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U.VA. HONORS PROVIDERS DURING NATIONAL EMS WEEKBeginning Sunday, May 14, the University of Virginia Health System will mark National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, a celebration to honor the 750,000 EMS providers nationwide who deliver lifesaving emergency care. This year's theme, EMS: New Century, New Hope, recognizes EMS providers' impact in local communities in the last century and their continued efforts to ensure health and physical well-being.These jobs are different from most any other. There is tremendous pressure to react quickly and make flawless decisions, said Mary Ann Fields, Manager of Prehospital Care at U.Va. Health System. We want to show our local EMS providers how much we appreciate their contributions to the community. There are over 800 EMS providers in the Charlottesville area, and 75 percent of those are volunteers. Emergency medical services is a system of care for victims of sudden and serious illness or injury. This system depends on the availability and coordination of many different elements, including an informed public capable of recognizing medical emergencies, the 9-1-1 emergency number, search and rescue teams, prehospital personnel and trauma centers capable of providing highly specialized care. The U.Va. Division of Prehospital Care consists of five areas: the Pegasus helicopter; MedCom, the medical communications center located within the Emergency Department; the Advanced Life Support (ALS) transport service, Medic 5; and the Prehospital and Paramedic education programs. In addition to honoring EMS providers, EMS Week is an opportunity for the public to learn about injury prevention, safety awareness and emergency preparedness. U.Va. and other organizations will sponsor informational and educational activities throughout the week. One event is the grand opening of the U.Va. Emergency Department's new EMS room and MedCom center. The EMS room was designed to help EMS providers make a quicker turn around when bringing patients to U.Va. The room is equipped with computer and fax access, refreshments as well as all the appropriate forms and supplies. The new MedCom center has the latest dispatch control equipment. The system uses a simple point-and-click response, giving dispatchers instant on-screen access to all current information. The new EMS room is one way for us to say thank you to the EMS providers for their hard work and dedication to providing lifesaving care to our patients, Fields said. Following is a complete list of local activities during EMS week: Saturday, May 13 Sunday, May 14 Sunday, May 14 Tuesday, May 16 Wednesday, May 17 Wednesday, May 17 Thursday, May 18 Saturday, May 20 May 9, 2000 |