February 13th 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Jefferson Emergency Medical Services Cooperative (JEMSCO) is a newly formed cooperative under a collaborative effort between the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO) and Jefferson County and its Emergency Medical Services Unit (JCEMS). The JEMSCO has recently provided support to Advanced Life Support (ALS) Ambulances in Jefferson County. This was accomplished with the support of the FDRHPO with funds from a New York Department of State Empire State Development grant. Background: At the January 2013 meeting, the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC) defined that controlled substance medicines are a standard of emergency medical care and, a necessary part of prehospital patient care in New York State. The SEMAC passed a resolution requiring that ALL advanced life support (Paramedic and/or EMY-Critical Care) administer controlled substance (CS) medications per regional protocol. While it is recognized that this will be an added responsibility for many agencies, the ability to administer CS medication to patients is necessary and proper. After a through fiscal and system impact study was completed and reviewed, the State EMS Council (SEMSCO) supported the requirement at their October meeting. (NYS DOH Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Policy Statement No: 12-07 dated October 16, 2013.) The result of this new policy means that ALS ambulances will need to have certain narcotics on board to remain an ALS ambulance service. To acquire narcotics each agency will have to demonstrate that they have met stringent procedures to show that the narcotics are properly secured and accounted for. This is where the Empire State Corporation grant money comes in. The JEMSCO was able to use $15,300.00 to purchase 18 narcotic drug safes and the necessary tracking software to follow the NYS mandate that the narcotics be secure and accounted for at all times. The drug safes will be permanently mounted into 18 ambulances in Jefferson County. The tracking software was provided to 8 Ambulance Squads in Jefferson County.

With the JEMSCO making this a cooperative purchase we were able to secure better pricing by buying a large quantity of narcotic safes.

The following Jefferson County EMS agencies participated in this grant: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Black River Ambulance Squad Brownville ALS First Responders Cape Vincent Fire / EMS Carthage Area Rescue Squad Henderson Fire / EMS Indian River Ambulance South Jefferson Rescue Squad Town of Watertown Ambulance

Media outlets wishing more information about this initiative can contact: FDRHPO Joe Goss 315-755-2020 ext. 34

JCEMS Charles Brenon III, Director 315-786-3763