Project Grant H79TI086734

WCAD EMS TRAINING PROGRAM - THE PURPOSE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY AMBULANCE DISTRICT'S EMS TRAINING PROGRAM IS TO RECRUIT AND TRAIN NEW EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) PERSONNEL AND TO PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CURRENT EMS PERSONNEL. THE TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDES A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUDS), CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS (CODS), AND FUNDAMENTALS OF CRITICAL CARE TRANSPORT (FCCT), AND TRAINING COURSES NEEDED FOR EMS PERSONNEL TO MAINTAIN LICENSES AND RELEVANT CERTIFICATIONS. THIS PROGRAM WAS FIRST IMPLEMENTED IN FY-20 (SAMSHA RURAL EMS TRAINING GRANT) AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE AWARDED YEARLY. EACH YEAR THE PROGRAM EXPANDS TO NEW EMS AGENCIES IN NEW COUNTIES. CURRENTLY, WCAD'S FY-22 AWARD PROJECT TRAINS EMS PERSONNEL FROM 29 RURAL COUNTIES ACROSS SOUTHEAST AND CENTRAL MISSOURI. THE GOAL FOR THE FY-23 PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR EMS WORKFORCE FROM AGENCIES WITHIN A 34-COUNTY CATCHMENT AREA WHICH INCLUDES THE PREVIOUS 29 COUNTIES AND EXPANDS TO 5 NEW RURAL COUNTIES. THE PROPOSED GEOGRAPHIC CATCHMENT AREA CONSISTS OF 34 COUNTIES INCLUDING 5 NEW COUNTIES FROM THE BOOTHEEL/DELTA REGION OF MISSOURI: DUNKLIN, MISSISSIPPI, NEW MADRID, PEMISCOT, AND SCOTT. WCAD PARTNERS WITH THE MISSOURI EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ASSOCIATION, MINERAL AREA COLLEGE AND WASHINGTON COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. GOAL 1: WCAD'S TRAINING PROGRAM BUILDS THE CAPACITY OF EMS WORKFORCE SO THAT AMBULANCES ARE FULLY STAFFED BY RECRUITING NEW AND RETAINING THE CURRENT EMS WORKFORCE. OBJECTIVES: 1. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 5 COURSES WILL BE PROVIDED TO TRAIN NEW EMS RECRUITS FROM ALL 34 COUNTIES, WITH FIRST ACCESS TO EMS AGENCIES FROM THE 5 NEW COUNTIES. 2. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 30 EMS PERSONNEL FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL BE PROVIDED A MINIMUM OF 60 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS TO MAINTAIN EMS LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS. GOAL 2: WCAD'S TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUDES A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SO THAT EMS PERSONNEL CAN RESPOND TO THE INCREASING OVERDOSE CRISIS. TRAINING WILL CONTINUE TO BE OFFERED TO ANY EMS AGENCY FROM THE 34 COUNTIES SO THAT ALL NEW EMS HIRES RECEIVE TRAINING ON BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. OBJECTIVES: 1. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 60 EMS PERSONNEL FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL COMPLETE WCAD'S TRAINING PROGRAM INCLUSIVE OF TRAINING ON MENTAL AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE, RECOVERY-BASED CARE, PEER SUPPORT, NALOXONE IN EMERGENCY OPIOID OVERDOSE SITUATIONS, AND MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING. 2. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PERIOD, EMS AGENCIES FROM THE 5 NEW COUNTIES WILL DEVELOP PROCEDURES ON PROVIDING A WARM-HAND OFF REFERRAL TO A PEER SUPPORT, A TREATMENT FACILITY, OR HARM REDUCTION SERVICES. 3. BY DECEMBER 1, 2023, EMS AGENCIES FROM THE 5 NEW COUNTIES WILL DEVELOP PROCEDURES TO ENSURE ALL OVERDOSES ARE REPORTED TO THE STATE AND/OR LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT. 4. BY DECEMBER 21, 2023, WCAD WILL PURCHASE NALOXONE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES EQUIPMENT FOR EMS AGENCIES IN THE 5 NEW COUNTIES. GOAL 3: WCAD'S TRAINING PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE CEUS FOR CURRENT EMS WORKFORCE TO RETAIN THEIR CRITICAL CARE CERTIFICATION IN THE 34 COUNTIES AND PROVIDE FCCT CERTIFICATION TO EMS PERSONNEL FROM THE 5 NEW COUNTIES. OBJECTIVES: 1. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 60 NEW PARAMEDICS FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE FCCT PROGRAM. 2. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 300 EMS PERSONNEL FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL BE PROVIDED A MINIMUM OF 500 HOURS OF CONTINUE EDUCATION UNITS TO RE-CERTIFY FOR FCCT. 3. BY THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, 5 NEW REGISTERED NURSES FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL BE CERTIFIED BY THE FCCT PROGRAM. 4. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT PERIOD, 10 REGISTERED NURSES FROM THE 34 COUNTIES WILL BE PROVIDED CONTINUING EDUCATION TO RE-CERTIFY FCCT.