Featured Articles
Scene Safety Extends to the Sky
- By Jamie Davis
- Published 07/1/2008
- Education
- Unrated
The number of fatal air ambulance accidents in the U.S. continues to climb and still there is no call from the Federal government to look into the reason for the deaths of our colleagues in the sky. Many of the accidents are caused by poor visibility at night or caused by bad weather. What are these helicopters and airplanes doing in the sky under dangerous conditions?If a ground unit stages prior to a dangerous scene in order to protect the crew, why are air units sent into harm's way without blinking an eye?
Read my take on the reasons in the rest of this article.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Critical Incident Stress Management (Debriefing)
- By Phillip Sampson
- Published 06/30/2008
- Research
- Unrated
In this article I will discuss Post Tramtic Stress Disorder and Critical Incident Stress Management (Debriefing). In the 80's and early 90's when we as EMS directors along with our medical directors began paying more attention to this disorder, I feel we took it lightly.
When And How Did The 911 Telephone System Begin
- By Phillip Sampson
- Published 06/29/2008
- Research
- Unrated
Did you ever wonder how the telephone number was established for emergencies? If you answered yes, heres how! Even if you never did wonder how the 911 number began, this is an interesting article to read.
Recommended Medical Podcasts
- By Jamie Davis
- Published 06/29/2008
- Education
-
Rating:




One common question asked of me by listeners and readers over at the MedicCast and Nursing Show is what podcasts do I listen to? It's a good questions since there are a lot of shows to wade through and sometimes it's hard to figure out which ones are worth the trouble to download and figure out.Check out this article to see my picks for best medical podcasts!
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Since 2004
- Published 03/8/2008
Recent Articles
EMS Educational Research
- By Phillip Sampson
- Published 07/2/2008
- Research
- Unrated
In this article I will discuss EMS educational research. EMS education has long been special to me. Keeping EMS professionals well trained preserves professionalism within our trade. Please post some comments on how you feel about this topic.
Insufficient academic commitment to EMS research has also been identified as an important impediment to progress in the development of a body of scientific knowledge necessary for the support of EMS practices. Those educational institutions that chose to offer EMS training programs must integrate research into the process of developing entry-level EMS professionals. Successful integration requires using scientific evidence as the basis for education and fulfilling the traditional academic role of contributing to the evidence base.
The amount of education about research principles currently provided to EMS professionals is limited at best. Education about EMS research is virtually non-existent in most EMT-Basic programs. Although research methodology is part of the National Standard Curriculum for EMT-Paramedics, most EMS educational institutions provide little time for it in their training programs. Some degree granting paramedic education programs do include a research component in their curricula, and a few require students to complete a research project prior to completion of the program.
Educational programs are not teaching research principles because many EMS educators are not knowledgeable about the process of research and therefore are unable to teach others. There are few resources available to assist EMS educators in teaching this material. Two national efforts aimed at improving the research education of prehospital providers are the EMS research workshops offered by National Association of EMS Physicians and the Prehospital Care Research Forum. These entry level one or two day courses are offered at national EMS conferences or by themselves for interested sponsoring organizations.
Education programs for EMS providers must keep pace with the evolving basis for clinical practice. The curricula developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which provide the basis for education of first responders, EMT-Basics, EMT-Intermediates, and EMT-Paramedics should be revised to include improved objectives regarding research principles. These objectives must emphasize the need to teach the importance of research as well as the principles involved in conducting EMS-related research, and should become a part of the routine education of EMS field providers and managers. The objective is not to develop every EMS provider into an EMS researcher but to help all personnel understand the need for research to enable them to be supportive.1 These educational efforts should provide a working understanding of the research process and not simply encourage memorization of methodological criteria and statistical terminology.
Exposure to the scientific literature should also be an essential component of EMS education programs. The curricula should include an introduction to the critical appraisal of scientific articles and methods for asking and answering clinical questions. The curricula should also introduce the student to the methods that practicing health care professionals use to update their knowledge and practice patterns, including routine reading of scientific journals.
EMS education systems must be compatible with an academically based approach to EMS education that parallels the education process of other allied health professions. These concepts have been addressed in the EMS Education Agenda. Academic institutions that sponsor EMS education programs must make a commitment to supporting EMS research.
The process of teaching a novice EMS professional, including skill and knowledge acquisition and retention, has not been adequately studied. EMS educators in traditional academic settings are uniquely positioned to evaluate both the content of EMS curricula adequacy and the effectiveness of teaching techniques.
Reference: NHTSA
Phillip Sampson
EMS Prime
http://www.emsprime.com/
RSI Controversy-RSI Research
- By Phillip Sampson
- Published 06/29/2008
- Research
- Unrated
I recently read an article about the controversy over Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) in Texas. This is quite a disturbing article to me. Any paramedic in any state should be able to determine when RSI needs to be performed and be able to successfully perform the procedure.
Research EMS As A Career Choice
- By Phillip Sampson
- Published 06/26/2008
- Research
-
Rating:




EMS can be an exciting and rewarding career choice for those that have what it takes for the job. Research for this line of work is extremely important.
Lightning Safety Week: June 22-28
- By Greg Friese, MS, NREMT-P
- Published 06/6/2008
- Environmental
- Unrated