Tidewater Region Celebrates TEMS 30th
A Staff Report
Background
The Tidewater EMS Council celebrates its 30th year of incorporation on November 7th. TEMS was chartered by the State Corporation Commission as a private, non-stock, non-profit corporation on this day in 1974. Planning for a regional EMS system began two years earlier, in 1970.
Lessons learned for Korea and Vietnam showed that early, effective medical treatment in the field, followed by ongoing care in the emergency department and critical care units could significantly reduce morbidity and mortality of critically ill or injured patients. Federal, state and local interests focused on the development of a systematic delivery of EMS for the civilian population in the early seventies.
Reflections [Bruce W. Edwards][Robert W. Hundley][Stewart W. Martin, MD][Frank M. Yeiser, Jr.,MD]
Bruce W. Edwards, City of Virginia Beach EMS Chief and member of the TEMS Board of Directors, writes:
"When the TEMS Council was formed in 1974, the Virginia Beach Emergency Coronary Care Program (ECCP) was still very much a fledgling pre-hospital advanced life support effort. Its federal funding was drying up, but thanks to the EMSS Act of 1973 other funds, and lots of them, were becoming available. TEMS’ mission: to make a plan, buy equipment and coordinate a “regional” development of EMS.
"In 1975, Norfolk’s ALS program was born and, in quick order, Suffolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake followed. At the time it became apparent that to build a really great service, we all needed that regional coordination. Common drug and IV boxes, common training and equipment as well as unified operational cooperation were established in the late 1970s. ALS classes were conducted at EVMS and common purchases of equipment were made. The concept of municipal borders was shot down as being bad for patient care. Common protocols were developed as being good for patient care. Everyone was included. That’s what the establishment of TEMS accomplished. We all became “one”.
"Over the years we have made decisions that have affected all of us. We’ve looked after each other. It paid off during actual events. The train wreck in the Great Dismal Swamp, the Hillhaven Convalescent home fire, Greek fest 1989…all are examples of this regional effort. That is why I believe we are the best run Regional Council in Virginia.
"Today, the TEMS Region enjoys many privileges. Dynamic committees are constantly and consistently formulating solutions to problems. Even though ALS training is now being accomplished at TCC, the protocols that drive that curriculum are being formulated by TEMS members. Career and volunteer students still sit side by side to learn, just as they did nearly 30 years ago. The MMRS, an extremely important program, is overseen by TEMS, because it was recognized as being the organization that gets the job done.
"No doubt, the challenges in EMS will keep coming. It is my hope that TEMS will continue to serve as the catalyst and facilitator that brings all the folks together who are more than capable of meeting those challenges. We not only NEED to remain the best region in the Commonwealth we MUST.
"Happy birthday and congratulations, Jim and staff, on TEMS’ 30th birthday!"
Robert W. "Rusty" Hundley, Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad Chief and a charter member of the TEMS Board of Directors, writes:
"The past thirty years have seen advances in pre-hospital care that could only have been imagined even in the early 70’s. In fact, some recent advances could only have been imagined ten years ago. The one constant throughout this entire process has been the consistent leadership of the TEMS Council. Forward thinking physicians and EMS providers in Virginia Beach initiated the first all-volunteer advanced life support program in the country in 1972. This motivated all of us to “keep up with the Beach” and provide the same level of care to the residents of our respective communities. Shortly after the Beach program began, representatives of all the Southside communities began meeting to plan a direction for this fledgling technology. Under the leadership of Kent Weber and “Flash” Dailey, the Tidewater EMS Council was formed from off-shoot activities of the Tidewater Regional Health Planning Council.
"It soon became evident that combining resources from all jurisdictions was the best thing for the system and the patient. As Frank Yeiser said so often, “You will never go wrong doing what is in the best interest of the patient.” With this in mind, the communities came together and began training willing providers to become Cardiac Technicians so we could all do what Roy & Johnny were doing on “Emergency!”. The glue to the training, the organization, and the equipment needed to implement such programs was the TEMS Council. Through multiple successful grant applications, TEMS saw to it that all agencies had access to the same training and the same equipment. These early providers truly got to go to “medical school” as all classes were held in the facilities of EVMS, and all instruction was provided by volunteer faculty.
"I remember fondly the excitement of Frank Yeiser when we in Suffolk had our COR equipment installed in the ambulances. Frank spent several nights riding all over Suffolk transmitting back to Norfolk General just to prove he could communicate from anywhere in the area. We transmitted voice and EKG from the bottom of the Midtown tunnel to Camp Pond Road in Western Suffolk. Newer providers may not remember, but there was a time when we had to transmit the patient’s EKG to the Medical Control Physician before any orders were given. We truly have come a long way! Congratulations to TEMS and its staff for thirty years of dedicated service in making Tidewater one of the best regions for quality EMS services in the country."
Stewart W. Martin, MD, President of the TEMS Board of Directors, Regional Medical Director and Operational Medical Director for the Virginia Beach Department of EMS writes:
"We have, and have had, a tremendous cadre of talent that has moved this organization forward and established the critical roles that the Council plays in the EMS community. We have been blessed with dedicated individuals who possess great vision to consistently reinvent and advance the Council in achieving more ambitious goals. TEMS is now a model of EMS community leadership that is emulated across the State. The accomplishments of TEMS over the past 30 years are far to numerous to mention individually. Emergency Medical Services has undergone tremendous change over the past 30 years and the Council has always strived to remain in the forefront. I am honored to be a part of this superb organization that does nothing but serve the community and strive to improve EMS in the tidewater region and throughout the State. With such an impressive legacy of 30 years, the future is certain to be splendid."
The late Frank M. Yeiser, Jr., MD, a charter member of the Tidewater Board of Directors, wrote upon resignation as superintendent of the former Norfolk Bureau of Paramedical Rescue Services and TEMS board to attend medical school in 1977:
"...I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine people who I have had an opportunity to work with during my term with the Council. The accomplishments of this body towards the improvement of emergency medical services will probably never be totally recognized by the public. However, there is no doubt in my mind that sick and injured patients who are serviced by our system will continue to receive the best possible care available as long as we all remember that our number one goal must continue to be focused on all the needs of the PATIENT. I believe that the politicians in our region should take a serious look at the accomplishments of this Council which have significantly improved the EMS capabilities of the entire region. I would point out particularly to the fact that this has been done without the personal loss of identity or organization of any sub-component within the system. Our efforts have clearly demonstrated the viability of this approach towards improvement of services for our citizens of our respective communities...Keep up the good work and please remember the "Patient.""
Frank Yeiser went on to become an emergency medicine physician, an operational medical director, chair of the region's Operational Medical Director's Committee, president of the TEMS Council, and the first medical director for the statewide Virginia EMS system. He was a recipient of the Governor's Award to an Outstanding Operational Medical Director in 1987, and that annual award was subsequently named in Dr. Yeiser's honor.
Conclusion
The Tidewater EMS Council recognizes the following charter members who had foresight and a vision for prehospital patient care: Robert J. Robertson, Jr., MD; Robert Brickman, MD; Donald C. Pryor, MD; Floyd E. Waterfield, Jr.; Robert G. Bagley; Harry W. Bleh; E. Franklin Dutton, Jr.; Henry N. Hassel; Edward M. Holmes, III; Ralph L. Horn; Robert W. (Rusty) Hundley; Harold H. Koenig; Philip J. Leavy, Jr., MD; Bartholomew D. Myles; Sarah O. Raby; Alvin C. Rogers, DVM; Norman T. Scott, MD; Robert L. Smith; Kames M. Wagenbach; Bill J. Wright; and Frank M. Yeiser, Jr., MD.
There are more positive experiences to mention and more accomplishments over the years than we have time to name. Thanks to all of the early providers and EMS leaders for venturing into uncharted territory and for putting it on the line for our field. God willing, we will continue to advance in the field of emergency medicine and always strive to improve the delivery of EMS in Tidewater. Our patients need us! Happy Anniversary TEMS.