I want to...The agenda for the July 24, 2017 meeting of the Sonoma County Medical Advisory Committee is now available.
Coastal Valleys EMS Agency News
The agenda for the July 24, 2017 meeting of the Regional Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) is now available.
Greetings Mendocino and Sonoma County EMS System Providers,
Please find attached the final release 2017 version of the Coastal Valleys EMS Agency (CVEMSA) Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI) Plan.
Multi-Casualty Incident Management Plan, July 2017 
968.11 KB
The MCI Plan was revised through the diligent effort put forth by a group of system partners that was inclusive of Fire, Ambulance and Emergency Communications disciplines. The intent of the group was to make the plan useable and relevant; including current practices as well as looking forward to the incorporation of current technology.
The workgroup as well as CVEMSA understand that the plan as a document is meaningless without training and implementation. The EMS Agency is working now to develop train-the-trainer curriculum for delivery through our Region in a process following the model of previous Cardiac Arrest Management and Spinal Motion Restriction training.
We are asking our provider agency partners to review the final plan, and to work with us in the coming year as we identify training sites and roll out the plan. CVEMSA will post updates on our website and distribute information via our provider agency liaisons.
Any questions regarding plan content should be directed to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Revisions to the California Code of Regulations (CCR) Title 22 Div.9 Chapter 2 Emergency Medical Technician made by the California EMS Authority (EMSA) took effect on July 1, 2017. There are a number of changes to EMT scope of practice that will require new policy development and Treatment Guidelines revisions, including the addition of EMT-administered epinephrine, naloxone and EMT use of glucometers within the EMS system.
The revised regulations require all EMTs to provide proof of completion of expanded scope of practice training when renewing their certification on or after July 1, 2019. CVEMSA is looking forward to working with our EMS system partners as we develop the Treatment Guidelines and training to meet the expanded scope of practice requirements.
Although the training deadline is two years away, local EMS systems may develop and implement training and protocol revisions starting July 1, 2017. In preparation for the new scope of practice additions, EMSA has released an updated Skills Verification Form to accommodate competency verification of naloxone and epinephrine. Because the new form is incorporated by reference into the regulations, CVEMSA is changing the link on our website to the new form, although we will continue to accept Skills Verifications documented prior to September 1, 2017 on the previous version of the form. Skills verification signers should begin using the new Skills Verification form now, leaving the naloxone/epinephrine verification section blank until such time as the training is completed and approved for delivery.
One other immediate change that will only impact EMTs with expired certificates; EMS continuing education (CE) must be completed within 24 months of the date of the receipt of reinstatement application. Those EMTs allowing their certificate to lapse for extended periods may need to complete additional CE to fit the required hours into the required timeframe. The CVEMSA EMT application has been updated to include this information.
There are other changes within the EMT regulations; EMS system stakeholders are encouraged to review and connect with CVEMSA Agency staff with any questions or concerns. EMT Regulations changes will be on CVEMSA Counties' EMCC and regional MAC agendas for discussion in the months going forward, and we will be relying on our partners' input to help inform our implementation plans.
The following (and attached) revised or new Coastal Valleys EMS Agency Administrative Policies have been released with effective date of August 1, 2017:
2009 Special Event Paramedic Accreditation. This is a new policy establishing the credentialing process for short-term accreditation of paramedics to facilitate special event staffing.
4009 Procedures for CVEMSA Paramedics Outside of the Region. Incorporation of Fireline Paramedic into a broader policy that addresses other situations in which CVEMSA paramedics may practice outside the geographic boundaries of the Coastal Valleys EMS Area.
4011 Public Safety Defibrillation. Policy revision to align CVEMSA policy with California Code of Regulations requirements for the authorization of Public Safety Defibrillation programs.
4012 APOT Times. New policy created to comply with California Health and Safety Code revision addressing the collection and reporting of Ambulance Patient Offload Time (APOT) data and sentinel events.
Please distribute these documents within your organization as well as to any stakeholder groups for which you are the EMS liaison.
Posted June 8, 2017
The review and comment period for development and adoption of the following administrative guidelines has been initiated. Please review carefully and submit comments. This public comment period will close August 8, 2017.
Coastal Valleys EMS Agency is in the process of creating a new tier to our current Paramedic Accreditation to include Flight Paramedic Accreditation.
A revised process for flight paramedic accreditation has been developed to recognize the unique needs air ambulance providers and personnel have when working in a multijurisdictional capacity.
The policy removes a number of ground accreditation requirements from the flight paramedic accreditation process. CVEMSA will be moving this entire process into the ImageTrend licensure module in the future.
CVEMSA accredited paramedics currently working as flight personnel will be grandfathered to flight paramedic accreditation status at no charge. New flight paramedics who wish to work both for air and ground transport (or air rescue) will need to apply for and complete both accreditation processes to receive Paramedic and Flight Paramedic Accreditation.
Please forward comments via fax or email to:
Thomas Hinrichs ALS Coordinator-Policy Development
Coastal Valleys EMS Agency
195 Concourse Blvd., Suite B
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707-565-6510 FAX
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.