Tag: California

EMS1 Webinar | Navigating a path to career satisfaction

Limited options for professional growth and the lack of a clear career path are barriers to recruitment, retention and career longevity.

The EMS Burnout Repair Kit series, presented by EMS1 and Zoll, equips individuals at all levels in EMS with tools for dealing with the primary sources of burnout, helping them emerge as better, happier providers and more complete people.

In this installment, a panel comprised of individuals representing different career paths in EMS and leaders from progressive agencies will discuss resources for career advancement and resiliency, how to find the path that is right for you, and how agencies can support providers in advancing their careers.

Join the live discussion, March 1 at 1 p.m. CT

Register Free

Meet the speakers 

Carly Alley

Carly Alley is the executive director for Riggs Ambulance Service in Merced, California. Earlier in her career, Alley served as a firefighter-EMT in the U.S. Forest Service while earning her paramedic certification. After being hired by Riggs, she transitioned to the agency’s tactical EMS program, where she spent 10 years as the team leader before moving into administration.

Michael Fraley, BS, BA, NRP

Michael Fraley has over 25 years of experience in EMS in a wide range of roles, including flight paramedic, EMS coordinator, service director and educator. Fraley began his career in EMS while earning a bachelor’s degree at Texas A&M University. He also earned a BA in business administration from Lakeland College.

When not working as a paramedic or the coordinator of a regional trauma advisory council, Michael serves as a public safety diver and SCUBA instructor in northern Wisconsin.

John (JP) Peterson, MS, MBA

JP Peterson is the newly appointed executive director at Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. He started his career as an EMT in Chicago in 2000 and most recently served as vice president of Florida operations for PatientCare EMS Solutions.

He is licensed as a paramedic in Florida and North Carolina, and holds National Board Certification as an occupational therapist. He has completed Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification and is a graduate of the American Ambulance Association, Ambulance Service Manager Course. JP received the Pinellas County Commissioner, John Morroni Award for first responders in 2013.

JP is a past president of the Florida Ambulance Association. He is a member of the North Carolina Association of EMS Administrators as well as the AAA Bylaws, Professional Standards and Ethics committees.

California | Solano County’s Helen Pierson Named Woman of the Year

From California Senator Bill Dodd on March 5

VALLEJO – Helen Pierson, whose company, Medic Ambulance Service, has been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, transporting some of the first people exposed to the virus on the Princess Cruise ship and later, organizing mobile testing and vaccine dissemination, has been named Woman of the Year for Solano County by Sen. Bill Dodd.

“Helen stepped up in a major way, helping to keep our community safe during one of the worst public health crises the world has ever seen,” Sen. Dodd said. “She leads a dedicated team that Solano County and the surrounding region has come to depend on. She also volunteers her time and energy for numerous community organizations. I couldn’t be more proud to recognize Helen for her important work.”

“We love our community, which has done so much to support us over the years,” Helen Pierson said. “It’s an honor to be recognized. My parents and big brother started this company four decades ago, and we have a great group of medical professionals who deserve so much of the credit for our success today.”

Medic Ambulance, founded by the Manfredi family in 1979, provides 911 emergency services for Solano County with its fleet of 70 ambulances and 350 employees. The company also serves parts of the greater Sacramento area and North Bay.

Helen Pierson started with the company in 1988 and was named CEO in 2019. Under her leadership, Medic Ambulance played a key role in pandemic response as well as serving communities impacted by severe wildfires. The company was among the first in the nation to treat and transport COVID-19 patients as they came into Travis AFB in early 2020. It later partnered with Solano County to provide mobile coronavirus testing to at-risk facilities and expanded this partnership to mobile vaccinations. Additionally, Medic Ambulance deployed ambulance strike teams to Kern, Santa Cruz, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte and Solano counties over the past year.

Helen is a past-president of the California Ambulance Association — only the second woman in the association’s 65-year history to hold this position. She also plays key roles in many community organizations including Vallejo Rotary, Leadership Vallejo and Saint Francis High School in Sacramento. She was recognized as the Kiwanian of the Year in 1993 and was Vallejo Rotary Club president for 2015-2016. Helen is a past board member of Christian Brothers High School.

She lives in Fairfield with her husband and has three adult children who work in her family business.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Yolo, Sonoma, Contra Costa, and Sacramento counties. You can learn more about the district and Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.

 

Emergency Ambulance Service in 2020

Emergency Ambulance Service
Brea, California
80 Staff | 18 Quarantined in 2020

Brea, California based Emergency Ambulance Service (EAS), a family-owned and operated business, has been a respected leader in the delivery of mobile healthcare for more than 40 years. Our company, which began in 1977, provides non-emergency and emergency medical transportation in the Los Angeles-Orange County Metropolitan Area, and responds to approximately 15,000 inter-facility and 9-1-1 transport requests each year employing a fleet of 16 ambulances staffed by highly qualified and caring EMTs, paramedics, and specialty providers. At EAS, we know that patient care is the single most important thing we do … Therefore, our mission is to strive to provide excellent medical service in a prompt, professional and safe manner. Quality patient care is the foundation of our business. We realize that our patients are the only reason we exist, and we feel they deserve no less than the absolute best we have to give.

2020 has been a challenging year for EMS in CA, not just due to COVID-19, but also because of the wildfires that have ravaged our state, civil unrest, and increased responses to overdoses and psychiatric emergencies. During this unprecedented time, we have continued to provide service, including supplying an ALS ambulance for 2 straight months at one of CA’s Alternative Care Sites, transporting hundreds of COVID-19 patients, responding to incidents stemming from civil unrest, and deploying units for weeks at a time on the fire line. Despite the situations encountered, we have been fortunate to be able to remain active in the community, promoting EMS and Nurses Week’s, and reaching out to the public via social media, raising awareness of the “Safer at Home” order, the importance of learning CPR, and ensuring persons follow CDC guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

American Ambulance Visalia in 2020

American Ambulance Visalia
Visalia, California
150 Staff | 5 Quarantined in 2020

American Ambulance Visalia (AAV) proudly serves the greater Visalia area and portions of rural Tulare County. American Ambulance responds to over 23,000 emergency and non-emergency related incidents per year and offers Advanced Life Support (Paramedic) and Basic Life Support (EMT) level of care. AAV was originally established in 1979 as a new Visalia operation for Fresno-based American Ambulance. In 1988, Mr. Cooper and family acquired the Visalia operation and established the company as American Ambulance Visalia. Today, operating out of multiple stations throughout Visalia, Goshen, and portions of rural Tulare County, AAV continues to work hard for all those served by continually reviewing the needs of the communities, maintaining an emphasis on training, providing access to further education for employees, and supporting the core values of the company. In addition to our charitable giving programs to support the community, AAV works with local schools and other various organizations to provide ambulance coverage to the many community events. AAV also has classes available to the general public such as CPR, First Aid, ACLS, PALS, and AED.

2020 brought forth many challenges for EMS, due to the pandemic and natural disasters. AAV has responded to the COVID pandemic by following CDC recommendations for personal protective equipment, acquisition, usage, employee screening and aggressive follow up and disinfection practices. In adhering to policies and procedures put into place, staff infection rates have been remarkably low, around 3% overall. The challenges of COVID have been matched by a record wildfire season in California. With fires burning statewide, fire agencies such as CalFire have requested assistance from EMS to care for injured civilians and injured fire personnel. AAV has deployed an EMS strike team to assist with fires along the central coast, as well as fires in the central Sierra Nevada mountains. AAV continues to support Fire agencies and a major utility company in their efforts to suppress these fires and restore power to affected communities.

Royal Ambulance in 2020

Royal Ambulance
San Leandro, California
500 Staff | 9 Quarantined in 2020

Royal Ambulance is the leader in healthcare transportation & patient navigation services in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, and San Mateo County. Since 2006, we’ve grown from 2 ambulances and 10 employees to over 80 ambulances and 500+ team members. We are recognized as one of Inc Magazine’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies and as one of Modern Healthcare’s “Best Places to Work”.

As we continue to grow, we remain focused on maintaining our culture of professional and personal development, a supportive family environment, and a first-class employee experience. At Royal we firmly believe it’s not just about the destination, it’s about the journey! It’s about who you become along the way, the people you meet, the connections you make and the experiences that you have that shape the kind of healthcare professional you become.

As a pillar of the San Francisco Bay Area community, Royal was at the forefront of “Project Helping Hands” – an initiative to support Skilled Nursing Facilities whose staff and residents were affected by COVID. The task at hand was to have EMTs work in the role of CNA and support staff, teaming up with facility employees and assist with bathing, feeding, caring, and sharing love and compassion. Project Helping Hands brought together nurses, CNAs, doctors, leaders, and EMS – all working together to care for the most vulnerable.

We operate on four core values: Driven, Adaptable, Engaging, and Adaptable. You have to be Driven to get up every morning knowing what you’re dealing with. You must be adaptable to an ever-changing environment where the virus is everywhere. You have to be Engaged with the situation or accidents might happen. And lastly, Empathetic to those who are struggling through this crisis.

We are truly proud of our team of healthcare HEROES who rise up and show up every day to face this pandemic head-on with courage and conviction to ensure that our patients and community receive the best care and experience.

NYT | With Virus Surging, EMS’s Job Just Got Harder

From The New York Times on December 29, 2020

With Virus Surging, Ambulance Workers’ Hard Job Just Got Harder

By Gabriella Angotti-Jones

Emergency medical technicians for Amwest Ambulance have worked with coronavirus patients in Los Angeles since March. During this surge of cases in California, roughly 40 percent of the patients they transport are considered “Covid-19 probable.”

The day begins with calls to the dispatch center. Linze Thompson, 26, records information: the state of patients’ health, their coronavirus test results and safety precautions the E.M.T.s must take.

The dispatcher notes an estimated time for patient pickup and contacts the crew on call. Crews time each transport down to the minute.

Once on location, Joshua Berrios, 30, dons a mask, gown, face shield, goggles and gloves. The E.M.T.s approach each scene as if the patient were positive for the coronavirus.

Read Full Interactive Story

 

California’s 50 years of prehospital medicine

From EMS1 on July 14 by AAA Communications Chair Rob Lawrence

The history of our history: 50 years of prehospital medicine: A transatlantic tale of former army doctors, paramedic development, cardiac arrest survival, and Johnny and Roy

Fifty years ago, on July 15, 1970, then California Governor Ronald Reagan signed into law the Wedworth-Townsend Paramedic Act. The law created the conditions for the establishment of the first accredited paramedic training program in the United States.

The story of American paramedicine did not begin in California or even in the U.S., but in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The inspiration for this program came from World War II era British Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) Medical Officer, Professor Frank Pantridge, MD.

Continue reading►

EMS Week Featured Service | Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc.
Bakersfield, CA
Facebook | Twitter

Meet Hall Ambulance Service

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. was founded by Harvey L. Hall on February 10, 1971. Today, the Company serves as the 9-1-1 paramedic provider for 88% of Kern County, California’s population, or roughly 780,000 people.

Hall Ambulance provides advanced life support, basic life support, and regional ground and air interfacility transport solutions through Hall Critical Care Transport.

The Hall Ambulance Service COVID-19 Response

Weeks before the first confirmed patient was detected in our community, Hall Ambulance began implementing extensive measures in preparation for the coronavirus pandemic reaching Bakersfield and Kern County. An internal task force was formed to determine how best to confront this new disease. As of May 17, 204 Hall Ambulance employees have cared for and transported 221 confirmed COVID-19 patients; however, we are fortunate that zero employees have been infected with the virus.

One of the first places the Company focused its attention was by having its dispatchers use the Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance (EIDS) tool enabling emergency medical dispatchers to advise crews responding to a suspected COVID-19 patient of the need to donn PPE prior to making patient contact.

Before the first transport of a suspected COVID-19 patient occurred, Hall Ambulance looked at best practices and then developed its own protocol for decontaminating ambulances involved in the transport of a coronavirus patient. This stringent process involves nearly four staffing-hours to complete, using hospital-grade germicidal wipes and spray approved by the CDC, and is performed by two technicians (in PPE), and a manager, who works from a safe zone to observe and document the process. As of May 18, 238 ambulances have been decontaminated so that they are properly sanitized and ready to respond to the next request for medical aid.

Hall Ambulance implemented a screening process for all employees prior to starting their shift to ensure they are not exhibiting symptoms. The screening includes a temperature check, and questions about sore throat, new or change in cough, and whether they are experiencing shortness of breath.

For those employees who came in contact with COVID-19 patients, the human resources department places daily phone calls to check on their well-being.

The Company has also worked to assist employees with locating daycare providers and provided financial assistance to cover the cost so those employees could provide care with the peace of mind knowing their little ones were safe and secure.

With the pandemic taking a toll on everyone, a licensed therapist was contracted to work with any employee who felt they needed additional support for their mental health.

To help minimize exposure for non-clinical staff, Hall Ambulance implemented staggered schedules and remote working.

The Hall Ambulance Service Leadership Perspective

“Hall Ambulance employees have raised the bar in their response to the coronavirus pandemic. The extra amount of care and compassion they are demonstrating to their patients, coworkers, and communities is inspiring and indicative of what emergency medical services is all about.”
Lavonne C. Hall, President &  CEO

Frontline Voices from Hall Ambulance Service

“I believe EMS is extremely important to be the immediate help that our patients often need. We are able to begin care and help gather information from our patients during our transport in the ambulance that will quicken treatment once at the hospital.”
Paramedic Jennifer Phillips

How Hall Ambulance Service Celebrates EMS Week

A few weeks ago, President and CEO Lavonne C. Hall introduced a “Heroes Work Here” campaign consisting of banners being placed at all ambulance post locations throughout the Company’s response area. For EMS Week, Hall Ambulance is presenting custom backpacks emblazoned with the “Heroes Work Here” logo to its employees in appreciation of everything they do. In addition, a social media campaign highlighting several of the paramedics, EMTs, RNs, and dispatchers will be posted throughout the week.

40 Under 40: Hasieb Lemar (Royal Ambulance – Hayward, CA)

40 Under 40 nominees were selected based on their contributions to the American Ambulance Association, their employer, state ambulance association, other professional associations, and/or the EMS profession.
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Hasieb Lemar
Chief Operating Officer
Royal Ambulance
Hayward, CA

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LinkedIn
Nominated by: Steve Grau (Royal Ambulance – San Leandro, CA)
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Biography:

Hasieb Lemar has been with Royal Ambulance for over 13 years. Hasieb’s experience includes time as a Field EMT, after which he was promoted to Field Training Officer, Operations Supervisor, Director of Operations, Vice President of Operations, and to his current role of Chief Operating Officer. Having risen through the ranks at Royal Ambulance, and being an integral part of the organization’s growth and development, Hasieb has played a critical role in shaping and developing future healthcare leaders with an emphasis on compassionate patient care. Versatile, innovative, and service oriented, Hasieb has a proven track record of successfully driving operational efficiency while maximizing business opportunities and revenue growth. Hasieb earned his degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Hayward located in Hayward, CA where he grew up and still resides with his wife and daughter.
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Reason for Nomination:

Hasieb Lemar has risen through the ranks at Royal Ambulance, starting as an EMT in 2007, to becoming the first Chief Operating Officer at Royal Ambulance at the young age of 33 in 2019. Hasieb’s impact can’t be understated or expressed in a few short paragraphs. Driven by being a servant leader, he works tirelessly to mentor our growing team of managers and supervisors, cascading his impact to hundreds of young EMTs who serve the Bay Area communities and who have developed to become Nurses, Physicians Assistants, Firefighters, and Doctors.
Hasieb’s legendary work ethic embodies Royal’s organizational core values of being Adaptable, Driven, Engaging, and Empathetic. Hasieb has led Royal’s progressive growth from just a few ambulances running a dozen transports a day to one of California’s premier mobile health care providers, transporting over 65,000 patients a year and earning multiple recognitions as one of INC Magazine’s fastest-growing companies in the United States.

Among many awards, the one most reflective of Hasieb’s leadership is the designation of Royal Ambulance as Best Company to Work For in the US by Modern Healthcare. Hasieb’s focus on employee engagement and career development alongside process improvements and patient experience have produced superior operational, financial, and clinical results.

Hasieb spearheaded the development of Royal’s partnership with the Organ Donor Network West & San Ramon Medical Center in creating the Donor Recovery Intra-Facility Transport (DRIFT) Program. Building the program from the ground up, the team has been able to improve access to donors across Northern California and most importantly reduced precious time to provide life-saving transplants to hundreds of patients. While working with the Organ Donor Network, Hasieb presented at the University of Wisconsin to help launch a pilot program. Since Royal’s own program-launch three years ago, Royal has traveled over 67,000 miles serving the Organ Donor Network. Due to Hasieb’s efforts, countless patients have been given a new chance at a new life.

When Hasieb is not working, he is a dedicated father and husband, who finds time to serve on various committees in his home city of Hayward, including the Keep Hayward Green Task Force. Hasieb also volunteers his time on the Data and Operations Committee for the California Ambulance Association.

Royal Ambulance and the community we serve would not be the same without Haiseb’s leadership. A trusted advisor, mentor, coach, and friend; everyone and anyone who meets Hasieb and has the privilege to work alongside him, feel supported, encouraged and know he has their back no matter what.

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View all of the 2020 Mobile Healthcare 40 Under 40 Honorees

2018 AMBY Award Winners Announced

The American Ambulance Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2018 AMBY Awards. The AMBYs highlight excellence in EMS and the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that epitomize AAA members. The mission of the awards is to showcase creativity and innovation in the ambulance industry by fostering a culture of collaboration, cooperation and a passion for excellence in patient care. This year’s awards will be presented at the Annual Conference & Trade Show Awards Reception on September 7, 2018. Please join us in congratulating our 2018 winners!

Clinical Outcome Program

Medic Ambulance Service, Inc. | Vallejo, CA

Community Impact Program

NorthStar EMS, Inc. | Tuscaloosa, AL

Employee Programs

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. | Bakersfield, CA

Innovation in EMS

Priority Ambulance | Knoxville, TN

Mercy Ambulance Service, Inc. | Savannah, GA

Public Relations Campaign

MEDIC EMS Agency | Charlotte, NC

Hall Ambulance Service, Inc. | Bakersfield, CA

Quality Improvement Program

Sunstar Paramedics | Largo, FL

Patient and Employee Safety Program

Priority Ambulance | Knoxville, TN

Once again, join us in celebrating the 2018 winners! Learn more about the AMBYs.

 

Update on Medicare Reimbursement Issues

The AAA would like to take this opportunity to update members on a number of issues related to Medicare reimbursement:

  1. CMS and its contractors have begun adjusting claims for ground ambulance services to reflect the restoration of the temporary add-ons. Section 50203(a) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 retroactively reinstated the temporary add-ons for ground ambulance services. These add-ons increase the applicable Medicare allowables by 2% in urban areas, 3% in rural areas, and 22.6% in “super rural” areas (over and above the corresponding rural rate), retroactive to January 1, 2018. On a March 7, 2018 Open Door Forum, CMS indicated that it had updated the Medicare Ambulance fee schedule to reflect these higher rates, and that it has provided a Change Request to each of its Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs). The AAA has confirmed that all MACs have successfully implemented the new rates, and that all are paying current claims at the correct rate. The AAA has further confirmed that MACs have started to adjust 2018 claims paid at the original (lower) rates. Unfortunately, neither CMS nor its MACs have committed to a firm timetable for the completion of all required adjustments; however, a number of MACs have indicated that they anticipate completing all required adjustments by the end of the second quarter of 2018.
  1. Further reduction in Medicare’s payment for non-emergency BLS transports to and from dialysis. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 further required CMS to implement an additional 13% reduction in Medicare’s payment for scheduled, non-emergency BLS transports to and from dialysis. This reduction is on top of the existing 10% payment reduction. Collectively, this means that dialysis transports will be reimbursed at a rate that is 23% less than the rate that would otherwise be applicable to BLS non-emergency transports in your area. The AAA. is reminding members that this additional reduction in payments will go into effect for transports on or after October 1, 2018.
  1. CMS has updated its SNF Consolidated Billing file to resolve the error that resulted in certain ambulance claims being incorrectly denied as being the responsibility of the SNF. Each year, CMS updates the SNF Consolidated Billing file provided to MACs. This file contains several lists of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes, and provides instructions to the MACs on whether these codes: (i) should be accepted for separate payment under Medicare Part B or (ii) should always be denied for inclusion in the SNF Consolidated Billing system. Ambulance HCPCS codes (A0425, A0426, A0427, etc.) have always been included in the first list, as the issue of whether an ambulance transportation is bundled to the SNF is conditioned on the nature of the services that the patient will receive at the destination. To the extent the service the patient will receive at the destination is bundled, the ambulance services to and from that service will also be bundled, and vice versa. Note: there are two exceptions to this general rule. The first is that ambulance transportation to and from dialysis is specifically exempted from the SNF Consolidated Billing regime, and therefore will always be separately billable to Medicare Part B. The second exception relates to the provision of chemotherapy services furnished on an outpatient basis in a hospital. Chemotherapy services are generally bundled to the SNF; however, several years ago, Congress elected to exempt a number of particularly expensive forms of chemotherapy from the SNF bundle. In these instances, while the SNF is not responsible for the payment of the expensive chemotherapy, the SNF remains responsible for payment of the ambulance transportation to and from the hospital. Because ambulance codes may or may not be bundled to the SNF based on the nature of the transport, they are not automatically denied. Instead, the MACs are supposed to use further edits to identify those situations in which the ambulance transport would be bundled vs. separately payable. Unfortunately, in its 2018 update, CMS inadvertently left the ambulance HCPCS codes off the list of codes that are not automatically denied as being bundled to the SNF.  As a result, ambulance providers have indicated that claims were being denied using remark code “OA109.”  In some cases, claims for dates of service in 2016 or 2017 that were previously paid were being recouped. CMS recognized its error fairly quickly, and updated the SNF Consolidated Billing file in mid-February. All MACs were provided with updated instructions by February 27, 2018. Therefore, the issue has been resolved for current claims. What remains to be resolved is how CMS and its MACs will adjust or reprocess claims that were incorrectly denied. Several MACs have notified providers of the issue, and asked that they refrain from appealing the claims. These MACs are indicating that they will automatically adjust/reprocess affected claims. In other instances, the MACs have asked the providers to make a refund of affected claims that were previously paid, promising to then reprocess the entire claim. The AAA is advising members to carefully track the claims that were affected by this mistake, and to follow the instructions issued by their MAC for ensuring their reprocessing.
  1. CMS has delayed the mailing new ID cards to all Medicare beneficiaries. As part of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, Congress mandated that CMS remove a beneficiary’s social security number (SSN) from their Medicare ID card by April 2019. As part of this initiative, CMS will be replacing the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) with the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). CMS has already started mailing cards with the MBI to newly enrolling Medicare beneficiaries. CMS originally announced that it would be mailing new cards to existing Medicare beneficiaries starting in April 2018, but recently indicated that it would delay the mailing of new cards to existing Medicare beneficiaries until May 2018. From May to June, CMS will mail new cards to existing Medicare beneficiaries residing in Alaska, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The mailing program will then be extended to additional states in 5 “waves” over the coming year. To the extent you provide services in the above-mentioned states, you may want to educate crewmembers and other employees on the differences between the HICN and the MBI. You may want to also consider updating your existing patient databases to include the new identifier. As a reminder, CMS will permit claims to be submitted with either the HICN or the MBI during a transition period running through December 31, 2019.  Effective January 1, 2020, claims must be submitted with a patient’s MBI. This requirement applies regardless of whether the date of service occurred prior to the expiration of the transition period.
  1. Extension of prior authorization project for scheduled, repetitive transports. In December 2017, CMS indicated that it would be extending the prior authorization program for an additional year. This program is currently in place for the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The extension of the program is limited to those states. CMS has further indicated that it will be making a determination on possible national expansion at some point in the near future. CMS recently released its first interim report on the prior authorization program. As expected, that report indicated that prior authorization has been successful in reducing Medicare expenditures on scheduled, repetitive transports, without any material impact on beneficiary access to and quality of care.

Have any questions about these updates? Contact Brian Werfel at bwerfel@aol.com

Congrats to CAAS Accreditations & Recerts

Congratulations to the AAA members who received Commission on the Accreditation of Ambulance Services (CAAS) accreditation or reaccreditation in November and December!

New certifications

  • Superior Air-Ground Ambulance (Elmhurst, IL)

Recertifications

  • Ambucare (Bremen, GA)
  • American Medical Response Central Mississippi (Jackson, MS)
  • American Medical Response, Los Angeles (Irwindale, CA)
  • American Medical Response, San Diego (San Diego, CA)
  • American Medical Response of West Michigan (Grand Rapids, MI)
  • American Medical Response South Mississippi (Gulfport, MS)
  • Lifeguard Ambulance Service (Milton, FL)
  • Metro West Ambulance (Hillsboro, OR)
  • Richmond Ambulance Authority (Richmond, VA)

2017 AMBY Winner: Medic Ambulance Service, Inc.

Medic Ambulance Service, Inc. Named 2017 AMBY Award Winner

Contact: Jessica Marvin
Telephone: 703-610-9018
Email: jmarvin@ambulance.org

Washington, DC– McLean, VA — The American Ambulance Association (AAA) has named Medic Ambulance Service, Inc.  (California), a recipient of the 2017 AMBY Award in the Public Relations Campaign category. Each year, the AMBYs highlight excellence in EMS and the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that epitomize AAA members.

Medic Ambulance Service is being recognized with an AMBY Award in recognition of the Robbin Mackbee EMS Youth Academy. The program, which is named in honor of a local hero who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, sets the goal of transforming its at-risk cadets from coping with a challenging present into moving towards a dignified future.

Representatives from Medic Ambulance Service will receive their AMBY at the AAA Awards Reception during the 2017 Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Las Vegas.

The mission of the AMBY Awards is to showcase creativity and innovation in the ambulance industry by fostering a culture of collaboration, cooperation and a passion for excellence in patient care. For additional information about the AMBY Awards or how to submit a nomination for next year, visit https://ambulance.org/amby-awards/

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About the American Ambulance Association
Founded in 1979, the AAA represents hundreds of ambulance services across the United States that participate in emergency and non-emergency care and medical transportation. The Association serves as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services, and views pre-hospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system.

AAA Mission Statement
The mission of the American Ambulance Association is to promote health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provide research, education, and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.

2017 President’s Award

Contact: Jessica Marvin
Telephone: 703-610-9018
Email: jmarvin@ambulance.orgg

AMERICAN AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION HONORS DR. JOHN RUSSELL AND PAUL MAIN WITH THE 2017 PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Washington, DC– McLean, VA — The American Ambulance Association (AAA) is proud to award Dr. John Russell and Paul Main with the 2017 President’s Award.

The President’s Award is given by the President of the AAA to volunteer leaders who have shown commitment to the advancement of the AAA above and beyond the call of duty. This year the two outstanding volunteers represent tireless work on behalf of the AAA.

Dr. Russell, of Cape County Private Ambulance is being recognized for his ongoing support of AAA’s programs and leadership on clinical and ambulance service standards. Mr. Main, of American Ambulance of Visalia, has achieved this honor for his dedication and service to AAA’s Government Affairs programs.

AAA President Mark Postma noted, “Dr. Russell and Mr. Main epitomize the spirit of the President’s Award through their steadfast work on behalf of the AAA . We are proud to celebrate their contributions and achievements to the AAA and our industry by presenting them with the President’s Award for 2017.”

Dr. Russell and Mr. Main will be presented with the President’s Award at the AAA Annual Conference and Tradeshow Awards Reception on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. This event is the premier event for leaders in the ambulance industry, featuring world-class education, networking, and cutting-edge technology.

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About the American Ambulance Association
Founded in 1979, the AAA represents hundreds of ambulance services across the United States that participate in emergency and nonemergency care and medical transportation. The Association serves as a voice and clearinghouse for ambulance services, and views prehospital care not only as a public service, but also as an essential part of the total public health care system.

AAA Mission Statement
The mission of the American Ambulance Association is to promote health care policies that ensure excellence in the ambulance services industry and provide research, education, and communications programs to enable its members to effectively address the needs of the communities they serve.

American Ambulance Association Announces 2017 AMBY Award Winners

The American Ambulance Association is proud to announce the recipients of the 2017 AMBY Awards. The AMBYs highlight excellence in EMS and the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit that epitomize AAA members. The mission of the awards is to showcase creativity and innovation in the ambulance industry by fostering a culture of collaboration, cooperation and a passion for excellence in patient care. This year’s awards will be presented at the Annual Conference & Trade Show Awards Reception on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Please join us in congratulating our 2017 winners!

Community Impact Program

NorthStar EMS, Inc.
St. Charles County Ambulance District

Employee Programs

MEDIC EMS Agency (North Carolina)

Quality Improvement Programs

MEDIC EMS Agency (North Carolina)

Public Relations Campaign

Medic Ambulance Service, Inc. (California)
Sunstar Paramedics

Other Programs

Porter EMS

Learn more about the AMBYs.

2017 AAA Award Winners Announced

The American Ambulance Association is proud to announce this year’s award winners. Awards will be presented at the AAA Annual Conference & Trade Show Membership Meeting on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners!

J. Walter Schaeffer Award

Mark Meijer, Life EMS Ambulance
The J. Walter Schaeffer Award is given annually to an individual whose work in EMS has contributed positively to the advancement of the industry as a whole. Mark Meijer has achieved this through his many years of commitment and service to the ambulance industry.

Robert L. Forbuss Lifetime Achievement Award

Fred Della Valle, AMR Connecticut
The Robert L. Forbuss Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of the first Executive Director of the American Ambulance Association. It recognizes a volunteer leader who has made a significant long-term impact on the association. Fred Della Valle has achieved this through his decades of service, commitment, and dedication to the AAA and its members.

President’s Award

Dr. John Russell, Cape County Private Ambulance
Paul Main, American Ambulance of Visalia
These awards are bestowed by the President to volunteer leaders who have shown commitment to the advancement of the AAA above and beyond the call of duty. This year, the two outstanding volunteers represent tireless work on behalf of the AAA. Dr. Russell is recognized for his ongoing support of AAA’s programs and leadership on clinical and ambulance service standards. Paul Main has achieved this honor for his dedication and service to AAA’s Government Affairs efforts.

Distinguished Service Award

Jamie Pafford-Gresham, Pafford EMS
Shawn Baird, Woodburn Ambulance Service
The American Ambulance Association is proud to award Jamie Pafford-Gresham and Shawn Baird with the 2017 Distinguished Service Awards. Jamie Pafford-Gresham and Shawn Baird have achieved this distinction through their dedication, passion, and commitment in support of AAA’s Legislative Priorities.

2017 Affiliate of the Year

REV
The American Ambulance Association (AAA) is proud to award REV with the 2017 Affiliate of the Year Award. REV has achieved this honor through their support of AAA’s programs and services including our 2017 Legislative Priorities.

EMS Partnership of the Year

James D. Green
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The EMS Partnership of the Year Award is given to an organization or individual whose collaboration with the AAA enhances educational programs, legislative priorities, and/or member benefits. James D. Green and NIOSH have achieved this honor through their commitment to ambulance vehicle and personnel safety standards.

EMS Innovation Award

Savvik Foundation
Savvik Foundation is honored with a special EMS Innovation Award for its commitment to supporting the future of emergency medical services through their grant program.

Spotlight: Paul Main

Paul Main
President & General Manager
American Ambulance Visalia
Member, Government Affairs Committee
Winner, 2017 AAA President’s Award
Visalia, CA

Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Visalia, Ca. I have been married to Paige for 30 years, and we have three children (Michael, Samantha, Ian). Michael is “special needs” as he was born with a club foot and a rare seizure disorder causing up to 100 seizures per day. I enjoy cooking and being with friends/family.

How did you come to work in the industry? How long have you been involved?
My dad was a firefighter/engineer for the Visalia Fire Department. As kids, my brothers and I couldn’t wait to visit my dad at the stations and climb all over the equipment. Just after high school, my older brother, Tim was working for Exeter District Ambulance. I was working as a pharmacy tech in the local hospital, and Tim would have to restock IV’s and meds from the pharmacy (this was years ago). I was intrigued by his descriptions of calls he responded to. I found myself in an EMT class the next semester, and the rest is history. Tim is now a battalion chief for CalFire (previously a medic for over 25 years), and my younger brother, Jerry, is an RN-MICN for Adventist Medical Center Hanford. He too was a paramedic for over 25 years with AMR and later American Ambulance Kings County.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy helping to improve the EMS system within Tulare County. This is where I started, and I’ve had an opportunity to grow and learn how to create an EMS system in one of the poorest areas in California, if not the US. I get to meet people from all aspects of EMS, health care, FIRE, Law Enforcement, and other ancillary agencies. Working with these folks has created friendships and helped teach me about how we all work toward a common goal of helping the communities we serve.

What is your biggest professional challenge?
The biggest professional challenge is balancing work with life. EMS can consume you, your focus, and energy. It has taken years to learn how not to get caught in the EMS vortex without taking time to refresh with family/friends.

What is your typical day like?
My typical day starts the night before. I usually organize my days (weeks) by creating quick to-do lists with general reminders of what needs to be accomplished. I have learned to start earlier than others, so I’m prepared mentally and day-to-day work/projects are knocked out before meetings or unplanned events derail my plans. I like to wind down in the late afternoon by doing a workout (RIPPED/Body Combat/Extreme Interval/Body Pump). After that, I’m ready for the late evening meetings or to just go home and relax for a few hours.

How has participation in AAA membership and advocacy helped your organization?
My participation in the AAA Government Affairs Committee has allowed me to become better versed in governmental processes for EMS on a much larger platform than I have ever been in the past. Being a part of this committee has helped open my eyes to the importance for all of us to stay atop issues affecting reimbursement, regulatory policies, and establishing a voice with congressional and senatorial representatives. It has reaffirmed there are many from all sides of the political spectrum that recognize EMS as an essential service for their constituents.

Explore AAA membership, or learn more about our advocacy for ambulance services across the country.

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