Listen to this podcast with Jim Judge, CEM, EMT-P, BPA. Jim is the Executive Director of Lake-Sumter EMS in Mount Dora, Florida.

He discusses his presentation:
Session 1206: Central Florida Tornado: Lessons Learned
Florida responders are experts at dealing with hurricanes, but the F3 tornado that struck central Florida during the early morning hours on February 2 took everyone by surprise. More than 2,500 homes were damaged or destroyed, 21 died and hundreds were injured. Using actual footage from touchdown to recovery efforts, Jim, executive director of Lake-Sumter EMS, gives an overview of the tornadoes that struck Lake and Sumter Counties; describes the efforts of responders, including mutual aid from urban search and rescue teams, cadaver dogs, fire and EMS; and looks at communications between agencies, planning and preparedness information, recovery efforts, response from the state and FEMA, and lessons learned.

You can also read Jim’s related article from the August 2007 issue of EMS Magazine, TWISTERS TERRORIZE Sunshine State; February tornadoes that ripped across central Florida tested Lake-Sumter EMS and its neighbors.

To find out more about EMS Expo and to register, visit www.emsexpo2007.com. Listen for additional previews by other EMS Expo presenters over the coming weeks.

Listen as Raphael Barishansky, MPH, EMT-B previews his upcoming talks on EMS management, publishing and lecturing by sharing some of his personal experience. Ray is the Executive Director of the Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council in Newburgh, NY.

He discusses his presentations:
Session 507: It Will Be Different When I’m in Charge: Myths vs. Realities of EMS Supervision and Management
This lecture provides EMS leaders and upcoming leaders a look at some pitfalls and realities of day-to-day EMS supervision and management. In this session, Ray offers tricks, tips and ideas from a lessons-learned perspective, including a wide assortment of do’s and dont’s.

And

Session 1208: Getting Out of the Small Pond: A “How-To” Primer for Publishing and Lecturing
Moving into the world of writing for EMS trade and academic journals and conference speaking can be a scary proposition, but good ideas and best practices should and need to be shared. Ray, an experienced writer and lecturer, shares how to develop and focus your ideas, understand the opportunities available for writing and speaking, what and how to present to the decision-makers, how to write presentation proposals and more.

To find out more about EMS Expo and to register, visit www.emsexpo2007.com. Listen for additional previews by other EMS Expo presenters over the coming weeks.

Listen to this podcast to hear from James J. Augustine, MD, FACEP about his Disaster Responses presentations at EMS Expo. Jim is the Director of Clinical Operations for Emergency Medicine Physicians of Canton, Ohio; Medical Director for the Atlanta Fire Department and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; and Clinical Assistant Professor at Emory University in Atlanta.

He discusses his presentations:
Session 1010: EMS Approach to Blast & Burn Injuries
American emergency providers can expect a further increase in incidents involving blast and burn injuries. Explosions result in unique patterns of injury, and those in confined spaces (mines, buildings or large vehicles) or structural collapse are associated with great morbidity and mortality. Jim explains the difference between high-order and low-order explosives and the different patterns of injury from each, then covers clinical presentations, triage and treatment of these patients.

And

Session 1209: Cleaning & Screening: Best Practices for CBRNE Patient Decontamination for EMS
Emergency leaders must prepare for contaminated patients and healthcare providers from a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incident. This class features a review of selected incidents involving improper patient CBRNE decontamination and discussion of the principles of decontamination and protection of patients, EMS providers and the facility. Jim also covers decision-making in medical care and decontamination, and methods to differentiate decontamination based on agent, environment and desired outcome.

To find out more about EMS Expo and to register, visit www.emsexpo2007.com. Listen for additional previews by other EMS Expo presenters over the coming weeks.

Listen to hear about upcoming EMS Expo presentations by Thom Dick. Thom is the Quality Care Coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service in Brighton, CO. He explains that he did not come from a background in vehicle maintenance, yet he found himself in charge of the fleet at his ambulance service, as do many providers at small to mid-size agencies.

He discusses his presentations:
VM8 - Nuts & Bolts: Caring for the Small Ambulance Fleet
Miami-Dade most of us ain’t. We come from small towns with obscure names, and we work for small services that probably don’t get the recognition they deserve. But the people we serve are no less valuable or important than the presidential staff. In fact, most EMS fleets consist of just a few ambulances managed by busy people with no mechanical experience and plenty of other responsibilities. This session will be aimed at sharing practical management tips and tools you can use as soon as you get home. Suggestion: Bring a thumb drive to class.

And

VM11 - Anatomy & Physiology of an Ambulance
The EMTs in your service might be the best around when it comes to saving lives, but how much do they know about the ambulances they rely on to get them to and from each call? In this session, Thom, a former fleet manager, offers ways to teach the street providers in your system to understand how their ambulance works as well as they understand anatomy and physiology. Learn what to tell your operators about engine maintenance, lubrication, heating and cooling systems, brakes, tires and much more.

To find out more about EMS Expo and to register, visit www.emsexpo2007.com. Listen for additional previews by other EMS Expo presenters over the coming weeks.

Listen to hear about upcoming EMS Expo presentations by Chris Kelly, JD, author of EMS Magazine’s “Emergency 4-1-1″ column regarding laws and regulations relevant to the ambulance industry.

He discusses his presentations:
Session 609: Emerging Issues in EMS
Friday, Oct. 12 at 9:30 am
A review of 2007 and a look into 2008. This lecture will address legal trends and business issues in EMS, including the recent federal investigation in Texas and other similar federal enforcement actions; the creation and goals of the National Emergency Medical Service Advisory Council; and transition into the National Provider Identifier (NPI). The 2008 preview will include changes to the rules regarding the point of pick-up for patient billing.

And

Session 808: Limiting Liability in EMS
Friday, Oct. 12 at 3:00 pm
When it comes to liability to third parties, there are many costly pitfalls in the EMS industry. These injuries can include damages to patients, injuries to employees or third parties, and financial costs incurred by the government in the form of overpayments. This lecture will cover limiting liability for medical malpractice and negligence, limiting tort and workers comp liability for vehicle accidents, and limiting liability for errors and omissions in coding and billing.

To find out more about EMS Expo and to register, visit www.emsexpo2007.com. Listen for additional previews by other EMS Expo presenters over the coming weeks.