Summer 2016

Community-owned � Nonprofit � Nationally accredited

Huron Valley Ambulance

H U R O N V A L L E Y A M B U L A N C E

What is a Community Paramedic?

HVA Community Paramedics (CPs) are emergency paramedics with additional primary care training to treat certain non-acute, non-emergency patients at home. The goal is to save a patient from needing an ambulance transport to the hospital. Our CPs are part of a 2-year pilot project to care for people who call 9-1-1 with non-emergency conditions.

CPs are capable of providing additional treatment beyond what a normal paramedic can do. They can provide antibiotics for infections and assist with catheter problems. Our CPs connect

emergency physicians with the patient via a video link so the patient and doctor can talk to each other about their medical condition.

A CP may be sent to care for you if you have:

• medication concerns

• a minor infection (e.g. urinary tract infection)

• nausea or vomiting

• a wound that needs care

CPs carry blood and urine testing devices to get more information about your condition. They also carry antibiotics for infections.

If your medical condition is not an emergency, you should call your primary care physician before calling 9-1-1. But if your doctor is unable to help you, a CP may be sent. This program gives patients other options when they dial 9-1-1, rather than going by ambulance to the emer-gency department.

HVA charges for a CP visit, however, it is much less than the cost of an ambulance transport.

Update

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Safer ways we transport patients big and small

When we secure a patient on a stretcher, we now use the X-restraint system which crosses the patient’s torso instead of the previous restraints which were straight across across the body. This holds the patient more snugly against the stretcher in the same way a seat-belt holds a driver close to the seat.

To increase the safety of children up to 60 lbs. that we transport, we use a Pedi-Mate child restraint. These specialized restraints are more secure and eliminate the need to carry an infant or child restraint seat

in each ambulance.

To increase the

in each ambulance.

Quick Bits• Gift of Life Michigan has partnered

with HVA to provide ground transportation for organ donors, recipients, organs and tissue. We are using our Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and specially trained MICU paramedics for these time-sensitive transports. Gift of Life now has a surgical center for organ and tissue recovery in Ann Arbor and receives patients from all over the region.

• Opioid overdoses continue to plague the communities we serve. HVA paramedics have always carried naloxone, a drug that reverses overdose symptoms. We have been joined by many police and fire departments who now carry this drug. We all deliver naloxone as quickly as possible and save lives. In fact, we recently awarded our Special Recognition Award to the Washtenaw Health Initiative for their work in this area.

• HVA is grateful to the citizens of Washtenaw County for passing the millage renewal for the emergency radio system this past spring. This system allows police, fire, HVA and other first responders to talk directly with each other when responding to local emergencies or disasters.

Special DeliveryNot all our calls are sad or scary! In July, our 9-1-1 dispatchers responded to a call about a woman in labor in a car on the shoulder of U.S. 23. We dispatched Ann Arbor Township firefighters and HVA paramedics. With our assistance, mom delivered a healthy baby girl. Everyone did well and we transported mom and baby to the hospital. Congratulations to the family and everyone who assisted!

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We’re Vet friendly! Let us help you or a veteran you know transition successfully to a civilian career in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or Paramedic! Anyone who worked in the military has qualities we’re looking for — leadership skills, attention to detail, self-confidence, and the ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions.

If you already have an EMS license, we’ll guide you through the steps to become licensed to work in MI.

If you want to become an EMT or Paramedic, you can enroll at HVA EMS Education in Ann Arbor.

We accept the GI Bill for classroom courses and we offer blended online/classroom courses to fit more easily into your schedule.

We also invite you to apply to work in our non-emergency mobility transportation division while you go to school.

Once you finish EMT school, you can apply to work as an EMT at HVA. As long as you remain employed, we will pay for your tuition if you wish to become a paramedic.

Questions? Please contact our Veteran Liaison Andy Lamoreaux, US Army veteran and Senior Paramedic:alamoreaux@emergenthealth.org734-536-5352

Camp 9-1-1 saves the day!Recently, a Mom told us that the skills her two children learned at Camp 9-1-1 the previous week had already been put to use. She was weeding in her garden when a large thorn punctured her finger. Her 8 year old son saw what happened and said, “Sit down, Mommy. I know what to do.” Then he retrieved his Camp 9-1-1 first aid kit and cleaned the injury with an antibacterial wipe. After that, her 7 year old daughter applied an antibacterial ointment and a bandaid. They rewarded Mom with an animal sticker and proclaimed, “You’re all set, Mommy.”

HVA offers free Camp 9-1-1 day camps every summer for children ages 8 to 12. Visit www.camp911.org for more info.

EMS Careers for Vets

We recently hosted teens from the Wayne-Westland Community School’s Upward Bound program with a look at what EMTs and Paramedics do.

How cool is this!

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Huron Valley Ambulance1200 State CircleAnn Arbor, MI 48108

H U R O N V A L L E Y A M B U L A N C E

Get in Touch

Find us here HVAby theNumbers

Total Calls in 2015: 80,465

Total Transportsin 2015: 66,959

9-1-1

65 Ambulances

HVA Employees: 310

HVA Paramedics: 230

Web: www.hva.orgFacebook.com/huronvalleyambulanceInstagram.com/emergent_health_partnersLinkedIn.com/emergenthealthpartnersPinterest.com/emergenthealthYouTube.com/emergentambulanceTwitter.com/emergent_health

Community Relations: communityrelations@emergenthealth.org 734-477-6782Jobs: careers@emergenthealth.org 734 -477-6347HVA EMS Education: emseducation@emergenthealth.org 734-477-6331

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