OHCA The Oregon Caregiver Fall/Winter 2019

The Oregon Caregiver FALL/WINTER 2019 www.ohca.com 10 Targeted technical assistance and education was directed toward the few outlier facilities that were initiating an above average number of calls. In initial meetings with TVFR and in future meetings with other fire districts, we kept hearing the same thing from emergency responder staff: “I had no idea of the differences between each of the settings!” In addition to uncovering this important misunderstanding from emergency responders, we also discov- ered that long term care providers didn’t fully understand their local responders’ dispatch protocols. For example, many providers didn’t understand that due to standardized dispatch protocols, there is typically no alternative to what is deemed a Code 3 or “lights and sirens” response, which requires the most people and equipment intensive response for emergency services. Since our initial collaborations, OHCA has continued our ongoing work with TVFR. Recently, TVFR provided OHCA staff with an opportunity to participate in a research project initiated by the district and conducted by the Campbell Delong Resources consulting firm titled “Improving the Response Partnership in Care Facilities.” When the final report is released, there will be a wealth of information and tremendous opportu- nity for engagement to use the findings and data to develop new recommenda- tions for improving emergency response partnerships. QUALITY L eadership, communication, collaboration, and data are essential elements for successful partnerships between emergency response teams and long term care organizations. Oregon Health Care Association (OHCA) routinely employs these elements in our work with local fire jurisdictions and other quality partners. The need for collaborative and innovative EMS service strategies is undeniable. Oregon’s aging population is rapidly growing. At the same time, Oregon’s model of long term care supports more older adults living in their homes than ever before while also allowing individuals with complex healthcare needs to reside in a variety of long term care settings. These settings range from independent senior housing, with general support staff, to post acute care rehabilitation facilities that employ 24/7 licensed nurses; physical, occupational and speech therapists; and medical directors. The differences among care settings are often misunderstood by EMS staff and physicians alike. Long term care and first responder organizations share a mutual need to understand each other’s workspaces and solve what some might call challenges but what others would deem opportunities. This article highlights best practices for EMS and long term care collaboration including evidence-based strategies that drive efficient service, improve resident care, reduce unnecessary EMS calls, and encourage unique solutions to community -specific problems. In today’s interconnected, complex, and cost-conscious healthcare environment, long term care and emergency response leaders derive better outcomes when there is proactive and routine engage- ment between partners. In the absence of this, miscommunication leads to strained relationships and the inability to find good solutions to problems that might rise. The opportunities for long term care providers to engage with local fire officials are abundant and simple. All it takes is one phone call from the provid- ers or fire officials to set up a meeting to host a facility for a tour, to have a discussion on what is working well and what can be improved upon, and to review a disaster plan or coordinate an annual emergency drill. In 2010 OHCA and its members received such a call from the EMS Chief at Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVFR), the second largest fire district in the state. TVFR approached OHCA about the volume of EMS calls they were receiving from care facilities. The TVFR team came to the table with informative data and a solution-oriented mindset. Together we drafted a set of recommen- dations and implemented an improve- ment plan. The improvement strategies leaned heavily on joint education and included: • Education for EMS staff about the long term care system and the scope of service provided in each setting, • Training for providers on appropriate use of EMS services, and • Effective communication protocols. Engagement is the Key to Quality EMS and Long Term Care Partnerships By Linda Kirschbaum, Oregon Health Care Association The need for collaborative and innovative EMS service strategies is undeniable.