Newsletter - Spring 2008
The CD-ROM of the new classroom version of the course is now available to course coordinators from the NAEMT office.
The EPC Committee met in February to finalize changes to the hands-on skills portion of the revised course.
NAEMT will provide several regional rollouts of the new EPC course in 2008 utilizing the updated materials and the combined delivery format.
If you are interested in hosting a rollout or would like a CD-ROM, contact Sylvia
McGowan at NAEMT headquarters. Call 800-346-2368 or write Sylvia.McGowan@naemt.org.
–Tommy Loyacono, EPC Chair
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Newsletter - Winter 2007
Nearly 40 EMS Providers from around the country attended the new Emergency Pediatric Care (EPC) Provider course on October 9 and 10, 2007, at EMS EXPO in Orlando. the program has been edited and updated to include the integration of Family Centered Care, the Pediatric Assessment triangle and case-based evaluations. Over the past 18 months, the EPC course materials have been revised to ensure the knowledge points are founded in evidence-based medicine wherever possible, the Instructor support materials are educationally sound and leading edge, and that the flexibility exists to meet the various administrative demandsof our Course Coordinators.
The major changes include:
*a completely new set of PowerPoint slides
*new look
*new graphics
*integration of Family Centered Care throughout
*updated information, include the new AHA guidelines
*New evaluation tool
*New scenarios and format
*New schedule
*didactic schedule includes Family Centered Care skills stations to include objective based learning
In evaluation the possibility of writing yet another pediatric care text vs. utilizing materials currently integrated into EMS education programs and based on information provided by our Affiliate Faculty and educational experts alike, the requirement of a single course text was eliminated. Sanctioned EPC programs can use one of the various "recommended" texts and make the decision regarding a required text for each student. The cost savings to the programs could be significant. Additionally, the benefit of having an integrated pediatric reference text instead of a one-time-use course text promotes the concepts of life-long learning. For our international programs, this will allow them to have greater access to properly translated materials and allow for regionalization where required.
EPC will be the first NAEMT course to offer the entire didactic portion of the course on-line. The new hybrid course will facilitate distance education and independent learning at a level never before seen with the continuing education courses. The ability to take the online course at you leisure and then schedule with your Training Center to attend a one-day skills and practical session will facilitate greater flexibility for the student and the program alike. If you prefer the interactions of a face-to-face program, that is also available. Do you like the face-to-face format but don't want to stretch it out over the entire semester? You can do that also. Modulated formats are available to meet your logistical needs and the educational needs of the students. The online hybrid course is set to debut in early 2008.
With the new online capabilities of the programs, updates and enhancements will also be made available via the NAEMT Web site. Unless you really need hard copies sent to you, all the Instructor support materials can be downloaded by authorized Coordinators and Affiliates. What happens if you have a great case study, some additional test questions or want to share some of the latest research you found? Submit the information electronically for review and dissemination! EPC is becoming not only a course, but a complete pediatric resource.
And finally, EPC Instructors and Affiliates will be receiving a letter form me in the very near future regarding how to receive the new support materials and how to integrate the changes into their current course offerings. Currently, certified EPC Instructors or Affiliate Faculty (and former PPC Instructors or Affiliate Faculty) will be required to contact Sylvia McGowan by e-mail at Sylvia.McGowan@namet.org or by phone at 800.346.2368 and provide her with your updated contact information, including a mailing address. She will then send you the updated support materials on CD. If you need to update your Instructor or Affiliate status, Sylvia can assist you with that also.
On the international front, Mexico will be offering its inaugural EPC course in February 2008. Portugal is tentatively planning for the start of their program in March or April.
EPC National Rollout courses will be conducted throughout the 2008 calendar year. If you have an interest in hosting a course, please contact Sylvia McGowan at NAEMT headquarters.
-Robert K. Waddell II, EPC Program Chair
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Newsletter - Summer 2007
The Emergency Pediatric Care Program Executive Council (EC) met for its Mid-Year Meeting in May. One of the significant projects the EC worked on during its meeting was the revision of the current slide set. Assignments were made to EC members to complete the slide sets, which are scheduled to be completed by mid-June. Revisions to the 10 EPC PowerPoint presentations were also discussed during the meeting. The EC forwarded a proposal to the NAEMT Board of Directors for final approval to have CentreLearn.com prepare a Web-based educational course.
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Newsletter - Spring 2007
Notice: The Emergency Pediatric Care Mid-Year Meeting is set to take place May 19-20. Watch for more information on the redevelopment of this course in future issues of NAEMT News.
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Newsletter - Winter 2006
NAEMT Revamps and Renames Pediatric Course: As part of its renewed commitment to a pediatric course, NAEMT has taken several steps to improve its prehospital pediatric education program. First, the course has a new name: NAEMT Emergency Pediatric Care program - EPC for short. “We’re very excited about this new direction for the NAEMT pediatric education program,” said the EPC Program Chair Bob Waddell. “With EPC, EMS providers will get the same high quality pediatric education NAEMT has always provided, but with new and improved support materials for Instructors and students alike.”
Waddell stressed that the core curriculum of the EPC program remains consistent with current pediatric knowledge and skills and is compatible with future medical advancements. Changes have been and will be made in the instructor materials, as well as the administration and oversight of the four courses:
Provider, Instructor, Basic and Refresher. “NAEMT has always believed that its pediatric courses were of the highest quality, “Waddell said. What impact will the new course have on current PPC providers, instructors, and affiliate faculty? “Absolutely none!” Waddell said. “Every effort will be made to assure the transition is seamless.” NAEMT will begin providing the new course under its new name on February 1, 2007. Registered PPC courses conducted prior to the EPC start date will be “grandfathered” by NAEMT so there should be no disruption of offerings or education. Instructors who have been monitored by PPC AF will be grandfathered as EPC Instructors and those who have not been monitored can become an EPC instructor by being monitored.
Affiliate Faculty, Instructors and Providers should be aware of the following additional changes:
New leadership: The EPC program will be led by the NAEMT Pediatrics Committee and the EPC Program Executive Council. Tommy Loyacono is the chair of the Pediatrics Committee, which oversees the EPC Program Executive Council, chaired by Bob Waddell. Other members of the council include Lou Romig, MD; Karen Caravaglia; Stacy Denicola; Kim Holmes; Melissa Sally-Mueller; and Nathan Williams. Romig will also provide clinical oversight as the NAEMT pediatrics medical director.
Enhanced philosophy: The EPC program will incorporate Family-Centered Care throughout all scenarios, and assessment will be based upon the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT).
New technology: The EPC program will include significant Web-based components so that Instructors will be able to access essential support materials, administrative information, and updates instantly.
Additionally, for those programs that have a need to use distributive learning technology, applications will be developed so that the didactic aspects of the courses can be completed online, thereby allowing the classroom time to be devoted to hands-on skills education and evaluation. This format will offer additional options to the program and Instructors alike. Instructors wishing to continue face-to-face didactic and skills-based education will be encouraged to do so.
New exercises: Hands-on exercises will be recrafted and numerous scenarios will be added and updated to provide more variety and to make them more consistent with educational enhancements.
New enrichment materials: The EPC program leadership is exploring the addition of some new, add-on topics, such as Apparent Life Threatening Events (ALTEs), situations that should always be transported and a disaster medicine component. The enrichment materials will be Web-based and additions will be evidence-based, as much as possible.
New instructor development plan: The Pediatrics Committee will establish baseline criteria for instructor potential recommendations so that there is consistency in instructor designation. Identification of instructor potential will be based on achievement of a superior written score, above average skills station evaluation, and recommendation from another Instructor(s) and/or Affiliate Faculty(s). The final criteria for instructor designation will be successful completion of all instructor requirements before an Affiliate Faculty. All Affiliate Faculty must be active NAEMT Members.
New venues: Italy began offering courses in March 2006, and Mexico and Spain will begin their programs in early 2007.
If you are interested in hosting an EPC course or introducing the program to your area, please contact the NAEMT Pediatrics Committee at epc@naemt.org for more information.
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Newsletter - January/February 2006
The new year will bring numerous changes for the PPC program. First and foremost, the Executive Committee (EC) bids best wishes to founding member Jim Jenkins as he pursues new adventures. The search is on for a representative to the EC. The process includes an application, review by the full EC and selection based on level of PPC activity at the local and state level, advocacy for pediatric care, specifically PPC, and pediatric care expertise. The new EC member should be selected by April and invited to participate in the Midyear Meeting.
The PPC program continues to strive to provide the most current medical information available. An assessment is being made of the new guidelines so that they can be incorporated into the PPC curricula. The new changes are expected to be completed by midyear.
PPC is going to Italy! Trauma surgeons Giuliana Bruno and Alberto Musso, pediatrician Battista Guidi and specialized pediatric nurse Anna Marie Lombardo have successfully completed their PPC Instructor credentialing and will introduce the program in Italy beginning in March. The inaugural course will be conducted in Turin, Italy, site of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Congratulations to Bruno and her colleagues for their hard work and endless energy.
A letter of intent to begin training PPC has been received from the Portuguese PHTLS organization. Although the details are preliminary, it is expected that PPC will become a mainstream offering by midyear. Armando Almeida and his colleagues have spent considerable effort laying the groundwork to ensure the children of Portugal are cared for at the highest levels possible.
As a compliment to Almeida's efforts, nine members of the Grupodetrauma (Portugal) will travel to the United States to begin their journey to become PPC Instructors. Luis Silva and his group will attend a PPC Provider course sponsored by Community Health Network. Affiliate Faculty Mike Matheny has been working diligently to make the course available to EMS Providers throughout Indiana. When Silva contacted him and asked about his delegation attending a course, the challenge to host an international contingency was on. Matheny had to facilitate a number of approvals and did so with the help of EMS Program Director John Zartman and EMS Medical Directors Eric Von De Rohe and Tom Gansman. This team has come together to not only facilitate the Portuguese delegation's participation, but to ensure that the course properly represents the program's high standards. Almeida is making arrangements to ensure Silva and his colleagues will be able to complete their PPC Instructor credentials in Portugal and enhance the cadre of Instructors available. Congratulations to both delegations.
With the continued advancements of the NAEMT Web site, we will have a secured area for course administration. Stay tuned as new materials are made available in this area as they are developed. If you have an interest in conducting a EPC course, please contact Bob Waddell, EPC Chair at robert.waddell@ppcc.ws or ppc@naemt.org or go directly to the EPC Web site at www.naemt.org/ppc.
Robert K. Waddell II - EPC National Chair
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