Resident Wayne Martin asks about hospital handoffs, training and behavioral‑health response; chief outlines cloud charting and cross‑agency training

During the public‑comment portion of the Bonner County Ambulance District meeting, resident Wayne Martin asked several operational questions about patient handoffs, cross‑agency training and behavioral‑health support.

Martin asked whether paramedics and hospital staff "operate on the same sheet of music" when exchanging patient information and whether hospitals simply check boxes while listening to a radio pass‑off. The chief replied that paramedics perform a bedside verbal pass‑off with the receiving registered nurse and that patient care documentation is entered into a cloud‑based electronic patient care reporting system during or immediately after the call. "As they're in the call... our medics are actively typing on their iPads... and when they're done with the call, then we can give that information to — I think it faxes or it automatically faxes over to the hospital," the chief said, explaining hospitals receive the written report to match against their records.

On training, Martin asked how often the district trains side‑by‑side with law enforcement and fire. The chief said the district provides medical training for law enforcement (including a SWAT medic who handles ERT medical response), conducts CPR training with police and performs regular shift training with full‑time fire departments two or three times a month; training with outlying volunteer departments occurs less frequently (about once a year).

Martin also asked whether district personnel have behavioral‑health training. The chief said the district incorporates behavioral‑health topics into ongoing training, has an employee who serves as a chaplain (Eric Wright) and participates in the county chaplain team to provide support.

The chief encouraged members of the public to send questions by email for follow‑up; no action items were recorded from public comment.