Prehospital and disaster medicine
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialEffects of the video case study in preparing paramedic preceptors for the role of evaluator.
Accurate field evaluations are critical in determining paramedic students' competency to provide patient care. The [U.S.] National Paramedic Curriculum does not address the skills needed by evaluators, and requirements to be a preceptor/evaluator vary from state to state. Therefore, it is imperative that educational programs develop an evaluation process that reflects valid performance criteria and assure a high degree of rating consistency among the evaluators. This study sought to determine the effects of using a video case based teaching approach in preparing paramedic preceptors for the role of evaluator. ⋯ Using the case study method and written guidelines that provide concrete examples of complex behaviors appears to increase reliability of evaluations among preceptors.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2001
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialEmergency medical services assessment and treatment of children with special health care needs before and after specialized paramedic training.
This study evaluates whether a continuing education program for paramedics, focusing on Children with Special Health Care Needs, improved paramedics' assessment and management. ⋯ Most of the documentation on the EMS records indicated appropriate assessment and treatment during all responses for Children with Special Health Care Needs. Nevertheless, the results indicate that paramedics may improve their assessment and management of these children after specialized continuing education.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Apr 2001
Y2K medical disaster preparedness in New York City: confidence of emergency department directors in their ability to respond.
To study the preparedness New York City for large scale medical disasters using the Year 2000 (Y2K) New Years Eve weekend as a model. ⋯ Although hospitals were on a heightened state of alert, emergency department directors were not confident in their ability to evaluate and manage victims of WMD incidents, especially biological exposures. The New York City experience is an example for the rest of the nation to underscore the need for further training and education of preparedness plans for WMD events. Federally supported education and training is available and is essential to improve the response to WMD threats.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Jan 2001
A virtual reality patient simulation system for teaching emergency response skills to U.S. Navy medical providers.
Rapid and effective medical intervention in response to civil and military-related disasters is crucial for saving lives and limiting long-term disability. Inexperienced providers may suffer in performance when faced with limited supplies and the demands of stabilizing casualties not generally encountered in the comparatively resource-rich hospital setting. Head trauma and multiple injury cases are particularly complex to diagnose and treat, requiring the integration and processing of complex multimodal data. ⋯ Systems can be deployed to the field enabling trainees to practice repeatedly until their skills are mastered and to maintain those skills once acquired. This paper describes the technologies and the process used to develop the trainers, the clinical algorithms, and the incorporation of teaching points. We also characterize aspects of the actual simulation exercise through the lens of the trainee.