Dr. Swanson’s Monthly Update Please be sure to carefully review the following reminders with respect to this month’s InService and CMC-Mercy.
1. Protocols and revisions will be covered at this month’s in-service. a. Formulary changes b. Cardiac care update c. Miscellaneous d. Q & A time will be available 2. Protocols for BLS system design will be covered at this month’s in-service a. Medication formulary b. Scope of practice c. BLS to ALS upgrade d. Miscellaneous e. Q & A time will be available 3. Reminder: CMC-Mercy does NOT have OB services. Patient’s in active labor should not be transported to CMC -Mercy. Contact CMC-Mercy Emergency Department if there are any questions regarding pregnant patients requesting transport to their facility.
New Carry-In Equipment Bag Over the past several months, the Equipment Committee has received resounding comments surrounding the possibility of changing to a new carry-in bag. Good news! The Agency has purchased new bags for every unit in the fleet as well a few new spares for future use. Operations Supervisors will also incorporate a new bag (identical in layout, but different in color) for easy identification. With the mindset of being good stewards of the resources we have, the current bags utilized by Operations Supervisors will be converted for usage by the upcoming 911 BLS team. This maneuver will avoid the Agency from having to purchase any additional resources while providing the 911 BLS team with equipment they may need and allowing for future expansion. The new carry-in equipment bag will replace the current gray drug box and eliminate the large red O2 bag (by combining it with equipment in the new bag). The Agency has also taken delivery of a new ‘sleeve’ that will fit over our current oxygen bottles. This sleeve will carry a small assortment of supplies and will complement the new carry-in equipment bag. Lastly, the Agency is also examining the possibility of switching the style of oxygen bottles we currently use. The bottles under consideration are a combination bottle / regulator / cage and will eliminate the need for the three separate pieces we currently carry. This change is aimed at not only making our O2 delivery process simpler, but to save money in the long run by no longer having to replace regulators as they break and /or wear out. The new carry-in equipment bags will be reviewed during May InService and will be scheduled for deployment upon completion of the InService rotation. For questions about the new carry-in bag, please contact a member of the equipment team: Don Shue at dons@medic911.com, Chris Simmons at christophers@medic911.com or Bryan Edwards at bryane@medic911.com. 2