Mel Higgins

Good morning, Happy Friday! We all know the request for transport for “abnormal labs” call. But what if that “abnormal lab” is an elevated D-Dimer? Does that heighten your suspicion of increased risk of a higher acuity patient? Does it change how you assess or treat your patient? What conditions are you trying to rule […]

Time to inventory your sensory kits. Colten Matheny will be taking over restocking the sensory kits. Please email [email protected] with your unit numbers and sensory kit needs, please. Thank you. Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375

Happy Monday! We are implementing the IV Nitroglycerin (via PUMP ONLY) Pilot protocol in Washington County for patients exhibiting severe acute pulmonary edema/CHF . If your units do not currently carry an IV pump and your patient meets the indications, please call for your nearest EMS supervisor unit and continue your SL and transdermal routes

Good afternoon! We are going to discontinue our stock of morphine in the supervisor units. ALL Supervisors, during your next scheduled daily check, please remove your stock of Morphine and return all your vials to me or Dave Chisholm at Elliott parkway. D75, you can probably coordinate with 1814 for them to bring your vials

NOTICE: CHANGE IN CONCENTRATION OF TORADOL/KETOROLAC Current concentration: 15 mg/ 1 ml New concentration: 30 mg/ 1 ml I don’t know if this is a temporary change or semi-permanent solution to supply shortage. I will communicate if anything changes. **Please make sure you ALWAYS complete your 5 rights of medication administration. Every drug, every time.

Yesterday I attached the PDF version, which does not allow you to toggle between ALS/BLS tabs. This excel version does. Let me know if you have any other questions! 😊 Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375

You can switch between the ALS and the BLS preceptor lists at the bottom of the page on the sheet tabs labeled “ALS” and “BLS”. Next class will be held in February 2024. Applications are always accepted on a rolling basis. See WCQA.net for details. Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division

Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375 September-2023.docx

ALS clinicians, Attached is the newest IGEL jurisdictional policy revision to accommodate the state’s requirements to carry size 1 IGELS. The IGEL remains the primary ALS airway adjunct of choice for pediatric patients. A BLS airway is still preferred for patients weighing less than 5 kg. For this population of tiny humans, please focus on

Melanie Higgins, BS, NRP Captain – EMS Quality Assurance Division of Emergency Services 16232 Elliott Parkway Williamsport, MD 21795 (cell) 301-491-2454 (office) 240-313-4376 (fax) 240-313-4375 From: Chisholm, David E. Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2023 5:03 PM To: Doyle, Terry ; Eisenhower, Joshua ; Gismondi, Sara ; Hartsock, Shawn ; Hayter, Michael ; Hoffman, Gary ;