MEDIA RELEASE Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: richobertots@redbike-med.com
Phone: 412.670.9906
Ambulance Service First Volunteer EMS Organization in Illinois to Begin using emsCharts
Peoria, IL, September 9, 2009—The North Henderson County/Oquawka Ambulance Service will become the first volunteer ambulance service in
“RED BIKE and emsCharts are excited to be implementing with the team in Oquawka. Troy Jern, Nancy Bundy and all their fellow volunteers have demonstrated their commitment to be at the leading edge in
emsCharts, Inc. helped to pioneer real-time and electronic data collection with software products that use the Internet to connect first responders with hospitals and reporting agencies; thus expediting the entire process and leaving more time to focus on patients’ requirements. emsCharts also offers mobile, offline versions of their web product for use in ambulances, helicopters, and on scene with patients.
“We looked at other providers but found that emsCharts will service our needs better,” says Troy Jern director of North Henderson County/Oquawka Ambulance Service. “We were looking for an easier way to handle our reports and also wanted something that would be separate from our billing reports.”
Investing in technology is nothing new for Jern. His service is committed to investing in –effective-cost technology that improves patient care.
“I always try to get the best for my team,” he says. “Our ambulance has GPS technology. We have an onboard camera. Adding emsCharts software is going to make our jobs easier. We’re excited about using it.”
The volunteer company handles about 225 calls per year in
Jern adds that he’s looking forward to working with Obertots.
“Rich has been excellent to work with,” he says. “He also has an extensive ambulance background experience. We look forward to this partnership as we go forward.”
“I found
About RED BIKE: RED BIKE serves EMS Systems by developing and providing effective medical technologies, dynamic data management, and eLearning. The company is devoted to medical technologies and methods that achieve high-yield sustainable outcomes.
For more information on RED BIKE, visit www.redbike-med.com.
About emsCharts: emsCharts (www.emscharts.com) provides pre-hospital care professionals with dynamic, state-of-the-art solutions for optimized patient health care, quality assurance and operational productivity. Developed in conjunction with and fully tested by medical and public safety professionals, emsCharts software products provide a total solution at a flat monthly fee.
###
Steve training for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride copyright Steve Berry
Illustration by STEVE BERRY, BA, NREMT-P
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: richobertots@redbike-med.com
Phone: 412.670.9906
RED BIKE medical technologies Joining Forces with Famed EMS Illustrator Steve Berry to Educate, Improve Safety and Inject Humor
Peoria, IL, August 18, 2009--In its ongoing efforts to promote and support technologies to improve EMS outcomes and EMS Bike Team programs, RED BIKE medical technologies will be teaming up with famed EMS cartoonist and illustrator, Steve Berry, BA, NREMT-P, a part-time paramedic with Southwest Teller County EMS.
RED BIKE’s Managing Director, Rich Obertots noted, “Along with being the leading cartoonist in EMS, Steve Berry is a leading-edge educator and visionary. With his many years’ front-line experience, his passion for safety and EMS wellness, plus his speaking almost weekly to EMS audiences throughout North America – he is in touch, listening to concerns and striving to act on these. RED BIKE is excited to engage with Steve on several initiatives from utilizing his illustrations in our Red Bike University eLearning, 365 Safety AMRM software and www.emsCharts.com efforts to initiatives with EMS cycling events, fitness and EMS Bike Team development that will help to optimize his strengths and ours to improve EMS outcomes.”
Berry has published 10 EMS-related cartoon books since his escapades as a paramedic/EMS instructor began 25 years ago. He also writes a monthly humor column for JEMS Magazine along with cartoon illustrations for JEMS.
“Rich Obertots and I found that we had things in common regarding bikes, education, fitness and safety,” says Berry, who rides a mountain bike about 60 miles per week. “Biking is an incredible experience and more agencies are embracing this concept. We’re also pushing bike teams for EMTs and medics because of health reasons. Many are out of shape because at some services they may often have periods of down time between calls. Also, some are not getting adequate exercise when not on duty. An EMS bike team introduces a healthy attitude toward your staff. It’s a great way to get into and stay in shape.”
Like RED BIKE, Berry also remains focused on his mission to promote safety among EMS providers. He says that EMS providers often work in an environment that poses many health risks including injury, disease exposure and emotional/psychological trauma.
One great way to bring awareness of EMS Bike Teams and safety is through the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride which Berry is an advocate and PIO board member of.
“EMS is a physically demanding profession and the bike ride is a good way to promote healthy lifestyles for EMS providers,” he says. “The bike ride is also a great way to get people from around the country interested in bike riding.”
The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride was organized to honor, memorialize, and celebrate the lives of those Emergency Medical Service providers who:
-Serve their communities everyday
-Have become sick or injured while performing their duties
-Have died in the line of duty
According to Berry, riders gather from around the country. Twenty nine states are represented this year as well as several riders from Ireland, Germany, and Canada. Each rider has their own personal story of why they choose to bicycle 600 miles. Most of them are not professional riders. For some it will be their first experience wearing spandex. Most have suffered a personal loss. Some are there because they want to support others in their loss.
Raising public awareness about line of duty deaths and disabilities in the EMS profession is a primary goal of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, but there are additional objectives which focus on preventing such tragedies from occurring in the first place. Those objectives include:
-We believe all EMS providers should receive disability and death benefits on par with police officers and firefighters.
-We believe volunteer EMS personnel should receive insurance that will cover them in the event of injury, illness or disability while providing EMS services.
-We believe the occupational risks to EMS personnel must be protected through investment in research of occupational hazards and improved safety training and equipment.
-We believe there is a need for the national tracking of injuries, near misses and line of deaths of EMS providers.”
The ride begins from multiple starting points – one in New York City and the other in Somerset, Kentucky. Both rides conclude in Roanoke, Virginia with riders attending the National EMS Memorial Service held in May. The National EMS Memorial is independent of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride and is made up of its own independent board members. The purpose of the National EMS Memorial is to honor those EMS personnel who have died in the line of duty and to recognize the ultimate sacrifice they have made for their fellow man. The first National EMS Memorial Service was held in 1992. This will be the last year the service in held in Roanoke. In 2010, the annual observance will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado where a permanent memorial will be built.
Berry says that he’s looking forward to working with Rich Obertots, Managing Director of RED BIKE, and the rest of his staff.
“Rich was part of The Dysrhythmics which I thought was funny and humor was much needed in the profession,” says Berry. “I didn’t know Rich was part of the group until recently. He found out what I was doing and called me. We both have a mutual respect for each other and discovered our common interests of combining humor with EMS. He also knew I was into biking and part of our mission was to bring safety issues to light.”
To start, Berry plans to help RED BIKE enhance its safety programs and eLearning with illustrations. “So we are combining both of our talents,” says Berry. “Hopefully we can support each other and our causes. We have a common interest in biking, safety, education and humor. We’ll put all these together and see what happens.”
Most importantly, Berry hopes they can bring more awareness of safety issues.
“I’d also like to help get the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride more known and hopefully we can get 1,000 riders someday,” he says. “Rich and I can complement each other, and we can inject humor into it. People often remember the message if they laugh. We can laugh at ourselves and convey an important message.”
Obertots stated, “I was honored when Steve related to me how The Dysrhythmics medical music and ‘Vic & Vern’s EMS, STAT Rescue, Car Wash and Video Rental’ comedy skits impacted him positively and inspired him to integrate his illustrating talents and humor in EMS educating. It’s proven how levity, emotional elements and entertainment can improve outcomes for learning adults. We are long-timers in EMS, and still fully immersed and fully engaged in today’s most up to date technologies. So – we will combine talents, wisdom and technologies in ways not seen before. Be ready!”
Berry said, “Rich has the business savvy and I think I have a warped sense of humor. I hope to be able to do the illustrations and get the safety and cycling message out. I also hope we can get riders from all over the country to represent at least one agency each during the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride.”
For more information on Steve Berry, visit his Web site at www.iamnotanambulancedriver.com.
For more information on the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride go to www.muddyangels.com
For more information on emsCharts go to www.emsCharts.com
About RED BIKE: RED BIKE assists EMS Systems by developing and providing effective medical technologies, dynamic data management, and eLearning. RED BIKE adopted its name, in part to promote and support cost-effective, environmentally-conscious, fitness-friendly EMS Bike Medic programs that are now prevalent and poised for exponential growth in EMS communities around the globe. The company is devoted to breaking away from outmoded technologies and methods that do not achieve high yield sustainable outcomes.
For more information on RED BIKE, visit www.redbike-med.com.
Illustrations below by Steve Berry
www.iamnotanambulancedriver.com
copyright Steve Berry
Steve's Comment: The individuals in the ambulance represent "Wingmen" (support staff) in the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride. They always have our back and are a vital function to our success. We acknowledge they are our equals just as if they were riders.
# # #
copyright Steve Berry
(Above)
Steve's Comment: The medic touching the tree illustrates the National EMS Memorial Tree of Life where the names of those LODD inducted are engraved on each leaf. The rider represents the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride and of its support for the the Memorial.
# # #
copyright Steve Berry
(Above)
Steve's comment: Another illustration of Wingmen for the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride
# # #
copyright Steve Berry
Illustrations by Steve Berry
www.iamnotanambulancedriver.com
# # #
RED BIKE MEDIA RELEASES
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: richobertots@redbike-med.com
Phone: 412.670.9906
Peoria, IL, August 18, 2009—RED BIKE medical technologies recently concluded its first-in-a-series of Evidence-Based EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Bike Team surveys to examine current trends in the use of dynamic data management technologies.
RED BIKE’s Managing Director, Rich Obertots, believes that Evidence-Based
“EMS must prove its value to justify sustained and increased funding and stakeholder support,” Obertots says. “RED BIKE is concentrating on the nano-niche of EMS Bike Teams and how they use dynamic data management software in their evidence-based initiatives. Why? Because EMS Bike Teams look to be one of the most high-impact EMS Specialty Units in positive clinical/operational outcomes. They may be the most high-impact in terms of how they engage with the community and key stakeholders in outreach and promoting EMS. However, without having the proper electronic documentation and analytic technologies in place, evidence of these factors will not be discoverable. So we first need to clarify the current state of evidence gathering and managing technologies that EMS Bike Teams are using.”
Prior to the survey, RED BIKE could not identify a single-source database to enable them to engage with the critical mass of EMS Bike Teams.
“One positive outcome of our first survey is that we have launched a RED BIKE Global EMS Bike Team Registry,” Obertots says.
The registry can be viewed at http://www.redbike-med.com/EMS_BIKE_TEAM_REGISTRY.html
Key findings of the survey include:
Demographics
· 52% of the respondents defined their job description as an EMS Bike Team Supervisor/Manager, EMS Director or Deputy Chief. 29% were Paramedics and 14% Intermediate or Basic EMTs. 2% were IT (Information Technology) Specialists.
· 48.5% said their teams consisted of 10 members or less, while 45.5% have 10 or more.
· 63.6% expects stability in their EMS Bike Teams for the next 12 months; 30.3% expects their team to increase in numbers.
Training/Software Usage
· To train, sustain, and measure the proficiency of their EMS Bike Teams, 75% of those who responded said they use International Police Mountain Bike Association (IPMBA) Training Courses and Certifications.
· 66.7% are using patient care charting software for their desktop; of this, 73% are using emsCharts as their brand of choice.
· 40% are using patient care charting software on their mobile unit; 63% prefer emsCharts.
· 36.7% are using scheduling software
· 26.7% are using CAD software.
· 70.4% are not using any Social Media Platforms to engage with their stakeholders. Of the few who are taking advantage of Social Media, Facebook is the preferred choice (18.5%).
· 0% were using electronic Outreach Management or CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software
“We were stunned to learn that 0%of the respondents were using Outreach Management or CRM software,” says Obertots. “These technologies are crucial to capture, analyze, and manage information about encounters with patients, community, and key stakeholders— exactly what is needed for evidence-based EMS. We were highly encouraged to find many of the respondents were using emsCharts, which is the only software with an Outreach module that can link patients, customer, and community encounters with clinical data. It’s just a matter of those using emsCharts to begin using their Outreach Module and then they can produce evidence.”
According to the survey results, some of the advice offered to those who desire to use evidence and dynamic data management to clarify and justify why their EMS Bike Team should be sustained, funded, and made more capable in scope and size included:
· Get the public and private business involved that has contacts in local government.
· Be visible at public events. Let your community know that you are there.
· Please have your team members fill out whatever documentation that you’re using on a consistent basis to keep the numbers as accurate as possible. Without that data, it will make the justification of the team even harder.
Other Comments from Respondents
· “Funding and longevity are a constant concern for teams in my area of the country due to their volunteer base providers.”
· “Be client focused and make every contact an opportunity to further you team profile. Also the press must be your friend.”
· “Bike teams should be used in FEMA incidents and USAR incidents.”
· “I foresee the utilization of EMS Bike Teams increasing in the future due to the lower cost of maintaining such a unit. In a more urban and suburban environment Bike Teams can access patients more expeditiously and be able to initiate treatment and determine if a transport unit is necessary and whether or not a lights and siren response is warranted.”
RED BIKE wishes to acknowledge Maureen Becker of the IPMBA for helping to engage their members to participate in the survey.
About RED BIKE: RED BIKE assists EMS Systems by developing and providing effective medical technologies, dynamic data management, and eLearning. RED BIKE adopted its name, in part to promote and support cost-effective, environmentally-conscious, fitness-friendly EMS Bike Medic programs that are now prevalent and poised for exponential growth in EMS communities around the globe. The company is devoted to breaking away from outmoded technologies and methods that do not achieve high yield sustainable outcomes.
For more information on RED BIKE, visit www.redbike-med.com.
###
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: richobertots@redbike-med.com
Phone: 412.670.9906
Tech Firm Invests in the Inevitable to Breakaway in the
Peoria, IL, July 14, 2009—The co-founder of ThinkThroughTools, which provides on-demand Safety, AMRM and Outreach management software for leading Air Medical Transport providers, has launched a new venture in a related arena.
Introducing RED BIKE medical technologies
Rich Obertots, with 31 years of experience in
RED BIKE medical technologies. The new company officially begins operations next month and will focus on medical technologies, dynamic data management, and eLearning. Additionally, ThinkThroughTools has relocated its operations to RED BIKE’s headquarters in
Breaking Away from Outmoded Technologies
RED BIKE adopted its name, in part to promote and support cost-effective, environmentally-conscious, fitness-friendly EMS Bike Team programs that are now prevalent and poised for growth in
· emsCharts (the lowest-cost of ownership electronic data management software suite)
· Outreach Management, Billing, Scheduling software suites
· 365 Public Safety on-demand software
· 365 Safety AMRM (Air Medical Resource Management) on-demand software
· eLearning for Outreach and EMS Management Development
· MODS (Mass Oxygen Distribution Systems) for Disaster Management
· AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators)
“One of the world’s leading venture capitalists advises, ‘Invest in the inevitable,’” says Rich Obertots, RED BIKE’s Managing Director. “RED BIKE believes that medical technologies like dynamic data management, electronic charting, and inventive EMS Specialty Units such as bike teams are inevitable. That’s where we’re investing!”
Obertots continues, “We devoted the past ten years evolving in one of the most high cost and technology intensive arenas—Air Medical Transport. As our economic times will increase pressure to vastly lower operating costs , our offerings like emsCharts and eLearning to advance EMS management skills, as well as our commitment to get more EMS Bike Teams deployed will help cut costs for EMS delivery.”
RED BIKE Launching a Series of Evidence-Based
Beginning
By surveying a sampling of the EMS industry*, we hope to better understand how EMS Bike Teams are optimizing dynamic data management and mobile medical technologies to capture, analyze and report on their overall performance and engagement with key stakeholders.
“To increase the certainty to sustain themselves and to attain increased growth support and funding, leading EMS Bike Teams recognize the high value of being evidence based,” Obertots says. “They know the most efficient method to provide evidence is by using dynamic data management. A primary goal of our survey is to better understand how many are doing this and to share with others just how they are.”
The survey is available on Survey Monkey at http://tinyurl.com/nppzyl. Participants are asked to complete the survey by Thurs., 14:00 CDT, July 23. Responses and comments will remain confidential. The final summary will be published on 14:00 CDT, July 30.
For more information on RED BIKE, visit www.redbike-med.com.
* Please note: RED BIKE understands that many EMS Bike Teams often originate out of fire or public safety departments. To ensure the survey’s data accuracy, we are including Bike Teams that perform EMS-related procedures.
###
RED BIKE's Dan Casciato is an authority on Media Communications and SMO (Social Media Optimization.) He will be posting articles and brief videos that will help your EMS Service engage effectively with the media and to help you with SMO.
More than ever - EMS Services must effectively engage with the media, citizens, local, regional, state and national officials and a broad range of other influential stakeholders to;
* Sustain current support
* Justify and secure funding
* Clarify and promote positive community impact and outcomes
* Create momentum to implement advanced technologies and processes
Dan will provide you with relevant tools and techniques
