EMS Today

What Is the NREMT?

This episode spotlights the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Executive Director Bill Seifarth, MS, NRP, explains who they are, what they are currently doing to have a fair, balanced and validated exam, and what is on the horizon. 

…And the Dead Shall Rise Again… An Epi Tale with Bradley Dean

Over the holiday weekend, host Bradley Dean takes to the microphone to continue the conversation about resuscitation on the EMS Handoff. 

From Zero (Education) to Hero

New Castle County (DE) Paramedics Implement an Innovative Pay-as-You-Learn Recruitment/Education Academy

Join A.J. Heightman and New Castle County (NCC) Paramedics’ Assistant Chief Chris Johnson for an enlightening 90-minute podcast on the innovative Paramedic Academy implemented by New Castle County (DE) paramedics and offered in neighboring state Pennsylvania at the nationally recognized Good Fellowship Ambulance and EMS Training Institute, West Chester/Chester County, which pays recruits/student applicants while they train at the Academy.

The podcast details the problems of recruitment, candidate training and paramedic retention being experienced nationwide and how the New Castle County Paramedic System developed their innovative approach to recruitment and retention of employees:

1. NCC Paramedics conducts intense recruitment efforts over three months targeting a diverse population of New Castle County residents.
2. They pay a good starting salary and great benefits to each recruit and it starts when they start school at the EMT level. Yes, all recruits, whether they are already EMTs or not, start at the BLS level of education at the Academy so they all learn it the NCC way.
3. They now average 500-600 applicants per academy.
4. Their goal is to retain an amazing 20-25 recruits/employees in the 4th academy scheduled to start in January 2022.

Doug Smith's Thoughts as a Retiring Paramedic

The EMS Handoff crew talks with Doug Smith, a co-founder of Platinum Educational Group, on his last day of a practicing paramedic.

Dr. Tony Brooks

Listen to the inside story of rescuing “Lone Survivor” Marcus Luttrell through the perspective of Dr. Tony Brooks, an U.S. Army Ranger on the recovery mission.

Where Can We Do Better? A Conversation with Educator John Spencer

John Spencer is the director of Education for Platinum Educational Group. He is a certified firefighter, licensed paramedic and EMS instructor-coordinator in Michigan. John loves the EMS industry that he has been a part of for the past 28 years and enjoys sharing this love with others. He is passionate about advancing professionalism in EMS by teaching with a focus on the affective domain.

Ralph McGill

Has your department or agency dealt with a suicide involving a co-worker? How does your career change your perspective and personal life? Hear from Ralph McGill, a probationary officer for 21 years, about his experiences on and off the job.

Do NOT Resuscitate Me

Bradley Dean and Eric McCullough review the somber reality of dealing with deaths in the field. The moral and ethical dilemma that EMS providers can find themselves in should not be ignored. 

Often relegated to the periphery, the aging population will increase demand for proper dealing with death training. 

This is a perfect podcast for instructors introducing these concepts to students or those who just need a fresh perspective on a very old problem. 

Refocus on Resuscitation with Tom Bouthillet

Tom Bouthillet is Battalion Chief of EMS for Hilton Head Island (SC) Fire Rescue. 

Currently, he is a member of NREMT's Continued Competency Agenda Steering Committee, NEMSMA's EMS Quality Improvement Committee, and NENA's Telecommunicator CPR Working Group. He is also a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for EMS World and a Content reviewer for the British Paramedic Journal.

Previously, he was a member of NHTSA’s High Performance CPR Working Group, director of the South Carolina Resuscitation Academy, co-producer of the Code STEMI web series, content expert for the 12-Lead ECG Challenge smartphone app, and editor of EMS12Lead.com. 

Tom is interested in process improvement, system performance, human factors, crew resource management and evidence-based performance measures for time-sensitive diagnoses.

Tuberculosis Update

Infection control consultant Katherine West gives an update on Tuberculosis testing for healthcare workers.