About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
PURPOSE
The Greater Miami Valley Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. (formerly the Montgomery County EMS Council) was founded in 1972. It is one of the oldest and strongest regional EMS associations in Ohio. The purpose of the Council is to coordinate the efforts of Fire/EMS/Private ambulance service pre-hospital care providers, hospital emergency department, staff and consumers to ensure the best possible pre-hospital medical care for the victims of sudden illness or injury. The goal of Council is to see that every person in the Greater Miami Valley area who needs emergency medical pre-hospital services receives quality care delivered by well-trained and dedicated health professionals.
PROGRAM
The GMVEMS Council approaches issues such as scope of practice, medical protocols, legalities and procedures, and provides a paramedic perspective. The Council is also actively involved in research, development and evaluation of new products and procedures that improve the quality of care offered by first responders of pre-hospital medical emergencies.
HISTORY
The Emergency Medical Services Commission is established May 25, 1972 through the Montgomery County Health Department. Its purpose is to discuss common problems, complaints, and goals of both squads and hospitals. During the first two years, its accomplishments include:
- Completion of a comprehensive rescue squad survey for Montgomery County
- Implementation of a 20-hour in-hospital training program for EMT-Ambulance at all six Dayton area hospitals
- Formalization of a linen exchange program
- Formalization of an emergency department re-routing procedure and notification system
- Formalization of a uniform procedure of transfers of patients between hospitals and squads
- Assisted with the development of a paramedic education program at Good Samaritan Hospital.
The Commission receives partial funding from the Montgomery County Commission. As the Commission developed, it becomes apparent that it is not meeting the needs of surrounding counties which desire emergency medical services participation.
1974
A federal grant establishes the Western Ohio Emergency Medical Services Council (WOEMS), a regional EMS council, comprising representatives from twelve counties in southwest Ohio, including Montgomery County. Montgomery County appoints two liaison members to WOEMS.
The Commission renames itself the Montgomery County Emergency Medical Services Council. The first elected officers were:
- President Winston Gress, Box 21 Rescue
- Vice-President J. Vernon Insley
- Secretary Phyllis Riddle RN
- Treasurer Gary Haines
In July 1975 WOEMS is awarded a $500,000 grant from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare for implementation of an emergency medical services system in the twelve-county region. WOEMS and MCEMSC co-exist until 1984 when WOEMS was dissolved.
During its existence the WOEMS accomplishments were:
- Development, publication and distribution of run report forms, inter-hospital transfer forms, inter-hospital transfer agreements
- Partial funding of the Advanced Life Support radio/telemetry communication system
- Partial funding of the Basic Life Support radio communication system.
- Improvement of the 20-hour in-hospital training course
- Expansion of the linen exchange program to include supplies, medications, etc.
- Completion of the draft for a county-wide standard run report form
- Working with WOEMS, near completion of a radio/telemetry communication system in Montgomery County.
- Developed and implemented Paramedic Protocols for Montgomery County.
1976
Dr. Robert Vogel, Montgomery County Health Commission, repeals and rescind the existing section 417.1 of the Emergency Medical Services Regulation and establishes an Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee. The Emergency Medical Advisory Committee is responsible for hearing all grievances filed regarding emergency medical service. Council votes to accept the responsibility.
Research begins on a supply/exchange program for EMS providers with hospitals.
Grandview Paramedic Training Program with Winston Gress as co-ordinator is inaugurated in July.
The first set of Standing Orders are approved by the Montgomery County Health Department.
1977-1978
MCEMSC is incorporated in Ohio in January 1977. The first year budget was $11,000 which included an allocation from the United Way of $9,850 for clerical support, a newsletter, educational seminars and operating supplies.
Publishes the first newsletter, the Montgomery County EMS News.
MCEMSC applies for and receives not-for-profit status as a 501 (c) (3) organization.
Initiates a county-wide drug box exchange program with 48 boxes in the field and 28 boxes in hospital inventory. This program is partially funded by United Way.
Initiates a database of certified paramedics and distributes monthly updates the first of each month to Montgomery County hospitals. The lists include state certified paramedics who have complied with the standards established by the MCEMSC Continuing Education Committee.
It is reported that Dayton is listed as the only city in the United States with two paramedic education teaching facilities.
1979-80
Receives approval as a member agency for United Way.
Establishes the EMS Run Review Committee to replace the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.
Develops Standing Orders Training Package for a uniform, consistent implementation of the Standing Orders.
Drug Box Exchange Program is opened to non-Montgomery County Fire/EMS Departments.
MCEMSC and Greene County representatives meet to discuss a joint county drug box exchange program.
Because the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy does not supply Dayton area hospitals with information, MCEMSC establishes a database of Montgomery County rescue squads and their dangerous drug license numbers.
Drug Box Exchange program committee initiated two-month trial period of using a locking device and label for the drug boxes.
1981-82
The MCEMSC Finance Committee recommends and approves a membership investment fee to support Council programs. Approves an organ donor protocol to be included in the next revision of Standing Orders.
Employs a full-time Executive Director.
Prints and distributes a brochure on EMS and MCEMSC.
Implements Vial of Life program with sponsorship and funding from the Dayton Fire Department, Greater Area Dayton Jaycees, Broadway Mold and ALCOA.
Greene County begins a Drug Box Exchange Program in 1981. Since Greene County’s operating protocol is different than that of Montgomery County, the top tray of drugs will remain the same as Montgomery County, and additional drugs will placed in the bottom section for usage in Greene County.
MCEMSC unveils a logo which is printed on all materials.
At the request of MCEMSC, the Ohio Board of Regents reviews instructor qualifications for the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Equivalent Course. By law only accredited institutions can teach the ACLS Equivalent Course. Good Samaritan Hospital is granted accreditation to conduct an ACLS Equivalent Program using the Montgomery County paramedic operating protocols. Because of the abundant number of ACLS instructors in Montgomery County, Good Samaritan Hospital applies for and receives approval from the Ohio Board of Regents for other institutions in Montgomery County to teach the ACLS Equivalent Program provided that interested individuals submit their curriculum vita and records to Good Samaritan Hospital. This effort on behalf of the Good Samaritan Hospital Paramedic Education Program permits uniformity of training in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Fire Chiefs Association expresses concern regarding the direction of EMS in both the county and the state. Issues are: impact of State legislation and changes in the Montgomery County standing orders on personnel and budgets; coordination and communications between the Fire Chiefs, the medical community and MCEMSC. Chiefs discuss aspects of EMS from four perspectives: full time paid; full and part-time paid; full, part-time and volunteer paid; and all volunteer departments. Chiefs suggest that a level between EMT-Ambulance and EMT-Paramedic be established by the State to ease the responsibilities of paramedic personnel and increase the level of care and service to the communities.
MCEMSC, EMS Coordinators and Educational Coordinators meet to discuss expansion of the EMS supplies exchange program.
Initiates funding mechanism to support the Drug Box Exchange Program.
Survey indicates that there are approximately 160 drug boxes in Montgomery County.
1983-84
EMS Coordinators develop field workable audit criteria for evaluating run report forms in Montgomery County.
Minutes report that the Good Samaritan Paramedic Education program is the largest in the United States and that Montgomery County, Ohio has more trained paramedics than any other area.
Council applies for and receives copyright approval for its logo.
Council develops a slide show presentation to explain the EMS delivery system in Montgomery County, Ohio.
NCR donates a computer to MCEMSC because of their affiliation with United Way and their dedication to improve emergency medical services for Montgomery County citizens.
Montgomery County Medical Society EMS Committee proposes a series of EMS articles to educate all physicians on the pre-hospital phase of emergency medicine. The first article is about the MCEMSC Run Review process.
WOEMS is dissolved. Its responsibilities are divided between the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association and MCEMSC.
Receives requests from Auglaize County, Ohio and Lewisburg, PA regarding its organizational structure, procedures and policies.
MCEMSC votes to approve offer of free office space, phone rental and secretarial support from the Montgomery County Combined Health District and change its office location.
Initiates and publishes Montgomery County Fire and EMS Statistics through the volunteer efforts of James Augustine MD.
Initiates a Montgomery County EMS Task Force with the Montgomery County Health District to evaluate the EMS delivery system in Montgomery County, Ohio.
Votes to restructure meeting schedule effective in January 1985. Full Council meets on the third Wednesday of the odd-numbered months. Committees meet on the third Wednesday of the even-numbered months.
The Good Samaritan Paramedic Education Program changes its name to the GSH EMS Education Center.
1985-1986
Sponsors first full educational conference.
Elects to discontinue the services of a full-time paid Executive Director. Signs agreement with Management Excellence Inc. for association management services.
Members of the Greene County EMS Council (H.E.R.O.) decide that Greene County Ambulance Services should be charged a $100 fee to gain total access into the Drug Box Exchange program initiated in Montgomery County.
Box 21 Rescue Squad, Inc. is suspended from the Drug Box Exchange program for failure to submit a copy of its current drug license.
A voluntary program initiating an additional carrying unit for intravenous supplies only is added to the Drug Bag Exchange Program.
1987-1992
Sponsors second educational conference.
GSH EMS Education Center is discontinued. Council serves as the facilitating agency to determine the appropriate location and institution to continue the Paramedic Education Program.
Develops and implements a Physician Emergency Medical Kit for private physicians, a mini-version of the drug box program.
Supports and assists with the planning and development of a lead EMS agency in the State of Ohio.
Changes name to the Greater Miami Valley Emergency Medical Services Council, Inc. to reflect its growth and its influence outside of Montgomery County.
Initiates and supports regional projects.
1993-1995
Council growth maintains a slow but steady pace. Membership increases 23%. There are 108 ALS and BLS EMS departments in Region 2, OH Division of EMS. 60% of the departments are members of the EMS Council.
Drug Box Exchange Program increases 8% with addition of Darke County and continuing growth of area EMS departments.
Council initiates a low-cost marketing program to promote the Physician Emergency Medical Kit. The combination of the marketing effort plus physician-to-physician referral, yields a 23% growth for this program over a two-year period.
Council supports the Region 2 Physicians Advisory Board with the development of an information base for Region 2 EMS and expenses for postage and distribution of materials.
1996
The Ohio Division of EMS and the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy approve a Council proposal to permit EMT Basic personnel access to and authorization to administer Nitrostat, Epinephrine (injector style for adult and pediatrics) and prescription inhalers
Drug Bag Exchange Program designs and implements a BLS bag exchange system for Basic Life Support departments.
1997
Standing Orders Committee revises the single-tier format of the protocols for EMT Paramedics only to a three-tier format for the EMTA, EMTB and EMTP.
Departments recommend that Council consider an open/reseal policy for the Drug Bag Exchange Program.
With the legal resources and assistance of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, Council spearheads an effort to clarify the Health Care Finance Administration on drug bag exchange programs. A resolution is reached with HCFA and the participating hospitals agree to continue the exchange program through December 1997. The cost of the program to the hospitals would be monitored and evaluated prior to its continuation.
In October the federal Office of the Inspector General issues an opinion on drug bag exchange programs in response to an inquiry from a hospital in Hamilton County, Ohio. The opinion is unfavorable and calls for the termination of all drug bag exchange programs as of 1 January 1998. GDAHA takes the lead position on behalf of its members to solicit a separate OIG opinion.
1998
A favorable OIG opinion, supporting the Drug Box Exchange Program is obtained in June.
Council establishes an Open/Reseal policy for the drug bag exchange program.
1999-2000
An Ohio Attorney General Opinion issued in February indicates that the EMS run report in not a confidential document. A legal opinion is sought for Montgomery County.
Council amends Section 6.06.03, EMS Run Review Committee of the Code of Regulations.
2001
CLIA waiver on behalf of 20 Council members secured.
2002
Influx of new members from Green and Darke counties, followed by Clark and Champaign counties.
Dayton Fire Department begins computerized testing at their Training Center for their EMS personnel.
Council’s web site (www.med.wright.edu/em/gmvemsc) made available.
Newly designed drug bags introduced.
2003
List serve to improve communications introduced (gmvemsc-list@donet.com)
EMS Focus distributed via List Serve only.
2004
Executive Committee expanded to include representatives from each county with members on Council.
New online Standing Orders database introduced, providing each Hospital EMS Coordinator and approved Training Officers at each department with access to the personnel information for reference and update.
New drug bags modified to reflect the new EMT-I requirements regarding access to medications.
*****
Throughout its history, the Council has maintained its leadership in:
- Effecting key EMS legislation in the State of Ohio
- Quality Assurance through its run report audit system
- Ongoing evaluation and improvement in the EMS delivery system
- Public education
- Central source for EMS information
- Relationships with other EMS related activities and agencies in Montgomery County.