CPHEMS

PREPARATORY: INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY CARE

 

The field of Prehospital emergency medical care is an evolving profession in which the reality of life and death is confronted at a moment’s notice. EMS has developed from the days when getting to a hospital was done using hammocks and/on horse drawn carriage and other services served as the ambulance provider to a far more sophisticated system today. EMTs work side by side with other health care professionals to deliver professional Prehospital emergency medical care.

This course module is designed to help the new EMT gain the knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to be a competent, productive, and valuable member of the emergency medical services team. The teaching strategies employed in this course module are student-centered with strong emphasis on proactively, professionalism and active participation.

 

PREPARATORY: WELL BEING OF THE EMT

 

EMTs encounter many stressful situations providing emergency medical care to patients. These range from death and terminal illness to major traumatic situations and child abuse. EMTs will treat angry, scared, violent, seriously injured and ill patients and family members. The EMT is not immune from the personal effects of these situations. EMTs will learn during this lesson what to expect and how to assist the patient, patient's family, the EMT- family and other EMTs in dealing with the stress. This lesson discusses methods of talking to friends and family, without violating confidentiality, but as a means of helping they cope with involvement in EMS. Finally, aspects of personal safety will be discussed. It is important to realize this is only a brief overview and will be readdressed with each specific skill or topic. To put this in perspective, remember: A dead or injured EMT is of little or no use to a patient.

 

PREPARATORY: MEDICAL/LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUE

 

Medical/legal and ethical issues are a vital element of the EMT’s daily life. Should an EMT stop and treat an automobile crash victim when off duty? Should patient information be released to the attorney on the telephone? Can a child with a broken arm be treated even though his parents are not at home and/or only his child care provider is around?

 

These and many other medical/legal and ethical questions face the EMT every day. Guidance will be given in this lesson to answer 

these questions and learn how to make the correct decision when other medical/legal and ethical questions arise.

 

PREPARATORY: THE HUMAN BODY

 

To perform an adequate patient assessment, the EMT must be familiar with the normal anatomy of the human body and topographical terminology. This information will provide a solid cornerstone which will enable the EMT to build the essentials of quality patient assessment and management.

 

PREPARATORY: BASELINE VITAL SIGNS AND SAMPLE HISTORY

 

An EMT must be able to accurately assess and record a patient's vital signs. This must be done to record trends in the patient's condition. In addition to vital signs, obtain a SAMPLE history in the event that the patient loses consciousness.

 

PREPARATORY: LIFTING AND MOVING PATIENTS

 

Many EMTs are injured every year because they attempt to lift patients improperly. This subject area provides the EMT with knowledge and skills to safely move and lift patients and equipment to avoid injuries associated with lifting and moving.

 

PREPARATORY: EVALUATION

 

Evaluation of the student's attainment of the cognitive and affective knowledge and psychomotor skills is an essential component of the EMT educational process. The modules are presented in a "building block" format. Once the students have demonstrated their knowledge and proficiency, the next lesson should be built upon that knowledge. This evaluation will help to identify students or groups of students having difficulty with a particular area. This is an opportunity for the instructor to evaluate their performance, and make appropriate modifications to the delivery of material.

 

AIRWAY

 

This subject is designed to expose the student to the study of the airway and to provide them with the knowledge and skill necessary to assess the airway and the management of injuries associated to the airway. It encompasses foreign body airway obstruction and variety of areas relating to the assurance of a patented airway.

 

AIRWAY PRACTICAL LAB

 

The practical lesson is designed to allow the students additional time to perfect skills. It is of utmost importance that the students demonstrate proficiency of the skills, cognitive knowledge of the steps to perform a skill and a healthy attitude towards performing that skill on a patient. This is an opportunity for the instructors and assistant instructors to praise process and re-direct students towards appropriate psychomotor skills. The materials from all preceding lessons and basic life support will be incorporated into these practical skills sessions.

 

AIRWAY EVALUATION

 

Evaluation of the student’s attainment of the cognitive and affective knowledge and psychomotor skills is an essential component of the EMT educational process. The modules are presented in a "building block" format. Once the students have demonstrated their knowledge and proficiency, the next lesson should be built upon that knowledge. This evaluation will help to identify students or groups of students having difficulty with a particular area. This is an opportunity for the instructor to evaluate their performance, and make appropriate modifications to the delivery of material.

 

CIRCULATION

 

Many patients die per year world-wide from cardiovascular diseases; half of these deaths occur outside hospitals, with sudden death (collapse) being the first sign of cardiac disease in 50% of the cases. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), will be covered in this module, and is one of the major determinants of survival in cardiac arrest. This module will prepare and provide the student with the knowledge and skills to effectively and efficiently perform these procedures.

 

CARDIAC ARREST & CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION PRAC. LABS

 

This is the practical component and session of this module. This practical lesson is designed to allow the students additional time to perfect skills. It is of utmost importance that the students demonstrate proficiency of the skills, cognitive knowledge of the steps to perform a skill, and a healthy attitude towards performing that skill on a patient.

 

This is an opportunity for the instructor and assistant instructors to praise process and redirect students towards appropriate psychomotor skills. The materials from all preceding lessons and basic life support will be incorporated into these practical skills sessions.

 

CARDIAC ARREST & CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION EVALUATION

 

Evaluation of the student’s attainment of the cognitive and affective knowledge and psychomotor skills is an essential component of the EMT educational process. The modules are presented in a "building block" format. Once the students have demonstrated their knowledge and proficiency, the next lesson should be built upon that knowledge. This evaluation will help to identify students or groups of students having difficulty with a particular area. This is an opportunity for the instructor to evaluate their performance, and make appropriate modifications to the delivery of material.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: SCENE SIZE-UP

 

Size-up is the first and most important aspect of patient assessment. It begins as the EMT approaches the scene. During this phase the EMT surveys the scene to determine if there are any threats that may cause an injury to the EMT. In addition, this assessment allows the EMT to determine the nature of the call and obtain additional help.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: INITIAL ASSESSMENT

 

The EMT will encounter patients who require emergency medical care. It is important for the EMT to identify those patients who require rapid assessment, critical interventions, and immediate transport. During the initial assessment subject are the EMT will use information obtained during this phase with appropriate history and physical examination.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: FOCUSED HISTORY & PHYSICAL EXAM - TRAUMA

 

With trauma patients, it is important for the EMT student to separate those patients who require rapid assessments and critical interventions, from those patients who can be managed using components of the focused assessments. This subject area covers the detailed processes involved the performance of a detailed and thorough physical examination on all trauma related patients.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: FOCUSED HISTORY & PHYSICAL EXAM - MEDICAL

 

This subject provides the students with the knowledge to identify and differentiate conditions of a medical nature, upon which a systematic process for management of the patient will be initiated. The emergency medical care for the patient is based upon assessment findings. In the history and physical examination, the EMT will concentrate on the patient’s complaint and history, allowing for rapid emergency medical care.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: DETAILED PHYSICAL EXAM

 

This lesson deals with the performance of a detailed physical examination and entire basis for the EMT’s emergency medical care is the assessment findings. In the detailed physical exam, the EMT will continue to assess the patient, allowing for continued care.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: ON-GOING ASSESSMENT

 

In order to assure appropriate care, the EMT must re-evaluate the patient frequently. The length of time spent with the patient or the condition of the patient will assist in establishing how often and how on-going assessments will be conducted. It is of utmost importance for the EMT student to be accurate with the documentation of all findings and interventions. Be sure to accurately record all times associated with the care provided.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: COMMUNICATIONS

 

The best prehospital patient care may come to an end at the door of the Emergency Department (ED) if a patient’s condition is not described well enough for the ED staff to prepare. Communication is an essential component of prehospital emergency medical care. Both verbal and written communications will be used during every response. Patient cares not only includes assessment and treatment, but the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate findings to other health care providers. This lesson teaches the EMT student the principles, skills and knowledge to communicate effectively and efficiently with all emergency care service providers.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: DOCUMENTATION

 

This lesson allows the EMT student to learn the components of Prehospital report documents and the nature and extent of emergency medical care. Well prepared reports are an import medical/legal document. “If it isn’t written down, it wasn’t done,” and “If it wasn’t done, don’t write it down.” Health acre providers use the information from the report to trend changes in patient condition. In particular, the trending of mental status and vital signs is extremely important to physicians and nurses who assume care. The information on the report can also be used in quality assessment of emergency medical care.

 

PATIENT ASSESSMENT: PRACTICAL LABS

 

This is the practical component and session of this module. This practical lesson is designed to allow the students additional time to perfect skills. It is of utmost importance that the students demonstrate proficiency of the skills, cognitive knowledge of the steps to perform a skill, and a healthy attitude towards performing that skill on a patient. This is an opportunity for the instructor and assistant instructors to praise process and redirect students towards appropriate psychomotor skills. The materials from all preceding lessons and basic life support will be incorporated into these practical skills session

 

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