e fo

YEAR

FOR MORE DETAILS PLUS EASY ACCESS TO SIGNUP

june 1, 2018 - may 31, 2019

Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services “Subscribe for the Drive” invitation can be seen all around thanks to the generosity of our media sponsors Lamar billboards, The Journal newspapers, This Week in the Poconos magazine and posters by Printing Craftsmen; now’s the time to clarify why signing up for the “Drive” is so important. to you and our nonprofit.

purchases, and training classes for our medical professionals. To help offset these costs and continue to give the quality of care you deserve, we turn to our community for help. While fundraising isn’t a new thing, we see it as an opportunity to not only subsidize operational expenses, but also cut costs for residents.

Responding to over 6600 emergency calls shows an elevated need for our services. As call volume increases, so do operating costs which include building and vehicle maintenance, equipment

Comprising nearly 10% of revenue sources, our annual Subscription Drive enables families to pay a fee of just $75 for emergency ambulance transport coverage June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.

SEE HOW HELPING US HELPS YOU YOUR $75 Subscription

WITHOUT

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Covers your household

•

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Unlimited medically necessary 911 transports

•

PMREMS bills your insurance directly

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No co-pay or deductible associated with your medical insurance coverage -plus- you will not be billed for the portion not covered by insurance

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Accepted by ambulance services providing mutual aid to PMREMS A Note to Medicare Beneficiaries

Billed for the portion not covered by insurance that could mount to hundreds of dollars

Medicare pays 80% of their fee schedule leaving the patient responsible for a 20% balance

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20% Medicare balance waived

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Billed 20% Medicare Balance

Medicare beneficiaries may still be billed for co-payments & deductible if required by law

Questions for the Doctor

What you need to know about antibiotics

Q

My doctor doesn’t always prescribe an antibiotic – don’t antibiotics cure everything?

A: Mohammad Ali, MD Whether you need an antibiotic or not is really dependent on the illness, and that is only something your primary care provider can determine. There are signs of a bacterial infection that we look for when examining a patient in person. However, antibiotics are not a cure-all and only should be prescribed with great care. This is why you don’t always walk away from a visit with your primary care physician with a prescription for an antibiotic. Antibiotics have no effect on viral infections and if your illness is deemed to be a viral infection, you are better off not on antibiotics. Viruses, like colds, usually resolve themselves and don’t require much more than fluids, rest and time.

Antibiotics vs. Good bacteria Antibiotics can potentially worsen symptoms you may be experiencing or cause you to have unnecessary side effects. Any antibiotic can weaken your gastrointestinal system and may cause an imbalance of good bacteria that we all have in our gut. Unless directed otherwise, it’s a good idea to add cultured yogurt to your diet after you have completed a course of an antibiotic to help replenish that good bacteria.

Help prevent antibiotic resistance One thing to keep in mind is to always complete a course of antibiotics to prevent resistance of bacteria

Mohammad Ali, MD, is a family medicine physician with LVPG Family Medicine in Tannersville.

Ali is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association, and is accepting new patients.

to particular antibiotics. Often times, people start to feel better mid-way through the antibiotic and believe they can stop taking it. This can cause the illness to never fully resolve or linger longer. When a course of antibiotics is not finished, it allows bacteria to survive the incomplete course and then multiply creating more bacteria that is able to withstand a particular antibiotic. This is often what is referred to as antibiotic resistance. At this time, more than ever, we must be careful of antibiotic resistance as we are seeing more and more resistance to stronger and stronger antibiotics. Always finish the course of antibiotic unless your doctor advises you to stop early.

Never share antibiotics Just as important as finishing your full prescription is, remember to never share your antibiotic medication. Each antibiotic is designed to treat different conditions and bacteria that cause them.

If you share an antibiotic with someone else, there are a few things to consider: your friend or relative might end up experiencing an allergic reaction to your medicine; your antibiotic may not even help them feel better because their illness may be caused by a different bacteria. In either case, you aren’t taking the full course of your medication, which may increase the antibiotic resistance of the bacteria your prescription was supposed to treat.

So even when you’re fighting off a cold and think you need an antibiotic prescription to get rid of it, remember your primary care provider will only prescribe an antibiotic when it is absolutely necessary.

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