Fallon Ambulance announces Ebola Standard Operating Procedure

Oct. 14, 2014 - PRLog -- Fallon Ambulance Service (www.fallonambulance.com), the region’s largest independently owned ambulance service provider, has taken numerous, specific measures to protect the public against Ebola, in the unlikely event that there is a case in the Greater Boston area.

“The general public is on edge about this emerging infectious disease and we want to assure people that Fallon Ambulance Service has taken a series of preventative measures to protect both the patient and those responding to a call in equal measure,” said Kevin Mont, Director of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Preparedness.

Fallon Ambulance Service works closely with the PSAPs (Public Safety Access Point) call center (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_center)s responsible for answering calls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_call) to an emergency telephone number for police (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police), firefighting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefighting), and ambulance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambulance) services, in order to alert people to a potential local emergency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency), where emergency medical dispatch is critical. The company has added the Emerging Infectious Disease protocol, aimed at quickly identifying high risk patients such that early warning is given to police, fire and ambulance responders.

“Safe and effective delivery of patient care is the hallmark of our training,” said Mont. He added, “Over the past decade we have come in contact with patients who have had serious illnesses, including SARS, H1N1 Influenza, H5N1 Avian Flu, and seasonal Influenza and our protocols and training are always aimed at being ready for whatever medical conditions we encounter.”

Mont said that paramedics and EMTs would be among the first responders to encounter people who have been infected with Ebola, and the company has been vigilant in the steps it has taken to be ready for any contingency.

Fallon Ambulance Service has developed and implemented comprehensive infection control policies, conducted an extensive inventory of its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) capabilities and assessed all equipment. The company has purchased PPE (Tyvek/Tychem suits) for every ambulance to accommodate every body size. The protective equipment also includes N95 masks that are fit-test to employees to ensure the best protection possible. For the past month, there has been extensive supervisor training. Fallon has also planned PPE training for every member of its field staff this week, designed to provide competence in the donning and doffing of this protective equipment. And, this past week, all field staff has undergone refresher training to be certain that they recognize the signs and symptoms of Ebola. Moreover, senior staff has upgraded its Emergency Medical Dispatching set to include an infectious disease protocol. Fallon and its team underwent a Pandemic Planning program in 2009 and has upgraded its policies and protocols on a weekly basis since then.

“It is important to note that Fallon Ambulance Service participates in weekly conference calls on a local and international level dealing with this health issue,” said Mont.  “Locally, we are working with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to stay up-to-date with the rapidly changing information landscape about this disease.” He added, “In addition to our state and international conference calls, we have also worked extensively with major Boston hospitals in the development of a transfer protocol for patients that focuses on caregiver and patient safety.”

Additionally, Fallon has put in place a mechanism that will encapsulate an ambulance should they need to transport a patient with Ebola or other infectious disease. The company is upgrading medical alerts on a daily basis and in addition to the Ebola threat they are constantly updating field crews about Influenza and Enterovirus issues that are going on.

All preventive measures taken by Fallon now and in the future help to ensure that when someone has a need Fallon Ambulance Service is there to respond.

About Fallon Ambulance

Fallon Ambulance Service was founded in 1923 by James R. Fallon, Sr. Mr. Fallon’s son, James R. (Ray) Fallon, Jr., served as President and owner from 1974 until 2000. Today, Timothy J. Fallon, grandson to the founder, serves as President and CEO.  Tim’s sister Kathleen Mackie, step brothers, Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President and Normand Racicot, Vice President, also represent the third generation of this family business. And a fourth generation represented by 7 great grandchildren of the founder is working in various capacities in the organization. Fallon Ambulance is the largest privately owned and operated ambulance service in the Northeast. Fallon Ambulance employs more than 600 personnel, operates more than 150 vehicles and responds to over 160,000 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.  Fallon Ambulance is the 9-1-1 provider for the municipalities of Milton, Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, and Dedham and provides primary backup to Boston and Randolph. Fallon Ambulance Service additionally provides medical transportation for a number of area medical facilities including nursing homes, hospitals, and HMO’s throughout Greater Boston, the SouthShore and Metro West region. It is headquartered at 111-115 Brook Road, Quincy, MA and operates satellite offices throughout its coverage area. Fallon Ambulance Service has been recognized many times by various business and community organizations for its exceptional service.  For additional information about Fallon Ambulance Services or programs that the company offers, contact Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President, at (617) 745-2117 or visit www.fallonambulance.com.