Carlos Coyle, NREMT-P

Carlos is currently the Assistant Director for Madison County Emergency Medical Services in Richmond Kentucky. He has been involved in EMS for over 24 years and a paramedic for over twenty years. In addition, he was a Flight Paramedic for 15 years with the University of Kentucky Air Medical Service. Carlos is an ACLS, PALS, BTLS, PHTLS, and AMLS instructor. Carlos has been involved in many facets of EMS during his career including, education, aeromedical, publishing and administration. Carlos has an avid interest in EMS management, finance/reimbursement, advanced airway management, and Prehospital Quality Assurance.

 

Carlos is a Deputy Coroner for Madison County Kentucky. He holds various certifications related to death investigation and crime scene preservation. In addition, Carlos holds an Associate of Science Degree from Eastern Kentucky University in Emergency Medical Care.

 

Carlos and his wife Jan, a Pediatric Nurse, reside in Richmond Kentucky. His hobbies are hunting, fishing, boating and any outdoor activity.

 

Airway: “Without One You Have Nothing”

 

The ability to achieve and maintain a patent airway is essential in sustaining cerebral function and life. In the majority of cases, simple or advanced maneuvers are all that is required to meet the above objective. However, in rare cases, conventional bag mask ventilation or direct laryngoscopy fail. In these instances, a rapid method of controlling the airway is needed.

 

Tracheal intubation remains the “Gold” standard of airway maintenance and control in the hands of skilled clinicians. However, several devices such as the LMA, Combitube, and King Airway require less skill and seem to provide adequate ventilation and airway protection. Through the use of slides and hands on practice, this presentation will address airway management and recommend current devices for use when traditional laryngoscopy fails.

John Isfort, NREMT-P

John Isfort is currently the Vice President for Network Development and Physician Services at Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital in Irvine Kentucky and Director for the Kentucky River Health Network (KRHN). Marcum & Wallace Memorial Hospital is a rural Critical Access Hospital that provides emergency services; acute care services, specialty clinics and outpatient services. The primary mission of the Kentucky River Health Network is to provide health-screening and transportation services to the uninsured and underinsured in a five county region of Eastern Kentucky.

 

John has been actively involved in rural health issues at the local, state and federal level. John is a recent graduate of the “Rural Voices” program sponsored by the United States Health and Human Services, Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Rural Health Policy. John regularly serves as a grant reviewer for HRSA.

 

John has been involved in EMS for over 25 years and is currently an ACLS, PALS, and BTLS instructor. He has been a flight paramedic, dispatcher and administrator for the University of Kentucky Air Medical Service and a Paramedic/Shift Supervisor for Madison County EMS. John currently serves as the Chairman of the Estill County Ambulance Taxing District in Irvine Kentucky. He was the 1996 recipient of the Association of Air Medical Services Jim Charleson Award for Aviation Safety and the 1999 “Wings” award recipient from the Kentucky Chapter of the Association of Air Medical Services.

 

John’s interest includes rural health issues related to disease prevention, early detection and transportation. His EMS interest includes customer service, Prehospital Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement, advanced airway management, air medical service and grant funding for EMS. He holds both Associate and Bachelor degrees from Eastern Kentucky University and is currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration (MPA).

 

John resides in Irvine, Kentucky with his wife Donna, a Family Nurse Practitioner, and their four children Taylor, Kaylee, Lindsey and Will.

 

Medical Team Resource Management

 

We all have at least one call that we wish we could do over. The Institutes of Medicine (IOM) reports that as many as 98,000 people die each year from medical mistakes. EMS is not immune from mistakes that can cause death and disability to patients. The prehospital medical team is usually comprised of some combination of EMT’s and Paramedics. It is important for each caregiver to work as a team. A thorough assessment, good information in-put, and communications help ensure that each team delivers the best care possible.

 

Since the early 1970’s the aviation industry has been using the concept of “Cockpit Resource Management” or “Crew Resource Management”. The objective of the aviation course was to reduce human error in the cockpit that often leads to incidents and accidents. This course is designed to negate the effects of a single person in charge mentality and allow input from all crew members into the decisions. Over the last decade this course has moved into the medical field and is being used to reduce medical errors and untoward patient outcomes especially in the operating room. The speakers will parlay this course into the prehospital field using audio and video examples of good and poor resource management.

Eddie Crews, NREMT-P

Eddie Crews is currently a Lieutenant Firefighter/Paramedic with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Division of Fire & EMS in Lexington Kentucky. Eddie has been a paramedic for over 15 years and was previous employed with Madison County EMS and Winchester Fire & EMS. In addition, Eddie was a Flight Paramedic for St Joseph Hospital Care Flight and the University of Kentucky Air Medical Service. Eddie currently holds Associate Degrees in Emergency Medical Care and Fire Science.

 

“How to Keep From Drowning” Water Rescue Awareness for EMS

 

Kentucky is rich with many lakes, rivers and streams. The spring and winter often brings flash flooding that can become deadly. In rural Kentucky, EMS is often the first on the scene for water emergencies. It can be tempting to affect a rescue without the proper equipment and knowledge, which can lead to disaster for the victim and rescuer. This class will focus on the dos and don’t's associated with water rescue. This is not a swift water rescue class but rather a class to help the EMT or Paramedic make informed, safe decisions and to keep from becoming a victim. Note: Bring your swimsuit, as part of the course will be conducted in the pool.

Bryant Shumate, RN, EMT-P

Bryant Shumate is currently the Program Director for LifeNet Air Medical Services in Frankfort Kentucky. Prior to that he was the Patient Care Manager for the Emergency Department at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington. Bryant had previously served with LifeNet as a Flight Nurse and Medical Base Supervisor. Bryant has been directly involved in education throughout his career and is currently an instructor/provider in BCLS, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, and ITLS. He is also a Level III EMS Instructor through KBEMS.

 

A Carter County native, Bryant began his career as an EMT in 1989 and graduated in 1993 from the UK EMS Training Program and became licensed as a Paramedic. He is a 1995 graduate of Morehead State University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and a 2004 graduate of Sullivan University where he received a Master’s of Business Administration Degree. He also holds the credential of Certified Medical Transport Executive. He currently serves on the Montgomery County Emergency Services Board and the KBEMS Air Medical Task Force..

Steve Barnes, MD

Stephen Barnes is currently the Assistant Professor of General Surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Surgery and a Clinical Instructor in the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine at Brooks Air Force Base in Texas. Prior to that he was an Attending Surgeon, General Surgery for the Department of Surgery at the Veterans Administration Medical Center and a Clinical Instructor in General Surgery at the University of Kentucky Department of Surgery. He is the Director of the Advanced Clinical Simulation Laboratory at the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) and the Program Director for the USAF CSTARS CCATT Advanced Training Platform at the University of Cincinnati.

 

He most recently served in Iraq as the Chief of Critical Care Services at the 332nd Air Force Theater Hospital. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Auburn University College of Engineering, a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) He completed his Residency and Internship at the University of Kentucky Division of Trauma/ Surgical Critical Care. He holds many awards and decorations for his military service. He has published many articles and completed several research projects related to Trauma Care and in his spare time he enjoys fishing and Digital Photography.

 

Combat Medicine “From Baghdad to Beattyville”

 

The battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan are yielding volumes of practical experience in treating trauma patients. Military surgeons are performing new procedures that are decreasing mortality, which will make the survival rate in these conflicts greater than any other wars. Dr. Barnes has spent the last year treating wounded soldiers and civilians in Iraq. He will share the many innovations that are changing trauma care now and for the future. Everything we thought we knew about trauma is probably going to be proven wrong.

Andrew Bernard , MD

Dr. Bernard is currently an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Trauma Section of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Kentucky Hospital Level I Trauma Center. Dr. Bernard completed his undergraduate work at UK as well as medical school and residency. He has completed Fellowships in pathology and research. Dr. Bernard’s clinical interest includes shock, transfusions, and ATV injuries. His research interest included sepsis, injury, immunity and transfusions.

 

Dr. Bernard is currently the Principal Investigator for the Prehospital Phase III Clinical Trial using PolyHeme, a blood substitute. Several Central Kentucky EMS and Air Medical Services are participating in the study.

 

Dr Bernard has worked previously as an EMT with Anderson County EMS and the University of Kentucky Air Medical Service and has a passion for teaching EMT's, Paramedics, Nurses and medical residents.

 

He has an active elective general surgery practice in addition to trauma and critical care. Originally from Frankfort Kentucky, Dr. Bernard currently resides in Nicholasville, Kentucky with his wife and two children.

Jeff Coughenour, MD

Dr. Coughenour is about to complete a fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at the University of Kentucky.  He will then join the faculty at UK as a Clinical Instructor on the Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery service.  Besides gaining additional operative and critical care experience, he hopes to foster a better working relationship between UK's Trauma Center and the rural EMS/hospitals that serve Eastern and Central Kentucky.

 

Jeff is originally from rural mid-Missouri, where he worked as an EMT for the local ambulance service.  He completed undergrad and medical school while working part-time for MAST, the 911-EMS provider for metro Kansas City.  He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Interests include mechanical ventilation, fluid resuscitation in trauma, the right jig for large-mouth bass, and the smell of Jet-A.

 

"Triage in Rural Trauma:  Right patient, right place, right time…Yeah right!"

 

Without a trauma system, patients across the Commonwealth often face unnecessary delays in reaching definitive treatment.  These delays can be insignificant, but they can also lead to death.  We will discuss the optimal triage of trauma patients from the scene or from local hospitals to appropriate care, and bust myths about EMTALA and other dogma that surrounds trauma in Kentucky.

Jimmy Cornelison, EMT-P

Jimmy is currently the Director of Madison County Emergency Medical Services in Richmond Kentucky. Jimmy has over 30 years experience in EMS as a paramedic, Assistant Director and Director. Jimmy served in Vietnam in 1971 with the First Air Calvary Division and received the Bronze Star. Jimmy has been a Tactical Paramedic with the Kentucky State Police Emergency Response Team since 1985 and received the highest KSP civilian award for heroism in 2002. Jimmy graduated from the FBI Tactical Medic Course (ConToms) in 1990. Jimmy was the Kentucky “Paramedic of the Year” in 1990 and the National Paramedic of the Year runner-up.

 

Jimmy is currently the Coroner of Madison County Kentucky. He was elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003. He holds numerous certifications related to death investigation, crime scene preservation, tissue/organ harvesting, weapons identification and family bereavement relations.

 

Jimmy has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medical Care at Eastern Kentucky University since 1980 where he is the Lead Instructor for the Emergency Medical Technician Basic Course. His areas of interest include tactical EMS, forensics, and EMS Leadership.

 

Jimmy was the first graduate of Eastern Kentucky University’s Paramedic Program (1979). Jimmy holds a Bachelors of Education degree as well as an Associate of Science degree in Emergency Medical Care.

 

Jimmy currently resides in Richmond, Kentucky with his wife Jill, Chief Nursing Officer at Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center, and daughters Sara and Jenna.

 

“Standoff” Tactical EMS

 

It seems like almost everyday we hear about a shooting or standoff somewhere in the USA. The recent tragedies in Utah, Virginia Tech and Kansas City highlight the difficulties of providing emergency medical care in an unsafe and challenging environment. Jimmy will present the many difficulties associated with tactical EMS and share personal stories of over a twenty-year career as a tactical paramedic for the Kentucky State Police.

Jon Wise

Jonathan Wise is chief at the Hargett Fire Department in Estill County and has been involved in the fire service for 11 years.  He is employed as a firefighter/paramedic by Lexington Fire Department and as a paramedic by Estill County EMS.

Derrick Muncie

Derrick Muncie, a native of Estill County has been involved in the fire service since 1997 and is currently the Chief of the Estill County Fire Department and a reservist in the United States Air Force. He served 4 years on active duty as an Aircraft Pneudraulics Specialist working on C-130 Hercules Aircraft. He served two tours in Saudi Arabia and traveled extensively in Iceland, Italy, England, Hawaii, and Germany. He is a graduate of the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy at the San Angelo Air Force Base in San Angelo Texas. He is a Fire Protection Specialist, Haz-Mat Technician, and an IFSAC Certified Fire Instructor. He also serves as a Board Member of the Bluegrass Emergency Response Team.

Mike Phillips

Mike Phillips has been involved in the EMS field since 1987 and has been the Bullitt County EMS Director since 1991. In February of this year he was also appointed the Emergency Management Director for Bullitt County. Mike has been a Paramedic for many years and is very involved in EMS at the local, regional and state levels. He has served on several KBEMS’ Committee’s and was very involved in writing the current ground ambulance regulations. Mike is certainly no stranger to disaster having worked a total of 2 train derailments, 2 floods, a, tornado, and a snow storm throughout his career

 

“I Hear That Train A Coming” Railway Disasters

 

Many small towns throughout Kentucky have a rail-line that runs through town or nearby. The majority of the time trains are fun to watch and occasionally they are nothing more than an inconvenience when you’re in a hurry. However, on occasions, trains can cause destruction and even death. Learn how two small Kentucky towns dealt with recent railway crashes in their community.

Jeff Violette, DO, FACEP

Dr. Violette works for Marshall Emergency Services Associates (MESA) in Lexington and sits on the executive committee.  MESA is an emergency physician group that staffs eleven emergency departments in central and eastern Kentucky.  He currently serves as medical director for Jackson County EMS and the Marymount Medical Center emergency department.

 

Dr. Violette received his undergraduate degree from Transylvania University.  He attended medical school in his home State of Maine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine.  His residency training was in emergency medicine at the University of Massachusetts, after which he completed an EMS fellowship at the University of Cincinnati..

 

He worked in EMS for 10 years before and during medical school.  Through residency and fellowship he worked as a flight physician with UMass Memorial Life Flight and University of Cincinnati Air Care, respectively.  While in Cincinnati he served as an assistant medical director for the Cincinnati Fire Department, and as medical director for Blue Ash Fire Department.

 

Dr. Violette is board certified in emergency medicine and a fellow in the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).  He is also a member of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP).  He is on the board of directors of the Kentucky chapter of ACEP where is serves as the Safety/Transportation Committee Chair and an alternate counselor to national ACEP.

 

Dr. Violette resides in Madison County with his wife and 4-year-old son.  He is looking forward to the warm weather and boating with his family.

 

Jim Harrison

For anyone who has ever spent some time talking with or listening to one of Jim Harrison's programs, you would know that he has many unique and almost unbelievable stories to tell.  Jim has been titled an international adventurer, man with no fingers (he is missing some parts of his fingers due to both man and snake), snake man, and many more.  His lifestyle is one that not many people could handle, or may not even want to attempt, because his life is put on the line each time he takes out a venomous snake for extraction.  But Jim has chosen this life for a very honorable reason: to help people.  If the venom he provides will one day save someone's life, or cure a disease, or even elongate a person's time on earth, Jim says what he does is worth it.  He just so happens to love working with these animals as well.

 

Jim was born in Wilmington, Ohio and moved around a lot as a child.  Jim caught his first snake at age six.  At twelve years old Jim caught his first rattlesnake, and by 17 was starting to extract venom from king cobras. That same year Jim took a summer job at an alligator farm in Florida where he began to wrestle alligators.  Mr. Harrison has been extracting venom from snakes for 25 years now.  A career path such as this does not come without sacrifices, though:  Jim has been envenomated 14 times, and has actually died three times, twice from envenomations and once from being run over with a stolen car.  Mr. Harrison has probably handled many 100's of thousands of snakes throughout his life, so 14 mistakes is not a bad track record.

 

Despite not having a degree, Jim Harrison is acclaimed as an expert in his field and has many accomplishments to note.  In 1995, Mr. Harrison was the only non-doctor invited to the 1st International Congress on Envenomations and Stings in Paris, France.  He attended this function as well as gave a poster presentation.  Jim attended and presented a paper at the International Herpetological Symposium in Cincinnati, Ohio in June of 1998.  Jim has testified as an expert witness in several court cases involving identification of various snakes and treatments of their envenomations.  Mr. Harrison has also contributed to the herpetological field through publication.

 

As the director of the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, Jim Harrison keeps a very busy schedule.  A typical day includes a few hours of cleaning exhibits or feeding out rodents, and extracting venom from 20-50 snakes a day.  Jim also finds time to fit in some weight-lifting or running to keep up with his workout regime.  Jim and the KRZ staff also spend a lot of time traveling to different programs and meetings in and around the state of Kentucky.

 

If you ever have an opportunity to meet or speak with Mr. Harrison, I would encourage you to take advantage of his willingness to share his vast reptilian knowledge and spend a few minutes talking with an expert in the field of herpetology.

David Moliterno, MD

David J. Moliterno, M.D. is an interventional cardiologist, Jefferson M. Gill Professor of Cardiology, Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vice-Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine, and Medical Director of the Gill Heart Institute at the University of Kentucky.

 

Dr. Moliterno received a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Michigan, his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and his Internal Medicine training from Vanderbilt University Hospitals. He completed a fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at The University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center. An additional interventional cardiology and research fellowship was completed at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he remained as an attending staff cardiologist for 10 years before joining the University of Kentucky in 2004.

 

Dr. Moliterno is a fellow of the American College of Physicians, the European Society of Cardiology, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, council member of the American Heart Association, and Governor-elect for the American College of Cardiology—Kentucky Chapter.  He was voted to be in the recent listing of Best Doctors in America and is a life member of the National Registry of Who’s Who. Dr. Moliterno has been an invited lecturer in more than 20 countries.

 

Dr. Moliterno is a frequent manuscript reviewer for numerous journals and is on the editorial board of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis, Current Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine, and The Journal of Interventional Cardiology. He is the author or coauthor of over 200 publications, including 30 book chapters, and 2 textbooks. He has been the primary author of publications in the New England Journal of Medicine, Circulation, Lancet, and JAMA.

 

Dr. Moliterno has been involved with many multinational investigational studies as principal investigator, international steering committee member, or angiographic core laboratory director, including EPILOG, EPISTENT, PARADIGM, PARAGON A and B, GUSTO-III, 1st and 2nd SYMPHONY, NICE-3, and NICE-4, TARGET, CATCH, APEX-AMI, and TENACITY.

 

Trends in Cardiology

 

Recent studies have been published showing angioplasty being superior to thrombolytics. In addition, there are some questions as to efficacy of angioplasty for stable chest pain. What should EMS do with a STEMI patient? Should we bypass the local hospital for those hospitals with interventional cardiology programs? Dr. Moliterno will discuss the current trends and how they will affect EMS.

Terry Nugent

Terry is currently a paramedic/ field supervisor for Medical Center Emergency Medical Services in Bowling Green, Ky. She started her career in 1980 as an EMT in Maine, employed by a small ambulance service that primarily served the logging communities in very isolated areas. After her children were born, she left EMS to raise them. In 1993, she returned to the field, and after completing her training as an EMT at WKU, began working for Medical Center EMS in Bowling Green, KY. In 1995, she graduated from paramedic class and in 2000; she began serving as a field supervisor. In 2006, she earned a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership from Mid-Continent University.

 

Terry is a member of a research team at Medical Center EMS. They are focusing on areas in EMS such as shift configuration, ALS/BLS split, recruitment and retention of employees, and the health and safety of EMS employees. In 2004, she co-authored a research project titled, Repair and Maintenance of Medical Center Emergency Medical Services Ambulances. In March of 2007, her research on Sleep Deprivation: Health and Safety Effects on Emergency Medical Night Shift was published in JEMS magazine.

 

Terry lives with her husband Jessie in Clarksville, TN. and has two grown children, Sarah and Craig.

 

About "Around the Clock"

 

The effect of night shifts on your health and safety. This lecture is based on a research project conducted by Terry Nugent, Field Supervisor/ Paramedic for Medical Center EMS in Bowling Green Kentucky. Terry takes a look at how the rigors and demands of working the night shift impact all of us in the EMS field. Her findings were published in the March 2007 issue of JEMS magazine. Terry will cover such topics as circadian rhythms, sleep deprivation, its impact on our health and safety, and offer some solutions.

Joe Hill, RN

Joe currently serves as a Medical Manager and Flight Nurse for the LifeNet Kentucky Program. Joe has previous experience as an Emergency Nurse for the University of Kentucky Hospital Emergency Department, Evening ER Supervisor for Clark Regional Medical Center, and Critical Care Transport Nurse for Central Baptist Hospital. Joe is a graduate of Morehead State University with an Associate Degree in Nursing. He is certified as a provider/instructor in ACLS, PALS, BTLS and TNCC.

 

Joe currently reside in Mt. Sterling with is wife Michelle and son Ethan.

Jason Buck, NREMT-P, FP-C

Jason Buck is currently a fulltime Flight Paramedic for PHI in Lexington and part time Paramedic for Georgetown Scott County EMS. Jason has been a Paramedic since 1995 and Flight Paramedic since 2003. He is also a Certified Flight Paramedic, Paramedic Educator, and speaks at numerous educational events. He is a member of the International Association of Flight Paramedics and most recently a reviewer of the publication Transport Certification Review Manual which is due for print in 2007. Jason currently resides in Georgetown Kentucky.

 

“Code Blue” “Code Blue” – Patient Simulation

 

Think you're sharp when it comes to working a cardiac arrest or difficult airway. Test your skills against “Phil”. Join the PHI Air Medical Crew for a simulated patient experience. We’ll guarantee you’ve never experienced simulation like this.

Dan Andrews, RN, EMT-P

A native of Michigan, Dan moved to Kentucky in 2006 to continue in the Air Medical field. As a RN, and EMT-P, Dan currently works as the Medical Base Supervisor for Kentucky LifeNet 2, based in Mt. Sterling. Since starting his emergency service career in 1979, Dan has worked in many areas. Emergency and Pre-hospital patient care and management have been his primary role.

 

Dan is also active in the education arena, having presented a number of programs at the local, state and national level. He is an active member of the Emergency Nurses Association, and the Air Surface Transport Nurses Association, currently serving as a member of the Education committee for ASTNA. He has written two different chapters in books published for the medical transport environment.

 

About X-Ray Interpretation

 

Sit back, relax, and enjoy this look into the world of X-rays. Learn to identify some of the more common medical conditions that impact patient care. By learning some of the basics of X-Ray interpretation, you can have an impact on your patients outcome. Chest X-rays and brain CT will be our focus.

Kyle Thompson, Esq.

Kyle Thompson is the General Counsel for the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Service.  Mr. Thompson has been the coordinator of the legal services division of the Board since July 2004.  Prior to his tenure at KBEMS, Mr. Thompson was an Assistant Franklin County Attorney and a private practitioner of the law.  Kyle has a Bachelor's of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky.  Mr. Thompson obtained his law degree from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio.  Kyle has been a lifelong resident of Frankfort, Kentucky and is married to his wife Lara.  The couple has two daughters, Emma and Olivia.

Keith McCormick, Esq.

Keith is a frequent lecturer on medical liability issues.  He is currently in the private practice of law in eastern Kentucky.  Keith obtained his bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Comparative Literature from the University of Kentucky and his law degree from the University of Louisville.  His wife of 34 years, Bev, also a graduate of U of L Law School, is a Professor of Real Estate at Morehead State University.  They have two sons, one in banking in Lexington and the other attending law school in Los Angeles.

 

In twenty-five years of practice, he has represented injured parties in medical malpractice claims and medical professionals in administrative, civil and criminal claims.  He is a former prosecutor, public defender, police officer and paramedic.  Always an ardent advocate for emergency services professionals, Keith provides enlightening, entertaining and insightful guidance through the medical legal maze.

 

 

“EMS and The Law” Ask A Lawyer

 

What about downgrading a call to BLS? What about liability for a patient refusal? What is an acceptable response time? What is the most likely cause for litigation against EMS? What about transporting patients for mental health evaluation? Want to know the answer to these and other questions? Attend this one-hour presentation with the states most preeminent EMS law experts. All the panelists are either currently involved in EMS law or have been clinicians in the past. You’ll never find such an experienced panel with diverse backgrounds covering EMS law. Bring you questions and sit back and listen. It should be entertaining!

Jerry McGraw, Esq.

Jerry McGraw is a native of West Virginia and now practices law in Kentucky after serving as a school teacher, a member of the Jefferson County Police Department, and a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army. Jerry has also been certified as an Emergency Medical Technician for the past twenty eight years.

 

Jerry has always enjoyed teaching, and served as an instructor at the Military Police School, Command and General Staff College and Combined Arms Service and Staff School while he in the military. Jerry is an instructor for Eastern Kentucky University, teaching courses in the College of Law Enforcement, in such areas as criminal law and procedure, white collar crime, criminology, drugs, and crime and society. His students have come from local police, the military, and civilians.

 

As an Emergency Medical Technician, Jerry has served as Chief Instructor and Instructor Trainer for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He has taught courses on legal issues for the Kentucky EMS Academy and other professional agencies. Jerry is also an appointed member of the Executive Committee of the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services.

 

As the founder of The McGraw Law Office, PLLC, Jerry has practiced law in Kentucky for over seventeen years. He graduated from the Brandeis College of Law in 1989, where he was a staff member of the Louisville Law Examiner. Prior to starting his own firm, Jerry was employed by the firm of Barber, Banazynski, and Glidewell, and also practiced as a solo practitioner for several years. Jerry’s areas of practice are concentrated in business law, criminal law, estate planning and probate, and legal issues involving Emergency Medical Technicians.

 

Jerry is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association. Additionally, he is currently appointed to the Federal Criminal Justice Panel in the Western District of Louisville and the Southern District of Indiana. He is a member of The Military Officers Association, and Former President of the Kentucky Emergency Medical Technician Instructor Association. Jerry is an active member of the City of Douglas Hills City Council, the Kentucky Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, and the Kentucky Emergency Medical Technician Instructor Association.

 

When he is not practicing law or sharing his knowledge with others, Jerry enjoys Scuba diving, boating, hiking, and backpacking. Jerry volunteers with the American Red Cross, and also enjoys exploring Civil War battlefields. Jerry has also been known to wander South to Key West from time to time.

David Williams

David Williams has been involved in the EMS field for more than 26 years as a clinician, educator, and consultant. He is currently the Director of Program Development for LifeNet Air Medical Services in Frankfort Kentucky. He retired in April of 2006 after serving nearly 10 years with the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services in Frankfort as a Regional Advisor/ Inspector. He began his EMS career in 1980 as an ambulance driver with the Brown Haddix Funeral Home Ambulance Service in Albany Kentucky. After completing EMT training at the Russell County Vocational School, he began working for Somerset- Pulaski County EMS, which was part of Lake Cumberland EMS, a regional system based in Campbellsville Kentucky. He enrolled in a Paramedic Course at Lake Cumberland Medical Center in 1981 under the direction of Becky Samples and graduated in 1983.

 

While at Somerset, he was among the first 5 rescue divers trained when the dive rescue team was organized following a tragic drowning at Lee’s Ford Dock in the late 80’s . He served as Captain/ Paramedic and was responsible for the Rough Terrain and Scuba Dive Rescue Teams. In that capacity he pushed for more dive training, better equipment, and advanced certification. He helped acquire a dive rescue boat for lake responses and secured a hard wire underwater communication system to ensure diver safety. His real passion was rappelling and rope rescue and he would frequently host all night training sessions to keep team members competent in their skills. He also served as preceptor for several Paramedic courses and has helped train many Paramedics in the region. He was in the first class of BTLS Instructors in the state and taught several ACLS courses for the late Mike Borders who would frequently introduce him as David Williams, The Worst Paramedic in Somerset. On April fools day in 1986 he successfully resuscitated a cardiac arrest victim in the Somerset Mall with early intervention CPR and a Lifepack 5 and was featured in a front page article in The Commonwealth Journal. He was once ordered by a physician to go to the local mortuary and give a dead man 50 to 100 cc’s of 50% Dextrose IV to see if he would respond. After consulting with his Medical Director Dr. Mel Medroso he refused to do this.

 

To mitigate the effects of Paramedic burnout, he moved to Leveland Texas in 1994 to study bluegrass music. Already a decent guitar and mandolin player he immersed himself in the high lonesome sound of Bill Monroe. A picture of his band performing at the state capital in Austin Texas was featured in Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine and he was a classmate of Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks. He has performed at such venues as the Gossett Stomp, the Dutton Pig roast, and the Greystone Manor Retirement Home. He is frequently asked to recite his “How I became an EMT” story at various EMS events around the state. He was a founding member of the Parkers Mill Volunteer Fire Department in Pulaski County and past member of the Albany Fire Department. In addition to Somerset-Pulaski County EMS, he has also worked at Adair and Russell County EMS, Transcare in Clinton and Wayne Counties and Trans Star in Floyd County. Pickett, Clay, and Overton County EMS in Tennessee as well as Levelland EMS in Texas. When the new Clinton County Emergency Services Building was built in 2001.He planned an event for EMS Week that recognized the early pioneers of EMS that included a dedication ceremony and open house. He also researched the history of EMS in Clinton County which dates back to 1937. With financial backing from the Fiscal Court he had the names of every ambulance driver and EMT that ever served engraved on long spine boards and mounted in the lobby of the Clinton County Emergency Services Building. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Bluegrass Music from South Plains College, a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Management from Midway College, and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Sullivan University. He currently resides in Albany with his wife Charlotte, daughter Chelsea and son Nicholas.

Kyle Williams, RN, EMT-P

Kyle Williams is currently a full time Flight Nurse / Paramedic with LifeNet Air Medical Services in Frankfort Kentucky and part time ER-Trauma Nurse at Cabell Huntington Hospital in Huntington West Virginia. In November 2006 Kyle was promoted to Medical Base Supervisor for LifeNet’s Hazard Operation. Kyle obtained his EMT-B certification in 1993, on to obtain his Paramedic certification in 1995. He graduated in 2000 with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Morehead State University. He holds additional credentials as a CCEMT-P and CEN. He is an ACLS and CPR Instructor for the American Heart Association and a member of the Emergency Nurses Association and the Air and Surface Transport Nurses Association.