Washington County Ambulance District

Washington County Ambulance District We are proud to provide mobile healthcare services, ambulance emergency response, critical care transports and quality education to our community.
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The professional team at Washington County Ambulance District is proud to serve the residents and visitors of Washington County, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Washington County Ambulance District is a political subdivision in the State of Missouri and is the sole provider of Emergency Medical Services in Washington County, Missouri. The providers at Washington County Ambulance District are proud to be considered pre-hospital clinicians who provide top-notch care to the patients we serve. We ensure three ambulances are available for emergency response 24 hours a day. In addition, we staff two additional “flex ambulances.” Two flex ambulances are on duty and available 8-10 hours per day to meet the needs of the district. We also have the ability to staff additional ambulances on short notice with on-call staff and members of the leadership team, as needed. Washington County Ambulance District responds to approximately 4,000 calls for service each year. Most of the calls for service result in patients being transported to facilities in Washington County, St. Francois County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and the St. Louis metro area.

Mission: IT IS THE MISSION OF THE WASHINGTON COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT TO BE PIONEERS OF THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY. WE STRIVE TO UNITE THE HEALTHCARE COMMUNITY BY BEING LEADERS IN PRE-HOSPITAL AND INTER-HOSPITAL CLINICAL CARE. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY CRITICAL, EMERGENT, AND NON-EMERGENT MOBILE HEALTHCARE TO THE PATIENTS WE SERVE. WE WILL ACHIEVE THESE GOALS BY OFFERING SECOND TO NONE CLINICAL SERVICES, EDUCATION STANDARDS, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, AND VEHICLES. WE ARE COMMITTED TO EMBRACING THE THEORY OF “PRE-HOSPITAL CLINICIAN” AND CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO. WE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE AND ARE COMMITTED TO QUALITY. WE WILL SERVE OUR COMMUNITY WITH A COMMITMENT TO DILIGENT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY. WE WILL EMBRACE OUR CORE VALUES: RESPECT: WE SUPPORT THE BELIEF THAT ALL PATIENTS ARE DIFFERENT AND DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND THE UTMOST COMPASSION. INTEGRITY: WE PROMOTE AN ATMOSPHERE OF TRUST, RESPECT AND A PROFESSIONAL WORK ETHIC. COMPASSION: WE WILL LISTEN TO OTHERS WITH SENSITIVITY AND WITHOUT JUDGEMENT WHILE USING TACT AND DIPLOMACY TO RESOLVE ANY CONFLICTS. PROFESSIONALISM: WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE. WE WILL CONTINUALLY WORK TOWARDS BOTH DETERMINING AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THOSE WE SERVE THROUGH ENGAGED LEADERSHIP, EDUCATION, TRAINING, PERFORMANCE MEASURES, QUALITY ASSURANCE AND PROGRESSIVE, PROACTIVE VERSUS REACTIVE ACTIONS IN GENERAL.

04/11/2020
WashCo-COVID19

WashCo-COVID19

INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM UPDATE – 10 April 2020

We are continuing to meet three times per week as a command team. There are several informal meetings with various groups throughout the week as well. As a whole, everyone is working diligently to protect our community and prepare for the unknown.

As everyone knows, we received our first confirmed positive in Washington County. We all knew it was only a matter of time. The patient is in quarantine at this time. Washington County Public Health completed a detailed investigation and notified all necessary parties.

Testing as a whole, in Missouri is minimal at best. We are all requesting more access to testing. We are looking at private options as well as making requests to MO-DHSS. Everyone in the healthcare community in Washington County is committed to obtaining access to testing. We are just hitting road blocks in making that happen. We will continue this battle!

The status of PPE in Washington County changes on a daily basis. We are working with multiple vendors and the state emergency management to meet our needs. I am comfortable saying we are okay right now with our current volumes. We are preparing for an increased volume and utilization of PPE, so we are working to stock up.

We are asking people to shelter in place and stay home. Thank you to everyone who is helping us flatten the curve and slow the spread. With that being said, we want you to stay healthy. This isn’t the time to stop managing your health problems. The issue we are concerned with is availability of ICU beds should COVID-19 take off in St. Louis. Please manage your health conditions now. We don’t want you to need an ICU bed when there may not be one available for you.

Please remember, any person calling 911 will receive an over the phone screening to prepare responders. This is for the safety of our healthcare providers, our first responders and the public. Don’t be alarmed when you see us in gowns with masks on. Any person who presents to a healthcare facility or who the healthcare folks come to you, will receive a screening. Not only will the patient be screened, but the whole family will be screened.

All healthcare and public safety agencies in the county are screening their staff, every day. They are all taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their patients. The clinics have developed processes to have patients wait in their car instead of a waiting room, tele health visits, curb side visits and more. As this pandemic evolves, more evolution of care will come. People still need to make sure they are staying on top of their health problems.

We are trying to keep the public informed to the best of our ability in a timely manner. Our website is up and running. Our page is also up and running. Both of these platforms are designed to provide education and to keep people in the loop as these pandemic progresses. Information is literally changing every day. Keep in mind, we are doing our best to respond to questions in a timely manner.

If you feel ill and have suspicion of viral infection, please call your provider. If you don’t have a provider, here are resources in the community:
• Health Way Primary Care: 573-438-2977
• Austin Plaza Primary Care: 573-438-8500
• Potosi Rural Health Clinic: 573-438-1778
• Great Mines Health Center: 573-438-9355

We are working with regional leaders to prepare for the possibility of mass casualties in the region. This will more than likely be in the St. Louis metro area next, from all of the models and discussions with leaders from across the state. Also, we are working with state stakeholders to prepare for a state-wide emergency. Ensuring proper preparation during this time is essential. Even if we don’t have a wide outbreak here, there is the potential for a “trickle down” effect. We also may be called upon to help our neighbors in their time of need. We will be prepared to do so, that is our commitment.

The Governor of Missouri issued the STAY HOME MISSOURI order which took effect at 12:01am on 6 April 2020. A joint directive was implemented and took effect at 12:01am on 6 April 2020 by the Washington County Commissioners and the Washington County Public Health Department. Such directive was endorsed by the EOC Incident Command team at our meeting on Friday, 3 April 2020. The County directive may be stricter that the State order.

Questions regarding interpretation of the order should be directed to: [email protected]

Complaints regarding violations of the order should be directed to: [email protected]

As a team, we are committed to working together to keep our county as safe and as healthy as possible during this difficult time.

Help us help you. We can’t do this alone.

Respectfully Submitted,

Justin P. Duncan
Incident Commander

04/05/2020
HID Containment Device for NPPV

COVID-19 patients present with many of the same symptoms that we see every day in patients with respiratory issues. Without the ability to run a fast test while on scene, we are unable to differentiate which patients pose a danger to healthcare workers and other human beings.

Non-invasive ventilatory support such as CPAP and Bipap, high flow oxygen masks, and even nebulized breathing treatments increase the risk of exposure to our healthcare providers. Treatments like these are being withheld across the country to minimize the risk of spreading the virus into the air.

In response to these issues, our team has developed an inexpensive and practical way to reduce exposure risk due to potential COVID-19 positive patients, while allowing the same treatment that we would normally provide. This device is for patients who are conscious and breathing and who may need any of these airway treatments to stabilize their condition.

Click the link below to take a look.

Highly infectious disease containment device for implementation of nebulizer or NPPV therapy. All providers should still wear all appropriate PPE and follow ...

04/04/2020
WashCo-COVID19

Lots going on. Stay informed.

INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM UPDATE

We have now moved into the second full week of our incident command team being in place and the emergency operations center up and running in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am pleased to report that the status of PPE for the healthcare facilities in the county is much improved. We have received shipments through the state emergency management agency. We have had suppliers fill orders. We have received PPE from the state healthcare coalition. And we have received many donations from our community. Thank you for your selfless support!

We have been able to outfit law enforcement with PPE in addition to healthcare entities (including WCMH, Great Mines, Public Health, doctors’ offices and WCAD). Fire departments and districts are to receive their PPE through the state fire coordinators. These supplies have started to come in, slowly.

Very few folks in the county have been tested, but not many at this point. Approximately 45 tests completed in our county of which zero have come back as positive at this time. We are requesting more tests so that widespread COVID-19 testing can take place; so far, we are not making progress on this one. The state is producing approximately 3,000 tests per week. Private labs are ramping up their production. We hope to get more access to COVID-19 tests soon!

Washington County Ambulance District has had five EMS Clinicians who were placed into quarantine due to high risk contact. As of this writing, all five have tested negative for COVID-19.

Any person calling 911 will receive an over the phone screening to prepare responders. This is for the safety of our healthcare providers, our first responders and the public. Don’t be alarmed when you see us in gowns with masks on.

Any person who presents to a healthcare facility or who the healthcare folks come to you, will receive a screening. Not only will the patient be screened, but the whole family will be screened.

All healthcare and public safety agencies in the county are screening their staff, every day. They are all taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their patients. The clinics have developed processes to have patients wait in their car instead of a waiting room, tele health visits, curb side visits and more. As this pandemic evolves, more evolution of care will come. People still need to make sure they are staying on top of their health problems.

We have worked with our local physician offices and are in weekly communication as this situation evolves.

Many public buildings have closed to the public. This is for the safety of the public and to preserve necessary functions to maintain day to day operations within the county.

Our website is up and running. Our page is also up and running. Both of these platforms are designed to provide education and to keep people in the loop as these pandemic progresses. Information is literally changing every day.

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has established a 24-hour hotline for the COVID-19 pandemic. That number is: 1-877-435-8411.

If you feel ill and have suspicion of viral infection, please call your provider. If you don’t have a provider, here are resources in the community:
• Health Way Primary Care: 573-438-2977
• Austin Plaza Primary Care: 573-438-8500
• Potosi Rural Health Clinic: 573-438-1778
• WCMH Urgent Care: 573-438-1780
• Great Mines Health Center: 573-438-9355

If you have an emergency; feel ill and have respiratory distress, an altered mental status or are lethargic, please call 9-1-1.

We are working with regional leaders to prepare for the possibility of mass casualties in the region. Also, we are working with state stakeholders to prepare for a state-wide emergency. Ensuring proper preparation during this time is essential. Even if we don’t have a wide outbreak here, there is the potential for a “trickle down” effect. We also may be called upon to help our neighbors in their time of need. We will be prepared to do so, that is our commitment.

A joint directive was implemented to take effect at 12:01am on 6 April 2020 by the Washington County Commissioners and the Washington County Public Health Department. Such directive was endorsed by the EOC Incident Command team at our meeting on Friday, 3 April 2020.

The Governor of Missouri issued the STAY HOME MISSOURI order which will take effect at 12:01am on 6 April 2020.

As a team, we are committed to working together to keep our county as safe and as healthy as possible during this difficult time.

Help us help you. We can’t do this alone.

Respectfully Submitted,

Justin P. Duncan
Incident Commander

04/03/2020
COVID Containment Device

Due to rising concerns over COVID-19 and the potential infection/contamination of healthcare professionals, our team at WCAD has created, trialed and now successfully used an airway containment device on intubated patients.

COVID-19 effects the respiratory system and is spread through close contact with active breathing, cough or secretions. The main concern with these patients is securing an advanced airway or endotracheal tube. Our clear barrier is able to be utilized during this most dangerous intervention for the patient with COVID-19, without pausing resuscitative efforts, all while keeping our providers as safe as possible.

Click the links below for two quick demos.

https://youtu.be/O_Brm2mwkcw

https://youtu.be/XXrGurPleJc

03/31/2020
EOC IC Press Release PPT

Help us help you. Please stay home!

Press release for Washington County Missouri regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.

03/27/2020
WashCo-COVID19

Weekly update from the incident command team.

INCIDENT COMMAND TEAM UPDATE

We are committed to transparency within our community. We have outlined our last week in the emergency operations center with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Washington County Emergency Operations Center was opened on 19 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multi-disciplinary incident command team was established.

A State of Emergency was declared in Washington County on 20 March 2020.

The incident command team first met on 20 March 2020 and a basic structure was established.

Entities represented on the incident command team:
• Washington County Presiding Commissioner
• City of Potosi Mayor
• City of Potosi Police Department
• Great Mines Health Center
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office
• Washington County Public Health
• Washington County Central Dispatch
• Washington County Memorial Hospital
• Washington County Ambulance District
• Washington County Emergency Management Agency

Status of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
The status of PPE for the healthcare facilities in the county isn’t amazing. We are working to request from stockpiles at the state level, but that process is slow going. We are working with vendors to expedite large quantities of needed PPE but many are on back-order.

Status of COVID-19 Testing in Washington County
A few folks in the county have been tested, but not many at this point.
• Approximately 23 tests completed
• Zero positive at this time
• Requesting more tests for wide-spread use

Healthcare Workers in Quarantine
Washington County Ambulance District has had four EMS Clinicians who were placed into quarantine due to high risk contact. As of this writing, three of the four have tested negative for COVID-19 and one is still pending.

Accessing the Emergency System
Any person calling 911 will receive an over the phone screening to prepare responders. This is for the safety of our healthcare providers, our first responders and the public. Don’t be alarmed when you see us in gowns with masks on.

Any person who presents to a healthcare facility or who the healthcare folks come to you, will receive a screening. Not only will the patient be screened, but the whole family will be screened.

What We are Doing
All healthcare and public safety agencies in the county are screening their staff, every day.

Many public buildings have closed to the public. This is for the safety of the public and to preserve necessary functions to maintain day to day operations within the county.

We are working to create a website and have created a page to use as educational platforms and to keep people in the loop as these pandemic progresses. Information is literally changing every day.

Public Information
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has established a 24-hour hotline for the COVID-19 pandemic. That number is: 1-877-435-8411.

If you feel ill and have suspicion of viral infection, please call your provider. If you don’t have a provider, here are resources in the community:
• Health Way Primary Care – 573-438-2977
• Austin Plaza Primary Care – 573-438-8500
• Potosi Rural Health Clinic – 573-438-1778
• WCMH Urgent Care – 573-438-1780
• Great Mines Health Center – 573-438-9355

If you feel ill and have respiratory distress, an altered mental status or are lethargic, please call 9-1-1.

As a team, we are committed to working together to keep our county as safe and as healthy as possible during this difficult time.

Help us help you. We can’t do this alone.

Respectfully Submitted,

Justin P. Duncan
Incident Commander

03/16/2020
www.cdc.gov

We have fielded several questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. We felt it prudent to outline how we are handling the situation.

As most of you know the President of the United States has declared a National State of Emergency in response to the growing outbreak and worldwide pandemic of COVID-19. In addition, Governor Parson declared a State of Emergency for Missouri on Friday, March 13, 2020.

Washington County Ambulance District has been working with the healthcare agencies and public safety entities within our county to coordinate our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are meeting on a weekly basis to ensure everyone is on the same page.

We have been in regular contact with the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, Bureau of EMS. They are providing guidance as to how we handle this pandemic. We are receiving updates on a continuous basis.

Our #1 goal, as always, is to ensure adequate mobile healthcare services are available to our primary service area here in Washington County. At the same time, we are dedicated to supporting other healthcare agencies in the county and helping our neighbors when called upon. We have an ongoing list of staff that are on “stand-by” should there be a surge in call volume. We are fully prepared to help our partners in healthcare with whatever they need.

Our preparation for this potential crisis, has been ongoing for several weeks. Keep in mind, we have infection control policies that we follow each and every day. COVID-19 requires droplet precautions. We have droplet precaution protocols in place; this is nothing new. We are simply adjusting our policies to align with current standards to keep our staff and our patients safe. The clinicians at WCAD have been given all of the needed tools to be safe. The leadership team at WCAD, along with other county leaders are working to ensure there are enough tools available to keep everyone safe. We are working through different scenarios and contingency plans.

The CDC recommends social distancing. Frequent hand washing, and use of sanitizers. You should avoid touching your face. If you are sick, please stay home. All non-essential group gatherings should be avoided. A common sense approach is key.

We are committed to our part in preventing the spread of infection and “flattening the curve.” With that in mind, Washington County Ambulance District will restrict public access to our business offices and education center, until further notice. We will suspend all CPR classes, until further notice. We will suspend all outreach and PR events, until further notice. We will suspend any non-essential meetings, until further notice.

If you have a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1. If you have questions for the administrative offices, please give us a call: 573-438-3635.

The State of Missouri, Department of Health and Senior Services has established a 24/7 hotline for the COVID-19 pandemic. They have the ability to answer specific questions: 1-877-435-8411.

Further information can be found at: www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

We sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the community. Our primary mission is to ensure quality care is rendered to the patients we serve. In order to ensure that mission is delivered, we must keep our clinicians and staff safe and healthy.

Any questions, comments and/or concerns may be directed to:

Justin P. Duncan BS, NRP, CCEMT-P, FP-C
Administrator | Chief of EMS
Washington County Ambulance District
Office: 573-438-3635
Email: [email protected]

Address

6900 Bill Gum Business Blvd.
Potosi, MO
63660

Telephone

(573) 438-3635

Website

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