Emergency Medical Services in Rural Virginia

Virginia EMT, Patient Killed in Ambulance Crash

vahealthequity — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:57:11 +0000

A Waynesboro man was killed Friday afternoon in Buckingham County when the ambulance he was driving collided with a cement-mixing truck, Virginia State Police said.

A patient in the ambulance also died later after being taken to the hospital.

Shenandoah board sets fees for ambulance service

vahealthequity — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:08:14 +0000

The Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted emergency medical service billing fees.

Last month, the supervisors approved the hiring of EMS/MC, of Lewisville, N.C., to bill insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid for EMS services, as well as the hiring of an EMS billing technician.

Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS Telecommunications Awarded to Nicola Tidey

vahealthequity — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:12:07 +0000

This past Saturday evening at the 32^nd Annual Virginia EMS Symposium the Governor’s EMS Award for Outstanding Contribution to EMS Telecommunications was awarded to Nicola Tidey.

Over the past eight years Nicola has been dedicated to the telecommunications field, originally starting as a dispatcher and later being promoted to shift supervisor and training coordinator for Culpeper County Public Safety Communications Center.

Gary Critzer, Central Shenandoah EMS Council President, Elected Virginia EMS

vahealthequity — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:58:59 +0000

Gary Critzer, Director of Emergency Management and EMS for the City of Waynesboro and the Central Shenandoah Emergency Medical Services Council President, was elected as Chairperson for the State Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board at its quarterly meeting in Norfolk on Wednesday November 9.

Bristol regional educator named Pre-Hospital Educator of the Year in SWVa

vahealthequity — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 22:58:22 +0000

Kathren Roark, general education coordinator at Bristol Regional Medical Center, has been named 2011 Southwest Virginia Emergency Medical Services Pre-Hospital Educator of the Year.

This award is given to an emergency service provider who exemplifies outstanding teaching and leadership qualities while serving as an educator in an EMS program. Roark is now in the running to win at the state level.

Starting care sooner for heart attack patients

vahealthequity — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:14:25 +0000

UVA is spending more than $20,000 this year on modems, software and subscription fees to enable rescue squads to transmit electronically results from 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) to UVA and other local hospitals, says Director of Emergency Management Tom Berry…For rescue squads in less-populated areas with less experience interpreting ECGs than providers such as Judkins, the ability to transmit electronically will improve care and provide peace of mind, says Donna Burns, UVA Health System’s prehospital coordinator. “

Virginia Community Examines Ambulance Fees

vahealthequity — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:53:40 +0000

Spotsylvania County rakes in more than $2 million each year by charging insurance companies for ambulance rides for residents.

Now members of the Board of Supervisors wonder if they’re the ones being taken for a ride.

“What are we getting for our money?” Supervisor Gary Jackson asked at last night’s meeting. “And is there a better way to spend it?”

Virginia EMS Agency honored for its hard work and dedication

vahealthequity — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:07:01 +0000

The Chilhowie Fire Department was recently honored with this year’s Outstanding EMS Agency award in Virginia, according to SWVA Today.

Council honors local emergency service responders

vahealthequity — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:33:49 +0000

A Smyth County emergency services agency, its medical director, and a hospital nurse have received honors from the Southwest Virginia Emergency Services Council.

Christiansburg hires rescue squad captain

vahealthequity — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:57:45 +0000

Christiansburg will replace its retiring rescue squad captain with a man who has more than two decades of emergency medical services experience.

The town announced Wednesday that it has hired Joe Coyle, 44, who currently serves as a Virginia Department of Emergency Management director.