We get it! You’ve performed all of the skills you’ve learned since First Responder class, on this one patient. The patient should name a kid after you, or at least the gold fish! Here’s the thing, we can chat all day long about how a call went, and hopefully that detail is in your PCR narrative (maybe minus the part where you used the Hurst tool to break open the patient’s medicine cabinet). But, if you don’t have that billing information on the ePCR and the patient’s signature on the signature form, you might as well call off your next shift. Or, at least hide from the billing office and the supervisor! They will hunt you down! Lack of billing info leads to lack of payment, making it harder for you to continue the lifesaving work we love you for.

Any experienced EMS professional knows how the story goes. You get on scene only to find that you left your paper assessment pad back at the station. You sort through all of your 37 pants and shirt pockets..NOTHING!

EMS is facing a crisis in our nation due to an increase of operating expenses, a decrease in volunteers, and a lack of Medicaid and commercial insurance reimbursement rates. Pennsylvania Medicaid rates have not been adjusted since 2004, while operating costs have continued to increase for EMS agencies. Legislation changes are needed at the government level before ambulance agencies are forced to close their doors, leaving no one available to answer 9-1-1 emergency calls. Pennsylvania Representative Martin Causer is working to address these serious challenges due to limited funding and the shrinking number of volunteers. Rep. Causer has introduced House Bill 699 as a solution to reform the PA Medicaid reimbursement rates.

AIM Online EMS Software & Services is humbled by the service EMS providers give on a daily basis when responding to critical emergencies every minute of every hour. We at AIM realize, the toll responding to life altering emergencies can play on your mental health. AIM wants to highlight 2017 World Health Day’s campaign: Depression. Let’s join in the effort to bring awareness to depression and encourage everyone to talk about removing the stigmas associated with depression. Depression is a treatable disease that often can be overcome with proper medical care. If you or a fellow crew member are struggling with depression, please reach out to get help.

Considering March is National Kidney Month, we would like to recognize the valuable services EMS provides to patients with Kidney disease every day of the year. When EMS crews are called on to care for patients with Kidney Disease, we know they are in good hands. We also understand the amount of medical data dispatchers and crews are required to collect for this type of care, especially dialysis transports, can be overwhelming and frustrating at times. We want you to know we appreciate your efforts and are here to help.

AIM salutes Rescue Heroes that serve our communities to keep us safe every time an emergency 911 EMS/Fire call comes in. This March we are celebrating Firefighter Kenneth Taggart’s 2017 Rookie of the Year Award. Firefighter Taggart was recently awarded Probationary Firefighter of the Year for Frederick County Fire & Rescue Services in Maryland. The award was presented at Frederick County Chamber of Commerce’s 6th annual Public Safety Awards in Brunswick, MD on March 7, 2017.

February is American Heart Month, so we wanted to spotlight the important role EMS plays in Heart Disease awareness and outcomes. The leading cause of death in the United States, for both men and women, is heart disease, and with February marked as American Heart Month, we wanted to spotlight the important role EMS plays in Heart Disease awareness and outcomes. EMS dispatch and patient care are the first line of defense when a cardiac arrest call comes in to 911. Unfortunately, time is the enemy for cardiac patients. Life and death can be determined by the patient delaying a call to 911, making the role of dispatch and emergency care critically important.