Tulane Emergency Medical Services

Where No TEMS Has Gone Before
Derek Mills

Tulane EMS has passed into maturity. Twenty years of hard work and dedication on the part of its members has managed to entrench this service and its mission. This year, running with a second ambulance, a new office, strong administration, Health Center, and Student Government support, 1999-2000 Tulane EMS has set standards for future years to follow and expand upon. Sarah Rowan, Director of Operations, has overseen a year in which Tulane EMS has not been out of service for a single day, including orientation, exams, and holidays. In the first semester alone, Tulane EMS provided $61,099 worth of emergency medicine and transport free of charge for the Tulane community. Brad Friedman, Director of Training, has done a fantastic job guiding the commitment of this years membership. At present, seven of our members are currently completing their Emergency Room clinical time for EMT-Intermediate certification, twenty-two members are nationally registered EMTs, four members have gained licenses as CPR instructors, and Tulane EMS volunteers have donated over seventy twelve-hour VIGOR shifts to the city of New Orleans. In Finance and Personnel, Corey Maender and Drina Freitas have advanced the organization outside of their regular duties. Coreys hard work has kept TEMS own account well in the black and limited our expense to the Uptown Health Center. Drina has picked up every loose end left about by the organization this year. Be it advertising, CPR instruction, basic training, or representing the organization on various school-wide committees, these two junior officers have gone far beyond the requirements of their posts. Matt Kuivinen, our senior-most Supervisor, led the CQI team this year and oversaw the creation of a 150-question written supervisor test, the drafting of Tulane EMS hurricane response and multiple truck protocols, the implementation of thermometer and glucometer use on the trucks, and the creation of an internal EMT mentor program. We owe thanks to many for our success this year. President Cowen, Vice President Sullivan, Vice President Hailey, and Sodehxo-Marriott were very forthcoming in facilitating TEMS meal plan for on-duty personnel. Dr. Dyment, realizing the need for a higher level of training, committed Student Health payment for Tulane EMS to maintain an EMT Intermediate program. Dr. Farrow, the Health Centers incoming director, has proved invaluable in the crediting of those courses. Student Government has been forthcoming upon our requests for additional funds for conferences and special projects. Alumni support has been outstanding. And finally, Dr. Baxleys presence, benefaction, and guidance has allowed this organization to grow into what has become one of the premiere campus-based ambulance services in the country. There is no end to the great tasks and possibilities awaiting next years leadership. I have every faith that the strong core of volunteers taking over will maintain the standard we have set this year and move the organization into even bigger ends.

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