Service News

Village Ambulance Service goes online with Zoll RescueNet electronic data collection...
On Monday, June 16, 2008 Village Ambulance Service announced the beginning of a new state-of-the-art integrated pre-hospital and hospital data collection system. The new system allows field EMTs and paramedics to enter notes electronically, eliminating the time-consuming pen and paper entry model.
The new system allows a continuous process from start to finish, with the research benefits of comparing medicines and techniques with their related outcomes.
The new collection system consists of wireless infrastructure and a set of 3 toughbook laptop computers. These CF-18 Panasonic laptops, with rotating screens, allow EMS personnel to enter data electronically either through a keyboard or a pen-shaped stylus directly onto the screen through Windows XP tablet software.
RescueNet TabletPCR, the program Village Ambulance Service selected, is designed to capture and access all pre-hospital patient, clinical QA and system information on Tablet PC and touchscreen-based Windows 2000 or Windows XP computers.
Features include:
- Automated data input and improved access to information.
- Dynamically configurable screens to capture patient call data.
- Easy-to-use, touchscreen-friendly user interface.
- Advanced reporting of all data captured in the field.
- Works equally well using pen-based, finger-touch based, laptop or desktop computers.
- Open architecture interface to allow integration with other billing and CAD systems.
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Northern Berkshire County now using CPAP...
Village Ambulance Service, in conjunction with North Adams Ambulance Service and Adams Ambulance Service, recently received the Commonwealth's approval needed to start utilizing Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in the Northern Berkshire area. It will be the first CPAP pilot program conducted in Berkshire County and all three ambulance services involved are currently on-line.
Due to its Gold Standard status and overall portability, Village Ambulance Service selected the Respironics Whisperflow device.

Since going on-line, Village Ambulance Service has utilized the device twice with both patients vastly improving by ED arrival.
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Read
EMS: Courage And Compassion In Action
Formerly Published on iberkshires.com

"EMS: Courage and Compassion In Action" is a weekly column written by Village Ambulance Services Operations Manager and paramedic Shawn Godfrey. Godfrey's columns will appear on every Monday and will focus on the reality of the emergency services medical profession.
Click Here for latest column
Click Here for column archive
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EMS for Kids

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National News
We regret to advise you that a female Sussex County (DE) Paramedic was killed in the Line of Duty as was a patient killed in a horrific crash involving an ambulance in Sussex County (DE) this morning .
The single vehicle crash happened around 0240 Hours on the John J. Williams Highway near the Lewes-Rehoboth joint fire company substation in Angola.
The Mid-Sussex Rescue Squad ambulance was transporting to Beebe Medical Center with a patient, 2 MSRS Squad members and the Sussex County Paramedic were on board when it struck a tree, which opened the side of the ambulance as seen on our home page. Tragically, the patient was killed as was the Sussex County EMS Paramedic, who was killed in the Line of Duty. The 2 squad members were injured but are reported to be OK.Sussex County EMS also suffered a close call last year when a Paramedic John Schmitt was seriously injured in a crash when a civilian struck the Milford Fire Company ambulance he was riding in, while returning from a run.
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ANGRY & CLUELESS CITIZEN STRIKES FF WITH CAR: A LaGrange (NY) Firefighter was hurt yesterday, when a motorist hit him with his car as Firefighters were blocking the roadway while operating at a crash. While operating, FF's alerted an on-scene deputy of a problem with a motorist. The 41-year-old man living in the area had argued with firefighters who were trying to close a road to traffic. He was angry at being inconvenienced by the road closure, and sped past Firefighters, striking one Firefighter’s arm with the side of his car, causing minor injury. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor obstructing governmental administration, misdemeanor assault and failure to comply with lawful order which is a violation.