The winter/spring education year has begun.  Various individuals and organizations across the region are announcing classes, ranging from EMT-Basic ACLS, PALS and a variety of other training opportunities.  Check out our Upcoming Education and Events page to see the current offerings.

Are you offering a class and want it listed?  Send the information to your Field Coordinator (540.562.3482) and we will post it.

Looking for Continuing Education? Check out the WVEMS Calendar of Events.  Need CE in a certain Area?  Type the Area number into the search box, and all offerings of that area will be listed with location, times and contact information.

Effective January 9, a new drug box exchange form  (Pharmacy Administration Record) will be in place at all hospitals in the Western and Blue Ridge EMS Regions. This form replaces the card that has been in place for some time at EDs the WVEMS region, and was designed to meet all requirements of the Virginia Board of Pharmacy to document the drugs that were used or wasted on an EMS call.

Until the DEA approves a method to utilize a secure electronic signature, and until every hospital has a means to DIRECTLY transmit an electronically-signed form to the pharmacy, this hard-copy form is necessary. Please understand that this is not a mandate created by the EMS councils. It is something that is necessary to keep the hospital pharmacies in compliance with state and federal regulations.

The form includes spaces to identify the patient, the agency and the AIC. It lists all drugs that were administered or wasted. It requires a physician signature for all drug box exchanges, and a DEA number only when narcotics (Sch II-V) are administered.

The pharmacies DO NOT need a printed PPCR. A printed PPCR may be required by the receiving hospital, but this is left up to the facility. There is no pharmacy requirement for a signed PPCR.

Please feel free to contact WVEMS for additional information. .

The Blue Ridge EMS Council has announced a mini-symposium called "iEMS - Got Resuscitation?" This exciting educational opportunity will be held on March 1-4, at Central Virginia Community College. Twenty-eight topics are included, and the cost is only $25. On-line registration is open, at www.vaems.org/iEMS.

Please "READ MORE" for a complete list of course offerings. Many opportunities to obtain CE at the ALS and BLS levels exist. Take a look, and register now! Enrollment is limited. Discounted lodging for the event has been arranged at the Wingate by Wyndham - Lynchburg. Information may be found on the REGISTRATION SITE. Registration deadline is February 20.