F E B RUA RY 2 019

PMREMS newsletter

regionalresource

Applauding Success S

ure our emergency service providers deserve a round of applause as an important resource for our community; but Pocono Mountain Regional EMS believes in sharing that spotlight. So enjoy this edition of Regional Resources highlighting not only our

Paramedics and EMTs; but other amazing area pros. From another Lehigh Valley Health Network physician sharing health facts; to a pretty awesome group on the slopes, each deserve a high five, smile or maybe even a thankyou...or two.

P oco n o M ou nta in R eg io n a l E m e rg e n cy M e dica l S e rv ice s Headquarters135 Tegawitha Rd, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 WebPMREMS.org

Phone570.839.8485 EMAILINFO.PMREMS@gmail.com

IN THIS EDITION 2 3

It’s a...

Delivering success

LVHN: Ask the Doctor

Are migraines hereditary?

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A SKI for all

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HERO Night

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Subscribe For the Drive

Adaptive Skiing Honoring Pocono EMS Heroes

Stay connected

for videos, photos and up to the minute news

It’s a nother ems success Photo Left to Right: PMREMS EMTs Jerry Richard Yost; Jennifer Reader; Kelsey Hovi; PMREMS Paramedic William Adam Fensch

W

hile delivering a few newborns through the years may seem common; emergency services typically provides standard stabilization of prenatal care to the hospital. But...on occasion, labor waits for no one. Paramedic and EMT protocol requires training in delivery for those situations. January 8, 2019 was one of those dates. Our team of EMTs Kelsey Hovi; Jennifer Reader; Jerry Richard Yost; and Paramedic William Adam Fensch, delivered a healthy baby boy for a patient in need.

Paramedic William Adam Fensch proudly places a PMREMS stork symbolizing a successful baby delivery performed January 8, 2019

These Pocono Mountain Regional EMS professionals take great pride in being a part “Right from the start.” With a stork decal and pins commemorating the occasion congratulating Paramedics and EMTs with a statement of success.

Ask the Doctor Migraines

Q

Are migraines hereditary?

A: Anirudh Kapoor, MD, LVPG-Neurology

Yes, Migraines do have a strong genetic component. Most people with migraines have a first degree relative with migraines. However, not all people with predisposing genes develop migraines. When these predisposing genes interact with certain environmental factors such as stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes, it leads to migraines. There are some rare variants of migraines which are inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning you only need one copy of the faulty gene from one of your parents to get the disorder. At a very basic level, there are two types of migraines- with and without aura. Auras can be of many types: • Visual: Most of the patients I see have a visual aura. Many patients describe seeing flashing lights, zig zag lines, areas of vision loss in the visual fields. • Sensory: Numbness or tingling in either the face or one side of the body. • Language: Patients can experience slurred speech or have word finding difficulties either before or during a migraine episode. • Some patients experience vertigo, ringing in their ears, double vision, unsteadiness which is called as a brainstem aura. Brain stem is the rear part of the brain. Some patients consistently develop vision loss in one eye, before onset of a migraine, such migraines have been termed as retinal or ocular migraines. The vision loss usually lasts less than an hour. • Motor: Rarely, migraines can be accompanied by weakness on one side of the body that can look very similar to a stroke.

• Very rarely, the aura of a migraine is unaccompanied by a headache, making things very confusing for the patient and their doctors. These auras can be confused for transient ischemic attacks, or in other words, strokes. Migraine Triggers

Every patient has triggers that are unique to them. The most common triggers are emotional stress, lack of sleep, hormonal changes in women (such as around the time of menstruation) and not eating. Some other triggers are chocolate, wine, aspartame, changes in the weather, dehydration, bright lights and strong smells. I ask my patients to keep a headache diary wherein they can identify their headache triggers and avoid them. Several apps are available on IOS and Android now to keep track of an individual’s headache and triggers. Signs and Symptoms

Usually migraine headaches are located on one side of the head, they are pulsating or throbbing in quality, associated with sensitivity to light and sound. Most people feel nauseous and throw up during a migraine. People usually avoid moving around during a migraine headache as it makes the symptoms worse. The untreated headache usually lasts between 4 to 72 hours. A unique symptom of a migraine that happens in some patients is something called as ‘cutaneous allodynia’. This means feeling pain in response to stimuli that are not supposed to be painful, such as brushing your hair, shaving or wearing contact lenses. Warning Signs of a Stroke or Serious Issue

When someone suffers from migraines for long time, it’s easy to dismiss every headache as a migraine. Serious brain bleeds have been missed as a result of this. It is very

Anirudh Kapoor, MD, is Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for Internal Medicine and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology for Neurology. He is currently accepting patients at the LVPG-Neurology practice in East Stroudsburg, for the following areas: Stroke, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, neuromuscular disorders, infections of the nervous system, neurodegenerative disorders, spinal cord disorders, headaches and neuropathies.

important to pay attention to the headache characteristics and pattern. Any change in these characteristics or patterns should be discussed with your physician to make sure it’s not a stroke or a bleed. A headache that starts after neck trauma, chiropractic manipulation or a ride at an amusement park should not be ignored. This can mean a tear in the blood vessels that supply the brain that can cause a potentially disabling stroke. Headaches associated with visual symptoms, especially visual loss should prompt a visit to your neurologist. A neurologist can look inside your eyes to detect raised pressure inside the brain. A timely diagnosis of this condition can avoid permanent vision loss. Treatments for Migraine Sufferers

Depending on the headache frequency, patient preference, coexisting medication conditions, several medication options are available to treat migraines. Some medicines are supposed to be taken on a daily basis and others are to be taken only when a headache happens. When headaches are resistant to these medications, patients can be referred for botox injections. As strange as it sounds, overusing headache medications can actually cause a headache. This is called as ‘medication overuse headache’. I see it frequently in people who take headache medications three or more times a week, or 15 plus days a month. Regular follow up with a neurologist is necessary to make sure you are taking the appropriate medications in a manner that is both safe and effective. When to See a Neurologist

When headache stops responding to over the counter pain medications, becomes too frequent or starts affecting your school or work performance, it’s time to see a neurologist.

Teacher, friend, and traffic cop on the slopes

JFBB Adaptive Ski Instructors

Eager to applaud those who dedicate their time and talent to helping everyone experience anything they set their mind to; Pocono Mountain Regional EMS shares a view into Jack Frost Adaptive Ski.

Learn About

A magnificent program at JFBB that enables those with special needs to be on the slopes alongside family and friends instead of watching from the sidelines; these amazing men and women deserve a thumbs up.

click here

HERO NIGHT OF HONORING THE POCONO EMS HEROES Save the Date

Thursday March 28, 2019 Cocktails (Cash Bar) Hors d’oeuvres: 5:30 p.m. Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

Camelback Resort (Grand Ballroom) Cost: $100 per person Please make checks payable to LVHN–Pocono Foundation. For event or sponsorship information, contact Marynell Strunk at Marynell.Strunk@lvhn.org or 570-476-3629. LVHN–Pocono Foundation 206 East Brown Street East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 All proceeds from this event will go toward the costs for needed equipment for EMS providers serving the Pocono area.

TIME DRIVE to signup &SubscriBE

fo r the

GOING ON NOW UNTIL MAY 15, 2019

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5 PAYr th7 e fo

$

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FOR MORE DETAILS PLUS EASY ACCESS TO SIGNUP

june 1, 2019 - may 31, 2020

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 6900 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, 2019 to May 31, 2020.

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

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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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E HEWR AT’S H R FO NISEYEW AR TH

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

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