Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS: A Retrospective Review

1. Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS:A Retrospective Review Mark Milliron, EMT, M.S., M.P.A.

2. Striving for Excellence Background • The Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS recognition program was initiated in 1999 as a way to address an issue: Is campus-based EMS “real” EMS? • By the 1990s, not all campus EMS organizations were certified or licensed by their state or EMS authorities.

3. During the time that NCEMSF was emerging and providing start-up support to new campus EMS organizations, we wanted to ensure that campus EMS was fully recognized on campuses an in communities as the same EMS – same level of care, same certifications, same standards – as community EMS.

4. Striving for Excellence is a self-evaluation by campus EMS organizations, using the NCEMSF Striving for Excellence standards. These include: • EMS Operations; • Certification, Training, and Continuing Education; • Community Service; and • Recommendations by campus officials.

5. Recognition • By recognizing campus EMS groups that meet the NCEMSF standards, we have been able to provide examples of quality to the public and for other campus EMS groups to emulate. • Organizations are recognized for a three year period. • Over the years 35 campus EMS organizations have been recognized, many multiple times, for meeting the Striving for Excellence standards

6. Recipients 1999 – 2011 • Binghamton University • Boston College • Brandeis University • Carnegie Mellon University • Cedar Crest College • College of Charleston • Columbia University • Cornell University • Duke University • Emory University • The George Washington University • Georgetown University • John Carroll University • Loyola Marymount University • Montclair State University • Muhlenberg College • Pennsylvania State University • Rice University • Rochester Institute Of Technology • St. Bonaventure University • SUNY Albany • SUNY Stony Brook • Syracuse University • Temple University • Texas A&M University • Tufts University • Tulane University • University Of Dayton • University Of Delaware • University Of Pennsylvania • University Of Rhode Island • University Of Windsor • University of Wisconsin-Madison • Villanova University • Virginia Tech

7. Attributes of quality campus EMS • Campus EMS organizations provide care at the ALS, intermediate, and BLS levels. • Services provided include transport, intercept, quick response, events standby, EMS education What are the Striving for Excellence expectations for service provision?

8. Expectations • State licensure or certification • Adequate equipment and supplies • Appropriate (and legal!) vehicles • Licensed, insured, and approved emergency warning devices • Insurance • Workers’ compensation • Professional liability

9. Expectations • Risk management – SOPs* • Patient documentation and privacy • Infection control procedures • Staff certification requirements and personnel records • Dispatch and communications procedures • Vehicle operations requirements *NCEMSF has an on-line library of SOPs, PCRs, and other resources collected on its web site.

10. Expectations • Credentials – for all EMS staff, • including a written consulting agreement with a licensed physician medical director • An active quality improvement program

11. Organizational Profiles • 4 ALS • 2 ILS • 29 BLS • 20 QRS • 15 Transport

12. Innovative Service aspects • Gators with med beds • Bicycle patrols - International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) • Medical command units • MCI trailers

13. Staffing • Striving for Excellence expects that campus EMS will be staffed by people with the same qualifications and certifications as any other EMS organization as required by their licensing or certifying authority • They are expected to maintain continuing education requirements • Protection for staff includes appropriate immunizations and blood borne pathogen training

14. EMS Education Programs • Training center affiliations – AHA, ASHI, state • Instructor classes – EMT, CPR • Community CPR training (fundraiser) • Community first aid training • First responder courses • EMT courses • ALS assistant courses • Emergency vehicle driving courses • Tactical EMS training with police

15. Innovations • Service upgrades: aspirin, albuterol, epi pens, Quik-Clot, intra-nasal Narcan, pulse oxemetry, blood glucometry, • City ride-alongs to develop experience • Norovirus response support • IPMBA certified EMS bike patrols • 9-1-1 call “triage” to reduce the city fire and EMS response on campus

16. Innovations (continued) • Public access defibrillator programs • Collaboration with theater, nursing programs for training • Emergency information cards • Sign language interpretation • MCI trailer/supply cache, MCI training

17. Community Service Expectations Striving for Excellence recognizes the need for campus EMS to be leaders in providing community service on their campuses and in their communities. This may include programs such as: • CPR or community first aid training; • Public education or awareness programs such as alcohol safety, sexual assault awareness or fire safety in residence halls; • Joint training with athletic trainers, lifeguards, etc.; and • Off campus training with organizations, such as community EMS, fire, police, etc.

18. Campus EMS Community Service • RA training for alcohol problems • RA training for flu prevention • RA CERT training, C-CERT • Community outreach CPR programs, mass CPR training day • Co-train with athletic trainers • Peer health promotion events, alcohol awareness • Alcohol amnesty

19. Community Service (continued) • Charitable event promotion and fundraising • Health fairs, blood pressure screenings • Collaboration with American Medical Students Association • Presidential campus visits

20. Community Service (Continued) • Unused medical supply drives to donate overseas • Sponsor blood drives • Marathon support, other major events • Community ride-along program