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General Membership Meeting Minutes

Call to Order

Chairman Mario Segura called the meeting to order at 1215 pm.

Welcome of New Members and Guests

Chairman Mario Segura introduced himself and welcomed everyone to the meeting.   He asked that everyone please introduce themselves.  Introductions were made by all members and guests.

Review of Previous Minutes - December 07 2007

Ruben Garza made a motion to approve the minutes as presented, seconded by Pamela Danser.  Motion passed unanimously. 

Board Report

Board Meeting Summary - Mario Segura

Chairman Mario Segura gave a brief report on the Board of Directors meeting that was held on January 11, 2008.  He stated they had approved the budget that had been set for 2007 and the preliminary budget for the following year.  He stated they had reviewed the Trauma funds that were going to be available for EMS 911, 358 and funding for 1311 funds.  He stated they had approved the budget for the upcoming 11th Annual Symposium which was presented as twenty-five thousand dollars.  He stated another item they had addressed and approved were the hospital amount dues being increased to one thousand dollars.

Financial Report

Mr. Rene Perez was unable to attend the meeting. TomHushen, Regional Administrator for TRAC V gave a brief report on the financial status.  Tom mentioned that in their General funds they had forty-two thousand dollars.  Tom explained that what the Hospital Preparedness Program was doing now was they were not sending money to the TRAC and have the TRAC deposit it in the bank; he went on to explain that now the process would be that reimbursements would be made after purchases.

Staff Report

A. Texas Hospital Preparedness Program Meeting on February 05, 2008

Tom Hushen stated that included in their packets were the minutes for the meeting that had been held on February 05.  He briefly went over what had been discussed at the meeting which was included in the minutes (packets).

B. Texas Trauma Coordinators Forum

Tom mentioned that inlcuded in their packets was a registration form for Level IV Trauma Facility Orientation Seminars for hospitals that would be interested.  Terri Christy mentioned that the Seminar would not only be for Level IV but for all new Trauma Coordinators also.

C. HPP (Hospital Preparedness Program) Update

Remi Garza was unable to attend.  Tom Hushen explained again the Hospital Preparedness Program was doing now was they wee not sending money to the TRAC and having TRAC deposit it in the bank; he went on to explain that now the process would be that reimbursements would be made after purchases.

D. TEPAC (Texas Preparedness Advisory Council) Update

Tom explained that when he had been working with Cameron County he had been appointed by the Governors office to be on the TEPAC board.  He mentioned he had let TEPAC know that since he had become employed by the TRAC V he was no longer an Emergency Management Coordinator.  He mentioned there had been a request by Jackk Colley to stay as a board member for TEPAC.  Chairman Mario Segura asked all board of directors if they would be in agreement for Tom Hushen to stay on the TEPAC board.  All board members were in agreement.

E. Presentation by James Ewing, representative with South Texas Communications on Microwave and Radio Communications

James Ewing, with South Texas Communications, representing Motorolla gave a presentation on the basic overlay of the things that are known to be in progress from a Federal State Regional border and local area.  There was a motion to authorize Tom Hushen to submit application for the Grant proposal for Radio Communications.  Noel Garcia made a motion to authorize Tom Hushen to submit application for the Grant proposal, seconded by Jose Espinoza.  Motion passed unanimously.

Subcommittee Reports

1. Pre-hospital Disaster Communication Committee - Noel Garcia/Lt. Rudy Garza

Lt. Rudy Garza stated they were still working on the drop off form, which is a standardized form to be used by all EMS for use upon delivery of patients to all regional ERs'.

2. Education Committee - Jose Espinoza/Terri Christy

Jose Espinoza stated that what they had discussed was trying to make PHTLS more affordable to Hospitals and EMS.

3. Injury Prevention/Public Education Committee - Susan Wallace/Mitch Ladyman

Susan Wallace asked if anyone had seen the PSA?  Susan stated that there was a Fall Prevention video that had been playing because Falls were a high priority.  She mentioned that also playing for the next three months would be the video on Driving in Construction Zones.  Susan mentioned participation was needed for Shattered Dreams (a program that is done before Prom to show young drivers and high school students what can happen when you drink and drive) from EMS and Fire Departments.

4. Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement/Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee - Frank Torres/Robert Tamez

Chairman Mario Segura stated they had discussed a concern the Trauma Coordinators had regarding the drop off form for the Hospitals.

5. South Texas Trauma Coordinators - Terri Christy/Jose Espinoza

Terri Christy, new chair person for the South Texas Trauma Coordinators.  Terri mentioned they had discussed their most immediate and upcoming need which was the Topic course.  She mentioned Dory Kline had offered to do a course in Harlingen.  She mentioned the Topic would be on Trauma outcomes and performance improvement course which is offered by the Society of Trauma Nurses to provide education and a better understanding of the performance improvement process in trauma care.  Terri stated that hopefully o April 08, 2008 they would be able to present the course for the Trauma Coordinators.  Terri requested a vote from the board of directors on taking care of the funds for the course.  Tom Hushen stated that it would be a total cost of about $1,500.00 dollars and it would seat 50 people.

Rick Gutierrez made a motion to approve funding for the course, seconded by Pamela Danser.  Motion passed unanimously.

6. Allied Health Committee - Mario Montez/Pamela Danser

Mario Montez stated they had discussed the brochures for the Symposium had already been mailed out.  He mentioned having all of the speakers committed.  He mentioned their goal was $25,000 and were at $17,000 at this point and hopefully surpass it within the next months.  He mentioned entertainment for Bahia Mar had already been secured.  Pamela Danser presented the members with a sample of the bag the Allied committee had selected to be sponsored by Valley Regional Medical Center for the 11th Annual Symposium.

7. Texas Department of State Health Services - Noemi Sanchez

Tom Hushen mentioned messages had been sent out to EMS and Hospitals for the EMTS Survey.  He stated the surveys needed to be completed.  Susan Wallace stated that EMST was a Nation Grant that Texas had received.  She mentioned that this year in order to keep the grant they needed to complete 80% of the Survey in the Census.

8. Stoke Committee - Dr. Parada/

Chairman Mario Segura stated the committee had not met due to their attendance at the International Stroke Conference.  Ruben Garza mentioned he had attended the Stroke Committee meeting in Austin on February 07, 2008.  He mentioned that his purpose in attending the meeting was to find out exactly where the proposed rule stood at the time, rules 157, 133 which are the stroke facility designation.  He mentioned that as for all EMS the rule was not in effect as of yet.  He mentioned that Hospitals in all the state of Texas were already addressing issues and making sure they were in compliance.  Chairman Mario Segura stated two points that were very critical for Trauma Racs was to start the Education process for EMS, secondly Stroke Committee should have already been started.

9. Pediatric Committee - Sherry Russo/

Sherry Russo stated this was their first meeting and asked Edinburg Children's Hospital to participate in the committee.  She stated that they had discussed that GETAC did not know what the Pediatric Committee was supposed to be doing.  She stated hospitals would be getting a survey that would say, "Do you have a Pedi ICU?" and asked everyone to please send the survey back to her to let her know what each hospitals standards were.  Then they would be determining the mission and vision statement so they could go forth.

Other Business

Max Solis with Pulmonetic Systems relayed information as to their sponsorship for the upcoming 11th Annual Symposium and briefly explained the reason why they had not sponsored in the 10th Annual Symposium.

Next Meeting Date

The next meeting date was scheduled for May 16, 2008.

Adjournment

There being no further business, Noel Garcia made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Pamela Danser.  Meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.

To be counted as attending your subcommittee meeting, you must sign in by 11:15 a.m. Participation requirements are to attend 75% of subcommittee and general meetings throughout the State Fiscal Year of September through August 31 each year.