News

OKAMA, was contacted last week and asked to support HB 3126 (Rep. Josh Cockroft and Sen. Jason Smalley) creating the Oklahoma 9-1-1 Management Authority Act. The Association worked quickly to study the proposed Act and to contact expertise on the subject matter. After study, careful consideration, and the valued opinion of 9-1-1 managers and directors, OKAMA has elected to Strongly Support the Act and to assist in any way possible with the passage of the legislation. OKAMA is dedicated to providing the best possible emergency services and the highest quality out-of-hospital healthcare and transportation to any citizen that might have an emergent illness or injury. A quality, highly functioning communications system that will help us respond to the location of the emergency is a vital element to our objective and strongly desired.

The Oklahoma Ambulance Association is now accepting nominations for the OKAMA Stars of Life ceremony. Each nominee will be recognized at the Annual Star of Life Award Banquet to be held March 30, 2016. Eligible nominees include all levels of EMT, billing personnel, and dispatchers. In the past, employees have been nominated for excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect, or selfless service to their organization. Recognize your employees who help to achieve the mission of your EMS service; this recognition demonstrates a respect for your employees. OKAMA wants to see this recognition on a local level as well as on a national and statewide basis. At the OKAMA Stars Banquet each star will receive a Star of Life trophy, a Star of Life pin, and a copy of the video that will be shown during the event. The nominees will also be considered for an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C. The chosen nominee will represent Oklahoma at the National Star of Life ceremony presented by the American Ambulance Association. Oklahoma Ambulance Association members participate in the Star of Life program at no charge. Non-member services are encouraged to go to the website and join the association. Non-members may participate, however a fee will be assessed to cover the cost of the Star'€™s participation. Please complete and return the Star'€™s nomination form by February 15, 2016.

Stars2016nominationform.pdf

OKAMA appreciates the opportunity to partner with the Drug Enforcement Agency, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, and the Oklahoma State Department of Health to bring information to our member services about this very important subject. Attached are templates for some of the required forms and letters of request. Although there are not any particular forms supplied by any of theses agencies, there is required information that each form must contain. The templates are included as guides and each ambulance service is free to design their own form or letter. We suggest contacting the appropriate agency for their approval prior to incorporating these forms into use in your service.

DEATemplates.pdf

Attached are a number of documents (Guidelines and Forms) from the DEA and OBN for your use. Also included here is the contact information for the speakers who participated in the Drug Enforcement discussion at our Fall Conference. DEA Info: Lisa Sullivan lisa.d.sullivan@usdoj.gov Mobile: 214-366-6936 Main: 214-837-7712 www.dea.gov www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/21cfr/cfr/ OBN Info: Sandra G. LaVenue, Deputy General Counsel OBNDD 405-530-3146 slavenue@obn.state.ok.us www.ok.gov/obndd

Guidlines_and_Forms.pdf

Please see the attached slides from Gail's presentation.

Atnip_Oklahoma_Ambulance_Fall.pdf

Please see the attached for Mr. Williamson's presentation.

OKAMA_presentation_10-19-15_-_FINAL.pdf

The Oklahoma Ambulance Association (OKAMA) Fall Conference and Tradeshow Wednesday, October 21, 2015 The Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City Sign Up- Today! Attached is the brochure for Fall Conference. This year'€™s conference provides a "can'€™t miss"€ session bringing representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Oklahoma State Department of Health- EMS Division and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics together to talk about federal and state regulations and increasing compliance requirements among ambulance providers in our state. For the past five years the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency has been working with Texas EMS providers to ensure that all federal regulations governing the use of narcotics in EMS are followed. It's now Oklahoma'€™s turn. Oklahoma EMS providers must meet all regulations for DEA, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD), and the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Many of the regulations of these three agencies overlap, but some do not. It can be a very confusing issue! At our conference OKAMA will host DEA agent Ms. Lisa Sullivan, Diversion Project Manager, Sandra G. LaVenue, Deputy General Counsel for OBNDD, and Dale Adkerson, Oklahoma State Department of Health EMS Division, for a 3 hour presentation and workshop. Don’t miss the opportunity to have all three governing agencies together to share each agencies regulations, requirements, and guidance. OKAMA will provide a tool-kit to assist EMS agencies and there will be sufficient time for questions and answers. Unintended loss, diversions, and unauthorized use have too high of a price for any EMS service to pay. Don'€™t let your service get caught unprepared. Regulations will be enforced so it'€™s up to you to get the latest information and one-on-one assistance. Join OKAMA on the 21st for this exciting opportunity! Use the registration forms in the attached conference brochure and reserve your spot for this information packed event. Register early!

Fall2015_Brochure.pdf

The Oklahoma Ambulance Association is now accepting nominations for the OKAMA Stars of Life ceremony. Each nominee will be recognized at the Annual Star of Life Award Banquet to be held April 1. At the OKAMA Stars Banquet each star will receive a Star of Life trophy, a Star of Life pin, and a copy of the video that will be shown during the event. The nominees will also be considered for an all expense paid trip to Washington D.C. The chosen nominees will represent Oklahoma at the National Star of Life ceremony presented by the American Ambulance Association. Two nominees, one from a rural EMS agency and one from a suburban EMS agency may be picked by the OKAMA Board to represent Oklahoma and OKAMA. Eligible nominees include all levels of EMT, billing personnel, dispatchers, and even medical directors. If you have an employee that has had an outstanding "€œsave"€, goes above and beyond what is required, or maybe just helps to further the mission of EMS, nominate them. The nomination will show your employees that you appreciate the things they do for your agency. It also will show the community what a great service you have and the dedicated employees that serve them. Download the attached nomination form, and nominate your STAR today.

STARS_2015.pdf

Thanks to all of the participants who attended this year'€™s Fall Conference. It was a great day of education and networking. For those of you who attended Gail Atnip'€™s session attached is her presentation/notes for you to download. You can also find and download her presentation/notes on our website www.okama.org. See you in the Spring!

Atnip - OklahomaFall2014.pdf

To All Oklahoma Providers: It is time for the 2015 Oklahoma Ambulance Association'€™s annual membership drive. I want to personally invite all our current members to renew their membership for 2015 today and all non members to strongly consider joining this association. We as an industry continue to face incredible reimbursement and funding issues as well as regulatory concerns at a local and statewide level. The challenges facing ambulance providers in Oklahoma are more complex than ever and only through your support can the Oklahoma Ambulance Association continue to work on your behalf. Attached you will find our President'€™s letter and Membership application forms. If you are a current member you will be receiving an Invoice via email, if you are not yet a member we encourage you to consider membership with OKAMA. Please return the appropriate completed form and a check by mail at: OKAMA 2504 W. Owen Garriott #302 Enid, OK 73703 We look forward to another successful year in the great State of Oklahoma. The Association can only be strong and effective with your support.

Letter_and_Applications 2015.pdf