Newsroom

Truro Oxygen Exchange – Location Change

TO: Northeastern Region MFR Agencies

Please be advised that effective February 9, 2012, oxygen exchange for MFR Agencies will no longer be available at our Walker Street facility in Truro. After February 9, 2012, you are asked to exchange oxygen cylinders at 203 Wade Road in Truro at the EHS Ambulance Base.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at 902-832-8620 or by email at paul.maynard@emci.ca.

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Reminder to check your AED

Please take a few moments to review the attached Phillips Heartstart AED Maintenance presentation. Be sure that regular checks are completed on any AEDs within your organization to ensure they are in working order.

If you have any questions or concerns related to your AED, please contact MFR Services.

EHS MFR Services Insurance Reminder

Please review the attached memo regarding insurance coverage for Medical First Responders.

PCR Compliance - 2010 Agency Report Cards

On June 15, 2011, EHS MFR Services issued “Report Cards” to each sponsored agency, which detailed call volume, PCR compliance (PCRs submitted to MFR Services compared to notifications made by the Medical Communications Centre), and a summary of supplies and equipment orders specific to that agency for the year ended December 31, 2010. The report card also provided, for comparative purposes, statistical information for agencies in the appropriate region as well as the province overall, and reflected statistical information from the 2009 report cards. (Unfortunately, delivery of the report cards was delayed by the Canada Post labour disruption.)

51 of 197 sponsored agencies (26%) throughout the province achieved 75% or higher PCR compliance (up from 24% in 2009). Submission of PCRs increased in every region, with an overall rate of 45% province-wide (compared to 37% in 2009). 43% of sponsored agencies improved their PCR compliance, including 14% that increased their PCR submissions from 0% in 2009 to between 8% and 108% in 2010. Unfortunately, 59 agencies did not meet their 2009 submission rates, and compliance among this group dropped between 1% and 100%, with an average decrease of 29%.

It is a goal of the MFR Services department to make personal contact (by telephone) with each sponsored agency in 2011 and confirm the information on file, thereby ensuring the MFR agency database is current and accurate. At the same time, a brief survey will be conducted, including questions about PCR completion and submission, in an effort to address concerns and provide support to agencies and MFRs.

May 2011 Mailout

On May 3rd, a memo was sent to all EHS sponsored MFR agencies regarding PCR submission and the 2010 MFR report cards.

The memo is also available for download here.

Announcement of Acting Coordinator
from Robert Brown, Director System Support

It is with great pleasure that I announce that Paul Maynard has been appointed Acting Coordinator for the Medical First Response Program, effective January 24, 2011.  This acting position is to support our MFR Services team while Program Manager Neil Mooy is on leave.  In addition, Kathleen McNally, Senior Manager Performance Excellence and Facilities Management will also be assisting Paul with various components of the program.  Paul is a familiar face in both Emergency Health Services and the Nova Scotia Fire Service, and brings with him a great deal of background and knowledge in the leadership and management of this important program.

I would also like to thank Rob Boudreau for his tremendous commitment and leadership of the EHS MFR Program over the past seven months.  Rob will be returning to his position of Manager, Community Learning & Special Services with Medavie EMS.

Both Chantelle White-Evans, Administrative Assistant and Barb Eld, MFR Registrar will continue in their roles with MFR Services.  I would like to acknowledge Chantelle and Barb’s strong commitment and dedication to the success of the provincial MFR Program.

EHS Yarmouth & District Names Recipient of Community Services Award

The inaugural Community Service Award for the Yarmouth & District area was awarded to St. Bernard PCP Odette Gaudet. This annual peer-driven award is presented to an individual displaying exceptional volunteerism, supporting their community through public relations, public education, supporting and assisting with community initiatives and/or other significant commitments above and beyond their daily paramedic duties while promoting their profession.

Odette is a tireless volunteer who is active in both professional and community development activities. Most notably is her contribution to the MFR program where she acts as the liaison paramedic for the area from Windsor to Eel Brook. Odette spends countless hours facilitating MFR sessions in surrounding communities. Odette is one of the major driving forces behind the Meteghan EMS Golf Tournament which over the years has raised thousands of dollars for many charities. She is also heavily involved with local athletics, helping out local teams raise money through car washes, coaching teams and serving on many boards and committees including the board for the Acadian Games.

Way to go and merci beaucoup, Odette!!

Attention all EHS registered Medical First Responders re: Patient Care Reports

Any time a Medical First Responder (MFR) makes contact with a patient, a Patient Care Report (PCR) MUST be completed.  If you are unable to provide the attending paramedics with the “white copy” of the PCR, then ensure that both copies are sent to EHS MFR Services.  A PCR should not be destroyed by shredding or placing such in a waste receptacle.  It is a legal document and must be placed with the patient’s file.

It is very important to know that documentation on a patient is part of their continuum of care. That continuum of care starts when 911 is contacted and the caller is transferred to the EHS Medical Communications Centre, then notification of an MFR agency, then to patient contact as well as attending paramedics.  The "white copy" that is given to the paramedics should be provided to the hospital staff for the patient's chart.  The "yellow copy" should be forwarded to EHS MFR Services for confidential and secure filing.

Philips HeartStart FRx basic product training

Visit MFR Education for a PowerPoint presentation which provides basic "how to" training for the Philips HeartStart FRx defibrillator that was issued to all EHS registered MFR agencies in spring 2009.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Philips FRx

Click here for the answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the Philips FRx defibrillator.

Insurance coverage for Medical First Responders

Please click here to review an important letter from Robert Brown, EHS Director Field Operations, regarding insurance coverage for EHS registered Medical First Reponders and Paramedics.

EHS MFR Triage refresher training available online

The EHS MFR team recognizes that while Triage is one of the essential competencies required for tag re-registration, it is often difficult to secure an EHS-facilitated Triage refresher training session in your community.

We are pleased to announce that the Online Triage component of our website (in MFR Education) provides an alternative method of attaining this competency by reviewing a refresher presentation and completing a short quiz online. Upon successful completion of the Online Triage quiz, a certificate will be generated and must be submitted to the EHS MFR Services Registrar for credit toward re-registration. (Complete instructions are available at the end of the quiz.)

A fine balance...Jeff Fraser speaks about medical first response in Nova Scotia

This article in Firefighting in Canada magazine addresses pre-hospital emergency care, including Nova Scotia's MFRs who are referred to as "heart and soul of the emergency medical response system."

More information on oxygen exhange

Praxair Medigas requests that customers please utilize the green labels attached to each oxygen bottle to indicate whether the bottle is FULL-IN-USE or EMPTY.

When cylinders are being returned it is helpful to use that industry standard to ensure the empty containers are returned and the full cylinders are ready for use.

When returning a bottle to the empty rack at the base, remove the portion that indicates full or in use and leave the empty portion on the bottle.  For larger bottles, leave the tag outside of the cap, through the hole in the cap if possible.

Reminder to all EHS MFR Agencies

Please remember to bring in one (1) empty oxygen cylinder to exchange for one (1) full cylinder on a regular basis.

It is important that you do not "save up" your empty cylinders and exchange 3 or 4 at a time, as this depletes the normal inventory and may prohibit EHS from providing oxygen to other EHS MFR agencies and the EHS ambulances.

Thank you for your consideration and cooperation.

Did you know...?

* EHS Emergency Health Services recently approved funding related to MFR training reimbursement to approved fully sponsored EHS MFR agencies.

• Only new, fully sponsored EHS MFR agencies will receive training costs reimbursed to the agency at a maximum rate of $150 per person, to a maximum of $1,500.
• Each consecutive year, a fully sponsored EHS MFR agency is entitled to receive reimbursement for MFR training of two (2) persons at a maximum rate of $150/person.
• For more information, please review Program Document No. 12008.00.

* Anyone who is 19 years of age or older, has successfully completed MFR training by an EHS approved MFR training agency, is a current resident of Nova Scotia, and is associated with an EHS registered MFR agency can make application for his/her EHS MFR tag by completing the "Medical First Responder Registration/Re-registration Application" form or contacting the the EHS MFR Registrar at (902) 832-4685 or mfr.registry@emci.ca.