A reminder that the Maine EMS statewide protocols will update to the 2023 version at 12:01 am tonight, and clinicians must discontinue use of the 2021 protocols at that time. All EMS care must follow the updated protocols, and all EMS Clinicians must have completed the protocol update before use. If you have not yet completed the protocol update, you can do so at any time via MEMSEd.
Protocols and supporting documents (protocol FAQs, white papers, etc) can be found on the Maine EMS protocol page.
At this time, the Maine EMS Protocol App is on target to be updated with the 2023 changes at 12:01 am Wednesday morning 31 January 2024.That's one minute after midnight tonight.
Maine EMS has been advised by the App developer that existing app users should receive notifications that an update is available the first time they try to open the app, after the update is available. Users will then need to manually update their device. First-time app users may have to download the app and then update it per the notification that should follow.
The Maine EMS Protocol App is FREE to download, and is available for both the iPhone/iOS platform (Apple's App Store), and the Android platform (Google Play). The app was developed by Wolf Apps LLC.
In addition to the 2023 Updates to the protocols, this cycle’s update also comes with updates to the software. The updates have the following features:
- Use of “landscape mode,” where the user can rotate their device/phone on its side for a wider screen, and then zoom in on the protocol verbiage
- Inter-document links – for instance, if a protocol contains a reference in any line, to a different protocol, the user can simply tap the protocol reference in the line and be taken to that protocol.
- When selecting a protocol to be viewed, instead of being taken only to the page (or pages) of the specific protocol only, users will be taken to the first page of the protocol, in the protocol manual, itself. From there, users will be able to scroll backward or forward from there, to other protocol pages or sections. You will also be able to return to your previous page.
Functionality should be identical on both iPhones and Android-based devices.
Maine EMS has been working closely with the App developer with the goal of keeping on top of any issues identified as we do this update. If anyone should find any issues or be notified of them by someone in the field, OR if you have any questions regarding the App, please contact EMS Education Coordinator, Chris Azevedo, christopher.azevedo@maine.gov