Disaster Medical Services System

Standards Development Advisory Group

Meeting Summary – June 6, 2001

 

 

Members Attending:         Barbara Center; David G. Jones; Nancy LaPolla;                                          Sherlene Stepp

Other Attendees:              Doug Buchanan; Calvin Freeman

 

Doug Buchanan convened the meeting at 10:00.

Calvin Freeman reviewed the meeting’s agenda.

 

REVIEW OF PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

Doug Buchanan welcomed the members of the Advisory Committee to the first meeting of the new grant year and reviewed the accomplishments of the past year.  These accomplishments included:

 

·       Developing draft legislation.

·       Completing the development of disaster medical systems standards.

·       Making progress on DMS guidelines.

·       Developing the concept of the Standards Maintenance Organization.

 

Remaining tasks include:

 

·       Developing policies and templates for implementing DMS Standards.

·       Drafting regulations

 

TRAINING FOCUS

 

Doug Buchanan next reviewed the objectives of the new project.  Continuing project tasks included: legislation, completion of guidelines, development of templates, and completing the design of the Standards Maintenance Organization.

 

New objectives include a focus on training and the development of an instrument to allow LEMSAs to assess their disaster medical systems.  The focus on training will involve:

 

·       Assessing training needs at field, agency, and hospital levels.  Training needs of dispatchers, MICNs, and RDMHCs/RDMHSs should also be addressed.

·       Developing standards for training.

·       Reviewing existing curricula for appropriateness to meet training requirements.

·       Promote creation of certificated training specific to EMS personnel.

 

The Advisory Group recommended that the project explore a variety of mechanisms to promote DMS training including:

 

·       Modifying paramedic training regulations to require DMS training.

·       Local accreditation standards. Alpine Mother Lode currently requires MCI training for accreditation.

·       Paramedic training programs.

 

The Advisory Group agreed that all EMS personnel should have basic ICS & SEMS.  Higher level positions need more training.  EMS agency training needs should also be included in the training requirements.

 

It was pointed out that FIRESCOPE has sufficient courses, but it was unclear if EMS training programs can use the FIRESCOPE curricula.

 

The Advisory Group also recommended that training standards address HEICS and START.  Both training programs need:

 

·       An organization to provide oversight for maintenance and modifications of the standards.

·       Train-the-trainer standards and training.

 

The Advisory Group also suggested that FIRESCOPE MCI standards need to be updated. The Advisory Group also recommended that an invitation be extended to staff from FIRESCOPE to discuss certification and access to training issues.

 

The Advisory Group proposed that LEMSAs should support HEICS training, with a train-the-trainer program support through the RDMHS.  HEICS training could be a revenue generator for LEMSAs.

 

The Advisory Group recommended that the November 7, 2001 meeting should address training needs by reviewing the SEMS matrix of requirements for Field - Hospital – Agency level personnel.

 

Dave: Plan for development of strike team concept.  Rationale: Management tool to manage span of control

Standard recognized throughout state that locals enforce.  FIRESCOPE course can meet requirement, e.g., medical supervisor or strike team leader course.

 

LEGISLATION

 

The Legislative representative from EMSAAC is working with the Health Officers Association of California and CHEAC on the draft legislation. 

 

Doug Buchanan and Calvin Freeman reported on the meeting with state and local Mental Health agency staff, who expressed concerns about the inclusion of the mental health function in the legislation.  It was agreed that the legislation will only refer to the need for the medical/health function to coordinate with mental health services.

 

Letters of Support have been received for the draft legislation from:

·       EMSAAC

·       Santa Barbara

·       Humboldt (which also indicated that the legislation should not specifically designate the Health Officer as the Medical/Health OAC).

 

EOC/DOC POSITIONS

 

Calvin Freeman presented drafted position checklists for key EOC and DOC leadership positions.  These checklists are intended to provide templates for LEMSAs to use in developing their plans and procedures.

 

The Advisory Committee made the following recommendations:

 

·       Delete reference to the M/H OAC role for the EOC Medical/Health Branch Director.

·       Use the following terminology for position hierarchies: 

Section - Chief

Branch - Director

Group - Supervisor

Unit  - Leader

 

These and other changes have been incorporated into the current draft of the position checklists.

 

The Advisory Group also discussed the length of the checklists – whether they should be limited to one page or should include a more detailed list of duties.  The consensus was that brevity was better for response but more extensive lists were better for training.  The template checklists should be as complete as possible and LEMSAs can edit them to meet their preferences.

 

EMS DISASTER MEDICAL SELF-ASSESSMENT

 

The final objective of the new project is to develop a tool to assist LEMSAs in performing a self-assessment of their disaster medical services systems.  The assessment tool and related process will be:

 

Consistent with EMS Vision process

Sensitive to concerns about unfunded mandate

Sensitive to public/other agency criticism if assessment shows deficiencies

 

MEETING SCHEDULE

Future meetings of the Advisory Group are scheduled for:

 

·       November 11, 2001

·       February 6, 2002

·       April 3, 2002

·       June 19, 2002