Tidewater EMS Council’s Second Decade: Growth, Funding, and Leadership

Funding Stabilizes

The most significant event of the early 1980s to impact the council and statewide EMS system was the passage of the “One-for-Life” program. At the urging of EMS stakeholders, and especially regional EMS representatives, the General Assembly in 1993 passed an appropriations bill adding $1 to the motor vehicle registration. The funding provided a grant program for EMS agencies, a return to localities, training support, and state and regional program support. One-for-Life provided a stable and ongoing source of funding for TEMS and other regional EMS councils, originally established using federal grants which had ended. EMS stakeholders successfully lobbied for an increase to $2 for life in 1990.

During the second decade, the council obtained funding from other sources as well: the Tidewater Hospital Council supported printing of protocols, communications manuals, and mass casualty tags. Various grants from the Norfolk Foundation and others funded training equipment and communications upgrades. The Eastern Shore EMS Council held annual radiothons which raised money for training and equipment.

Educational Transition

Virginia’s advanced life support training originally began in Virginia Beach as the Emergency Coronary Care Program in the 1970s. By the late ‘70s, regional ALS training had grown into a regional cooperative effort of Virginia Beach EMS and Norfolk Paramedical Rescue Service, who jointly conducted annual Cardiac Technician and Paramedic (bridge) courses held at EVMS. Substantial credit for these programs goes to coordinators Doris Foster, Virginia Beach EMS, and David Palmer, Norfolk PRS. The council’s Mobile Intensive Care Committee provided oversight.

Citing the need to better support regional training, the council added an EMS training coordinator in 1983. In 1984, the council assumed coordination of the two annual courses in cooperation with Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Now including students from throughout the region, the limited capacity of the courses and ensuring mentored clinical experiences for students was becoming a concern. In 1985, a training advisory committee investigated alternatives to improve ALS education, including an EMS degree option. Discussions with EVMS, ODU, TCC, and a site visit to Northern Virginia Community College eventually led to the transition of the regional cardiac and paramedic courses to the Tidewater Community College.

The TCC EMS Technology program began in late 1985 under the direction of program head Clinton Franklin. In early 1986, the first 40 students enrolled in Introduction to Cardiology, the first segment of the cardiac tech program. Not without some transition pain, the TCC program eventually took off when the EMS program was transferred from industrial and public service technologies to the health science technologies program. In 1991, the college awarded its first Associate in Applied Science in EMS degree. Substantial credit for the growth and stability of the EMS program at TCC goes to Lorna Ramsey, the second and current program director.

The Yeiser Decade

The second decade of Tidewater EMS could be described as the Yeiser decade. Frank Marx Yeiser, Jr. was the founder of Physicians and Surgeons Ambulance Service in Norfolk and first superintendent of Norfolk Paramedical Rescue Service. In 1977, he exited EMS to attend medical school and emergency medicine residency. He returned in 1993, and EMS in Tidewater changed forever.

Described by then Norfolk city manager Jim Oliver, Yeiser was “brilliant, compassionate, and always in touch with the human condition.” Everyone around Yeiser knew his mantra: always do what’s best for the patient.

Yeiser’s Accomplishments

• Attending ED physician, Emergency Physicians of Tidewater
• Operational medical director for Virginia Beach EMS, Norfolk, and Nightingale. Built a full-scale helicopter cabin model for training
• Oversaw the merger of Norfolk Fire Department and Norfolk Paramedical Rescue
• Chaired the regional OMD committee
• Led an effort between the Tidewater and Peninsulas EMS regions to standardize drug boxes and protocols
• Instrumental in regional protocol revisions
• First state EMS medical director
• Operational Smile
• Accomplished woodworker

In 1987, the state EMS symposium was held in Norfolk, and Yeiser chaired the steering committee. He personally oversaw the selection of topics and faculty and training for local “hosts.” The logo, which he pushed, showed various components of the EMS system but highlighted the “patient” as the priority. During the symposium that year, Yeiser received the annual Governor’s Outstanding OMD Award.

Following two years as the first state EMS director, the Governor’s OMD award was named in Yeiser’s honor in 1991. That same year, during a regional legislative breakfast, Yeiser explained to members of the General Assembly how EMS must transcend political boundaries, must be consistently available throughout the Commonwealth, and must, above all, hold the patient as the number one priority.

Yeiser died of a heart condition in 1995 at the age of 48. In addition to a private family service, a memorial was held at Town Point Park in Norfolk, attended by more than 1,000 family, friends, and colleagues.

Trauma System Development

C. William Schwab, MD, was the first trauma service director at Norfolk General. He served on state committees and helped guide the early development of criteria and designation of several trauma centers in the Commonwealth. Under his guidance, the trauma service provided the first of what would become annual trauma symposiums, initiated the prehospital Trauma Score, and established an outreach program to provide patient outcome feedback to referring physicians. Schwab was also medical director for the region’s earliest Advanced Trauma Life Support courses for physicians.

In late 1985, Norfolk General Hospital was designated as a Level I trauma center. R Adams Cowley, father of “the Golden Hour” concept, was keynote. Wendy J. Marshall, MD, the center’s new director of trauma, spoke about individuals who were instrumental in its formation.

Mass Casualties Test System

In 1987, the region’s mass casualty response was put to the test when a Norfolk Southern excursion train derailed in the Dismal Swamp in a remote location near the Chesapeake/Suffolk line. Over 175 patients were transported to six hospitals by 10 EMS agencies using 29 ambulances and five helicopters. Then Chesapeake EMS Director, Kenneth R. Murphy, credited “years of planning and regionalization of Tidewater EMS agencies a key to the successful management of the incident.”

Another noteworthy mass casualty event during this decade occurred during the Greekfest riots in Virginia Beach in 1989. That Labor Day weekend saw surges of revelers jamming the oceanfront streets. Rioting and looting broke out. EMS set up triage and treatment areas at the Dome and Pavilion, with over 80 EMS personnel and multiple emergency vehicles responding.

A month later, in October 1989, a fire at the Hillhaven Convalescent and Nursing Center in Norfolk resulted in 12 fatalities and 141 patients being transported to area hospitals and nursing homes. The successful response highlighted the importance of mutual aid agreements and the strong collaboration among EMS agencies.

Response Newsletter Begins

One of the most visible changes during the Council’s second decade was the launch of the newsletter Response in 1983. This publication provided critical EMS updates and training resources. By 1994, Response had become the longest continuously published EMS newsletter in Virginia, a legacy that continued well beyond the decade.

As the Council’s second decade ended, leadership transitions and continued EMS advancements ensured Tidewater EMS remained at the forefront of emergency medical services, setting the stage for further innovation and regional coordination.

‍