Western Virginia EMS Council, Inc

News

WVEMS Welcomes New Executive Director

Open letter from Rob Logan:

On Monday March 8, Steve Simon will assume the role of Executive Director of the Western Virginia EMS Council, a position I've held for more than 25 years. I have enjoyed all of my time with the Council, and I look forward to staying on board for a while longer in a consulting role to assist in the transition to new leadership. We welcome Steve with great enthusiasm, and encourage all of you to join me in supporting and working with him in his exciting new role!

New times, and hopefully better and safer times lie ahead. Steve will surely be available to work with all of our partners and constituents as we strive to return to some sense of normalcy as vaccines become more readily available. You have all done an outstanding job in dealing with this pandemic for so many months. Our partners at the Virginia Department of Health, especially at the local health district level, are working hard to make this happen. Our many healthcare institutions, including all of the hospitals in our region have been amazing partners in all that we've done over the years.

I thank all of you. Our many EMS agencies and providers, hospitals, everyone at the Virginia Office of EMS, the Commissioner's office, the Near Southwest Preparedness Alliance and the other five healthcare coalitions, the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association, the other 10 regional EMS councils, everyone else with whom I've interacted over the years, and especially my fellow staff and board members at WVEMS have made my life most enjoyable and productive over the years.

Here's wishing all of you great success and best of luck in all that you do. If all aligns as I hope it will, I will see many of you at the Virginia EMS Symposium in November!

Respectfully,

Rob Logan
Soon-to-be FORMER Executive Director, WVEMS

Wear Your Mask and Get Your Vaccine!

Seeking Proposals for Needs Assessment

The Western Virginia EMS Council, on behalf of the Virginia Department of Health is accepting proposals for an Assessment of Need for State Medical Assistance Teams. This assessment has a very short turnaround. Responses are due no later than close of business on March 15, 2021. Award will be announced on March 19. The project must be completed by June 1.

pdf DOWNLOAD SMAT RFP HERE (112 KB)

WVEMS Offering No-Cost COVID-19 Antigen Tests for EMS Providers (Updated)

The WVEMS Council is offering EMS providers no-cost rapid antigen testing for potential COVID-19 exposures, using the Abbott BinaxNow antigen test cards. If you believe that you MAY have been exposed to COVID-19, your agency's Designated Infection Control Officer (DICO) or his/her designee may request a rapid antigen test for you by contacting WVEMS by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

COVID-19 Testing Update

The CLIA Waiver for the Abbott BinaxNow test issued to WVEMS is available ONLY for tests administered and reported by the WVEMS Council, and is specific to the Abbott BinaxNow test. If your agency has obtained and is administering its own tests (Abbott or other), you must obtain a CLIA Waiver Certificate issued to your agency which lists your OMD as the Laboratory Director. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REGISTER A REPORTING PORTAL USING THE WVEMS COUNCIL'S CLIA WAIVER CERTIFICATE NUMBER.

Be aware that a CLIA Waiver is specific to the type of test used. At present, the only COVID-19 test covered by the WVEMS CLIA Waiver is the Abbott BinaxNow test.

Your agency's DICO and OMD may designate others within your organization to request testing through WVEMS as part of your internal Infection Control protocols.

DICO (or designee): To request an antigen test, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Include your telephone number and the name of your agency. A WVEMS staff member will contact you promptly to discuss eligibility and schedule the test.

Antigen testing MUST be conducted within the following timeframe

IF ASYMPTOMATIC: 5-8 days from exposure

IF SYMPTOMATIC: 7 days or less from exposure

Your DICO should make arrangements for testing as soon as possible after exposure to ensure scheduling the test within the required timeframe.

ATTENTION ALL AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS AND DICOs in the Western Virginia EMS Region: Please contact a WVEMS Field Coordinator or the Education Program Director to learn more about the Antigen Testing Program and how to request a test for a provider with possible COVID-19 exposure.

WVEMS holds a CMS CLIA Waiver authorizing this test under the oversight of its Regional Medical Director.

Spring 2021 RSAF Cycle Now Open

The Virginia Office of EMS has announced that the Spring 2021 cycle of the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund is open and accepting applications. pdf Please see this memo from OEMS for more information. (291 KB)

Applicants are encouraged to attend a technical assistance webinar at 1 p.m. (EST) on February 17, 2021 to learn more about RSAF eligibility, use of funds, grantee requirements, special priorities, and evaluation criteria.

Please register for RSAF Spring 2021 Pre-Award Technical Assistance Webinar on Feb 17, 2021 1:00 PM EST at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2108460193589195533 After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

WVEMS Supply Exchange Program Alert

Every agency in the WVEMS region, every hospital, and the WVEMS Council have entered into an agreement whereby the hospitals offer a ONE-FOR-ONE exchange of supply items specifically listed on the Standard List of Restocked Items. Please be aware that the listed items are the ONLY supply items that you are permitted to exchange at any hospital within our region per the agreement, and the exchange is limited to ONE per patient. For example, if you use two EZ-IO needles on a patient due to a failed attempt, you are entitled to ONE exchange needle. Not two. For other items such as IV catheters, you may exchange one-for-one for each one actually used on the patient.

Abuse of the ONE-FOR-ONE exchange jeopardizes our entire exchange process and could result in loss of all exchange privileges. Abuses of the exchange program will be reported to the provider's OMD and agency officials to be dealt with accordingly.

Please watch for more information regarding the exchange process for specific hospitals. Remember that this supply exchange program is a benefit provided through the generosity of our hospitals and it can be rescinded at any time.

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