COVID-19 Resources for EMS
Georgia OEMS COVID-19 Guidance for First Responders (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement)
COVID-19 Resources for EMS
DPH and the Office of EMS and Trauma will make every effort to keep this site up-to-date. Previously circulated guidance documents from OEMS related to COVID-19 have been replaced by this website.
DPH is working with all of our federal, state and local partners in preparation for and response to this emerging public health threat. As part of that response, DPH is recommending that EMS agencies and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) follow the current guidance from the CDC. 911 centers may also choose to use the latest Emerging Infectious Disease Surveillance Tool published by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
Georgia COVID-19 Suppliers
Many Georgia companies have joined the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by providing critical health care supplies to those on the front lines of this fight: health care workers, first responders and law enforcement, food service industry employees, logistics workers, and reopening small businesses. Please click HERE to see the list of Georgia suppliers of PPE.
A few CDC updates that you and your partners may find useful (7/15/2020):
- First, there is now a “one stop shot for COVID-19 toolkits”
- CDC’s press release on wearing masks
- Guidance for Healthcare Workers about COVID-19 testing
- Key Considerations for Transferring Patients to Relief Healthcare Facilities when Responding to Community Transmission of COVID-19
- Guidance for U.S. Healthcare Facilities about COVID-19 (various guidances reorganized)
The Georgia Office of EMS and Trauma will be hosting bi-weekly update calls regarding COVID-19 guidance for EMS and the impact on the EMS Educational and Licensing pipeline. Call-in information will be sent to EMS Agency Directors, EMS Agency Medical Directors and EMS Initial Education Programs. Please contact your Regional EMS Director to be added to their contact list to receive the call-in information. Previous Calls: On Saturday, April 18, 2020, the Alternate Care Facility (ACF), located at the Georgia World Congress Center, will be fully operational as a 200 bed hospital to provide care for low-acuity, stable COVID-19 patients. This facility is a collaborative effort between the Governor’s Office, the Georgia National Guard, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Department of Community Health, and the Department of Public Health. The ACF will leverage existing support through Grady Memorial Hospital. The facility is located at the Georgia World Congress Center, Building A- Exhibit Hall A-3. This is a tool for anyone going to the Alternative Care Facility for intake or discharge. For patient drop off, transfers, or 911 requests; EMS crew will utilize Door A3B. For patients who are being sent home, the discharge door will be utilized. This door number is known as A3D. Please follow the instruction of all facility representatives closely, be patient and remember your PPE. Healthcare workers, first responders, law enforcement and long-term care facility residents and staff will be prioritized for testing regardless of whether they are or are not symptomatic. To learn more, please review the following documents. It is essential that EMS and other first responders are informed of any potential exposure to patients who test positive for COVID-19. The health and safety of our first responders is extremely important and notifying them in a timely manner of any exposure to COVID-19 allows them to keep themselves, their families, and the general public safe, and helps us to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
We feel that using this two-pronged approach will allow DPH and GEMA/HS to notify first responders in a timely manner, and help us to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Steps: Step 1: Enroll: Step 2: List of Facilities: Step 3: Save your masks: Step 4: Shipment: Step 5: Cleaning and Return: For additional information, Battelle has a “Frequently Asked Questions” page that is updated regularly: https://www.battelle.org/inb/battelle-ccds-for-covid19-satellite-locations/ Step 1: Use the ReadyOp link (get from your Regional EMS Director) to submit your request for PPE - submit your ReadyOp Form by 12:00 PM on the following days: Step 2: Requests will be reviewed, allocated, and assigned: Step 3: Filled Resources will be sent to the 5 zones on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays. Step 4: For any resource request follow-up questions please call: (404-852-0250) Please Note: Licensed EMS Personnel have a responsibility to keep patients safe and are expected to exercise due diligence in following CDC and DPH guidance as well as Local Medical Director protocols to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. DPH Rule 511-9-2-.18 (22) Standards of Conduct for Licensees requires that: Any unprotected exposure (e.g., not wearing recommended PPE) should be reported to your occupational health services, a supervisor, or a designated infection control officer for evaluation.Public Safety personnel (EMS, fire, law enforcement) who have been exposed to a patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should notify their chain of command to ensure appropriate follow-up. Public Safety Agencies should review or establish processes to: Questions? Reach out to your Regional EMS Director. The CDC has created guidance for the Implementation of Mitigation Strategies for Communities with Local COVID-19 Transmission, and that can be accessed here, and the latest guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Healthcare Settings can be found here. The CDC has also created Guidance for Risk Assessment and Public Health Management of Healthcare Personnel with Potential Exposure in a Healthcare Setting to Patients with Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), available here. Links: EMS Initial Education Programs should be in the process of planning and making decisions on how best to respond to the impact of COVID-19. Since the spread of COVID-19 is continuing, please know that the Georgia Office of EMS and for Paramedic programs, CoAEMSP, supports you as you work through this public health crisis. We will work with our programs to help them navigate issues that impact their students. All initial education programs (not just Paramedic programs) should consult the CoAEMSP website homepage for the latest COVID-19 guidance related to the completion of initial education programs, as well as the Regional Training Coordinator for your area. For the latest guidance on what modifications to EMS initial education programs are permitted during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, click
Given the current situation that faces Georgia and our country, it is vital that EMS initial education programs continue and prepare the students to enter the workforce as entry-level providers. Please contact your Regional Training Coordinator if you need assistance. We are also aware of challenges related to testing sites for the National Registry Cognitive exams. For the latest information from the National Registry related to COVID-19, please visit their website here. Teaching online? You should complete the Distance Education Effectiveness Assessment available HERE. Links: Pearson VUE has added an “Anonymous Seat Search” to the Pearson Vue National Registry Page (https://home.pearsonvue.com/nremt). This will allow anyone to search for availability at testing centers without an Authorization To Test (ATT). From the Pearson Vue National Registry Page: Clinical Crisis Standards of Care Planning and Mitigation Guidance (other) Funding Research Behavioral Health MISC PPE Infection Control Fraudulent PPE WarningsCOVID-19 Resources for EMS Accordion
Office of EMS and Trauma COVID-19 Update Calls (includes notes for 01/08/2021)
03-20-2020 - Notes
03-27-2020 - Notes
04-03-2020 - Notes
04-10-2020 - Notes
04-17-2020 - PPT
04-24-2020 - PPT
05-01-2020 - PPT
05-08-2020 - PPT
05-15-2020 - PPT
05-22-2020 - PPT
06-05-2020 - PPT
06-19-2020 - PPT
07-02-2020 - PPT
07-17-2020 - PPT
07-31-2020 - PPT
10-09-2020 - PPT
10-23-2020 - PPT
11-06-2020 - PPT
12-04-2020 - PPT
01-08-2021 - PPT
Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) Alternative Care Facility (ACF) Patient Overflow Area (Updated 4/18/2020)
Atlanta’s Alternative Care Facility (ACF) for COVID-19 - Map and Directions
GWCC - COVID-19 Patient Overflow Transfer Protocol for Hospitals (Updated 4/18/2020)
Priority COVID-19 Testing for First Responders (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement) (Updated 4/16/2020)
COVID-19 NOTIFICATIONS TO 911 PSAPs AND FIRST RESPONDER AGENCIES (Updated 4/14/2020)
This document
details our approach for notifying the public safety community of any potential exposure, and is two-pronged:
Notices from FBI Regarding Healthcare and Public Health Sector (Updated 4/22/2020)
Battelle Decontamination System (as of 4/13/2020)
here
this guidance
for how to label and store masks.
Requesting PPE Resources (Updated 3/28/2020)
Information for Licensed EMS Personnel (Updated 3/27/2020)
Information for Public Safety Agencies (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement) (Updated 4/22/2020)
Information for EMS Initial Education Programs (Updated 5/1/2020)
HERE
. This document includes the information shared on the WebEx on Wednesday, 4/15/2020.
Pearson VUE Testing Availability Search (Updated 4/23/2020)
Electronic Patient Care Report (ePCR) Documentation & ICD-10 Codes to Use (Updated 3/24/2020)
Stress Management and Mental Health during COVID-19 (Updated 4/14/2020)
Webinars and Other Training Related to COVID-19 (4/22/2020)
CDC and Other Links Relevant to EMS Agencies and Personnel (Updated 5/6/2020)
CDC and Other Links Relevant to Fire Agencies and Personnel (Updated 5/6/2020)
CDC and Other Links Relevant to Law Enforcement Agencies and Personnel (Updated 5/1/2020)
Resources for 911 Dispatch Centers (Updated 4/30/2020)
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Infection Control Links and Information (Update 5/6/2020)
EPA's Registered Antimicrobial Products for Use Against COVID-19
Legal Issues Related to COVID-19 (Updated 4/30/2020)
COVID-19 Resource Pages from other Agencies/Organizations (Updated 5/6/2020)
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