Service News
Village Ambulance Service Community Education and Training Programs Becomes Accredited
August 2008-We believe in educating our community on how to prevent emergencies and how to handle emergency situations. Village Ambulance Service Community Education and Training Programs is pleased to announce their recent accreditation by the State of 
Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Our training center is now be able to teach members of the community to become Emergency Medical Technician-Basics (EMT-B) or already certified EMT-Basics to become Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediates.
What is accreditation? Accreditation is both a status and a process. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that an institution or a program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, it consists of ongoing evaluation and frequent program improvement. Accreditation is a signature of training excellence achieved through strict compliance to the highest standards. [Massachusetts] OEMS mandates accreditation compliance for all initial Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training programs conducted in the Commonwealth.
As of June 30, 2005, only training institutions accredited by the Massachusetts Office of Emergency Medical Services will be authorized to conduct initial EMT-Basic, Intermediate, and Paramedic training in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Check out our Training page for program information!
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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 seven times with all patients vastly improving by ED arrival.
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Editorial Section
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.
