Tidewater EMS Time

With just a few weeks to go before the roll out of the first phase of the Whole Blood Initiative in the Tidewater EMS Council region, we have several guests with us to explain what the initiative is about and why it is so important for prehospital providers to have whole blood to administer to patients, especially in a trauma situation. Joining us are: David Long, TEMS Executive Director, Dr. Michael Martyak, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical Center and Chief Ed Brazle of Virginia Beach EMS. This episode is the first in a series devoted to the Whole Blood Initiative. If you would like to learn more about how this program will save lives and ways to support this initiative, visit the WBI Campaign webpage for details.

*** April is Autism Awareness Month ***  In today's episode, we will speak Karin Pettinger/Virginia Beach EMS about the possible challenges for treating patients on the Autism Spectrum. She is an instruction supervisor and certified paramedic who is also the mother of two children who are on the autism spectrum.

In today's episode, we are going to be learning more about the important role the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response System or HRMMRS plays in the Tidewater EMS Council. HRMMRS supports and enhances Hampton Roads public safety, hospitals, public health and emergency management response capabilities to manage mass casualty incidents. HRMMRS allows the region as a whole to collaborate and coordinate the support needed as one large unit rather than individual agencies trying to figure it out on their own. Joining us to talk more about the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response System are David Long the Executive Director of the Tidewater EMS Council and Stephanie Hackett the HRMMRS program coordinator.    

Joining the podcast today is Amy Green, Medically Vulnerable Population Coordinator with the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition to discuss the role that EVHC plays with long term care facilities. EVHC helps care for our community before, during and after an emergency and is there to help prepare, support and follow up with healthcare providers and organizations in our region. #TEMS

Project Nitrous is the focus in Episode 4/Opioid Use Disorders Series - today's conversation wraps up the series with information about this new program to help prevent opioid addiction which will begin soon in Portsmouth, VA. Guest: Dr Donald Byars, Operational Medical Director of Portsmouth Fire/EMS Emergency Medicine.

Today we are continuing our special series talking about a growing problem not just in our community but around the country, opioid addiction. According to 2018 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 128 people in the United States die everyday after overdosing on opioids. The misuse of and addiction to opioids—including prescription pain relievers, heroin, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl—is a serious national crisis that affects public health. We are on the third part of our four part series and our guest today is Dr. Ben Fickenscher, Chesapeake Regional Healthcare, who is working to try and help people who suffer with Opioid Use Disorder through the PROUD (Prevention and Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder) Program.

Opioid Use Disorders series continues with a new episode in which our guest shares an inside perspective on what it is like to be addicted to opioids and what helped her. Don't miss the information provided in this special series!

Today's episode is the first in the new Opioid Use Disorder series and features a conversation with Paul Brasler, Behavioral Health Addiction Specialist with Va's Dept of Medical Assistance Services. Please listen to this insightful conversation and share this important information.

In this episode: a conversation about the role that EVHC plays with dialysis centers in our region - special guest: Glenda James, Director of Operations/Fresenius Kidney Care and EVHC Board Member.

On today's episode of TEMS Time are three men who each have ascended to significant leadership roles in our region... and all three of them started working with the Chesapeake Fire Department on the same day... July 18th, 1994. Joining us are Deputy Chief Thomas Green, Virginia Beach Dept of EMS, James Reynolds (J.R.), Chief Medical Officer, Chesapeake Fire Dept, and David Long, Executive Director, TEMS, with special comments from Chief Ed Elliott, Chesapeake Fire Department. 

Joining us in this episode to talk more about the collaborative role that the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition plays in our community is Donna Marchant-Roof, a TEMS Board member who also serves on the EVHC Board. Donna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Managing Director of Healthcare at Atlantic Shores Retirement Community in Virginia Beach. EVHC includes acute care hospitals, public health, veterans affairs facilities, military treatment facilities, long term care facilities as well as other healthcare providers and organizations. Today we are specifically looking into the role that EVHC plays with long term care facilities.

Today we are diving deeper into the role of the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition or EVHC. EVHC is a collaboration of healthcare organizations and providers, public health departments, and community partners working together to care for our community before, during and after an emergency. Healthcare partners in preparedness is what they call themselves. Active members of the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition include acute care hospitals, long term care facilities, public health, veterans affairs facilities, military treatment facilities as well as Emergency Medical Services. Joining us in this episode to talk more about the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition is Harold “Doug” Smith, Emergency Operations Officer at Riverside Health Systems.

September is suicide prevention awareness month. So why is that a topic for TEMS Time? We wanted to take the opportunity to remind everyone that TEMS supports a Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM). We have three guests joining us today to discuss the important role the CISM Team plays in the lives of EMS providers.

There are 10 jurisdictions in the Tidewater EMS Council region and TEMS plays an important role in the planning, monitoring and supporting of Emergency Medical Services in the area. The Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition (EVHC) is also part of the the TEMS Council and on today’s episode we are going to find out just what EVHC is all about and why it’s so important. Since March hospitals and healthcare facilities have been doing their best to help treat people with corona virus and protect others from getting it. Here in our area of the Commonwealth, the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition has been a part of that effort. For those of you who don’t know, EVHC is a collaboration of healthcare organizations and providers, public health departments, and community partners working together to care for our community before, during and after an emergency. Every active member of the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition is a partner in our regional preparedness effort. That includes acute care hospitals, long term care facilities, public health, veterans affairs facilities, military treatment facilities as well as Emergency Medical Services. Joining us now to talk more about the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Coalition is the Regional Healthcare Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for EVHC, Judy Shuck.  

Join us for a round table discussion with previous guests, Ed Brazle and Mike Barakey lead by TEMS Executive Director David Long and host Sandra Parker. This conversation wraps up the COVID-19 Series but not the topic which is sure to be included in future episodes.

We have been dealing with the corona virus in the US since mid March... that’s when schools were shut down and we all went into quarantine to try and stop the spread of the virus. Our numbers did go down and we are now several weeks into Phase 3 here in Virginia... but unfortunately the number of positive cases of COVID-19 are on the rise again, especially in the Hampton Roads section of the Commonwealth... which is in the Tidewater EMS Council region. Day in and day out, our front line workers continue to put themselves out there to help keep us safe and get us through this pandemic. Joining us now as part of our special TEMS Time COVID-19 Series is Gregory Wood, Executive Director of the Southwest Virginia EMS Council.

At the time of this recording the state of Virginia was in phase one of the reopening process after the Coronavirus quarantine. More and more businesses were opening up and new regulations were being put in place to try and keep people safe as we figure out our “new normal”. That includes a statewide mandate by the governor that requires anyone in an indoor public space to wear a face mask or covering. Everyone is continuing to try to adjust to a new way of doing things, that includes healthcare workers.

At the time of this recording most of the state of Virginia is finishing up the second week of phase one of the reopening process after the Coronavirus quarantine. The Governor has issued a statewide mandate requiring anyone in an indoor public space to wear a face mask. There are a lot of “new normals” that are becoming part of our lives right now and that’s something today’s guest has been experiencing from the start. When you look up Emergency Medicine professionals in Southeastern Virginia Dr Donald Byars is sure to be at the top of the list.

We have been dealing with the corona virus and quarantine as a nation since March. At the time of this recording the state of Virginia is in phase two of reopening and it seems to be going well... no huge spikes in our numbers. But several states are seeing the numbers spike and are even talking about reissuing stay at home orders. Of course we all hope that does not happen ... that’s why we are still under a statewide mandate requiring anyone in an indoor public space to wear a face mask. We’re being asked to maintain social distancing and keep at least six feet of space between us.. happy to say we are practicing all of those safety precautions here in our studio today because for the first time we actually have a guest who is joining us in person instead of on the phone. I’m happy to say the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response for the City of Norfolk, Virginia Jim Redick is with us in the studio...

This week’s TEMS Time is being recorded as Virginian’s enter the second week of the phase two reopening process after the Coronavirus quarantine. The Governor’s statewide mandate requiring anyone in an indoor public space to wear a face mask is still in effect. Hospitals are also now allowing most non-COVID patients to have limited visitors. All visitors are being screened and having their temperatures taken by a no-touch device before entering the hospital and they are also of course required to wear a mask. Our guest on this week’s TEMS Time is on top of all those hospital regulations and a lot more... that’s because Genemarie McGee is responsible for the oversight and coordination of nursing care across the Sentara system. Genemarie is the Corporate Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Senators Healthcare. Thank you for listening to TEMS Time! Be sure to Subscribe and share with your co-workers, friends and family! www.tidewaterems.org

At the time of this taping just before Memorial Day weekend May 2020 our state of Virginia has started phase one of reopening after the Coronavirus quarantine. This holiday weekend typically marks the kickoff to the summer season at the beach. There are usually lots of crowds lining the shore… while the governor is allowing Virginia Beach to open it’s beaches this weekend there are many restrictions in place… that is just one of the many concerns that will be monitored by our guest today. Joining us by phone is the Chief of the Department of Emergency Medical Services in Virginia Beach Chief Ed Brazle.

In this episode, Tidewater EMS Council Executive Director David Long shares about the organization, it's mission and service to the 10 jurisdictions of the region. Host Sandra Parker chats with David about the role that TEMS plays in the planning, monitoring and supporting of Emergency Medical Services especially in light of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Joining us by phone for this edition of TEMS Time to talk about dealing with this pandemic from a fire perspective is Fire Chief Mike Barakey/Suffolk Fire & Rescue. What has life been like in the fire department during this crisis?  Have you had to change the way you do things and if so how? What has been the biggest challenge? What has been the greatest lesson learned throughout this for you? Do you see any permanent changes in the way your job is done because of COVID 19?

This episode introduces a new podcast from the Tidewater EMS Council.   Serving southeastern Virginia by coordinating the Emergency Medical Services for the region, Tidewater EMS Council plays an important role in ensuring that the highest levels of care, training and support are provided. Building and sustaining relationships with other healthcare partners and agencies in the area and around the state is integral to the contributions TEMS makes to the EMS system. Through interviews and conversations with healthcare community leaders and frontline personnel, this podcast will highlight TEMS’ role in planning, monitoring and supporting Emergency Medical Services in the 10 jurisdictions of the region. Informative and insightful, this podcast is for those in the EMS field, the healthcare community and members of the general public who have an interest in emergency medical services.