GERMS News

GERMS Featured in Journal Of Emergency Medical Services – September 5, 2024 – Georgetown University

The article highlights the critical role collegiate EMS programs, like Georgetown’s GERMS, play in emergency medical services, especially during times of staffing shortages. Programs like GERMS provide rapid response on campus, reduce local EMS burden, and create a pipeline of future healthcare professionals. With high pass rates and strong partnerships with local EMS, GERMS exemplifies how such initiatives build both community resilience and leadership in emergency medicine.

Click here to read the piece in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services.

GERMS Welcomes New Probationary Members – September 1, 2024 – Georgetown University

GERMS recently welcomed fifteen students to the Fall 2024 probationary class after they successfully completed the application and interview process. These fifteen students will now learn about the organization’s culture and protocols as they ride shifts, participate in training exercises, and partake in social events. GERMS is proud of its integrated, multilayered mentorship system that will ensure each probationary member has a senior member with whom he or she can ask for guidance to be successful in the organization. Welcome to:

GERMS would like to thank all of the applicants, Vice-President of Staff Manya Reddy, our Directors of Probationary Members (Malar Bala, Lauren Whitlock, and Jess Visone), and the whole selection committee.

GERMS Purchases New Stryker Products – August 19, 2024 – Georgetown University

GERMS is excited to announce that we are in the process of upgrading our ambulances to include new-model Stryker stretchers and stair chairs. Extensive studies have found a high incidence of back injuries among EMS providers. To better protect both our providers and patients, GERMS is purchasing two Power-PRO XT stretchers and one Power-LOAD system. We will outfit Unit 11 with both a Power-PRO XT and a Power-LOAD system, while Unit 10 will be outfitted with a Power-PRO XT stretcher. To complement the safety benefits of this equipment, GERMS has also purchased a second Stair-PRO stair chair that will continue to reduce strain on our providers and increase the safety of moving patients. GERMS looks forward to using these new products, which demonstrate our steadfast commitment to ensuring the safest experience possible for both our providers and our patients. 

GERMS Graduates – May 20, 2024 – Georgetown University

Today, we commemorate the momentous occasion of the graduation of our esteemed GERMS from the remarkable class of 2023. Congratulations to:

As we do every year, we had many standby crews during the weekend. GERMS established a robust command system, incident command, two transporting crews, and one standby crew. GERMS ended up treating many patients throughout the weekend with many hours of standby coverage.

New Executive Board & Captain – March 15, 2024 – Georgetown University

GERMS recently elected a new Executive Board and selected a new Captain to serve for the 2024 – 2025 year. GERMS is excited to announce the following members and their respective roles:

GERMS would like to take an opportunity to thank the last-years Executive Board and Captain for their service to the organization and the Georgetown community. GERMS would like to recognize the following members that are graduating later this Spring:

NCEMSF – February 25, 2024 – Baltimore, Maryland

Once again this year, GERMS proudly attended the NCEMSF Conference held in Baltimore, Maryland. Renowned as the center of collegiate EMS, the NCEMSF conference offers an invaluable platform for institutions seeking to enhance or establish campus EMS programs. Attendees benefit from a wealth of resources, engaging lectures, and the opportunity to glean insights from a diverse array of EMS professionals, fostering our commitment to ongoing advancement as emergency medical technicians.

This year marked a significant milestone for GERMS as we were honored with the “Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS” recognition. This esteemed accolade signifies our dedication to maintaining high standards in operational EMS, encompassing basic life support services, rapid response, ambulance transport, and medical coverage for special events. The evaluation criteria underscore our emphasis on delivering superior care, investing in comprehensive training for our staff and volunteers, and serving our community with distinction.

Additionally, GERMS reaffirmed its standing as a HEARTSafe Campus, championing initiatives to raise awareness about CPR and expand public access to life-saving defibrillation resources. Moreover, we maintained our distinction as a Bronze Tier EMS Ready Campus, highlighting our exemplary emergency management protocols and disaster preparedness measures within the collegiate EMS landscape.

GERMS Partners with HAAS Alert Safety Cloud^® – February 23 , 2024 – Georgetown University

GERMS is happy to announce that we have begun the process of signing a five-year contract with the Chicago-based HAAS Alert. HAAS Alert Safety Cloud^® provides Fire and EMS departments across the United States with increased safety and peace of mind while responding to calls and working on emergency scenes. GERMS will use both HAAS Alert’s Responder-to-Vehicle and Responder-to-Responder systems, which will notify motorists of a responding or parked emergency vehicle through the driver’s phone and in-vehicle based navigation systems. Additionally, the Responder-to-Responder system notifies emergency vehicle operators when two apparatus are on a possible collision course, enhancing safety. GERMS will be integrating our system with DC Fire and EMS allowing for enhanced interoperability and safety in our daily operations. HAAS Alert has a proven track record of reducing emergency vehicle crashes and increasing compliance in the motoring public with red lights and sirens. GERMS is proud to join DC Fire and EMS as the second DC-based agency to partner with HAAS Alert to better protect our personnel and the motoring public.

GERMS – A Top EMS Educator – January 15, 2024 – Georgetown University

DC Health recently announced that in 2023, 94.4% of the District of Columbia EMT students that sat for the NREMT examination earned their EMS Certification. This earned the District of Columbia the #1 rank in the country when it comes to EMS education. GERMS was a major part of that success with 96% of the 75+ students that sat for the NREMT examination earning their EMS Certification, far above the national average, and even above the DC average.

“This achievement is undoubtedly a testament to the dedication and expertise of our exceptional training team, incredible instructor Len Mascaro, and every single member of GERMS who volunteers their time to teach this class. As the program continues to uphold its reputation for one of the highest NREMT pass rates in the country, this is an opportunity to formally recognize and appreciate the outstanding efforts of the members of GERMS and the committed students who participate in our class” said Vice-President of Education Sanjana Chimata.

GERMS has just begun its Spring 2024 class with 32 students enrolled. GERMS will offer EMT classes both in the Summer and Fall of 2024. More information on these classes will be available on our website.

Fall 2023 Annual Donation Appeal – December 18, 2023 – Georgetown University

DONATE HERE!

GERMS is dedicated to delivering exceptional care to our community and creating a distinctive experience for our members. However, we rely on your support to maintain and improve our programs. Your generosity directly influences the well-being of our volunteer EMTs, the individuals under our care, and the overall prosperity of our organization. Thank you in advance for your support!

Welcome to the Verstandig Pavilion at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – December 9, 2023 – Washington, DC

GERMS is excited to announce the opening of the new Verstandig Pavilion at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. The hospital will feature a brand-new Emergency Department with 32 private exam rooms, as well as 156 private patient rooms, 31 state-of-the-art operating rooms (including a new intra-operative MRI suite), a rooftop helipad with direct access to the emergency department and operating rooms, and three levels of underground parking. 

The emergency department officially opened on December 9th and will be the primary transport location for GERMS patients, while GERMS will still offer transport to Sibley and George Washington Hospitals.

New Vehicle: EMS 1 – September 1, 2023 – Georgetown University

GERMS has recently welcomed a 2010 Ford Explorer into its fleet, courtesy of Darien EMS – Post 53. This vehicle will bear the distinguished call sign of EMS 1 and will be assigned our Duty Officer. EMS 1 comes equipped with essential safety features, including a state-of-the-art Whelen light bar, a robust siren system, and a 800 MHz radio communication system.

GERMS would like to thank the following for all of their hard work in the acquisition and preparation of this vehicle for service:

Abby Hames (Vice-President of Operations)
Jay Cole (Director of Ambulance Operations)
Alex Sorenson (Director of Equipment)
Thomas Ostberg (Director of Electronic Systems & former Post 53 President)
Merritt Hayes (Treasurer)
Jack Childs (former Captain)
Tharun Potluri (President)
Lauren Aslami (Captain)
Meghan Shaughnessy (Director of Driver Training & former Post 53 Member)

This acquisition continues our relationship with Darien EMS – Post 53 which dates back to our founding by Robert Doherty over 40 years ago, a former Post 53 member, and donation of our Unit 3 ambulance in 1985. Over the years, we have also welcomed several Post 53 alumni into the GERMS family, further cementing the bond between our organizations.

EMS 1 will go into service later this fall.

GERMS at Graduation – May 20, 2023 – Georgetown University

Today, we commemorate the momentous occasion of the graduation of our esteemed GERMS from the remarkable class of 2023. Congratulations to:

As we do every year, we had many standby crews during the weekend. GERMS established a robust command system, incident command, two transporting crews, and one standby crew. GERMS ended up treating 39 patients throughout the weekend with over 40 hours of standby coverage.

New Executive Board & Captain – March 19, 2023 – Georgetown University

GERMS recently elected a new Executive Board and selected a new Captain to serve for the 2023 – 2024 year. GERMS is excited to announce the following members and their respective roles:

GERMS would like to take an opportunity to thank the last-years Executive Board and Captain for their service to the organization and the Georgetown community. GERMS would like to recognize the following members that are graduating later this Spring:

NCEMSF – February 26, 2023 – Boston, Massachusetts

GERMS was once again in attendance at the NCEMSF Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. NCEMSF conferences are the centerpiece of campus EMS interaction. The conference provides an opportunity for groups wanting more information on how to implement or improve campus EMS at their school find a plethora of information available and an opportunity to ask a large group of people specific questions about campus EMS operations is a huge benefit. It features countless EMS related activities and lectures, supporting our goal for continuous improvement as EMTs.

This year, GERMS was awarded for being a Bronze Tier EMS Ready Campus which recognizes excellence in emergency management and disaster preparedness of collegiate EMS organizations.  Additionally, the recognition provides a framework for the enhancement of emergency management education, overall campus preparedness, and response capabilities for the organization.

GERMS also continued their recognition as a HEARTSafe Campus which encourages and promotes community awareness of the potential for saving the lives of sudden cardiac arrest victims through the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and increased public access to defibrillation.