EMT City Administrator

April 30--ST. CHARLES COUNTY -- The St. Charles County Ambulance District has appealed a circuit judge's rewrite of the ballot wording for a tax increase proposition that voters rejected in the April 2 election. "We need an understanding of what is allowed" for future elections, said district spokesman Marty Limpert. "The board wants to get a ruling on what is educational and what isn't." Circuit Judge Ted House in February found that the ballot title and language submitted by the district board was "impermissibly biased." House also said in his ruling that the board's ballot wording was "not a fair, impartial and neutral summary" and instead made arguments in favor of the tax proposal. Limpert contended that other governmental districts have used similar language over the years. The board on April 5, three days after the election, asked the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District to review the decision. House said the impermissible ballot language included statements that the county's population is growing and aging, that the tax increase will prevent delays in response times to 911 calls and that this would be the first tax boost since the district was formed more than 38 years ago. House, in his ruling on a lawsuit filed by district critic Arnie Dienoff, ordered new ballot language referring simply to the purpose of the district and the amount of the tax increase sought. The judge also replaced the board's "Proposition Lifesavers" title with the phrase "Proposition E." The failed proposition would have raised the property tax rate by 11 cents for each $100 assessed valuation. The district board's chairman has said the district may try again at another election. ___ ©2013 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Visit the St. Louis Post-Dispatch at www.stltoday.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 30--Medicare's denial of payments has sparked a controversy about ambulance billing in Ventura County. Subscribe to read the full story Current Subscribers -- Activate Now Already subscribe to VCStar? Click below to activate your Premium Subscription and receive access to VCStar on the web, smartphone and tablet. Activate Now New Subscribers -- Subscribe Now Want to keep reading? VCStar now offers Premium and Digital Subscriptions. Subscribe now and select how you want to keep up-to-date on local news, reader comments, photos, videos, blogs and more. Subscribe Now Login Username / Email * Password --Can't remember? Reset Password Login Subscription Center --A message from our publisher --Learn More --Questions? --Register here to win an iPad Mini! --Help downloading your app? Ready to be a VCStar subscriber? We're sorry. We currently do not support purchasing of new products in Internet Explorer 7. Please update to another browser. Premium Subscription In addition to your convenient home delivery service, receive unlimited access to VCStar on the web, smartphone and tablet. --Home delivery service --VCStar.com --VCStar for the iPad --VCStar for iPhone and Android --Electronic Newspaper As low as 3 months for the price of 1 Subscribe Now Digital Subscription Receive unlimited access to VCStar on the web, smartphone and tablet. --VCStar.com --VCStar for the iPad --VCStar for iPhone and Android --Electronic Newspaper As low as 2 months for the price of 1 Subscribe Now Premium Subscription -- How often would you like your newspaper delivered? Special offer. Get 3 months for the price of 1. Delivery Address Address (Line 1)* Address (Line 2) City* State* ZIP* Check delivery address Choose different product Create your new login The information entered below will be used to access your subscription to VCStar on the web, smartphone and tablet. Choose a different subscription First Name* Last Name* Phone Number* Email* Password* Password (Verify)* Register me to win an iPad Mini and a free one-year subscription** *--No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited. Restrictions apply. Click here for official rules and details. Create account Back Preparing payment options We're so close! Success! Your Digital Subscription has been activated. Success! Your Premium Subscription has been activated. Hold on for just a moment while we finish setting up your account.. Note: your login information will be needed the first time you access your subscription on another device (computer, smartphone and tablet). Your Premium Subscription to VCStar is now available. In addition to your home delivery service, enjoy unlimited access and browsing on your computer, smartphone and tablet. Note: your login information will be needed the first time you access your subscription on another device (computer, smartphone and tablet). Begin Reading Current VCStar delivery subscriber? Please help us find your account by entering all of the requested information below. Questions? Please call customer service at 1-877-710-6182. First Name Last Name* Email* Phone Number* House Number* Street Name Apt Find your account Create your new login Awesome! We found your Premium Subscription information. Almost there. Please verify the email address listed and then create a password. This login information is how you will access VCStar on the web, smartphone and tablet. Make note of your new login information for future use. This email will be used as your login. Choose a password Password* Password (Verify)* Register me to win an iPad Mini and a free one-year subscription *--No Purchase Necessary. Void where prohibited. Restrictions apply. Click here for official rules and details. Complete Back Success! Your subscription has been activated. Your Premium Subscription to VCStar is now active. In addition to your home delivery service, enjoy unlimited access and browsing on your computer, smartphone and tablet. Note: your login information will be needed the first time you access your Premium Subscription on another device (computer, smartphone and tablet). Begin Reading ___ ©2013 Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.) Visit Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.) at www.vcstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 30--ALTON -- Two men accepted service medals posthumously Monday in honor of their brother, exactly 42 years to the day after they learned he had been killed in action while serving in Vietnam. "I would like to thank (state Representative) Dan Beiser for helping us get the proper papers, the Veterans Administration, and (U.S. Representative) Bill Enyart for getting these medals," said Kevin Spencer, 59, of Godfrey, brother of the late U.S. Army medic Spc. 4th Class Stephen Spencer. "Thanks to everyone who came." About 20 family members attended the morning ceremony in Alton City Council Chambers. Spencer, 20, died April 24, 1971, while on patrol in Binh Duong Province. He was fatally shot while loading a wounded soldier into a truck. The lead tank had been hit by mortar fire. "Forty-two years ago, Stephen died running to aid a fellow soldier," his two-years-younger brother, Kevin, said through his tears. "Forty-two years later, you still see people run to help save other people's lives. That's what heroes do." Enyart, D-Belleville, a Vietnam War era veteran of the U.S. Air Force, presented Kevin and Dennis Spencer, 69, of Alton -- another of Stephen's brothers -- with the Purple Heart medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service medal with two bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device (1960), Sharpshooter Badge with Auto Rifle Bar and the Good Conduct Medal. "As a veteran, I find it a particular honor to be here to do this," Enyart said, also mentioning state Sen. William Haine, D-Alton, a Vietnam War veteran, who was part of the ceremony. "I am happy to be here for the Spencers -- a comrade," Haine said. Enyart described what each medal represented as he alternated giving them to the brothers, flanked by their wives. Stephen Spencer, who was drafted, entered the U.S. Army on Jan. 28, 1970, and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He then underwent special training as a medic at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Spencer was deployed to Vietnam on July 11, 1970, and assigned to an armored cavalry regiment. When Spencer was killed, his mother, Roeanna, refused to accept the medals, said Kevin's wife, Janet. "His mother was overcome with grief," she said. "She did not want his medals." Before she married Kevin, Janet Spencer said she worked in an Alton hospital with Roeanna Spencer, who asked her whether she would write to her "lonely" son serving in Vietnam. Janet Spencer said she began writing to the medic; to their delight, he sent photos of himself in April 1971. She said the women happily showed the pictures around their workplace, sadly not knowing he had been killed a few days earlier. It took the U.S. Army five days to notify the family of his death. Last August, Janet Spencer saw Beiser, D-Alton, at a local grocery store. She told him the family now wanted Stephen's medals, and asked for help in obtaining them. Beiser contacted Enyart. Beiser had grown up on Lawton Street and was friends with the Spencer children, who also lived on that short street. Beiser said it was "uncanny" how it worked out for Enyart to obtain the medals and schedule the ceremony on the anniversary of when the family learned about Stephen Spencer's death. Beiser told how the neighborhood, by Christian Hill, was called "Oakridge Estates." He recalled how he had gotten a new, red Schwinn bicycle as a boy. "An acorn fight broke out" involving the Spencers, including Stephen. The bike ended up getting dented and Beiser getting beaned by an acorn, he said. Later, the carefree days on Lawton were to end with Stephen's death. "When I went to Gent Funeral Home, where my parents had not taken us before, the innocence of Lawton Street was broken when Steve died," Beiser said. Janet Spencer said she and Kevin will keep the medals at their home. "We have a Vietnam memorial to Stephen," she said. "It has his flag from his coffin, pictures of Stephen, his handkerchief he wore on his head, and a picture of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall" in Washington D.C. She said the couple also made a rubbing of Stephen's name from the engraving on the black granite wall for their display. Other siblings unable to come to the presentation were Mary Ann Zahner of Alton, Dane Spencer of Troy and Cindy Burns of Sumner, Ill. Both Roeanna and Stephen's father, John D. Spencer, are deceased. lweller@thetelegraph.com ___ ©2013 The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) Visit The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) at www.thetelegraph.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 30--His wife of 55 years couldn't move from the blue Lazy Boy chair that served as her bed. She could barely speak. Otis Hinkle, a retired Navy captain, called 911 and asked for an ambulance to rush to his Oxnard home. A month later, after his wife Lynn died of cancer that had started in her bladder and moved to her liver, Hinkle learned Medicare payment for the ambulance had been denied. He owed about $1,850. J. Robert Bradish, 79, also of Oxnard, called for an ambulance to transport his wife who, as it turned out, needed immediate gall bladder surgery. They received a notice of Medicare's denial and a bill for $1,126.25. Katharine Raley, Ventura County's insurance advocate for seniors, has reported 14 cases in which people covered by Medicare were denied payment for ambulances. In one case, which was later resolved, a man died two hours after arriving at the hospital, but his wife was told she owed more than $1,000, Raley said. In several situations, seniors were told that if they didn't pay, their bills would be sent to a collection agency. All the cases involve transports by American Medical Response, the nation's largest private ambulance provider and owner of two transportation services in Ventura County. Raley said at least one of the initial denials -- the Bradish case -- was reversed by Medicare's administrative contractor. Reports of the local cases were sent to the government-funded Senior Medicare Patrol watchdog group, which has received more than 50 cases statewide of Medicare-denied ambulance payments in transports involving AMR. Issues include Medicare's guidelines for covering ambulance transportation and concerns by advocates about how AMR reports details of a transport to Medicare. Jason Sorrick, a spokesman for AMR, said the company knows of the concerns and is working on the issues with senior-insurance advocates across the state. He said the denials happen because of Medicare's guidelines on which transport situations are medically necessary. A regional spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said he couldn't comment. Medicare guidelines say ambulance expenses will be covered when other transportation would jeopardize a patient's health. "Just because it's in the 911 system doesn't mean it's going to be approved by Medicare for reimbursement," Sorrick said. CODING factor Senior advocates say the problem may rest with the way AMR crews code ambulance transportation. Raley, program manager of the Ventura County Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, said AMR has declined to provide copies of her clients' ambulance trip reports. But she said patient medical records and information from an involved insurance company show some local cases involve imminent health threats that meet Medicare guidelines but may not have been conveyed in ambulance reports submitted to the government. She said the ambulance report on the patient who died soon after arriving at a hospital may have included too little information on the medical condition. Raley said she has asked ambulance officials several times to resubmit bills to Medicare with more information but that they have refused. Sorrick said patient privacy laws bar him from discussing specific cases. He said trip reports can be obtained when patients or family members sign releases and provide necessary documents. Sorrick said AMR follows Medicare guidelines for coding, providing information that includes a patient's vital signs, primary and secondary symptoms, and care administered by the ambulance crew. "It's a very stringent process," he said, suggesting the problems emerge when conditions seem dire but still fall short of Medicare guidelines. "There are going to be circumstances where it falls in a gray area." The company transports about 700,000 people a year in California, including about 46,000 people last year in Ventura County. Sorrick said more than half of the trips go unpaid, often because people are uninsured. In cases involving people covered by Medicare, Raley worries. When she asks groups of seniors if they've had ambulance trips denied, hands go up. "Many clients have paid 100 percent out of their pocket," she said, adding that many seniors don't know how to appeal a case or just assume they should pay it. She worries more seniors may decide they can't afford an ambulance. "We don't want them not to call when it's life or death," she said. statewide issue According to a publication provided by Medicare, ambulances are generally covered when people need treatment during a transport. Ambulances also are usually covered when people are in severe pain, bleeding, in shock or unconscious. When Medicare pays for an ambulance, it covers 80 percent. The balance is often covered by supplemental insurance. Sorrick said that if payments are denied for a low-income senior who meets AMR's guidelines for compassionate care, the debt may be discounted or forgiven. A Medicare spokesman declined to comment on questions about AMR or ambulance coverage. He suggested people with problems contact Medicare or a health insurance counseling and advocacy group. Micki Nozaki, a case specialist with Senior Medicare Patrol, said that over a year she collected more than 51 complaints about Medicare denials involving AMR across the state. She said her group wants Medicare to audit AMR's coding procedures. "If we're getting that many concerns across the state of California, all with the common theme, it's natural to assume it's the tip of the iceberg and there's more cases we haven't heard about," she said. A year ago, AMR officials met with insurance counseling and advocacy program leaders from across the state to discuss situations in which Medicare denies claims. Afterward, someone at the ambulance company was designated to deal with the program's complaints. The company also established a 90-day waiting period when the billing process would be delayed if an appeal was planned. But Raley said the 90-day waiting period isn't always followed. Nozaki said AMR is trying but that she still gets complaints about transports for which Medicare denied payment. Sorrick said the company wants to resolve problems. "We're in the business of patient care and saving lives," he said. "The last thing we want is for people to have stress related to the services we're providing." PERSONAL BATTLE In the final stages of her battle with cancer, Lynn Hinkle started sleeping in her Lazy Boy. Her husband watched over her by sleeping in a matching chair next to hers. Hinkle said she was almost comatose on the day he called 911. He couldn't move her. The emergency medical technicians had to lift her out of the Lazy Boy. At the hospital, she was given two units of blood and, because of severe dehydration, saline. Hinkle said a doctor told them the cancer had advanced and that she needed hospice care. She returned home and died about two weeks later, on Aug. 25. He said the Medicare claim was denied three times. He received repeated bills from Gold Coast Ambulance Service, which is owned by AMR. The last one threatened to place him in collections. Hinkle tried repeatedly to obtain the reports showing the billing used. He said he was told the paperwork he sent hadn't been received. He never saw the report. But he said an ambulance company employee told Raley that his wife's condition had been reported as fatigued. His fight to get his claim reversed could be ending. Raley told him last week that Medicare had agreed to review his case. "It wasn't the $1,800; it was the principle of the thing," Hinkle said, trying to explain how collecting her medical records and badgering Medicare and AMR meant the image of the ambulance trip rolled through his mind like it was on a video loop. "It was not only losing her; it was having to relive it almost every day," he said. ___ ©2013 Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.) Visit Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.) at www.vcstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 29--A year and half after taking over the 911 calls for 14 Santa Clara County cities and its vast unincorporated areas, the Rural Metro ambulance company has violated its contract by repeatedly responding too slowly to emergencies, has paid more than $4.7 million in fines and faces the threat of the first paramedics strike in recent history. County Executive Jeff Smith said last week that with just one more contract violation of the type that occurred in 2011 and twice in 2012 the county may have to consider terminating the agreement with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company, which was notified Jan. 18 that it was in breach of contract. Rural Metro's performance is being closely watched in part because of the process under which it took over the county's ambulance contract from a longtime incumbent in 2011. "We've made it clear to them we have remedies that go beyond fines," Smith said. "We've specifically told them that if you can't perform, we're going to cancel the contract and start all over again." Although the ambulance company's failures to meet required response times of less than 12 minutes affected only a small fraction of the roughly 6,500 trips Rural Metro makes each month, Smith and other industry watchers called the breach significant. "It's not significant to the point where any patients were put at risk," Smith said, "but weaknesses in the system could have been exploited by a disaster -- and therefore it's not acceptable." After initially denying the violations occurred, Rural Metro has since submitted to county officials a "system enhancement plan," and its California spokesman Michael Simonsen notes: "We haven't been out of compliance since, and we don't plan on ever being out of compliance again." Simonsen emphasized the late response times that led to the contract violation amounted to a few calls in October and December of last year -- and that in other months, Rural Metro responders exceeded the response time expectations. The county requires ambulances to arrive in less than 12 minutes 90 percent of the time. "The breach occurred several months ago, it's almost old news at this point as far as I'm concerned," Simonsen said. "But we take it very seriously. There's no question that while it's literally a fraction of a percentage, literally a handful of calls, that caused us to fall below the 90 percent, we still take it extremely seriously." Rural Metro took over the county's main ambulance contract for its 1.8 million residents in July 2011, after beating out the provider of more than 40 years, American Medical Response, with a far cheaper bid. The $375 million contract award followed years of study and a bitter battle between the two national ambulance chains that made the final cut. The resulting 5-year contract is considered exceptionally tough, with fines for performance failure amounting to more than 10 times what the previous provider faced. Rural Metro has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in these fines, now totaling more than $4.7 million, for such things as failing to have three ambulances ready to deploy and for each minute they have been late to emergency scenes. That revenue goes into a special "trust fund" managed by county emergency medical services staff members. The trust fund has been used in part for public service announcements, training, conferences and staff recognition. Just two weeks into the contract, Rural Metro failed to meet its response times in a northern section of the county, arriving within the 12-minute required time frame only 83 percent of the time. Similar violations occurred again in October 2012, when they came closer but fell short with an 89.57 percent rate. And then in the San Jose area in December, the response again fell below 90 percent; an 89.66 percent rate. The two violations within six months of each other triggered the January "material breach" of contract. The 90 percent response time requirement is standard industrywide, and had not been missed by AMR in more than 10 years in the county, according to that company's west coast CEO, Tom Wagner. Milpitas Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant said his community was excited when Rural Metro took over, because they were going to get an additional two "posts" -- which means ambulance workers stationed in a trailer at firehouses ready to deploy around the clock. Instead, Sturdivant's firefighters describe occasionally waiting longer for ambulances to come after the first responders arrive on crisis scenes. The "response time issues" he described include waiting "an extended amount of time with active CPR in progress on critical calls." Meanwhile, labor unrest could add even more pressure to an already touchy situation. On April 17, Rural Metro's employees -- who include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers and vehicle supply staff members -- voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing their bargaining team to call a strike as a last resort. The last time a similar vote was taken was in 1993 in Alameda County, and one occurred in San Mateo County in 1988. As talks continue, both sides say they are hopeful an agreement will be reached. But backup plans are in place, company and county officials confirmed. Neither would elaborate on details. The ambulance company's woes have yet to be discussed publicly by county supervisors. But Supervisor Joe Simitian, the sole board member who is newly elected and did not vote on the ambulance contract, said he had cause for "serious concern" about Rural Metro's performance to date. "If they haven't got it right, they need to get it right," he said, "and they need to get it right quickly." Contact Karen de Sa at 408-920-5781. ___ ©2013 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 29--A year and half after taking over 911 calls for 14 Santa Clara County cities and its vast unincorporated areas, the Rural Metro ambulance company has violated its contract by repeatedly responding too slowly to emergencies, has paid more than $4.7 million in fines and faces the threat of the first paramedics strike in recent history. County Executive Jeff Smith said last week that with just one more contract violation of the type that occurred in 2011 and twice in 2012 the county may have to consider terminating the agreement with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company, which was notified Jan. 18 that it was in breach of contract. Rural Metro's performance is being closely watched in part because of the process under which it took over the county's ambulance contract from a longtime incumbent in 2011. "We've made it clear to them we have remedies that go beyond fines," Smith said. "We've specifically told them that if you can't perform, we're going to cancel the contract and start all over again." Although the ambulance company's failures to meet required response times of less than 12 minutes affected only a small fraction of the roughly 6,500 trips Rural Metro makes each month, Smith and other industry watchers called the breach significant. "It's not significant to the point where any patients were put at risk," Smith said, "but weaknesses in the system could have been exploited by a disaster -- and therefore it's not acceptable." After initially denying the violations occurred, Rural Metro has since submitted to county officials a "system enhancement plan," and its California spokesman Michael Simonsen notes: "We haven't been out of compliance since, and we don't plan on ever being out of compliance again." Simonsen emphasized the late response times that led to the contract violation amounted to a few calls in October and December of last year -- and that in other months, Rural Metro responders exceeded the response time expectations. The county requires ambulances to arrive in less than 12 minutes 90 percent of the time. "The breach occurred several months ago, it's almost old news at this point as far as I'm concerned," Simonsen said. "But we take it very seriously. There's no question that while it's literally a fraction of a percentage, literally a handful of calls, that caused us to fall below the 90 percent, we still take it extremely seriously." Rural Metro took over the county's main ambulance contract for its 1.8 million residents in July 2011, after beating out the provider of more than 40 years, American Medical Response, with a far cheaper bid. The $375 million contract award followed years of study and a bitter battle between the two national ambulance chains that made the final cut. The resulting 5-year contract is considered exceptionally tough, with fines for performance failure amounting to more than 10 times what the previous provider faced. Rural Metro has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in these fines, now totaling more than $4.7 million, for such things as failing to have three ambulances ready to deploy and for each minute they have been late to emergency scenes. That revenue goes into a special "trust fund" managed by county emergency medical services staff members. The trust fund has been used in part for public service announcements, training, conferences and staff recognition. Just two weeks into the contract, Rural Metro failed to meet its response times in a northern section of the county, arriving within the 12-minute required time frame only 83 percent of the time. Similar violations occurred again in October 2012, when they came closer but fell short with an 89.57 percent rate. And then in the San Jose area in December, the response again fell below 90 percent; an 89.66 percent rate. The two violations within six months of each other triggered the January "material breach" of contract. The 90 percent response time requirement is standard industrywide, and had not been missed by AMR in more than 10 years in the county, according to that company's west coast CEO, Tom Wagner. Milpitas Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant said his community was excited when Rural Metro took over, because they were going to get an additional two "posts" -- which means ambulance workers stationed in a trailer at firehouses ready to deploy around the clock. Instead, Sturdivant's firefighters describe occasionally waiting longer for ambulances to come after the first responders arrive on crisis scenes. The "response time issues" he described include waiting "an extended amount of time with active CPR in progress on critical calls." Meanwhile, labor unrest could add even more pressure to an already touchy situation. On April 17, Rural Metro's employees -- who include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers and vehicle supply staff members -- voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing their bargaining team to call a strike as a last resort. The last time a similar vote was taken was in 1993 in Alameda County, and one occurred in San Mateo County in 1988. As talks continue, both sides say they are hopeful an agreement will be reached. But backup plans are in place, company and county officials confirmed. Neither would elaborate on details. The ambulance company's woes have yet to be discussed publicly by county supervisors. But Supervisor Joe Simitian, the sole board member who is newly elected and did not vote on the ambulance contract, said he had cause for "serious concern" about Rural Metro's performance to date. "If they haven't got it right, they need to get it right," he said, "and they need to get it right quickly." Contact Karen de Sa at 408-920-5781. ___ ©2013 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

Algerian president suffers illness, "raises no concern": medic ALGIERS, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Algeria President Abdelaziz Bouteflika suffered a transient ischemic attack without sequelae on Saturday, local APS news agency reported. Professor Rachid Bougherbal, head of the National Sports Medicine Center, said that President Bouteflika suffered a " transient ischemic attack without sequelae" around midday on Saturday. The professor reassured that the health of Bouteflika "raises no concern," adding that the doctors had conducted preliminary examinations for the president, and wound continue with other examinations after a break. Bouteflika was treated in Val-de-Grace Hospital in Paris in 2005, with rumors about his death circulating at that time. In 2010, several news websites reported that Bouteflika was seriously ill. But a few days later, he appeared before media in his office in upper Algiers with Franco-Algerian football celebrity, Zinedine Zidane. In September 2012, Algerian authorities denied rumors about Bouteflika's health deterioration. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

IRVINE, Calif., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) announced today that its iSpO2™ pulse oximeter for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch and EMMA™ Emergency Capnometer earned JEMS Hot Product awards. Only two companies received dual Hot Product award honors at the EMS Today 2013 Conference & Exposition, the industry's leading emergency medical services (EMS) event held recently in Washington, D.C. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130429/LA03206) (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121212/LA28997) A dozen judges reviewed and evaluated products that had recently been introduced into the emergency service industry by the more than 300 exhibitors at the EMS TODAY Conference & Exhibition and rated each of them on originality, functionality, ease of use, and need in the EMS setting. The top 25 products were then selected as the hottest new products shown at EMS TODAY 2013. "This year just two companies got two products selected in the top 25 - quite an achievement," said AJ Heightman, editor-in-chief of JEMS. "We have had very few double winners in the past." The EMMA Mainstream Capnometer measures, displays, and monitors respiratory rate and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) continuously when connected to a patient's breathing circuit. EMMA's portability allows for use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and intubation in multiple points of care including pre-hospital, rapid response, emergency medicine, operating room, intensive care unit, and long-term acute care. Because EMMA is integrated into the breathing circuit for easy viewing during CPR and endotracheal tube placement, it is highly accessible during transport and/or emergency ventilation scenarios--allowing quick assessment in just a few seconds. The Masimo iSpO2™ is a consumer pulse oximeter utilizing Masimo SET® technology - the same technology used in leading hospitals worldwide, providing accurate measurements even during the challenging conditions of motion and low perfusion - for use with iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with 30-pin connector to noninvasively measure blood oxygenation, pulse rate and perfusion index. iSpO2 is for short-term sports and aviation use and is not intended for medical use. "We are honored that our iSpO2 pulse oximeter and EMMA capnometer received two prestigious JEMS Hot Products Awards at EMS Today, the preeminent conference and exhibition for the emergency services industry," said Jon Coleman, Masimo President of Worldwide Sales and Marketing and Clinical Research. "Masimo has always been committed to taking monitoring technologies to new sites and applications, and we're equally committed to launching more award-winning products." About Masimo Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI) is the global leader in innovative noninvasive monitoring technologies that significantly improve patient care--helping solve "unsolvable" problems. In 1995, the company debuted Measure-Through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, known as Masimo SET®, which virtually eliminated false alarms and increased pulse oximetry's ability to help clinicians detect life-threatening events. More than 100 independent and objective studies have shown that Masimo SET® outperforms other pulse oximetry technologies, even under the most challenging clinical conditions, including patient motion and low peripheral perfusion. In 2005, Masimo introduced rainbow ® Pulse CO- Oximetry™ technology, allowing noninvasive and continuous monitoring of blood constituents that previously required invasive procedures; total hemoglobin (SpHb®), oxygen content (SpOC™), carboxyhemoglobin (SpCO®), methemoglobin (SpMet®), PVI®, and perfusion index (PI), in addition to measure-through motion SpO2, and pulse rate. In 2008, Masimo introduced Patient SafetyNet™, a remote monitoring and wireless clinician notification system designed to help hospitals avoid preventable deaths and injuries associated with failure to rescue events. In 2009, Masimo introduced rainbow® Acoustic Monitoring™, the first-ever commercially available noninvasive and continuous monitoring of acoustic respiration rate (RRa™). Masimo SET® and Masimo rainbow® technologies also can be found in over 100 multiparameter patient monitors from over 50 medical device manufacturers around the world. Founded in 1989, Masimo has the mission of "Improving Patient Outcome and Reducing Cost of Care ... by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications®." Additional information about Masimo and its products may be found at www.masimo.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in connection with the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations about future events affecting us and are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control and could cause our actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in our forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors, including, but not limited to: risks related to the performance of iSpO2 with Masimo SET technology and its ability to provide accurate measurements even during the challenging conditions of motion and low perfusion; risks related to the performance of EMMA and its ability to provide quick assessment in just a few seconds in all cases, as well as other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our most recent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which may be obtained for free at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we do not know whether our expectations will prove correct. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date. We do not undertake any obligation to update, amend or clarify these statements or the "Risk Factors" contained in our most recent reports filed with the SEC, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws. Media Contacts: Mike Drummond Masimo Corporation Phone: (949) 297- 7434 Email: mdrummond@masimo.com Masimo, SET, Signal Extraction Technology, Improving Patient Outcome and Reducing Cost of Care... by Taking Noninvasive Monitoring to New Sites and Applications, rainbow, SpHb, SpOC, SpCO, SpMet, PVI, rainbow Acoustic Monitoring, RRa, Radical-7, Rad-87, Rad- 57,Rad-8, Rad-5,Pulse CO-Oximetry, Pulse CO-Oximeter, Adaptive Threshold Alarm, and SEDLine are trademarks or registered trademarks of Masimo Corporation. The use of the trademarks Patient SafetyNet and PSN is under license from University HealthSystem Consortium. SOURCE Masimo Originally published by Masimo. © 2013 PRNewswire. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 28--A year and half after taking over 911 calls for 14 Santa Clara County cities and its vast unincorporated areas, the Rural Metro ambulance company has violated its contract by repeatedly responding too slowly to emergencies, has paid more than $4.7 million in fines and faces the threat of the first paramedics strike in recent history. County Executive Jeff Smith said last week that with just one more contract violation of the type that occurred in 2011 and twice in 2012 the county may have to consider terminating the agreement with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based company, which was notified Jan. 18 that it was in breach of contract. Rural Metro's performance is being closely watched in part because of the process under which it took over the county's ambulance contract from a longtime incumbent in 2011. "We've made it clear to them we have remedies that go beyond fines," Smith said. "We've specifically told them that if you can't perform, we're going to cancel the contract and start all over again." Although the ambulance company's failures to meet required response times of less than 12 minutes affected only a small fraction of the roughly 6,500 trips Rural Metro makes each month, Smith and other industry watchers called the breach significant. "It's not significant to the point where any patients were put at risk," Smith said, "but weaknesses in the system could have been exploited by a disaster -- and therefore it's not acceptable." After initially denying the violations occurred, Rural Metro has since submitted to county officials a "system enhancement plan," and its California spokesman Michael Simonsen notes: "We haven't been out of compliance since, and we don't plan on ever being out of compliance again." Simonsen emphasized the late response times that led to the contract violation amounted to a few calls in October and December of last year -- and that in other months, Rural Metro responders exceeded the response time expectations. The county requires ambulances to arrive in less than 12 minutes 90 percent of the time. "The breach occurred several months ago, it's almost old news at this point as far as I'm concerned," Simonsen said. "But we take it very seriously. There's no question that while it's literally a fraction of a percentage, literally a handful of calls, that caused us to fall below the 90 percent, we still take it extremely seriously." Rural Metro took over the county's main ambulance contract for its 1.8 million residents in July 2011, after beating out the provider of more than 40 years, American Medical Response, with a far cheaper bid. The $375 million contract award followed years of study and a bitter battle between the two national ambulance chains that made the final cut. The resulting 5-year contract is considered exceptionally tough, with fines for performance failure amounting to more than 10 times what the previous provider faced. Rural Metro has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars a month in these fines, now totaling more than $4.7 million, for such things as failing to have three ambulances ready to deploy and for each minute they have been late to emergency scenes. That revenue goes into a special "trust fund" managed by county emergency medical services staff members. The trust fund has been used in part for public service announcements, training, conferences and staff recognition. Just two weeks into the contract, Rural Metro failed to meet its response times in a northern section of the county, arriving within the 12-minute required time frame only 83 percent of the time. Similar violations occurred again in October 2012, when they came closer but fell short with an 89.57 percent rate. And then in the San Jose area in December, the response again fell below 90 percent; an 89.66 percent rate. The two violations within six months of each other triggered the January "material breach" of contract. The 90 percent response time requirement is standard industrywide, and had not been missed by AMR in more than 10 years in the county, according to that company's west coast CEO, Tom Wagner. Milpitas Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant said his community was excited when Rural Metro took over, because they were going to get an additional two "posts" -- which means ambulance workers stationed in a trailer at firehouses ready to deploy around the clock. Instead, Sturdivant's firefighters describe occasionally waiting longer for ambulances to come after the first responders arrive on crisis scenes. The "response time issues" he described include waiting "an extended amount of time with active CPR in progress on critical calls." Meanwhile, labor unrest could add even more pressure to an already touchy situation. On April 17, Rural Metro's employees -- who include paramedics, emergency medical technicians, dispatchers and vehicle supply staff members -- voted 97 percent in favor of authorizing their bargaining team to call a strike as a last resort. The last time a similar vote was taken was in 1993 in Alameda County, and one occurred in San Mateo County in 1988. As talks continue, both sides say they are hopeful an agreement will be reached. But backup plans are in place, company and county officials confirmed. Neither would elaborate on details. The ambulance company's woes have yet to be discussed publicly by county supervisors. But Supervisor Joe Simitian, the sole board member who is newly elected and did not vote on the ambulance contract, said he had cause for "serious concern" about Rural Metro's performance to date. "If they haven't got it right, they need to get it right," he said, "and they need to get it right quickly." Contact Karen de Sa at 408-920-5781. ___ ©2013 the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) Visit the San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.) at www.mercurynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

DRESSED in scrubs and white coat, Fiona Smith broke a world record at the London marathon for the fastest time dressed as a female doctor. The 37-year-old, of Benton, North Tyneside, could hardly believe it when she slashed 45 seconds off the previous record holder's time. Fiona, who is a lipidologist at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, was delighted to complete the 26-mile route in 3hrs 59mins and 15secs. She said: "I was incredibly proud of myself and I was over the moon to beat the world record. "I forced myself to keep pace at the last mile and to know that I wanted to beat the world record helped me throughout the marathon. "It is unusual to be a world record holder and I've achieved something that I would never have believed possible. Most people are quite surprised when I tell then that I am a world record holder and it is a novelty." Fiona, who is a doctor involved in helping people manage their cholesterol, was told by Guinness World Records what she had to wear to qualify for the feat. As a result she ran the marathon in scrubs, a white coat, and her neck was draped in a stethoscope. She even did some of her training beforehand in scrub trousers around Newcastle's Town Moor to prepare for the gruelling event. Fiona, who is married to Billy, a laboratory worker, said: "Wearing long sleeves and long trousers did make it warm for running and it wasn't easy to run in baggy trousers. "But the atmosphere at the marathon was fantastic and that helped to keep me going. Also anything that makes you stand out and different from other runners gets the crowd's interest." Fiona only started running five years ago and has done four marathons - but this was the first time that she had beaten the four- hour barrier. So far, by doing this year's London marathon, she has raised more than Pounds 340 for HEART UK, a leading cholesterol charity. She said: "Through my work I am aware of the implications of heart-related illnesses. "HEART UK is a tremendously importantly cause that is smaller and not as well known as other charities. "I'm raising money for HEART UK to help spread the word." Bosses at the charity said that the money raised by Fiona will help to support those who have lost loved ones from cholesterol- related illnesses and to raise awareness of the importance of heart health. Jules Payne, chief executive of HEART UK said: "HEART UK are absolutely thrilled that Fiona chose our charity to fundraise for and that she set a Guinness World Record. "She did an excellent job at raising funds that will help us to provide support to people with high cholesterol and their families. "These funds are a vital part of our charity as we continue to raise awareness of one of the UK's biggest silent killers, cholesterol." To give a donation to Fiona visit www.virginmoneygiving. com/fionasmith4 or for more information on HEART UK logon to www.heartuk.org.uk I've " achieved something that I would never have believed possible A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 28--Ambulance service has come a long way in St. Joseph since its tumultuous beginnings. The service has been in the hospital's control for the past 41 years, but it wasn't always operated as such a well-oiled machine. Before the hospital's reign, nearly five private companies, including funeral homes, operated ambulances in the community. It wasn't until 1965 when the emergency vehicles were regulated by city ordinance, which required trained personnel and emergency medical equipment on board their station wagons. "Several of the ambulance operators at that time said they would just quit doing it if they had to follow those rules," said St. Joseph Fire Chief Mike Dalsing. "They were mainly mortuaries." But the job was still in the hands of private companies, which made for fierce competition throughout St. Joseph. Before regulations, two major companies -- Ray and Larry's Ambulance Service and Metro Ambulance Service -- continued personal fights with one another, much like scenes straight from the Wild West. As a police officer in 1964, Bill Minton remembers that with little regulation, the two were "capable of just about anything." "They would actually race each other to the scene of accidents. There were guns drawn occasionally. One of the ambulances hit a friend of mine," he recalls, adding that often the drivers -- who had little more than Red Cross CPR training -- were seen at the local tavern before responding to emergencies. There's tales of the two companies sending one another on fake calls, so the originating company could respond to the real emergency and collect the profit. In 1971, Metro Ambulance Service filed suit against Ray and Larry's, claiming their drivers fired shots at the Metro office building. The wildness calmed after city officials passed a regulating ordinance, but in the early 1970s, Ray and Larry's Ambulance Service dropped out of the business. Soon after, Metro's license was suspended for not complying with the city's regulations. Mayor William Bennett declared the situation an "emergency ambulance service problem." Desperate for service, the city dropped emergency medical responsibility into the laps of the Fire Department, whose members also had little to no medical training. The city closed one fire station, putting those firefighters to work on the only ambulance in operation. "The first few calls (the firefighters) went out on, they didn't have any medical equipment or anything," Mr. Dalsing said. "It was pretty haphazard." A lengthy, controversial process began with city officials weighing ways to operate the service, which ultimately led Mayor Bennett to declare that the city was not equipped to, nor was it appropriate to, operate an ambulance service. On Dec. 1, 1972, Sister's Hospital took over under a three-year contract, promising to provide paramedics to man the ambulances. The city paid a monthly stipend for upkeep of vehicles, but quit those payments in 1978 when it handed over complete control to the hospital. The hospital in St. Joseph has had control of the ambulance service ever since, until 2014, when Heartland Paramedics Services will end and another entity -- which has yet to be determined -- will take over. Fortunately, history won't be repeating itself, in that city and county officials have about 14 months to determine how to best implement an ambulance district in St. Joseph and two-thirds of Buchanan County. Kim Norvell can be reached at kim.norvell@newspressnow.com. Follow her on Twitter: @SJNPNorvell. ___ ©2013 the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) Visit the St. Joseph News-Press (St. Joseph, Mo.) at www.newspressnow.com/index.html Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 26--Correction appended. Electronic manufacturer Vanguard EMS will spend $1.9 million to move from one Beaverton facility to another and hire 15 new employees in five years in exchange for a five-year tax exemption. Vanguard is the second company to be approved under Beaverton's Enterprise Zone program. The program offers companies property-tax exemptions for spending at least $1 million to expand and hire within the zone. Vanguard's application, which was submitted March 18, was approved by the city but is awaiting final approval from the county, Beaverton spokesman Bill LaMarche wrote in an email. Beaverton's enterprise zone covers 4.46 square miles, mostly in central and northern Beaverton. It extends from Southwest 170th Avenue to east of Oregon 217. Vanguard will move from its current 70,000-square-foot building at 9825 S.W. Sunshine Court to 3725 S.W. Hocken Ave., a 76,000-square-foot building on the Tektronix campus. The Hocken Avenue building is now vacant, according to a city press release. Both properties are within Beaverton's enterprise zone. Vanguard bought the Hocken Avenue site this year and has already started construction on building improvements for a planned July move-in, said Vanguard Chief Executive Floyd Sutz. The company considered moving to Tigard but chose this location for its vertical space and proximity to light rail, Sutz said. Through the enterprise zone, Vanguard will receive a five-year tax exemption on the building improvements and new equipment but will still pay some property taxes, Sutz said. "We are delighted to be making things in America and to be adding jobs here," Sutz said. Vanguard makes electronic devices for defense and security, medical and industrial uses. The company has 144 employees, according to the press release. Under the rules of the program, three-quarters of Vanguard's employees must earn more than double the state minimum wage, which is currently $8.95 an hour, after one year of employment. Business Oregon, who oversees the state's enterprise zone program, approved Beaverton's enterprise zone in July 2012. Since then, the city has expanded its zone twice, in September and March. The most recent expansion includes about two-thirds of a square mile outside Beaverton's boundaries in unincorporated Washington County. Vernier Software & Technology received a five-year exemption in November under the enterprise zone program to build a $2.8 million expansion of its site and hire around 10 new employees. Nike recently announced plans to expand its World Headquarters campus, which sits within Beaverton's enterprise zone. But as of this week, the city has received no other enterprise zone applications, according to LaMarche. Update: This story has been updated with comment from Vanguard Chief Executive Floyd Sutz. The story has also been updated to add that Vanguard's application is for a five-year property-tax exemption and that it still awaits county approval. -- Nicole Friedman Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Vanguard would receive a full property-tax exemption for five years. Vanguard will only receive a property-tax exemption on building improvements and new equipment, according to Vanguard Chief Executive Floyd Sutz. ___ ©2013 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) Visit The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.) at www.oregonian.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 27--A City Council committee recommended going ahead with Fire Chief Brian Cummings' plan to shift more firefighters to ambulances, despite union criticisms that it would create new safety risks. "I don't want to go to another firefighter funeral," Councilman Joe Buscaino, a retired police officer, said during a hearing before the Public Safety Committee. "I responded to emergency calls with my firefighter brothers for 15 years and I don't want them put in any more danger." However, the panel was prohibited from overruling the program as Cummings has sole authority over deployment of personnel. Cummings said his proposal is designed to improve response times and provide the department with more flexibility. The plan, scheduled to being May 5, would reduce light forces and tactical forces by shifting one firefighter to ambulance duty. "Last year, we responded to 4,500 fire calls," Cummings said. "In the next six days, we will respond to 4,500 emergency medical calls. Safety to the public and safety to my firefighters is my No. 1 concern. "This is an inherently dangerous profession. I can't guarantee that something won't happen to a firefighter today. But my concern is always safety." Under his plan, Cummings said he hopes to improve the response time for routine emergencies, free up paramedic ambulances for life-saving calls and also keep light force vehicles available for structure fires. "Right now, if we have to send a light force out to respond to a medical emergency, they could be tied up when another call comes in," Cummings said. "I would rather have a five-member truck available to respond than to have six firefighters tied up on a medical call." However, representatives of the Chief Officers Association and the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City, in a rare agreement, argued they were excluded from developing the program and they have yet to see a detailed plan from Cummings with the data supporting the program. Cummings has said he will provide a full report to the Fire Commission on May 21. COA President Andy Fox said a similar program had been tried 10 years ago and was abandoned by the City Council. "We think you will come back and restore these positions," Fox said. "We don't oppose the new ambulances. What we are concerned with is public safety and firefighter safety. "This is also about process. You have been provided with a single-page document on this and the chief is promising a full report with all the data in two weeks. You should have that now." Fox and UFLAC President Frank Lima said they were never consulted about the program and not given an opportunity to suggest changes to it. Councilman Dennis Zine also voiced his opposition to the program as well as frustration at the inability of the committee to block or revise it. "I don't like this idea," Zine said. "I think it will put too many firefighters in danger." Zine also complained that more public education is needed and closer cooperation with hospitals to reduce the amount of time firefighters and medical technicians are kept waiting for a bed to become available. Councilman Mitch Englander, chair of the panel, said the city is limited in what it can do at this point because of budget considerations. "Until we can provide the money that will restore the Fire Department to the level it needs to be at, there is not much we can do," Englander said. rick.orlov@dailynews.com twitter.com/Rickorlov ___ ©2013 the Daily News (Los Angeles) Visit the Daily News (Los Angeles) at www.dailynews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

I wonder what Andrew Wakefield, the former surgeon, thinks about the outbreak of measles in the Swansea area. As I am writing this it has been announced that many hundreds have succumbed to the disease and dozens of them have had to be treated in hospital. He probably doesn't care as he still clings to his erroneous beliefs and is now peddling them in America. Mr Wakefield claimed that the MMR jab could cause autism but his research, published in 1998, was found to be dishonest and he was struck off the medical register in May 2010. The upshot of his obsession is that many teenagers are not protected from measles and the epidemic in Swansea may not be the last. I understand the fears of parents who were too frightened to have their children inoculated at the height of Mr Wakefield's campaign - but I'm sure those who have seen their offspring treated in hospital wish they had made a different decision. Measles is a potentially dangerous disease and if Mr Wakefield had not launched his campaign it would have been eradicated in this country by now. But it is not too late. If all parents make sure their children have the jab there will be a time when we can say goodbye to measles in Britain. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 24--GLASGOW -- Cave City volunteer firefighters responded to a house fire at 11:54 a.m. Tuesday at 1821 Harry King Road. At 4:11 p.m. Tuesday, Cave City volunteer firefighters responded to a field fire at 1149 Poynter Road. Cave City volunteer firefighters responded to a Dumpster fire at 4:39 p.m. Tuesday on Julian Lane. At 10:18 p.m. Tuesday, the Barren County Sheriff's Office and the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Service responded to a wreck with injuries at 8407 Austin-Tracy Road. ___ ©2013 the Glasgow Daily Times (Glasgow, Ky.) Visit the Glasgow Daily Times (Glasgow, Ky.) at www.glasgowdailytimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

NEW YORK, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- That welcoming change of weather means Spring is finally here and it's that time of year where you have to scratch your head and start thinking of what gift you can find for the rapidly approaching Father's Day. Your online research begins for any new styles of ties or new designs for wallets. Maybe another power tool to keep in the garage in case he gets that sudden boost of excitement to start another home project. Well, according to http://www.statgeartools.com there is no greater Father's Day gift than one which can help keep your loved ones prepare for the unexpected emergency situations that may arise. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool by StatGear was developed by a NY City Paramedic to provide you and your loved ones with an added feeling of security. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool has a 440c stainless steel serrated blade, a seat belt cutting hook blade, a spring-loaded window punch and an LED light. Not sure how to keep this rescue tool handy? It comes with an attached pocket clip as well as a heavy duty sheath so you can carry it, wear it or stash it in your glove box. The product was developed by Avi Goldstein , President of StatGear. Avi reported, "We originally developed this tool to be used in the EMS setting by professionals but then figured that if it's good enough to be used by the professionals, why not make it available to civilians who want to be prepared in the event of being involved in or witnessing an auto accident." The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool has received a lot of media attention since its release in July 2012 and has been featured in the Holiday Gift Guide of Men's Health Magazine, featured in the Journal of EMS and listed on many websites that include must-have items for the all around guy. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool is modestly priced at $39.99 especially considering the included gadgetry and overall quality of the tool. Avi reported, "Our recent sales in the U.S. as well as abroad, have shown that The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool is a product that is of great interest to the general population and not just to first responders, so our next step is to try to get it into some of the big box stores." About the Company Founded by Avi Goldstein , a practicing NY City Paramedic, StatGear is the premier manufacturer and retailer of innovative tools and accessories for the emergency medical and preparedness markets. Media Contact: Avi Goldstein, Statgear President(718) 551- 1815Emailwebsite; http://www.statgeartools.com This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com. SOURCE StatGear Originally published by StatGear. © 2013 PRNewswire. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

NEW YORK, April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- That welcoming change of weather means Spring is finally here and it's that time of year where you have to scratch your head and start thinking of what gift you can find for the rapidly approaching Father's Day. Your online research begins for any new styles of ties or new designs for wallets. Maybe another power tool to keep in the garage in case he gets that sudden boost of excitement to start another home project. Well, according to http://www.statgeartools.com there is no greater Father's Day gift than one which can help keep your loved ones prepare for the unexpected emergency situations that may arise. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool by StatGear was developed by a NY City Paramedic to provide you and your loved ones with an added feeling of security. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool has a 440c stainless steel serrated blade, a seat belt cutting hook blade, a spring-loaded window punch and an LED light. Not sure how to keep this rescue tool handy? It comes with an attached pocket clip as well as a heavy duty sheath so you can carry it, wear it or stash it in your glove box. The product was developed by Avi Goldstein , President of StatGear. Avi reported, "We originally developed this tool to be used in the EMS setting by professionals but then figured that if it's good enough to be used by the professionals, why not make it available to civilians who want to be prepared in the event of being involved in or witnessing an auto accident." The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool has received a lot of media attention since its release in July 2012 and has been featured in the Holiday Gift Guide of Men's Health Magazine, featured in the Journal of EMS and listed on many websites that include must-have items for the all around guy. The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool is modestly priced at $39.99 especially considering the included gadgetry and overall quality of the tool. Avi reported, "Our recent sales in the U.S. as well as abroad, have shown that The T3 Tactical Auto Rescue Tool is a product that is of great interest to the general population and not just to first responders, so our next step is to try to get it into some of the big box stores." About the Company Founded by Avi Goldstein , a practicing NY City Paramedic, StatGear is the premier manufacturer and retailer of innovative tools and accessories for the emergency medical and preparedness markets. Media Contact: Avi Goldstein, Statgear President (718) 551-1815 Email website; http://www.statgeartools.com This press release was issued through eReleases® Press Release Distribution. For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com. SOURCE StatGear A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

By ANUJI VARMA A GREAT grandfather died when doctors wrongly diagnosed cancer after failing to spot he had a PEA lodged in his lung, his family have claimed. The mistake meant crucial days passed before severe pneumonia was identified. The family of William Lintern, of Sheldon, said they believe he would be alive today had medics not mistaken the vegetable for a "sizeable, aggressive tumour". Diagnosis for the chest infection came ten days too late and he died on his 85th birthday. Last night, son Roger, 56, of Solihull, said: "I can't believe that they thought a pea on my dad's lung was cancer. And then failed to spot he had pneumonia until ten days after he was taken into hospital. "I am certain he would have been alive today had they found out he had the virus much earlier and treated him correctly in the first place. "When my dad was told he had cancer, he lost the will to live. His body started to pack up and he was convinced he wouldn't survive. But all along, it was just a pea stuck in his right lung." It began when Mr Lintern, a retired toolmaker, started to suffer from shortness of breath. Roger drove his dad, who had battled cancer twice before, to A&E and he was taken in overnight for observation. But it wasn't until January 22 that a CT scan was performed - the family were unable to visit as the hospital was on lock down due to infection control. In a phone call to Roger, Mr Lintern complained that he was getting worse. The next day Roger went to see his father, along with his mum. He said: "We were told by a sister at the hospital that my dad had a sizeable tumour on his right lung and it was pressing against his windpipe and this was causing the shortness of breath. She told us he required a bronchoscopy, when a camera is inserted to determine how far it the disease has spread. We were told that would take several days." Roger complained about the delay, but he said: "I was told 'you must understand this is the NHS' and they were very busy and there was a waiting list. "When I asked about the tumour type, I was told that because my father's scan two months previous was clear then it must be aggressive and there would be little treatment offered. This upset both of us and he seemed to get even worse." By January 25, Mr Lintern's condition had deteriorated even more, he was unable to get out of bed and struggling to breathe, so he was transferred to Heartlands Hospital. The grandad who had a cancerous kidney previously removed, was put on dialysis, but it wasn't until January 29 that the family were finally told the hospital was now treating him for pneumonia. A bronchoscopy was also to be carried out to confirm he had lung cancer. Results for this procedure were finally revealed to dad-of-two Roger on February 5 when he was informed his father never had cancer at all, and the tumour was a blockage caused by the pea. It is thought Mr Lintern must just have swallowed the pea and it went down the 'wrong way'. He added: "When I asked about the tumour she said that there was no trace of any cancer when they carried out the bronchoscopy but they did find a garden pea. The doctor then apologised for the diagnosis we were given at Solihull and said they would try everything to clear up his chest infection. They even showed us a picture of the pea that had been removed during the procedure. "There was an improvement in my dad's condition, and we were all quite upbeat. But sadly, in the early hours of the next day he died on his birthday. We were all devastated. My mum Molly is very angry about the way my dad was treated, as we all are." Roger complained to the hospital about his father's treatment within days of his death. But he's still waiting to hear back from the hospital and is considering legal action. Dr Aresh Anwar, Heartlands Hospital medical director, said the hospital had launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Lintern's death. Dr Anwar said: "We are extremely sorry that there has been a delay in responding to Mr Lintern's complaint. This is unacceptable and is not the high standard that we aim for when responding to concerns raised by patients and their families. We will be investigating further and will directly contact Mr Lintern to address this matter. "The safety and care of all our patients is a priority for our doctors and nurses and if there is a case where we have not delivered the best care possible, we will always investigate why and how we can do things better. We would like to send our sincerest condolences to the Lintern family." Originally published by ANUJI VARMA Health Correspondent anuji.varma@trinitymirror.com. © 2013 Evening Mail; Birmingham (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

Ambulance workers who rushed to the rescue at the scene of a stabbing have been recognised for their bravery. Paramedic Dan Sneath, 29, and emergency medical technician Tony Barber, 44, discovered one person with multiple stab wounds and another armed with a knife when they arrived at a property following a call-out. Arriving before police, they bravely made the decision to enter the building. The pair, who are both from Melton, managed to persuade the attacker to put down the weapon, but were sadly unable to save the victim. In recognition of their actions, they were presented with the East Midlands Ambulance Service (Emas) Willetts Award, for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, earlier this week. They were among several ambulance workers to be recognised at the ceremony. Emas chairman Jon Towler, who hosted the evening, said: It was a fantastic opportunity to take the time to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers for a job well done. I am proud of the 122 people and teams nominated for awards and know they represent the commitment and professionalism of Emas as a whole. The amazing stories we heard are a reminder of the difference colleagues and all volunteers - medical first responders, co- responders, doctors and community first responders - make to patients' lives. Also among the winners was Emas events manager Clifford Ward, of Hinckley. The 64-yearold was described as a someone who fully immerses himself in all things Emas, providing operational cover when normal resources are under pressure and being someone colleagues can turn to for help whatever the problem. Rachel Makins, 33, and John Rushin, 63, both from Melton, received a teamwork award for going above and beyond the call of duty. Ms Makins said: We were overwhelmed. I am really proud to have won an award for something I so enjoy. Paramedic Michael Jones, of Oakham, who is also a locality manager for the ambulance service, received an award in recognition of his work helping to improve performance. A total of 45 long-service awards were also presented to staff who have been with Emas for 20 years or more. The honours were presented by Emas chief executive Phil Milligan and Nottinghamshire's Lord Lieutenant Colonel, Tim Richmond. Former EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney also attended. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

THE great and the good of the East Midlands Ambulance Service gathered on Thursday evening to reward the efforts of their most dedicated staff. Around 400 people attended the event at Colwick Hall where awards were handed out - recognising the efforts of staff who have gone the extra mile. Seven awards were given out on the evening, with 125 people nominated overall. Bob Street, from Beeston, who will have been working for EMAS for 40 years in October, was the winner of the Integrity Award and was described as one in a million by colleagues. The nominations said Mr Street inspired others, had given long and exemplary service and highlighted the qualities needed from all EMAS staff. The 60-year-old, who is the operational support manager at Beechdale Ambulance station said: I've had odd snippets of praise throughout my career but I'm quite humbled. It's come from all my colleagues. If I had done a speech I would have mentioned the support of my wife and family. This award is on behalf of my family and colleagues. Mr Street, who is a paramedic and also manages 100 staff added: I just do my job and give 110 per cent, even when I'm off duty. The awards were open to all of EMAS' clinical staff such as paramedics, technicians and control staff but also volunteer community first responders and the non-clinical teams who support frontline staff. Accolades were presented across seven categories, five of which reflect EMAS' core values of: respect, integrity, con- tribution, teamwork and competence. EMAS' chairman Jon Towler hosted the evening where 45 Long Service Awards were also presented to staff who have been with EMAS for 20 years or more. Mr Towler said: I'm proud of the 122 people and teams who were nominated for awards and know that they represent the commitment and professionalism of EMAS as a whole. The amazing stories we heard are a reminder of the difference colleagues and all volunteers - medical first responders, co-responders, doctors and community first responders - make to patient's lives every single day. EMAS chief executive Phil Milligan also spoke at the event. He said: These are people who live and breathe the trust values and go the extra mile. Did you attend the ceremony? thisisnottingham.co.uk Winners on the night included Nottingham's Bob Street, 59, of Beeston, who has dedicated nearly 40 years to the service and was described as one in a million by colleagues EMAS events manager Clifford Ward, 64, of Hinckley, who fully immerses himself in all things EMAS, providing operational cover when normal resources are under pressure and being someone colleagues can turn to for help whatever the problem Chesterfield emergency care practitioner Tim Evans, 43, who was first on scene to a house fire and dragged a patient to safety - then later that day attended a major road traffic accident where his skills allowed him to stitch minor wounds by the roadside. Leicestershire paramedic and EMAS locality manager Michael Jones, who was credited with helping to improve his division's performance Leicestershire team Rachel Makins, 33, and John Rushin, 63, for going above and beyond what would be expected of them to ensure that a new scheme which provides patients with transport to A&E in a vehicle other than a frontline ambulance is fully utilized and makes a difference. Volunteer Marcus Hacker who founded and coordinates a community first responder group in St Giles, Lincoln. Leicestershire ambulance crew Tony Barber, 44, an emergency medical technician, and Dan Sneath, 29, a paramedic, both from Melton Mowbray - the pair attended the scene of a stabbing and treated the victim while persuading a man armed with a knife to wait for the police. A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 19--Remarkably quick-thinking emergency medical technicians needed only 18 minutes to get all the bombing victims off of shrapnel-scarred Boylston Street Monday afternoon, the crew's immensely proud boss said yesterday. "It all worked," Boston Emergency Medical Services Chief James "Jimmy" Hooley said about his staff, which has been roundly praised for bravery and professionalism in the wake of the dual bombings near the Boston Marathon finish line. "The response, the selflessness, and not being afraid to put yourself in danger -- our guys did an unbelievable job," Hooley said. Three people died and more than 170 were injured in the terrifying assault but trauma surgeons credit city first responders for keeping the sad casualty count so low. "They deserve tremendous credit," Brigham and Women's Hospital trauma center director Dr. Jonathan Gates said. "They recognized the injuries and treated them aggressively." Hooley said his 340-member crew is well-trained in rapid assessment. "They told people who were able to walk, 'Keep walking, to the medical tent.' That way, our guys were freed up to run to the people on the ground, people who were unconscious, incapacitated, unable to walk," he said. "They're the ones that need the operating rooms and the surgeons." Then the crew color-coded the patients by injuries, with "red" for those who were worst off. "The dispatchers at police headquarters have a list of all the care capabilities, so they knew which patients had to go where," said Hooley, a Dorchester native who joined the city crew 35 years ago. He became chief three years ago. "It was like, 'Take these two reds to Mass General. The next two go to the Beth Israel,' " he said. "That way, no one hospital got chewed up." Emergency workers who honed their skills on the battlefield were especially angry to see the carnage here at home, he said. "One of the guys said to me, 'I thought what I was doing over there was worthwhile, because I was preventing that from happening here,' " Hooley said. Today, he's most impressed that the crew got it done, in 18 minutes, all without knowing if another bomb was set to blow. "They ran in there to get people off Bolyston Street, even though there was no reason to think there weren't more bombs," he said. "They took a calculated risk. They knew they had to get those patients out of there." ___ ©2013 the Boston Herald Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

April 18--OAKLAND -- A 16-year-old Oakland teen was charged Thursday as an adult in the fatal shooting of an off-duty San Jose paramedic in the Oakland hills earlier this month, and five other boys are facing multiple felonies in connection with the killing. Christian Burton is one of six boys, ages 13 to 16, suspected of trying to carjack paramedic Quinn Boyer as he stopped near the intersection of Keller Avenue and Hansom Drive the morning of April 2. Five were arrested Tuesday and charged in juvenile court in connection with the killing. Authorities announced Thursday that a 13-year-old boy was also in the car at the time of the shooting and faces felony charges as well. "This senseless murder has shocked the community of Oakland as well as all of us who work in the criminal justice system," said Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley in a statement. "(Boyer), a paramedic, dedicated his life to helping others. His brazen daytime killing at the hands of a 16-year-old armed with a gun is a tragedy on many levels." Burton is the only boy whose identity was released, since he is being tried as an adult. The others' names have not been released because of their ages. Burton admitted to police that he killed Boyer, according to court records. He was linked to the killing through physical evidence and witness statements, according to a probable cause arrest warrant. It was shortly before noon on April 2 when Boyer, of Dublin, took his father back to his Oakland hills home from a doctor's appointment. He was alone in his car when, police said, the boys pulled their car alongside his Honda Civic and Burton shot him point-blank in the head. He was in the hospital for two days but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on April 4. Boyer had worked as a paramedic for Santa Clara County since 2008, with a stellar reputation on the job. In the days after he was shot, a memorial adorned the front lawn of Rural/Metro Ambulance to honor him. Boyer grew up in Oakland and graduated from Sonoma State University, the Santa Rosa Fire Academy and Foothill College's paramedic program. He had recently been accepted into the physician's assistant program at Stanford. He was also a Big Brother and a volunteer at the Order of Malta clinic in Oakland, his family said. His family has declined to speak publicly about the killing, and was not available to comment on the charges. O'Malley, the Alameda County DA, released a statement saying her office "will ensure that justice is served." While O'Malley announced the charges filed against Burton, her office declined to specify the exact charges filed against the five other teens, saying only they are "multiple felonies." Although Burton is charged with a special circumstances murder, he is not eligible for the death penalty because he is a teenager. It also remains unclear if he can be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole if convicted. Burton appeared in an Oakland courtroom briefly on Thursday for an arraignment and is scheduled to be back in court Friday morning to enter a plea and to be assigned an attorney. Reach Paul T. Rosynsky at prosynsky@bayareanewsgroup.com. Reach Kristin J. Bender at kbender@bayareanewsgroup.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/kjbender. ___ ©2013 The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Calif.) Visit The Oakland Tribune (Oakland, Calif.) at www.insidebayarea.com Distributed by MCT Information Services A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

Patent Covers Staging of Orders into Neutral Accounts for Multi-Broker Execution BOSTON, April 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Eze Software Group, a premier provider of global investment technology, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark office has issued United States Patent Number 8,352,353 for its industry-leading execution management system, the RealTick® EMS. The patent covers the proprietary technology and methodology for the staging of electronic orders into a neutral (aggregation) account for execution, providing ultimate flexibility and workflow efficiency to traders while maintaining their anonymity. "We are excited to have been issued this patent," said Daniel Rooney, president of Eze Software Group's RealTick EMS division. "RealTick has always been a leader in providing multi-broker functionality and this patent recognizes that strength. Since its release, a majority of our customers have adopted Neutral Account Staging for aggregated orders as their preferred workflow." This unique, proprietary staging workflow provides RealTick EMS users with an unparalleled level of control for multi-broker trading. Traders can stage orders without committing to a specific broker, and then send portions of the staged order to multiple brokers. "RealTick's patented method uses a two-tier accounting system, where the parent-order is staged into a neutral aggregation account and each child-order is placed in a broker sub-account," said Derek Gover, director of trading systems development for Eze Software Group's RealTick EMS division and co-inventor of the patented system. "The details of the child-order are revealed only to the broker executing that portion of the order." The trader remains in control of execution decisions at the time of the trade, but each broker in RealTick's extensive broker-dealer network controls attributes of their sub-accounts, such as suitability rules, credit checks, and short locates. RealTick's patented Neutral Account Staging method simplifies and streamlines the order management process for multi-broker trading, providing greater control and workflow efficiency to both buy-side and sell-side customers. "This is an important and exciting milestone for Eze Software," said Tom Gavin, chief executive officer of Eze Software Group. "It is a testament to the talent and expertise of our employees, and of our dedication to providing innovative and cutting-edge technology solutions." Eze Software Group's RealTick EMS is an award-winning, global execution platform providing comprehensive trading, data and risk solutions. RealTick EMS features advanced multi-broker, global cross-asset execution capabilities with access to a network of more than 200 brokers worldwide. RealTick EMS's unsurpassed flexibility, world-class client service, and fully configurable and intuitively integrated software have earned multiple industry awards and accolades over the course of more than 25 years of industry-leading innovation. About Eze Software Group Eze Software Group is a premier provider of global investment technology to support the front, middle, and back office. Formed in 2013, Eze Software brings together the proven success of the RealTick EMS, Eze OMS, and Tradar PMS teams. It partners with more than 1,500 buy- and sell-side institutions in 30 countries across North and South America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Its clients include broker-dealers, endowments, family offices, hedge funds, institutional asset managers, mutual funds, pension funds, and professional individual investors. Based in Boston, Eze Software employs more than 750 people in 12 offices worldwide. For more information, visit www.ezesoft.com. Contact: Meghan Rocha mrocha@ezesoft.com +1 617.316.1153 SOURCE Eze Software Group A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article

Trailblazing city medics have given me my life back ; ANUJI VARMA meets the asthma sufferer who was once at death's door but is now leading an active lifestyle with the help of Birmingham doctors and a clever gizmo GASPING for breath, Anthony McGuinness's life flashed before him. He was suffering from another asthma attack - and this one seemed to be as deadly as the others. The father-of-three, from New Oscott, Birmingham, was rushed to hospital where he underwent life-saving S treatment. But when he took a turn for the worse, medics had to resort to giving him the powerful horse tranquilliser Ketamine. "I had an attack at home and called 999," recalls Anthony, 48, who suffers from the serious form of the condition called Brittle Asthma. "An ambulance came and rushed me to hospital where I stabilised and was expected to get better. "But through the night my breathing deteriorated and when I woke up a nurse was sitting on my bed. Unbeknownst to me she had been listening to my breathing for a while. "Within minutes I had three doctors from intensive care and a nurse around my bed who said I had not had a good night and needed to go to intensive care. My breathing deteriorated again and I was gasping so they gave me intravenous medication. But it still wasn't working so I was given Ketamine. They actually give it to horses, it is quite a powerful drug." It was administered to help him relax and it did the trick. Anthony, who was left overweight as a result of his condition, was then put on a CPAP machine, which assists breathing and slowly he started getting better. Since the terrifying incident where he was given the drug in 2008, the budding actor has made a remarkable improvement in his condition - My deteriorated I wa- and it's all thanks to a new device being used at Birmingham's Heartlands Hospital to monitor asthmatics. Under the care of specialist Dr Adel Mansur, Anthony has been treated with a machine called FeNO. so they me medication. it still working given They give it to it is quite powerful Anthony Caesar The device monitors the amount of gas nitric oxide in exhaled breath, which is essential when diagnosing the condition and determining the amount of prescribed steroids that should be given to a patient. It can ensure asthma is the correct diagnosis rather than another condition. And since being regularly checked with the device, Anthony has never had to return to intensive care - and has even lost five stone as a result of being able to exercise again. He says: "I have breathed into the machine as part of my on- going assessments and on my last visit the nurse told me for the first time the FeNO measure showed my breathing was actually that of a normal person. "My asthma has improved vastly thanks to the care I have had and my own efforts and the machine has helped to show me evidence of exactly how far I have come. "I used to take two different inhaled steroids and oral steroids when I was at my worst. They caused my face and body to swell and I felt dreadful. Now I just have one combined inhaler and I am able to manage my asthma at home." Anthony was born with the illness but up until the age of four medics believed he had bronchitis. As he got older his symptoms became worse and it resulted in him missing chunks of schooling. As a result, he was sent to a special boarding school, joining other asthma sufferers. "I spent most of my childhood in and out of hospital but the school I went to was very good," he recalls. "There was a specialist nurse there and we were taught breathing techniques to help us cope with our asthma. I remember when I used to come home in the holidays, I'd want to go out and play with my friends or go running. "But my mum wouldn't let me and I would think she was being cruel. "I used to watch them from the window and think 'why can't I do that'." When Anthony reached 17, his asthma seemed to disappear and he entered a strict fitness regime, running twice a day. He even had dreams of becoming a professional footballer. But it was short-lived and at 21 it came back with a vengeance. It meant he piled on the pounds as he was unable to exercise and he spent more time in hospital. "At my heaviest I was 17 stone 8lbs and I remember looking in the mirror thinking I didn't like what was looking back. Then I had the episode with the Ketamine. I guess that was the turning point," he explains. "It had become very dangerous and it was then that I was told about Dr Mansur and his work. "I started seeing him and noticed there was an improvement straight away. Now in the past five years I have gone down to 12st 5lbs and am much better." He has also taken up karate and is once again leading more of an active life and hopes to continue with acting after landing roles in Lark Rise to Candleford and Julius Caesar at the RSC in Stratfordupon-Avon. He has also taken a mentoring role on the Expert Patient Programme to help other people cope with living with long term conditions including asthma. "It was mind over matter and I concentrated on getting well," he adds. "I thought I could either stay like this or focus on getting well. That was just before I started having my care with Dr Mansur and his team. They have been amazing. "However I am still mindful of my limitations as I know things can deteriorate rapidly." '' My breathing deteriorated and I was gasping so they gave me intravenous medication. But it still wasn't working so I was given Ketamine. They actually give it to horses, it is quite a powerful drug ANTHONY MCGUINNESS A service of YellowBrix, Inc. View the full article