Gilmer EMS transitioning Medical Directors
News September 11, 2022
GILMER COUNTY, Ga. – Transitioning away from its current Medical Director, Gilmer EMS told the Board of Commissioners that they would be gaining certain capabilities that even Piedmont’s local Emergency Room does not apply.
Fire Chief Daniel Kauffman and EMS Chief Andrew Burnette told the board that the transition to a new medical director would allow for new vision and direction. However, that comes at an increase in costs. An increase of $500 per month according to the board. Chief Kauffman said that he has found some space in his budget to cover the remainder of 2022 and would look to add the increase into future budgets, possibly under contract services.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker questioned the change, noting that documentation said that the current Medical Director’s affiliations with Piedmont was also a question for the change. Kauffman noted that they will be looking at a new director specially trained in disaster management, pre-hospital care, and ems care. With this transition, he also noted that it will widen the scope of care in our county and benefit us as our medical personnel are usually with patients much longer. While we have the local emergency department, certain emergencies are beyond their scope of treatment, meaning that ems will take patients directly to another location further away.
Broadening the scope of care in transit will not exceed state mandates as Kauffman noted the current direction is more limited than what the state allows.
Chief Burnette stated, “With this being an ER only up here, they don’t have all the cutting edge treatments and stuff that paramedics are allowed to do.”
Some of these situations include heart attack treatment in ambulance, an earlier response than waiting for arrival at a hospital. With state allowances far beyond what is being locally allowed, the new director focused on those issues would change the county’s protocols in ambulance and immediate responses. This could range from practices and procedures to applications of certain drugs. The full changes have not been explored yet.
As the county approved the change, the specific protocol changes will take effect in coming months with a new director once contracted.
Police Chief Callahan responds to life-saving medical emergency
Featured Stories July 19, 2022
EAST ELLIJAY, Ga. – Above and beyond the call of duty, it’s a phrase we hear often in our country. And it is a thing of honor to do something not required of you, it is a mark of caring for your neighbors. Even if it is something small like helping people carry groceries or giving a helping hand to someone injured, it is something to be recognized. How much more inspiring is it when it has saved a life?
This came to East Ellijay on Monday, July 18, 2022, as Police Chief Larry Callahan responded to a call for an unresponsive woman. A medical call is not a call that officers usually respond to. Only emergency medical services respond. However, when Chief Callahan, who had actually come into the office early that day, heard the call was roughly a quarter of a mile away from the East Ellijay Police Station on Cherry Street, Callahan immediately took to his vehicle and became first on scene.
An unnamed woman had passed out and possibly was suffering from a heart attack. Arriving on scene, Chief Callahan began CPR and adjusted the woman’s oxygen from an oxygen bottle. With CPR compressions affecting both the lungs and heart in Callahan’s attempt to save the woman, precious minutes ticked by as they waited for medical services. Arriving within 5 minutes of the call, EMS took over from Callahan and transported the woman to the emergency room.
And so, Callahan went on with the rest of his day.
The woman, however, was treated and is recovering in the hospital.
But it wasn’t just that the response to a medical call that was done with needing to, but something that all of East Ellijay Police have done that isn’t mandatory. CPR training is a class provided by the city for its officers but is not a mandatory class. Instead, officers sign up for the class only if they wish to be trained. Several different county, city, and private level services came together that Monday to possibly save this woman’s life.
Before any of the events of that day, Lt. Gene Hefner from the Gilmer Sheriff’s Office offered to teach the class for East Ellijay’s officers in recent months, a refresher course for most of them as they have had the course before, including Callahan. Chief Callahan became first on scene responding to a call not usually for police. County EMS services took over after arrival. Then, Doctors and Nurses of the emergency room finished the process before hospitalizing her.
Being a part of that process was only possible through putting that training to use. Callahan’s response meant several minutes of difference in the first efforts to save a life.
“He’s a great guy and he’s been a great leader, a good example,” said East Ellijay Police Department’s Assistant Chief Shane Bowman. “I’m proud to work here.”
Bowman went on to add to his statement about his Chief saying that in addition to leading by example every day in the office, he also strengthens and enables the officers to respond in unusual situations. Bowman noted that Callahan has recently had the department purchase First Aid Packs for officers to carry in their vehicles on patrol. Looking like large backpacks, these include numerous medical supplies for basic first aid and immediate response while waiting on EMS services.
“Above and beyond the call of duty” is often something spoken of in military or movies that we watch. Yet, “above and beyond the call of duty” can mean so much even from small acts. A small act to learn CPR when not required, a small act of responding to a call that you don’t normally respond to simply because you’re closer, a small act became much more when a life was saved.
FOGAS hosting spay/neuter and vaccinations clinic this weekend
Community, News March 24, 2022
ELLIJAY, Ga. – A spay/neuter day along with pet drive-through Vaccinations are being hosted this weekend through local organizations including FOGAS (Friends of Gilmer Animal Shelter) and the Animal Medical Clinic of Jasper.
According to FOGAS Vice-President Sylvia Harris, the Spay and Neuter Clinic will be held tomorrow, Friday, March 25, 2022, while the Vaccination Clinic will be held on Saturday, March 26, 2022.
The spay/neuter clinic requires certificates from supporters and is being held at the Animal Medical Clinic in Jasper, Georgia from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Saturday’s vaccination clinic, however, will be held from 8:00 a.m. to noon in the parking lot behind the Chamber’s Downtown Welcome Center and welcomes everyone to show up. Offering Rabies, DHCPP, DHLPP, FeELUK/FVRCP, and Bordella vaccinations, the clinic is being sponsored by Dr. Chester & the Animal Medical Clinic of Jasper.
A portion of proceeds made from the vaccination clinic from the vaccinations, ranging from $10 to $20, will go to benefit Friends Of Gilmer Animal Shelter community programs.
Ask The Doc: COPD And Kidney Failure
Community June 6, 2021
This morning, the doctors discussed a question Regarding COPD. What is the Life Expectancy and Prognosis with COPD. What are the stages? How do you recognize End Stage COPD? Can you reverse COPD damage? The Doctors also discuss a question regarding Kidney Failure as a result of Diabetes. How does diabetes affect the kidneys? The doctors also touch on the latest in Covid-19 news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL8LmqcUBwU
Ask The Doc: Dieting And Weight Loss
Community May 30, 2021
This week, we are joined by Dr. Raymond Tidman! Dr. Tidman discusses why he chose to become a doctor. What makes a good Doctor? He also touches on the practice of dieting and What doesn’t work and what does. What is the best way to diet? What is the importance of knowing how many calories are in the food you eat? They also take some time to touch on the vaccine. Who should be taking it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4QjjnBd874
Ask The Doc: Lung Spicules After Monitoring Kidney Mass And subconjunctival hemorrhage
Community May 23, 2021
This week, the Doctors discuss a Viewer question regarding a Kidney mass where the doctor is monitoring the growth. After monitoring the growth they discover Spicules On Lung Scan. Is it Small Cell Lung Cancer? Will they have to Remove the Kidney. What is the Survival Rate Of Lung Cancer and of Kidney Cancer? They also touch on A question regarding Having multiple Bloody eyes over the course of 6 weeks. What is a subconjunctival hemorrhage? How Common are they? What causes subconjunctival hemorrhages? Is it a sign of something bigger happening in the body? What are the causes of psoriasis? The Doctors also touch on the latest Covid-19 news for this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lza9yvYlXXY
Ask The Doc! Sleep Apnea And Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
Community May 16, 2021
This week, The Doctors discuss Sleep Apnea. How harmful is it? What exactly is Sleep Apnea? How is it treated? What is the mortality Rate of Sleep Apnea? The doctors also touch on Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. what is it? How do you begin treatment? They also touch on the latest Covid-19 News. All this and more on Ask The Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvSpZOyRppI
Ask The Doc: Keytruda And Rectal Metstases
Featured Stories May 9, 2021
This week, the doctors discuss Achilles Tendonitis. How do you treat it? How long is the recovery time? They also touch on the use of Keytruda (Jimmy Carter Drug) and the side effects that can come from it. Lastly, they address a question regarding Rectal Metastases. What is the treatment plan? The doctors also discuss the latest in vaccine news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6lHvn-KBsA
Ask The Doc! PSA elevation And Liver Biopsy While Being Treated For Breast Cancer
Community April 26, 2021
This morning, Dr. Whaley discusses PSA elevation with a patient that wants to watch and wait. Is that the best choice? Should he get his prostate removed now or watch and wait? He Also touches on A question from a woman who is currently being treated for breast cancer. After having a pain in her side, her doctor wants to do a biopsy of her liver. If she’s already being treated for breast cancer, is it necessary? What does the doc say? All this and more Right here on Ask The Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZG3z6pUv1s
Ask The Doc! Developing Amyloidosis And Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Community April 18, 2021
This morning, The doctors discuss a question regarding Developing Amyloidosis after two Stem cell treatments. What can Amyloidosis affect and what is the treatment? They also touch on Antiphospholipid Syndrome. What is it? What causes it? How is it treated? Dr. Whaley also discusses the latest in Covid-19 news! All This and more on Ask The Doc!
Ask The Doc! Pancreatic Neoplasm & Anorectal Abscesses
Community April 11, 2021
This morning, The doctors discuss Dr. Tidman’s Trip to the British Virgin Islands. What hoops did he have to jump through in order to make it there and back. They also discuss Neoplasm Pancreatic Cancer. How does it develop? Why is it so hard to diagnose Pancreatic Cancer? They also discuss Anorectal Abscesses. Where do they come from? How would the Doctors treat them? They also give us a brief Covid-19 update.
Ask The Doc: Blood Clotting Gene And Recurring Cancer After 4 Years
Community April 4, 2021
This week, Dr. Whaley discusses a blood clotting gene that can be passed down from parents. How likely are you to get it if one of your parents have the gene. What increases the likelyhood of getting a blood clot? He also discusses Prostate cancer recurring after 4 years. What is Oligo-metastatic prostate cancer and how is it treated? Dr. Whaley also gives his weekly covid update. All this and more on Ask The Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb2uGLakYUM
Ask The Doc! Hemochromatosis & Lung Masses
Community March 28, 2021
This week, Dr. Whaley discusses Hemochromatosis in a healthy patient that had unknowingly been treating it for 30 years. How does he go about treatment now? He also discusses a patient with a broken shoulder that was scanned when a lung mass too small to biopsy showed up on the scan. What’s the latest on Covid?
Ask The Doc! Endometrial Carcinoma And Breast Cancer In The Elderly
Lifestyle March 21, 2021
This week, the doctors are answering all of your health questions! Why is it important to keep up with your annual doctors appointments. What is Endometrial Carcinoma? How common is it? What are the outcomes? What are the different methods of treatment? How do you treat breast cancer in different age groups? What impact does age have on the type of treatment of Breast cancer? They also touch on the recent covid news and some Viewer questions regarding Covid-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_r0z_usXk
Ask The Doc! A Year Later
Community March 14, 2021
This week, the doctors discuss the pandemic and where we were at just a year ago. They discuss the uncertainty and the lack of knowledge we had just a year ago. How much has changed is just a year. They also discuss the viewer questions regarding Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia and the “Maintenance” after having a bone marrow transplant. Where do we stand with outdoor events? All this and more right here on Ask The Doc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaVUKIyOJ6w
Ask the Doc! Cologuards and the Lance Armstrong Shot
Community January 24, 2021
Dr. William Whaley has returned for the new year and is ready to answer your questions about colonoscopies vs the Cologuard test and the other about Myelodysplasia and the Lance Armstrong shot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr5QCeVJ5Ek