The North Carolina Office of EMS is at 701 Barbour Drive, Raleigh NC 27603 - Telephone 919.855.3935, FAX 919.733.7021
This Page Was Updated 24.Jul.10 22:56
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PRATT TO HEAD DHSR

RALEIGH NC (23-Jul-10)  Drexdal Pratt was named Thursday as the new director of the state Division of Health Service Regulation, which licenses hospitals and medical facilities. The announcement came from DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler.  "I look forward to Drexdal's leadership in DHSR, and his insight for problem solving.  His demonstrated leadership assures us that DHSR will not skip a beat as it continues to provide critical oversight of our many licensed care providers and assures that our citizens many care needs are appropriately met," Cansler said.

Pratt, who begins his new job Aug. 1, worked nearly 12 years as chief of the state Office of Emergency Medical Services. His career in EMS spans some 36 years.  Beginning as a volunteer in his hometown of King in the fire department and rescue squad, Pratt became a paramedic with Stokes EMS and then its director.  This was followed by work with OEMS beginning as Region I Coordinator and continuing to the highest position in the Office.

“I look forward to Drexdal’s leadership in DHSR, and his insight for problem solving," said Lanier Cansler, the state's secretary of Health and Human Services, in a news release issued Thursday. "His demonstrated leadership assures us that DHSR will not skip a beat as it continues to provide critical oversight of our many licensed care providers and assures that our citizens’ many care needs are appropriately met."

Pratt replaces Jeff Horton, who served as interim director of DHSR. Horton will return to his previous position as deputy director. "I appreciate all of Jeff's work keeping the day-to-day operations of the division going," Secretary Cansler said.  "His depth of knowledge will continue to be a great asset in the operations of DHSR."

Regina Godette-Crawford will serve as Acting Chief of the Office until a permanent replacement is named.  Tom Mitchell will serve as Acting Assistant Chief, Administration and Allen Johnson will serve as Acting Regional Manager for the Eastern Regional Office.

OEMS serves as the division's regulatory arm for EMS personnel and agency credentials, as well as designation of qualified hospitals as trauma centers.

FIRST ROUND PARAMEDIC RESULTS

RALEIGH NC (24-Jul-10) First Round Winners in the 2010 Paramedic competition have been announced by OEMS. 

The competitions were held Friday at  five locations in the state; Gaston College, Surry Community College, Fayetteville Tech Community College, Wake Tech Community College, and James Sprunt Community College and the results announced today by Regional Coordinator Ann Marie Brown.

The final competition in Greensboro on Sunday, 3rd October, 2010.

MINUTES MATTER

ASHEVILLE NC (23-Jul-10) On Friday, July 30th at the WalMart in Sylva, between 10am and 2 pm , WestCare EMS (a division of  MedWest)  will  participate in a MINUTES MATTER! event.   Minutes Matter is a grassroots campaign started by 5 healthcare professionals with the goal of educating residents in WNC how to perform hands only CPR, how to recognize a stroke and the importance of calling 9-1-1 promptly. The event is FREE!!!

Nationally, it takes on average, 8 to 10 minutes for rescuers to arrive after someone calls 9-1-1. That can be too long for someone in cardiac arrest. After four minutes without oxygen going to your brain, your brain begins to die. The chance of survival is increased if a bystander immediately and correctly performs CPR, which helps to maintain blood flow to the heart and brain while rescuers are responding.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability in America. Prompt recognition of stroke symptoms and fast activation of the 9-1-1 system can get the potential stroke victim the treatment they need. Come learn how to Act F.A.S.T.!

If you are unable to attend this event and would like more information on MINUTES MATTER! Please visit our website at www.wncminutesmatter.vblogs.net.  

“Become a life saver, not a by stander”

MINUTES MATTER is supported by  The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, The National Institute for Neurological Disease, Mission Memorial Hospital, RACE, MAHEC, Pardee Hospital, MedWest, NC State Representative Becky Carney, The NC Office of EMS, CPR Across America, American Heart Association, The American Red Cross, The Brain Attack Coalition, Zoll Medical and your local EMS and Fire Department.

PARAMEDIC COMPETITION PHOTOS

Pictures of the 2009 paramedic competition have been posted to the web page. 

Congratulations to the State Winner, Surry County EMS and paramedics Roger Horton and Barry McMillan.

The pictures, by Carl Van Cott of OEMS, may be viewed on this page.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES UPDATED 17 JULY 2010

Current training and educational opportunities are provided by Ann Wood at the Piedmont Triad Council of Governments. They are in PDF format.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS NOTICE

08-Dec-09 Effective Immediately, please address all email to the WebMaster to ncems@earthlink.net.  The old address of Wayne.Ashworth@ncmail.net is no longer valid. Please include the word EMPLOYMENT in the subject line if the message relates to a job posting.