NOVEMBER 12, 2015
medic.com
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@MecklenburgEMS
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As previously noted, the latest Performance Pay Tracking Period began on July 1st. We are striving to meet the Patient Satisfaction goal of a ≥ 65% rating (experience as “Excellent”). In order to create a comfortable margin of performance, while continuing to improve the patient experience, we would like to share some feedback from recent patient focus groups. The two areas that patients value the most are: 1. Communication from the treating crew: “Explain treatment options and procedures” “Provide reassurance and compassionate communication with the patient” 2. Setting clear expectations: “Set transport length expectation” “Set a triage level expectation before arriving at the hospital”
SEPTEMBER 2014
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Bill SB37 was signed into law on Friday, October 30, 2015. SB37 waives tuition for children under legal guardianship and/ or biological children of EMS, law enforcement and firefighters’ (paid or volunteer), who were either killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty.
Under the former law, tuition was only waived for biological children. The waiver applies to institutions under the UNC and community college systems. To learn more, visit http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/gascripts/BillLookUp/BillLookUp.pl?Session=2015&BillID=s37 &submitButton=Go. It is my sincere pleasure to communicate that we have officially achieved each of the performance pay targets for the period ending October 31, 2015. This afternoon I was informed of success on the final data point (call taking compliance from CMED), making it a clean sweep for the tracking period. The payout will occur to all eligible participants this coming Friday, November 13. Your hard work and success is truly remarkable, and I am very grateful for both. Again, congratulations everyone! - Joe
In the near future, Medic will send a mass recruiting email to all certified Paramedics, residing in North Carolina. We have tried to scrub through the 10,000+ names to remove any current employees. However, it’s possible we may have missed a few. If you do happen to receive this recruiting email from the HR department, please do not be alarmed. Feel free to use it is an opportunity to invite Paramedics to apply at Medic. If you should have any questions, please contact Eric Bitler at ericb2@medic911.com.
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FIRST THANKSGIVING MEAL
POTATOES Whether mashed or roasted, white or sweet, poFor many Americans, the Thanksgiving meal in- tatoes had no place at the first Thanksgiving. After cludes seasonal dishes such as roast turkey with encountering it in its native South America, the stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and Spanish began introducing the potato to Europumpkin pie. The holiday feast dates back to No- peans around 1570. But by the time the Pilgrims vember 1621, when the newly arrived Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, the tuber had neither and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plym- doubled back to North America nor become popouth for an autumn harvest celebration, an event ular enough with the English to hitch a ride. New regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” But England’s native inhabitants are known to have what was really on the menu at the famous ban- eaten other plant roots such as Indian turnips and quet, and which of today’s time-honored favorites groundnuts, which they may or may not have didn’t earn a place at the table until later in the brought to the party. holiday’s 400-year history? PUMPKIN PIE Both the Pilgrims and members of the WampanoTURKEY While no records exist of the exact bill of fare, ag tribe ate pumpkins and other squashes indigthe Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow noted in enous to New England—possibly even during the his journal that the colony’s governor, William harvest festival—but the fledgling colony lacked Bradford, sent four men on a “fowling” mission the butter and wheat flour necessary for making in preparation for the three-day event. Wild—but pie crust. Moreover, settlers hadn’t yet constructed not domestic—turkey was indeed plentiful in the an oven for baking. According to some accounts, region and a common food source for both Eng- early English settlers in North America improvised lish settlers and Native Americans. But it is just as by hollowing out pumpkins, filling the shells with likely that the fowling party returned with other milk, honey and spices to make a custard, then birds we know the colonists regularly consumed, roasting the gourds whole in hot ashes. such as ducks, geese and swans. Instead of breadbased stuffing, herbs, onions or nuts might have For more information, please visit history.com been added to the birds for extra flavor.
SEPTEMBER 2014
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NOVEMBER COMPLIANCE Fri, Nov 13 Sat, Nov 14 Mon, Nov 16 Wed, Nov 18
1200 - 1600 1600 - 2000 0800 - 1200 0800 - 1200
NOVEMBER IN-SERVICE Tue, Nov 10 Thu, Nov 12 Fri, Nov 13 Mon, Nov 16 Tue, Nov 17 Wed, Nov 18 Thu, Nov 19
1000 - 1400 1000 - 1400 0800 - 1200 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 1200 - 1600 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 1800 - 2200
REQUIRED ATTENDANCE
INFORMATION UPDATES
Maxwell Adams, Shane Anaya, Jeff “David” Bailey, Thomas Basile, Andrew Berger, Kyle Bielan, Larry Billotto, Andrew Blevins, Daniel Boyer, Shaina Britt, Anissa Clayton, Robin Geck, Julio Gonzalez, Katherine Goodman, Marie Hildreth, Samuel Hord, Jared Kelly, Jeremy Murphy, Matthew Needs, Shay Parks, Kim Parlier, Brandy Pender, Marcus Ray, Jeremiah Ryle, Michael Santeramo, Mike Sherriff, Sherri Steele, Carol Toms and Alexsandra Torres
• Please register for your Corporate Compliance Training session through LMS. • The duration of the Medic Safety & Compliance Training sessions is up to 4 hours. • Attendees will be paid for the total time spent in class. • Each employee, with an Annual Performance Review within that same month, MUST attend one of the available Compliance Training Sessions. • Compliance sessions are held next to the Medic Fitness Center.
PLEASE NOTE: If your Annual Performance Review was in October and you did not attend class, you must contact Amy Broughton to attend a November class.
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For more information on Corporate Compliance Class or if you need directions, please contact Amy Broughton at amyb@medic911.com.
NOV 2015
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
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13 COMPLIANCE 1200 - 1600
14 COMPLIANCE 1600 - 2000
INSERVICE 0800 - 1200 15
16 COMPLIANCE 0800 - 1200
17 INSERVICE 1200 - 1600
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19 INSERVICE 1800 - 2200
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INSERVICE 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200
INSERVICE 1200 - 1600 1800 - 2200 22
18 COMPLIANCE 0800 - 1200
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Due to the loss of our friend and coworker, Chris Milby, HR felt it was important to share the following employment information with Medic employees: 1. Days prior to Chris Milby’s passing, an additional QI Analyst position was approved for the QI Department. 2. This was in addition to Chris Milby’s, QI Analyst position; not in replacement of. Please note: the QI Department will evaluate the need for additional and/or future employment opportunities within the department. Medic thanks you for your support in this matter.
SEPTEMBER 2014
If you have any questions, please contact Jackie Manley at jacklynm@medic911.com.
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This afternoon the members of the ambulance re-design team presented their recommended next generation ambulance chassis and associated business case to the Agency’s lead team. Based on all of the research and feedback provided through this process, the team’s recommendation is to move to a four dour Dodge 5500 chassis for the following reasons: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Crew safety while driving Ample space for crew gear and third rider in the cab Ease of access to engine for our fleet mechanics Availability of the time tested and reliable Cummins diesel engine Ample space for driver, co-pilot, and necessary electronics in the front of the cab Smoothness of ride, particularly when equipped with liquid springs suspension Improved fuel economy (12 MPG vs. 7 MPG) Cost of chassis to purchase ($20k less per chassis)
The lead team unanimously supported the team’s recommendation and authorized the team to begin the next stage of testing. The ambulance re-design team will meet later this week to discuss next steps, which will involve the purchase of one brand new chassis which will be mounted with a module and put into service for further crew testing in our actual work environment. We will be working with field crews in parallel to this test to improve the design of the module interior to improve safety and better accommodate the way you do your work. We will also be running a process to evaluate stretcher options so we can replace our existing, aging set. This, of course, will also involve heavy input from field personnel to ensure our needs are best met. The aim is to have the kinks worked out of the new vehicle and a new stretcher chosen by June, 2016 so we can place orders for both by the end of the fiscal year. Much more information about the testing processes will be distributed in the very near future – so please stay tuned so you can find out how to get involved. A special thank you goes out to everyone who took the time to participate in the process and provide feedback to this point. We hope you know your voices were heard and that you will be pleased with the outcome of this process. Sincerely, The Ambulance Redesign Team: Jeff Williams Larry Billotto Steve Vandeventer Tony Pattillo Gary Moore Jon Studnek Jeff Keith