FAQs - NAEMT

The Executive Council

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Mission Statement

Program Information

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	Frequently Asked Questions General Questions: What is EPC? How are EPC Programs offered? How do I become a Medical Director for EPC? How do I become an EPC Affiliate Faculty? What are the prerequisites to attend the EPC Program? EPC Instructor Program: What is an EPC Instructor Course? What are the qualifications to become an EPC Instructor? What are the course completion requirements for the EPC Program? EPC Provider Program: What are the qualifications to become an EPC Course Coordinator? What are the responsibilities of a hosting organization? What is EPC? Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) focuses on the care of sick and injured children and gives students a practical understanding of respiratory, cardiovascular, medical and traumatic emergencies in the pediatric patient population. Assessment is based upon the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT), and lessons are consistent with current pediatric knowledge and skills. The program incorporates Family Centered Care throughout all scenarios, and includes a component on caring for children with special needs. Return to top How are EPC Programs offered? Provider This course is a 16 hour program that allows providers at all levels to understand the information and the skills that are part of the spectrum of prehospital care. It fosters ALS and BLS teamwork as it should occur in the actual care of patients and it provides BLS and ALS providers alike with a review of the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to care for a child. Basic This is an 8 hour program designed for providers whose time constraints may not allow them to take a combine program but who still wish to participate in a program to improve their care of children. This format will cover all fundamental knowledge and BLS skills a provider would need to help a sick or injured child. Refresher This program is designed to review the provider's knowledge of the material contained in the EPC Program. While it is always acceptable for a provider to keep their certification current by attending the original provider course, any currently certified provider may instead attend the refresher program. This is an 4 hour program. Instructor This is an 4 hour program that is open to potential instructor candidates. Return to top How do I become a Medical Director for EPC? Each Medical Director needs to be approved by the EPC Executive Council and EPC National Medical Director to ensure that the necessary requirements are met. The Course Medical Director must be available during the actural class to answer questions and provide medical direction. Qualifications are: Be a licensed physician (MD or DO) board certified in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine, or Pediatrics or Family Practice. Be actively involved in prehospital emergency medicine or have adequate experience in EMS; and Have experience in Pediatric Emergency Medicine and pediatric prehospital care. Return to top How do I become an Affiliate Faculty? To become an EPC Affiliate Faculty you must have necessary time to devote to supervising local courses and participating in EPC Instructor Programs, be appointed by the EPC Executive Council and approved by the EPC National Medical Director, be an active NAEMT member, attend an EPC Affiliate Faculty Orientation and maintain current certification as an EPC Instructor. Return to top What are the prerequisites to attend the EPC Program? Because the EPC Provider Course is an advanced course that assumes a previous working knowledge of prehospital care, it is recommended that course participation be open only to currently certified or licensed providers: EMT-Basics, EMT-Intermediates, EMT Paramedics, and physician's assistants and to registered nurses and physicians with clinical experience. Return to top What is an EPC Instructor Course? The EPC Instructor Course is a 4-8 hour course that is open to potential instructor candidates. The course contains two modules, educational concepts and EPC-specific material. The determination of meeting the requirement as a currently certified EMS or CME instructor is made by the Course Coordinator for the EPC Instructor Course. Return to top What are the qualifications to become an EPC Instructor? Have completed an EPC Provider Course with a written evaluation score of 90% and received a favorable recommendation from the Course Coordinator or Affiliate Faculty to participate in an Instructor Program; must have excellent skills evaluation Have previous EMS instructional experience such as with EMS certification programs, PHTLS, AMLS, AHA courses, state or regional instructor certification, or other relevant educational experience; and All instructor candidates must submit to the Affiliate Faculty conducting the Instructor Program a CV and recommendation letter from the Course Coordinator of their last Provider Course. Upon successfully completing the Instructor Course, candidates will be required to participate in the lecture, teaching station, and evaluation station portions of an EPC Course or Courses under supervision of a Course Coordinator or Affiliate Faculty member and receive a favorable evaluation prior to being issued certification Participate as an instructor in at least two EPC Provider Courses every 4 years. Attend one EPC Instructor Update Course every 4 years. At a minimum provide 2 educational case studies (scenarios) per year Return to top What are the course completion requirements for the EPC Program? Provider Program The student must successfully complete the course and have passed both the cognitive and skills performance objectives of the EPC Program. This requirement is demonstrated by meeting the objectives standards of the Case Scenario Evaluation Station and achieving a score of 75% or higher on the final written evaluation. On successful completion, the EPC Provider will be issued a certificate of completion that will be valid for 4 years. Instructor Program The instructor candidate must have completed the EPC Instructor Course and passed the final written evaluation with a score of at least 80%. If a student fails the final written evaluation, he or she may be remediated and allowed to retake the exam one more time. If the student fail the exam twice, they will be required to retake the Instructor Course prior to taking the exam again. In addition they must participate in all aspects of at least one EPC Provider Program and receive a favorable review from a monitor who is either the Course Coordinator or an Affiliate Faculty member. Return to top What are the qualifications to become an EPC Course Coordinator? The qualifications to become an EPC Course Coordinator are: Be a certified EPC Instructor for provider program Have previous experience coordinationg EMS CME courses and Have access to the necessary equipment and facilities that are vital to carrying out a class The EPC Course Coordinator is ultimately responsible for ALL aspects on the individual EPC Program Return to top What are the responsibilities of a hosting organization? The local hosting organization has many different roles and responsibilities that will need to be fulfilled in order for the course to be a success. Responsibilities Are: Provide adequate facilities for the course, which include, but are not limited to, a lecture room with adequate seating for all participants. Working in cooperation with the EPC Course Coordinator, provide EPC Instructors, Patients, and a Medical Director for the course Work closely with NAEMT and local EMS representatives to advertise the course appropriately Working in cooperation with the EPC Course Coordinator, develop a working budget to allow for necessary expenses, such as bringing in out of town instructors and guest lecturers and providing for all their travel expenses Seek out and handle all administrative responsiblities necessary for the granting of continuing education hours where allowed. Return to top