An EMS Week Message from Bon Secours

Please see the letter below from the president of Bon Secours Hampton Roads

TO:                              EMS Colleagues

FROM:                        Amy Carrier, President, Bon Secours Hampton Roads

SUBJECT:                  Celebrating EMS Week

As we celebrate National EMS Week (May 17-23), I wanted to take a moment to thank and recognize you, the women and men of our EMS teams, who are the first responders dedicated to both rapid response and compassionate care, in the moments when it’s needed the most.

Throughout the years of our partnership, and especially in recent months, I have watched you work hand-in- hand with our hospital care teams, supporting one another in serving our community, going above and beyond the call of duty.

In serving our patients, I recognize that you have made many sacrifices. You are often the first reassuring face our patients see when they need it the most, during this pandemic and in many other circumstances. You are the front line of our Bon Secours mission; you are an extended part of our Bon Secours family. We all consider you among our “health care heroes” during the many COVID-19 challenges we’ve faced, and we thank you.

While we may not be able to celebrate shoulder to shoulder at this time, we are together celebrating in spirit. I hope you will enjoy the attached video compilation created in appreciation and in honor of your contributions to our Hampton Roads facilities. Know that your efforts are recognized and truly appreciated.

Thank you for your incredible courage, selflessness, dedication and commitment to our communities. I pray for continued good health for you and your families who have also been supporting you as you serve your communities during this pandemic.

2020 Regional EMS Awards Nominations Deadline Extended to May 25th

The COVID-19 Pandemic response has placed great demands on our entire EMS Community, including our agencies, hospitals and jurisdictions.  Because of that response, the deadline for the Peninsulas Emergency Medical Services Council Regional Award Nominations has been extended to May 25, 2020.

As of this date, we have received few nominations for Agency of the Year, Outstanding EMS Provider, Outstanding EMS Educator, Outstanding EMS Leadership (Formerly EMS Administrator), Nurse, EMS Physician, EMS Health and Safety Program, EMS Emergency Preparedness and Response or Contribution to EMS from a HS Senior (which includes a $1,000 scholarship and is open only to HS Seniors who are or have been junior members of a department), or Outstanding Call of the Year.  If you live and work in the region and travel throughout the Virginia Peninsula, Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck Peninsula, you know that our communities receive some of the highest quality EMS care provided in Virginia. 

Excellence is such a standard in the region that it is hard to recognize it anymore.  But I think it is important to recognize that our average represents the extended efforts of many individuals, from educators to administrators, from physicians and nurses to prehospital providers, from great innovators to great processes managers.   Please take the time to complete one or more of these nomination forms for those that come to mind when you speak the title of the award and discuss these awards with staff and co-workers.  The awards winners will become the regional nominees for the Governors EMS Awards.

Both Award Criteria and Eligibility for each award may be found on PEMS website.

Submitting nominations is quick and easy using the electronic forms located at:

http://www.peninsulas.vaems.org/regional-services/regional-ems-awards-program

Virginia Office of EMS Announces Cancellation of the 2020 Virginia EMS Symposium

Dear Virginia EMS Stakeholders, 

It is with great disappointment and deliberation that the Virginia Office of EMS announces it has cancelled the 2020 Virginia EMS Symposium, scheduled November 11-15, in Norfolk, due to the current public health climate surrounding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prior to making this decision, we carefully considered a number of factors. Our instructors, registrants, host city, hotels and businesses of Norfolk, volunteers, exhibitors and staff are instrumental in making the Virginia EMS Symposium one of the largest and most comprehensive EMS training events in the country. Due to many unknown factors in the months ahead, and the amount of advanced planning and commitment required to hold such a complex event, we determined that cancelling this year’s event would be in the best interest of the health, safety and well-being of all Virginia EMS Symposium participants. 

The Virginia EMS Symposium presents an opportunity to gain quality education, network with fellow EMS personnel and publicly recognize the dedication and service you all provide on a daily basis. We greatly appreciate your understanding in our decision to cancel this year’s event and we are confident that the wonderful partnerships the Virginia EMS Symposium program has produced will be maintained in future years.

The Virginia Office of EMS thanks all EMS personnel, including volunteers, staff members and instructors for their continued dedication to the Virginia EMS system, especially throughout this public health crisis. 

Please continue to visit the Virginia Office of EMS website and social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) for updates on EMS certification, the 2020 Governor’s EMS Awards and the 2021 Virginia EMS Symposium.

Sincerely,

Gary Brown, Director
Virginia Office of EMS

Still Seek Help in an Emergency

While all of us are being asked to stay home to protect ourselves during this COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to know that if you have a time- sensitive medical emergency you need to get help immediately. That means going to the Emergency Room (ER) right away.

So what is a time-sensitive emergency? A heart attack, stroke or traumatic injury. In all of these cases, time is of the essence and you need to seek medical attention immediately. Don’t let fear delay you from getting the medical help you need.

Here’s what you need to do if you are having a time-sensitive emergency:

First call 9-1-1, the dispatcher is trained to help you decide if your medical emergency warrants a trip to the ER. If it does and you can’t drive yourself to the hospital, then an EMS agency will come pick you up and take you there. All EMS agencies are prepared and able to provide SAFE treatment and transport to the hospital. The Regional EMS Councils continue to work closely with the hospitals to ensure SAFE care through the transition into the emergency department.

Your visit to the ER will be different because of COVID-19. You will be screened before you even go into the emergency room and given a mask to protect you from possible exposure to the virus. All of the dedicated medical personnel you meet will be dressed in appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and because of the virus hospitals are not allowing visitors to come with you. Taking care of you and your immediate medical need is what the health care system was designed to do.

So while staying home is the best way to prevent COVID-19, when it comes to a medical emergency seeking help immediately is always the best and safest way to go.