Category: Featured

Job Opportunity – Virginia Office of EMS Director

Posted on by marianhunter

Job Opportunity – The Virginia Office of EMS is seeking a qualified candidate to serve as Director of the office. This position closes on August 29, 2024, at 23:55 EDT. Read the full job posting.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is dedicated to protecting and promoting the health of Virginians. The VDH is made up of a statewide Central Office in Richmond and 33 local health districts.

Our office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS) is responsible for planning and coordinating an effective and efficient statewide EMS system. Our programs and services are designed to assure quality prehospital patient care, from when the call is received by the 911 center to the delivery of the patient to the trauma center or hospital.

Reporting directly to the Deputy Commissioner of Population Health & Preparedness, the Director of Emergency Medical Services is responsible for the overall management and direction of Emergency Medical Services programs of licensure, regulation and compliance, training certification programs, emergency preparedness and response, financial grant programs to rescue squads, local governments, and other EMS organizations, Trauma Center programs designations and oversight, and Poison Control Network Centers. Responsible for all operational, technical, administrative, and programmatic activities associated with service delivery.

The actions of the OEMS Director are long range in nature and include supervision of program staff, consultation, resource acquisition and utilization, control of programs and services, strategic planning, and frequent contact with elected officials, federal, state, and other regulatory entities, private sector executives, state EMS Advisory Board and Board of Health, and other agency directors to address inquiries or studies.

The Director of OEMS may oversee and direct the orientation of new advisory board members for Office of EMS, and/or provides information and testimony to State Board of Health on matters relating to operations of programs and response to inquiries.

OEMS is in a transition period, working to ensure that Virginia’s EMS providers have the tools and resources to provide the best EMS care in the nation.

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

For more information and to apply online, visit: https://www.jobs.virginia.gov/jobs/director-of-emergency-medical-services-03938-richmond-virginia-united-states.

Fall 2024 RSAF Grant Cycle Open Now Through Sept. 16

Posted on by marianhunter

The application period for the Fall 2024 Rescue Squads Assistance Fund (RSAF) competitive matching grant cycle is open August 1 – September 16, 2024, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).

New this cycle – EMS Medication Management Systems will be included in RSAF priority funding considerations. More information about this special priority funding is available at: Rescue Squad Assistance Fund (RSAF) General Fund Special Priorities for Funding.

OEMS will accept applications from nonprofit licensed EMS agencies and other Virginia EMS organizations pursuant to § 32.1-111.12 via the EMS Grant Information Funding Tool (E-GIFT).

For more RSAF information:

 

City Councils Proclaim Stroke Smart Waynesboro and Stroke Smart Staunton

Posted on by marianhunter

July 16, 2024

City Councils Proclaim Stroke Smart Waynesboro and Stroke Smart Staunton
 Waynesboro and Staunton join the Stroke Smart Virginia initiative, partnering with public health officials for life-saving stroke education efforts

(Staunton, Va.) – The City of Waynesboro and the City of Staunton in partnership with the Central Shenandoah EMS Council and the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS), recently committed to supporting stroke education through the Stroke Smart Virginia initiative.

Stroke Smart Virginia is a public health initiative to reduce pre-hospital delays and increase timely stroke treatment through simple education and actions. This life-saving initiative also was joined in partnership with the Central Shenandoah Health District, Augusta Health, Waynesboro First Aid Crew and Waynesboro Emergency Management’s fire and EMS personnel and Staunton Augusta County First Aid & Rescue Squad, Inc.

Local government officials and city dignitaries from the Waynesboro and Staunton City Councils presented Stroke Smart proclamations to the Central Shenandoah EMS Council and Regional Office of EMS during two separate city council meetings held on June 24 and June 27. Members of the Waynesboro City Council shared their personal stories of the impact of stroke and pledged their support to improving the lives of the people of Waynesboro. The City of Staunton local government shared their passion to promote public education about stroke recognition and emergency care. Both localities join this initiative and commitment to partner with public health professionals for a “Stroke Smart” city.

“This special initiative connects public health advocates who are committed to a collaborative effort to educate people on the signs and symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling 911,” said Director Daniel Linkins, Central Shenandoah EMS Council. “Patients experiencing common stroke symptoms, including facial droop, arm weakness, slurred speech or confusion, need the right care quickly. EMS providers are trained to recognize the signs of stroke and perform additional tests to determine the best facility to treat specific types of stroke.”

“Stroke awareness, to include prevention, recognition and access to early treatment is not just a healthcare responsibility, it is the responsibility of the entire community,” said Gary Critzer, State Board of Health Chair, Central Shenandoah EMS Council President and City of Waynesboro Director of Emergency Management and EMS. “The Central Shenandoah EMS Council, in cooperation with VDH, local governments, first responder agencies, 911 centers and area hospitals, is working to improve stroke awareness in our communities. Increasing awareness improves early recognition of stroke symptoms and access to appropriate care. Early access to care at a stroke ready hospital is critical to reducing disability and death.”

Waynesboro and Staunton are the second and third cities in Western Virginia to join the Stroke Smart Initiative, and the first and second cities in the Central Shenandoah EMS Region and Health District to demonstrate a commitment to lead efforts that support the VDH’s vision to become the healthiest state in the nation and mission to protect the health and promote the well-being of all people in Virginia.

For more information about the Stroke Smart initiative in Virginia, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/stroke/stroke-smart-virginia/. For more information about the Central Shenandoah EMS Council, Inc., visit www.csems.org/.

Changes to Virginia’s Recertification Requirements

Posted on by camelacrittenden

Welcome! As of October 1, 2023, Virginia officially implemented the new National Continued Competency Program (NCCP) model from the National Registry of EMTs across all certification levels. While following the overall National Registry NCCP framework, Virginia’s adopted plan is customized for the needs of the Commonwealth.  Here’s a 30-second snapshot of what you need to know about this transition.

Hours Requirements

The image below shows the 2016-2025 Virginia Recertification Requirements by level.  Please note your CE requirements are tied to the date of your last Virginia recertification cycle–the date to keep in mind is October 1, 2023.  Please see the chart below–clicking on the image will begin a download of the PDF version of the form.

If you recertified in Virginia before October 1, 2023:

If you recertified in Virginia on or after October 1, 2023:

  • No earned CE will be lost or removed from your report in the transition.
  • The CE earned and currently on your Virginia CE Report–from October 1, 2023 forward–will be retroactively transitioned to the new 2025 Virginia Recertification Requirements. 
  • The retroactive reprocessing of your CE to the new 2025 requirements may possibly change the number of hours you have in a specific area based on the new requirements.
    • Please review your Virginia CE Report to identify any areas that may be affected and require additional CE to be earned in order to be eligible for recertification in Virginia and with the National Registry, if you are Registry certified.
  • If you are eligible for recertification in Virginia on June 17th, your eligibility will not be lost even if your CE report reflects additional hours are needed in any area. You will not be required to complete these additional CE based on this change in CE requirements to satisfy your Virginia recertification.

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to us by clicking here and using this form.

BLS & ALS Recertification Requirements

Governor’s EMS Awards presented during EMS Week

Posted on by marianhunter

Read the latest update from the Virginia Office of EMS regarding the presentation of the 2023 Governor’s EMS Awards during EMS Week at the Governor’s Mansion.

On Monday, May 20, Governor Glenn Youngkin recognized the Governor’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Award recipients from 2023 during a special EMS Week ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion. The Governor’s EMS Awards honor the outstanding contributions of individuals, agencies, community organizations and businesses that provide or help support emergency medical care in Virginia. These awards are the highest honor an EMS provider or organization can receive at the state level, and they are administered by the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) Office of Emergency Medical Services.