Beginning January 1, 2022 Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital will go live with the attached updates to their Adult Trauma Triage Criteria.

• Trauma Centers are required to review trauma triage criteria each year (Commonwealth and American College of Surgeons guidelines)
• CRMH received feedback from EMS providers, Emergency Department physicians, as well as Trauma surgeons specifically surrounding Gold Alert heart rate criteria
• Feedback prompted an in depth Over and Under triage analysis
• Results of analysis:
  • When only HR < 60 criteria was meet this led to a 70% Over-triage Rate – consistent with provider feedback
  • When only HR > 120 criteria was meet this led to a 66% Over-triage Rate – consistent with provider feedback
  • Need for Geriatric specific criteria identified – Identified as need considering high incidents of geriatric trauma and national trends
• CRMH ED MedCom will continue to follow criteria for calling Gold/Trauma Alerts
• If at any time an ED physician/Medical Control is needed, please request and a provider will be paged to MedCom.
• Please contact Dan Freeman, Trauma Program Director with any questions @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  pdf Click Here to see the updated Adult Trauma Triage Criteria! (101 KB)

Every agency in the WVEMS region, every hospital, and the WVEMS Council have entered into an agreement whereby the hospitals offer a ONE-FOR-ONE exchange of supply items specifically listed on the Standard List of Restocked Items. Please be aware that the listed items are the ONLY supply items that you are permitted to exchange at any hospital within our region per the agreement, and the exchange is limited to ONE per patient. For example, if you use two EZ-IO needles on a patient due to a failed attempt, you are entitled to ONE exchange needle. Not two. For other items such as IV catheters, you may exchange one-for-one for each one actually used on the patient. 

Abuse of the ONE-FOR-ONE exchange jeopardizes our entire exchange process and could result in loss of all exchange privileges. Abuses of the exchange program will be reported to the provider's OMD and agency officials to be dealt with accordingly.

Please watch for more information regarding the exchange process for specific hospitals. Remember that this supply exchange program is a benefit provided through the generosity of our hospitals and it can be rescinded at any time.

The 2021 WVEMS Operational Protocols have been released. The protocol update consists of reviewing the 2021 WVEMS Protocols/Policies, reviewing the 2021 Drug Box Schematic and signing the provider attestation form and turning this form into your agency. Provider attestation forms will be kept on file within the agency and EMS Physician-your agency leadership in consultation with your EMS Physician (OMD) will decide when your agency will transition to the 2021 Version and if more agency specific training is required. The specific protocol changes are notated in the two page Attestation form. WVEMS is in the process of creating a PowerPoint that agencies can use as an additional resource for training and implementation of the WVEMS 2021 Protocols; this document should be available in the next 2 weeks. WVEMS is available to assist EMS agencies that would like assistance and is recommended to contact their Field Coordinator for different options or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WVEMS Drug Boxes have begun to be updated to the 2021 Schematic through routine exchange; do not take your drug box to the pharmacy just to obtain an updated box. During the transition period, please note that some medications may not be available. Should you have any questions about emergent infield patient care, contact "online medical direction" of the receiving facility, otherwise contact your agency EMS Physician, or WVEMS staff. 

Please keep in mind that you are NOT allowed to practice under the new protocol guidelines or utilize any new medications until your EMS Physician (Operational Medical Director) has cleared you to do so. You can easily toggle between protocol versions under the settings located at the bottom of the app (currently you will see the 2019 Version and the 2021 Version located in the iOS and Android Applications).

Drug boxes that have been updated will have the following neon yellow label:

2021 Protocol Update

Here are the links to the 2021 Protocols/Schematic:

2021 Protocols: https://bit.ly/WVEMS_Protocols_2021

2021 Drug Box Schematic: https://bit.ly/WVEMS_Drugs_2021

pdf CLICK HERE FOR THE PROVIDER ATTESTATION FORM (139 KB)

pdf CLICK HERE FOR THE 2021 WVEMS PROTOCOL ROLLOUT POWERPOINT (51.25 MB)

Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

The WVEMS Council recently received a Rescue Squad Assistance Fund grant from the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services for the purchase of i-gel® Resus Pack airways for the region. This grant is to assist in the conversion specified by the WVEMS Regional Medical Direction Committee in our most recent protocols. Your field coordinators have begun delivering the i-gel devices to the agencies for future implementation. 

All EMS agencies will receive one set of i-gel Resus Packs in sizes 3, 4 and 5 for each licensed EMS vehicle.  Once your agency has received the i-gels, your Operational Medical Director will determine when to implement them. 

All hospitals in our region have been contacted about i-gel implementation and exchange and they are working with their supply chains to ensure that you are able to exchange “i-gel for i-gel.”  While we are working to streamline this process, we appreciate your understanding if the hospital that you transport to does not have an i-gel for exchange, you may receive a King Airway instead of an i-gel until stock is depleted. Please note that the i-gel, like the King airways, will be available for a ONE-FOR-ONE exchange. 

We are currently working with Intersurgical (i-gel manufacturer) to have a live training session in each planning district.  We will keep you posted on the dates.  Below, you will find a video from Intersurgical with information and direction for placement of the i-gel Resus Pack.

i-gel® Placement Video