Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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To measure the accuracy of lead II rhythm strip interpretations performed by advanced life support (ALS) emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in a rural emergency medical services (EMS) system. ⋯ In this EMS system, ECG interpretations are generally accurate, with tachydysrhythmias and AV blocks being the source of most discrepancies.
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The widespread use of orotracheal intubation with rapid-sequence induction has made it difficult for emergency medical services (EMS) professionals to gain experience in nasotracheal intubation (NTI) in a controlled and supervised setting. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a training session on NTI with a breathing manikin can be used to improve the self-assessed skill level and comfort of EMS professionals. ⋯ For EMS professionals, a training session for NTI using a relatively inexpensive and easily assembled breathing manikin model increases both comfort and self-assessed skill level.
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To assess regulatory trends in EMS medical direction by examining state EMS legislation and regulations, and legal qualifications for medical direction. ⋯ There is tremendous variation in regulatory requirements for physician participation in EMS medical direction activities at the ALS level. Few states have specific training or background requirements for the provision of OLMC, and a requirement for board certification in emergency medicine is the exception, not the rule.