AUGUST 2021 / IN THIS ISSUE
  • COVID: Monitoring the Situation
  • NAEMSP and IAFC Support Vaccine Mandates
  • 2019 Annual Report Analysis
  • Satellite Cohorts Will Be Reported Separately
  • Distance Learning Methodology Used by Paramedic Programs
  • Register to Access On-Demand ACCREDITCON Sessions Now
  • September 9 Webinar: How Can I as a Dean Help Support My Program?
  • Registration Now Open for October CAAHEP Accreditation Workshop
  • Documentary to Tell Paramedics' Stories
  • Thank You to These 'Retiring' Site Visitors
  • Milestones
  • Rip Current Education Toolkit Now Available
COVID: Monitoring the Situation
The CoAEMSP continues to monitor the fluid COVID impact on Paramedic education. Currently there is no active conversation about extending the simulation and alternative evaluation methods statement beyond December 31, 2021; however, the staff and executive committee are actively monitoring the situation.
 
The CoAEMSP reaffirms its support that Paramedic educational programs may employ a broader array of approaches, including simulation, in determining competency in didactic, laboratory, clinical, field experience, and capstone field internship.
 
Any cohort of students that begin their program before December 31, 2021, will fall under the current waiver.
NAEMSP and IAFC Support Vaccine Mandates
With the current surge in COVID-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant causing a national emergency medical crisis, six of the country’s top associations, including NAEMSP, agree that it is critical for all EMS clinicians including paramedics, EMS physicians, and other emergency medical services providers without a religious or medical exemption, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to slow the spread of the disease and prevent needless deaths of vulnerable persons. The full statement can be found here.

In addition, the IAFC calls upon all fire chiefs to advocate for the mandatory vaccination of all of their fire and EMS department personnel against the COVID-19 virus by an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine, except for those who cannot be vaccinated due to qualified medical conditions or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance. Additionally, the IAFC recommends that fire chiefs collaborate with their occupational and public health partners to identify the most expeditious means for their fire and EMS department personnel to obtain the vaccination. The full statement can be found here.
2019 Annual Report Analysis
The following data was collected via the CoAEMSP 2019 Annual Report, which was received in May 2021.
Update! Your 2020 Annual Report
Satellite Cohorts Will Be Reported Separately
Staff Contact: Lynn Caruthers, lynn@coaemsp.org

On the CoAEMSP 2020 Annual Report that will be due May 15, 2022, programs with active satellites must report each satellite cohort separately. The 2020 Annual Report will have a separate tab at the bottom of the report titled “Satellites.” Programs utilizing satellites in 2020 will select the “Satellites” tab and report the enrollment data, Written Exam Results data, and Positive Placement data for each satellite cohort on this new tab.

The CoAEMSP Annual Report will automatically pull the Outcomes results from the Satellite tab and automatically post the results in the last cohort column on the main page report for Retention, Written Exam Results, and Positive Placement. Then the CoAEMSP Annual Report will tally the data entered for the primary campus cohorts with the data for the Satellite cohorts for a final Outcomes result in the last column of each table for Retention, Written Exam, and Positive Placement. Programs will not have to complete any calculations. Programs will only need to enter the data as directed for the primary campus cohorts and the Satellite(s) cohorts.

The purpose of this revision to the CoAEMSP Annual Report is to assist programs in better identifying each cohort’s overall performance.

If your program utilized a satellite campus in 2020, plan to attend the CoAEMSP 2020 Annual Report webinar that will occur after the annual report is released, which is scheduled for January or early February 2022.
Distance Learning Methodology Used by Paramedic Programs
Recent events have posed unique challenges for Paramedic educational programs with the resultant need to modify content delivery methods. To better understand the instructional landscape, CoAEMSP conducted a study in May 2021 with all CAAHEP accredited and CoAEMSP Letter of Review Paramedic programs, regarding the past, present, and future considerations in incorporating distance methodologies.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE STUDY

  • Pandemic caused at least some level of disruption in Programs which resulted in the implementation of various distance learning strategies
  • Majority of responding programs had to adapt and adjust to remote delivery rapidly and learn how to navigate the system used
  • While some programs reported that their students prefer hybrid/remote delivery the vast majority indicated that their students and faculty prefer face-to-face interaction and delivery for EMS education
  • The pandemic period provided insight into ways to incorporate more remote options for special situations and to supplement delivery
  • Lack of clarity regarding different terms and concepts related to distance learning including:
  1. The difference between synchronous and asynchronous delivery
  2. What constitutes a hybrid course?
  3. Is there a percentage of the amount of content that constitutes a hybrid program?
  4. Does the use of a learning management system for posting assignments etc. constitute a hybrid course?
  5. Should there be a definition for ‘web enhanced’ courses?

In the coming months, you will see the CoAEMSP further its work surrounding distance learning, with the goal of supporting programs that incorporate some component of distance learning. The CoAEMSP will educate programs about distance education, including defining terms:

  • Synchronous
  • Asynchronous
  • Hybrid
  • Web-enhanced
  • Learning management system
  • Flipped classroom
  • Clarify the percentage of the education presented online
  • Incorporate policy changes required by the U.S. Department of Education and CAAHEP
Earn up to 15 Continuing Education Units
Register to Access On-Demand ACCREDITCON Sessions Now

Even if you did not attend the virtual ACCREDITCON, you can still register to access all on-demand sessions now through December 31.

Registration is $350 via PayPal or check.

Plus, you can earn up to 15 CEs for these on-demand sessions.

(Guests who registered to attend the live stream can access the sessions by using the same login as for the live stream. Email jennifer@coaemsp.org if you have misplaced your login.)
Next Webinar: September 9
How Can I Help as a Dean?
SEPTEMBER 9
1:00 pm CENTRAL

This session will help the learner understand how the Dean can support the Paramedic program through the accreditation process, and the specific role the Dean should play.

Concepts such as annual reports, resource assessment, accreditation / re-accreditation, advisory committee, grievances, and general support will be discussed.

After this session, the learner will be able to:
  • Describe how the Dean can assist the Paramedic program
  • Understand why the Program Director should not surprise the Dean
  • Identify where the Paramedic program’s champions are internally and externally
  • List potential resources within the Paramedic program
  • Discuss how programmatic accreditation assists and supports institutional accreditation
For a complete list of upcoming webinars or to view archived webinars, click here.
Registration Now Open for October Workshop!
CAAHEP Accreditation Workshops

   







These virtual workshops are held via Zoom and are designed to educate participants on the 2015 CAAHEP Standards and the accreditation process, enhancing the accreditation knowledge of Paramedic program faculty. Using expert presentations and interactive group learning activities, the workshop will provide best practices to avoid common stumbling blocks.


October 13-14, 2021
CANCELLED
November 17-18, 2021
_____________________________________________

2022 DATES JUST RELEASED!
Seats go fast! Mark your calendars
for these registration dates to reserve your spot!
February 23-24, 2022
Virtual
10:00 am to 2:30 pm Central Time each day
Registration opens December 1

June 1 or 2, 2022
In Person at ACCREDITCON, Louisville, KY
8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time
Watch for registration date
July 19-20, 2022
Virtual
10:00 am to 2:30 pm Central Time each day
Registration opens May 1

October 2022
In Person
Date and Location TBD
Produced by 'Emergency!' Stars
Documentary to Tell Paramedics' Stories


LOS ANGELES—“Into the Unknown: The Paramedics’ Journey,” is a documentary in pre-production, and produced by “Emergency!” Stars Randy Mantooth and Kevin Tighe.

The project has an advisory board made up of 18 key industry leaders and is endorsed by 19 of the major national EMS organizations, representing almost 2 million members. Baxter Larmon, PhD, a nationally recognized EMS educator/researcher, and a Professor of Emergency Medicine at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, serves on the executive committee.

The 70’s TV show “Emergency!” introduced the concept of paramedics to millions of viewers and inspired thousands to become EMS practitioners themselves. Some historians say it launched modern EMS in the U.S.

Now the two stars of the show are co-producing a documentary to tell the story of today’s paramedic—following a pandemic that strained our healthcare system and revealed the critical role that paramedics play in caring for their communities.

“My life was saved by two firefighter paramedics,” said Randy Mantooth, who played Johnny Gage in the “Emergency!” series. “My sister’s life was saved by a paramedic and a flight nurse. They literally gave us our lives back, and yet I don’t even know their names.”
 
“Over-worked, sometimes overlooked and nearly always taken for granted, paramedics are real-world heroes,” Mantooth said. “My hope is that “Into the Unknown” will provide the public with an understanding of and appreciation for the critical role these individuals play.”
 
“Paramedics have to deal with unending fatigue and stress,” said Kevin Tighe, who played Roy Desoto in the series. “This is a topic we have to explore not only on the job but also at home. We have to face it and also show how it can be successfully overcome.”

“Throughout my four-decade career, and in my travel and interactions with every type of stakeholder in the EMS profession, I’ve found they all have one thing in common,” Larmon said. “They believe the U.S. public doesn’t understand what EMS is about and what paramedics do, day-to-day, one patient at a time, to make sure they are cared for, safe and end up where they belong.
 
“Whether it’s a senior who has fallen, a teenager who has overdosed, a middle-aged woman in cardiac arrest, or the victim of a severe car crash,” he continued, “these are people often facing the worse days of their lives—we’re there to help. This documentary will go a long way in ensuring that the public understands who we are, what we do and why we matter.”

Find out more at intotheunknowndoc.com.
Thank you to these 'retiring' Site Visitors
Dedicated EMS educators who serve in volunteer positions make accreditation possible. Accreditation begins with outside teams of peers evaluating a program based on the accreditation standards. We wish to thank those who will no longer be serving in this capacity. Together, these volunteer site visitors have nearly 48 years of combined experience as site visitors.

CoAEMSP is stronger because of each of these individuals and their contributions to EMS education and their support of accreditation. Thank you, Linda, Tom, Craig, and Bill!
LINDA ANDERSON

Although Linda retired in 2012 from her position as a program director, she wanted to continue giving back to education. She’d already been a site visitor for a few years, and this gave her the opportunity to increase the frequency of visits. In addition to conducting site visits, she supported the Paramedic program from which she retired. In her 13 years as a site visitor, she conducted 85 site visits from coast to coast.
DR. TOM BRAZELTON

Tom’s introduction to the CoAEMSP was as a board member. To better understand and appreciate the accreditation process, the needs of programs, and to better serve Paramedic educators, Tom gave his time as a site visitor for 13 years in addition to serving on the board. The CoAEMSP is pleased that Tom will continue to be a part of its board.
CRAIG DAVIS

Craig has been conducting site visits since 2011. While site visits can make many program directors nervous, Craig was known for having a knack for putting program directors--both new and experienced--at ease during their site visits. As one program director said, “Craig was very calm and helped me to be able to relax and actually enjoy the site visit experience.”
DR. BILL RAYNOVICH

Bill gave his time to the CoAEMSP and Paramedic educators as a CoAEMSP board member and site visitor. He was always willing to join the site visit team at the last minute when unavoidable circumstances arose. Bill unintentionally conducted the first hybrid site visit when his partner arrived in the host city, but Bill's flights were canceled due to a winter storm. Bill has always lived out the site visit mantra of being flexible and willing to adapt with his 'can do’ and ‘will do’ attitude.
For a current list of CoAEMSP LoR and CAAHEP Accredited programs, visit www.caahep.org.
Milestones
Robert Cornwell, MPA, NRP, EMSI, Program Director of the Paramedic Program sponsored by Hocking College, Nelsonville, Ohio, earned the Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia Southern University, conferred on June 24, 2021.

Susan Macklin, MS, EMT-P, Program Director of the Paramedic Program sponsored by Central Carolina Community College, Sanford, NC, earned the Master of Science degree from Liberty University, conferred on July 9, 2021.

Joseph McCollough, MEd, Lead Instructor of the Paramedic Program sponsored by Enterprise State Community College, Enterprise, Ala., earned the Master of Education degree from Waldorf University, conferred on May 18, 2021.
Rip Current Education Toolkit Now Available
The United States Lifesaving Association and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have created a Rip Current Education Toolkit.

A one-page overview of the toolkit is now available on the United States Lifesaving Association website and the National Weather Service website. This toolkit includes a PowerPoint presentation, with speaker notes. There are several formats, including a video of the presentation. It is ideal for use in lifeguard training, as well as junior lifeguard and community group education. Those making presentations in their community may wish to include this. In addition, there are a variety of other resources, including videos, signs, brochures, and stickers.

The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) has determined that over 80% of rescues by lifeguards at surf beaches are caused by distress due to rip currents and that over 80% of drowning deaths at surf beaches are due to rip currents. The toolkit is also aimed at supporting those who have lost a friend or loved one to a rip current.

Education about rip currents is key to surf beach safety and we are pleased to help prevent drowning.
Disclaimer
The CoAEMSP does not endorse, promote, or comment on any product or vendor. This statement can also be found in the footer of our website.
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