University Hospitals now directs Salem 1st responders

Cleveland health system provides free meds, gear

SALEM -- Better care for patients on medical calls -- at no additional cost to the city -- that's the greatest benefit from University Hospitals’ oversight, Salem Fire Chief Scott Mason said.

The fire department switched medical directors in September, choosing to go with University Hospitals in Cleveland instead of Salem Regional Medical Center to oversee the first responder program.

As a result, the two firefighters on staff who are certified paramedics can actually function as paramedics at medical calls and perform medical procedures they weren't permitted to perform before, such as start an IV or administer certain medications.

UH provides fully-stocked medication boxes and all types of equipment, including a heart monitor the department did not have before. Everything is replenished, too, for free. The equipment and the medications cost the department nothing.

When the department first started using Narcan, the overdose reversal drug, the cost was $32 per dose, then the Columbiana County Health Department started providing the drug for free. Now the drug is provided through UH. The department didn't carry epi pens (epinephrine auto-injectors) previously because they were so expensive, as high as $500, but UH provides them for free. UH pays for the department's drug license through the State Board of Pharmacy, too. The department had to pay for it before.

The department received an iPad from UH to track medical calls and report the stats to the state. UH representatives come to the station every third Wednesday of the month to provide EMS training. All the firefighters are certified as EMTs, with two certified as paramedics.

"We can provide everything an ambulance service can provide, except for the ride, when we have a paramedic on duty," Mason said.

He heard about the UH program through Damascus Fire Department, which operates through UH and does have an ambulance service. He made contact with UH and the department started running under UH medical orders at the beginning of September.

"It was a great opportunity and it's working well," Mason said.

He noted that the doctor from SRMC who used to serve as the medical director for the first responder program has been very supportive. UH can offer the department so much more. Departments in North Georgetown, Beloit and Sebring also use UH.

When hiring future firefighters, he said he may look at people with paramedic certification.

"If we were to, at some point, run an ambulance, all we would need is an equipped ambulance. UH would take care of the billing," Mason said.

The department responds to medical calls but can't transport, having to wait for an ambulance company to respond if transport is required.

When asked what UH gets out of the deal, Mason said the department is benefitting from the competition between UH and the Cleveland Clinic. UH has been investing in ambulance services and fire department first responder programs. He said they're very proactive when it comes to pre-hospital care.

mgreier@salemnews.net