WCBC

March 12th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

As the world and local leaders watch the development of the COVID-19 virus, local emergency medical officials have canceled a portion of the Eighteenth Annual Miltenberger Emergency Services Seminar at Rocky Gap Lodge and Casino on Saturday at the direction of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and local medical directors.

“Due to recent health concerns related to spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Miltenberger Emergency Services Seminar scheduled for this Saturday, March 14,” MIEMSS Region 1 Medical Director Dr. Janelle Martin said. “This decision does not come easily, however, given the recent documented case of community transmission of COVID-19 in the state of Maryland, we believe the decision to cancel is in the best interest of our clinicians, the patients we will continue to serve in our communities. We thank you for your understanding.”

Cancelling Saturday’s session will impact 145 participants, not including staff, educators, speakers and physicians from across the tri-state region, MIEMSS Region I Administrator Dwayne Kitis said.

Kitis and Martin echoed Gov. Hogan’s statements that everyone must do their part to stop this virus from spreading.

“The committee will continue discussions to potentially have a make-up session at a later date,” Kitis said. “We will keep participants advised.”

The Miltenberger Emergency Services Seminar is held annually and offers courses for all healthcare professionals including emergency communication dispatchers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, nurses and physicians.

Named after the late Dr. F.W. Miltenberger, the seminar was initiated in 2002 with funds that were contributed to a memorial after his sudden death on August 3, 1999.

Dr. Miltenberger was described as a man of education, perseverance, compassion and action whose contribution to EMS greatly benefited the people of Western Maryland and the state of Maryland.

“We urge emergency services personnel and citizens to follow precautions issued by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention for hand washing, social isolation and other procedures,” Kitis said. “Our main priority is to keep emergency services staff healthy and available to respond to emergencies.