History

The REMS council was formed in 1976, with the creation of the Squad Advisory Committee.

1976
  • The Council was formed and the Squad Advisory ("Captains") Committee began meeting. This was the Council's longest standing committee.
1977
  • The council began its first Cardiac Technician course in conjunction with Mary Washington Hospital after members of the DRS made initial inquiries towards ALS programs. The class graduated in 1978, and shortly thereafter, we saw our region's first successful field defibrillation.
1978
  • The Council sponsored the first ACLS course – this is the oldest continuing medical education program in our region. We also conducted EOA training and sponsored the first First Responder course in VA.
1980
  • In 1980, the REMS Council developed a poison control program – the first Mr. Yuk program in Virginia. The following year, our council introduced “Mr. Yuk” throughout Virginia. We also piloted the first Rescue College for non-instructors.
1981
  • ATLS program given. The Council also coordinated EMS activities for National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, in cooperation with Mary Washington Hospital. The Council presented the first combined Cardiac/Shock-Trauma program in Virginia.
1982
  • Medical director receives “Jaycees” award for progress in EMS.
1983
  • Virginia “One-for-Life” program begins. Council proposes state ALS Test Committee, which is formed.
1984
  • Council presents first area program in Emergency Medical Dispatch.
1985
  • Mary Washington Hospital cosponsors ACLS program for the first time.
  • Council coordinates EMS activities for 75th Boy Scout Jamboree, again in cooperation with Mary Washington Hospital.
  • Council begins MAST-instructor program.
  • Patient Transfer Case – Review Board forms, which will lead to Mary Washington Hospital Patient Transport Service.
  • Council buys $50,000 microwave link, using state grant and Hospital Auxiliary contribution.
  • Council and EMS parent Federation with Apple Computer Grant.
  • State establishes Trauma Registry.
1986
  • Mary Washington Hospital begins Patient Transport Service.
  • Council begins CISD Team.
1987
  • Council establishes principle of medicolegal liability coverage for EMS medical directors – first in Virginia.
  • ACLS course first opened to advanced rescuers, both as students and as instructors.
  • Council director chairs Stafford EMS Feasibility Study Group, forerunner of jurisdictional and regional EMS task forces.
1988
  • Council develops and proposes Senate Bill 428, extending confidentiality to include those rescuers involved in caring for the patient – bill becomes law.
  • Council begins EMT-D program.
  • Council members participate in forming Stafford County EMS Task Force.
  • Mary Washington Hospital-EMS Committee forms.
  • Medical director appointed to Governor’s EMS Advisory Board.
1989
  • Emergency nurse “Ride-Along” program begins.
  • Council and Mary Washington Hospital begin EMS Infection Control program.
  • Council assists Mary Washington Hospital in first area PALS course.
  • Medical director appointed to State Committee on Trauma.
  • Medical director visits EMS system in Frejus, France.
1990
  • Council develops EMS Risk Management program.
  • Council is first to present Shock-Trauma program in Virginia using new curriculum.
  • Council wins first Chamber of Commerce “Reegie” award for regional cooperation, in health and human services category.
  • Council begins pre-hospital intubation program.
  • Council assists in first BTLS course. State “Two-for-Life” program begins.
  • Council is first in state to discontinue ALS telemetry requirement.
1991
  • Council begins EOA-Instructor and EMT-D Instructor programs.
  • Council presents Risk Management program to Virginia EMS community.
  • Council completes the first Shock Trauma course for our region.
  • The council works with the first commercial ALS ambulance services in the area.
1992
  • Council Board of Directors appoints a Guidelines and Training Committee to make recommendations to the Board for future training needs. This training committee pursued a program for prehospital instructors to teach in the Shock Trauma and Cardiac Bridge courses.
1993
  • A very busy year for the Council, during which training programs expanded to a greater extent than ever before.
  • The Council hired an Advanced Life Support training coordinator. This individual would coordinate all of our expanded ALS programs, being involved in future ACLS courses and helping with the future EMS degree program and ALS Instructor Institute. The institute would give us prehospital personnel who will teach in our ALS programs. Dr. Kravetz, operational medical director, worked on a revamped medical control program which would utilize our emergency department physicians more directly in our EMS system.
  • The Rappahannock EMS Board passed a resolution to approve the Rappahannock EMS helicopter protocol.
  • The council was involved in 1993 were the National Boy Scout Jamboree. The National Boy Scout Jamboree, as always, proved to be a challenge for EMS agencies. To provide ambulances for ten days, twenty-four hours a day and at the same time keep the local EMS system manned spoke well for our system.
  • On September 12, 1993, the Council assembled enough ambulances to move approximately 140 patients from the old hospital to the new facility. This involved approximately a year of committee meetings with untold hours from our council and the Mary Washington Hospital Move Committee.
  • Rappahannock EMS Council received its ACLS training center designation.
1998
  • The Council sponsored its first Paramedic Course at the Medical Arts Building.
2002
  • The Council hosted a regional meeting to review the area's response to the 2001 Anthrax cases.
  • The Council developed regional plans for Small Pox vaccinations and the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile.
  • Dr. David Garth became the Council's medical director.
  • The Regional Quality Improvement Committee developed a new Quality Improvement Plan and system.
2003
  • The Council held its first annual Golf Tournament.
  • The Council sponsored and facilitated the "9-1-1 for Kids" program.
2004
  • The Council hosted the first Regional Awards program.
2005
  • The Executive Director, Tina Skinner, began service as Chair of the Regional Director's Group (appointment lasted through 2007).
  • The Regional Medication Accountability Program was adopted, and an RSAF Grant was awarded to implement Phase I-Narcotic Box Replacements.
2006
  • The Council was awarded the 2006 Community Services Award by the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce.
2007
  • The Council renovated and moved into the Medicorp Building and out of the Medical Arts Building. The Regional Training and Simulation Center opened.
2010
  • In partnership with VDEM and Mary Washington Healthcare, the Council secured funding for the installation of a new National Weather Service transmitter atop Mary Washington Hospital. This transmitter was installed, and 188 radios were distributed to REMS service area agencies. The installation of this transmitter helped to close a coverage gap in the weather radio network.
2014
  • The Rappahannock EMS Council CISM Team combined with the Rapidan CISM Team.
2015
  • The Regional Pharmacy Committee finalized plans for and implemented the STAT Kit program to decrease the number of necessary med box exchanges at hospital pharmacies. The STAT kit consists of commonly used, non-narcotic drugs that is accessible to both ALS and BLS providers.
2016
  • The Protocol Subcommittee of the Regional Guidelines and Training Committee finished a major revision of the Regional Patient Care Protocols which was approved the by Council's Board of Directors and issued for use.
  • The Council celebrated its 40th year of service in September. A reception was held for former board members and other significant contributors to the Council's history.
2017
  • Delegate Cole presents Kevin Dillard with Resolution 687

    Image courtesy of Delegate Mark Cole

    The Council is recognized by House Joint Resolution 687 commemorating 40 years of service. The Council is also presented with a Joint Resolution from the Town of Montross, Town of Colonial Beach, and Westmoreland County in recognition of its service to the area.

2022
  • The City of Fredericksburg was proclaimed Stroke Smart by Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw at a ceremony hosted at the REMS Council on May 25, 2022. The city has become the first locality in the region to proclaim the designation, meaning it’s encouraging people to learn the signs of stroke so they can identify when one happens and immediately call 911. 
  • The proclamation also heralded the official grand opening of the REMS Council in its new location at 250 Executive Center Parkway.