The Tidewater Emergency  Medical Services Council, Inc.

 

At any moment, an individual may suffer a sudden, life-threatening illness or traumatic injury requiring immediate medical attention. More than one in every six people in the Tidewater Emergency Medical Services (EMS) region will summon an emergency ambulance this year. The ambulance response is provided from a local level, triggered by a call to 9-1-1. The professional volunteer and career emergency medical personnel are certified, and their ambulances are licensed, by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services.  At a regional level, the Tidewater EMS Council was incorporated in 1974 as a non-profit private organization for the purpose of developing and implementing an efficient and effective regional EMS delivery system. The council integrates and coordinates resources to ensure rapid response and expert patient care, as well as coordination between more than 60 local EMS agencies and 15 hospitals.

Programs . . .

EMS system planning and coordination for 10 cities and counties in Southeastern Virginia and Virginia's Eastern Shore. This program is guided and funded primarily under an annual contract with the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services and local contributions. These services include:

·       EMS system planning, regional medical direction, protocol development, standardized medication and IV box exchange system, mass casualty planning, trauma and stroke triage planning and quality improvement, EMS performance improvement, grants assistance, and other forms of technical assistance.  

·       Coordination and guidance of EMS training programs , specialized course development and provision, an annual weekend continuing education conference (largely supported by Sentara) and administration of state EMS test sites within the region.

·       Coordination of a Critical Incident Stress Management team, a group of volunteer mental health and public safety workers who are specially trained to provide crisis management education, defusing and debriefings for emergency services personnel.

·       Recognition of EMS personnel via an annual regional awards recognition program. This activity is supported by the hospital emergency departments, emergency physician groups and businesses throughout the region. Regional award recipients are forwarded as nominees for the Virginia Governor's EMS Awards program. The awards program is part of the council's overall recruitment and retention initiative which includes EMS Week displays and events in May and promotion of volunteer and career opportunities.

·       Publication of a bi-monthly EMS newsletter, RESPONSE, with a circulation to more than 18000 individuals and agencies throughout the region. Printing of the newsletter is funded by continuing support from the Medical Transport, LLC, our Partner in Service.

·       Development and maintenance of the council's website www.tidewaterems.org and a regional EMS listserv.

·       Administrative support for the Virginia-1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) which is a partnership between the City of Norfolk, York County and the Virginia Office of EMS. The DMAT is a group of professional and para-professional medical personnel (supported by a cadre of logistical and administrative staff) designed to provide medical care during a disaster or other event.

 The Tidewater Center for Life Support (TCLS) Training, managed on behalf of the Eastern Virginia Medical School, provides continuing medical education for physicians, nurses and other medical professionals as well as the general public in programs like CPR and first aid, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Advanced Trauma Life Support. Through training courses offered directly and through a network of training sites, TCLS trains more than 16,000 persons annually making it one of the most active American Heart Association training centers in the mid-Atlantic region.  The program is funded by student registrations and the EVMS operating budget.

 Implementation and sustainment of the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Medical Response System, managed in close cooperation with the neighboring Peninsulas EMS Council, which is a program to improve regional medical response to acts of terrorism or any large disaster within the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) region. This program is funded by 16 HRPDC cities and counties and various federal contracts and grants.

 Coordination and support of the Eastern Virginia Healthcare Preparedness Program under agreement with the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association.

The council's 24-member board of directors represents the 10 cities and counties within the Tidewater EMS region plus six other medical organizations. The 10 jurisdictions are the Cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and the Counties of Accomack, Isle of Wight, Northampton and Southampton.

The  TEMS Strategic Plan Rev 12-15-2011 is fully revised every three years by the board of directors and interim revisions are accomplished annually.  A number of standing committees assist the board accomplish the goals and objectives identified in the plan, and workgroups, taskforces and subcommittees assist the standing committees. See our meeting and event calendar and committee descriptions all available from the left menu.

The council is a 501 (c) (3) organization. Our  TEMS 2012 Federal 990 is available for review at any time during normal office hours and is also posted electronically at Guidestar, a national database of non-profits. Unrestricted as well as targeted contributions are always appreciated.

Contact Information . . .

Tidewater EMS Council, Inc.

1104 Madison Plaza Ste 101

Chesapeake, VA  23320

Telephone: 757 963-0632   Fax: 757 963-2325

E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Office hours:  Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm except holidays