Tuesday

Finding Your Beat, the Rhythm of Life

Chief Tim Eggebraaten

We all face challenges which create our own beat in life when balancing family, careers, and struggling to find time for ourselves and our physical, mental, and spiritual health. Prepare to be energized, inspired, and entertained as "The Off Duty Chief" shares strategies and tactics for working YOUR BEAT!

Human Trafficking: Recognition in the Field

Ms. Shalotta Sharp

Human Trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, is portrayed in media as a scenario involving foreign countries-trains-lots of gunfire and a happy ending. In reality, human trafficking is modern day slavery with the victims among us in plain sight. The literature tells us the most common types of trafficking are familial trafficking. The attendee of this course will learn tools to recognize human trafficking in the field, medical presentation of victims of trafficking and how to engage with the patient and encourage continuation of care as well as the Mandated Reporting requirements.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Updates

Ms. Amy Fulton

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama will take us through the new updates, answer questions, and give a state overview. 

Approach to the Agitated Patient

Dr. Melissa ​Willett-Caldwell

The second most common injury to EMS workers is violence. EMS workers, due to the unpredictability of the environment in which they provide care, are at times placed in vulnerable situations. Agitated patients are a potential danger to themselves and to EMS providers and are not infrequently encountered. The objectives of this talk include early identification of the agitated patient and discussion of the importance of scene safety. I will identify and discuss many of the underlying medical and psychiatric causes of acute agitation. I will highlight the importance of de-escalation techniques as a critical tool in the EMS toolkit because when appropriately applied can decrease the need for more aggressive interventions. I will discuss your options for chemical sedation and when they, as well as physical restraints, are appropriate. These treatments are not without risk and we will address the importance of reassessments, redosing medications, and when to remove restraints. Finally, we will go over several cases to apply the above-mentioned objectives to real world situations. At the end of this talk the EMS provider will be able to recognize important aspects of scene safety, list common underlying medical and psychiatric etiologies of agitation, discuss de-escalation techniques, and identify when restraints and chemical sedation are appropriate.

State of Alabama EMS Panel

Dr. Crawford, John Blue, and Team

Panel driven discussion on the topics of the Office of EMS in Alabama. A conversation not to miss. 

Skills and Labs

We are swapping it up! Hands-on lecture time! Multiple stations to pick from!

Wednesday

EMS Challenge - LIVE! 

Dr. Ferguson and Team

Streaming Live from the Beaches of Orange Beach at the Alabama EMS Conference!

CO & CN: Silent Killers on the Fire Scene

Dr. Julie Brown

Frequently, emergency medical service (EMS) providers initiate care for critical patients in risky environments. Gas or fire related calls can be extremely complex and require considerable attention to optimize patient care and provider safety. In particular, inhalational injuries from gas and smoke exposure are easy to overlook but pose a significant threat to both patients and providers. Carbon monoxide (CO) and cyanide (CN) are two colorless, odorless, metabolic poisons that can result in rapid loss of consciousness and cardiovascular collapse. Exposure to these toxins results in a high mortality rate in gas and fire related accidents. Thus, it is imperative for EMS to quickly identify patients at risk for exposure to these toxins to initiate
prompt life-saving interventions to protect patients and themselves.

New Role in Healthcare - An Introduction to the Independent Private Patient Advocate  

Mr. Jeff Byars, NREMT, BCPA

This discussion will open the audience’s eyes to the newly emerging field of independent patient advocacy. It will change the way providers think about these advocates, covering the difference between a hospital based advocate and a private, independent patient advocate. It will give thoughts on how this new segment of healthcare can help to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. We will talk about the many different areas within healthcare that these advocates work and how they fit into the big picture.

Dialysis Patients and the Life Threatening Complications

Dr. Taylor Payne

ESRD Patients may present with a wide range of complications from the benign to the life threatening. Some specific complications are acutely life threatening and important for the EMT to recognize and treat rapidly. This lecture, although not all encompassing, will aid in evaluation and treatment of the highest concerning dialysis complications that the EMT with encounter.

LVADs and Problems

​Ms. Brittany Lewis, BSN & Krista Marz VAD ​Coordinator

LVADS - we don't see a lot of them, but when we do, we all need to know how to treat the problems. Get hand on experience through out the lecture of LVADS. 

Alabama Ambulance Legislation Talks

Alabama Ambulance Association

Representatives will be present to discuss the new changes, updates in billings, and laws. 

Pediatric Mental Health ​

Mr. Lawrence Daniels, PhD MSN

Pediatric mental health is a growing concern. The treatment of these disorders has seen a rapid growth in pharmacological interventions. During this course we will explore the current trends, with specific implications for EMS providers, including behaviors and interventions. The toxicology of common drugs will also be addressed with key signs, symptoms and interventions. In addition, detailed pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of central nervous system drugs will be presented, and we will expand on basic peripheral nervous system pharmacology typically encountered by the EMS ALS provider.

Leadership Panel

Jamie Gray and Friends

This panel discussion will bring the industry together. The panel consist of Office of EMS, Alabama Ambulance Association, fire dept, medical direction, flight staff, non-Industry expert, an educator, and supply chain. We will have a good discussion for an hour on the problems at bay and future of EMS. 

Do you step in it? (Crime Scene)

Mr. Douglas Wildermuth, NRP

As a first responder, we often don’t know we are at a crime scene until we are in it. To better understand on what to do at a crime scene, we need to better understand the roles of all the emergency services present (Fire, EMS & Law Enforcement). Come see how to better understand our 3 Headed Juggernaut (Fire, EMS & Law Enforcement) and work better together!

Traumatic Cardiac Arrest

Dr. Gabrielle ​Gostigian

​While closed chest compressions and epinephrine play a key role in management of medical cardiac arrests, these interventions offer limited benefit in the setting of traumatic injury. Rapid evaluation and transportation are key, however there are additional interventions that can be offered in the pre hospital setting to address reversible causes of traumatic cardiac arrest. Additionally, we will discuss different characteristics to consider when resuscitating a patient who has suffered from traumatic cardiac arrest.

EMS through the Camera Lens

Mr. Nick Ray, BS RN NRP CP-C & Mr. Richard Pike, MS NRP CCP-C CP-C

EMS is rich in history and often times current EMS professionals take for granted the work that was put in to advance the profession. Through the use of various media resources (video and audio) we will present major historical players and legislation from the early days of the EMS white paper and Emergency! to current EMS practice.

Everything TXA and Beyond

Dr. Colby Redfield

Review of the literature looking at txa in the trauma patient starting with the initial CRASH-2 trial to current evidence about dosing and usage. Will explore other uses for txa besides trauma such as GI bleeds, nose bleeds and ICH. Discuss the role of calcium in the traumatic shock patient and outcome data from trials looking at mortality.
 TXA has shown reduction in mortality when giving before 3 hours of injury,  TXA should not be giving in GI bleed patients, Evidence has demonstrated trauma patients with low calcium have a higher mortality

Community Paramedicine

Ms. Sheila Barnes, MSN NRP

Sheila is going to take us down the path of establishing community paramedicine, the obstacles she faced in TN, and how it is working with her patients now. 

​FoamFrat Live

Mr. Tyler Christifulli and Mr. Sam Ireland

Foam Frat Live!!

Thursday

All the exciting and happening things at Alabama 9-1-1

Ms. Dana Nation

Everything 9-1-1. Dana will give us updates on the statewide Alabama 9-1-1

Beyond the Benchmark: Using Improvement Science to Drive Meaningful Change

Ms. Remle Crowe, PhD

When it comes to measuring EMS agency performance, there is a natural draw to compare performance with other organizations. How do we stack up? Are we doing better than the average? Unfortunately, performance improvement initiatives often stop at the benchmark. In this discussion, learn how to take your quality management initiatives further, using improvement science to drive real change within your organization and community.

EMS Myth Busters

Dr. Adam Robinett

Many things in EMS and medicine in general are taught as dogmatic processes. This lecture will review selected processes and the evidence, or lack thereof, supporting those practices.
The take away objectives are:
1. The participant should be able to critical question the "way things are done"
2. Learn the utility of the Trendelenburg position.
3. Discuss different modes of administration of medications in prehospital medicine
4. Discuss transport of the pregnant patient

EMS Billing Updates

Ms. Kim Stanley, CAC

Kim will give the industry an update on EMS billing and upcoming changes. 

Understanding advanced hemodynamics in the transport environment

Dr. Blake Davidson

Correct identification and management of acute overdoses resulting in classic Toxidromes can be crucial to adequate patient care. This lecture will serve to help identify physical findings along with history details that can help nail down a diagnosis.

The Art of Employee Engagement

Mr. Brent Dierking, NRP

This session is intended for all provider levels but is primarily geared toward individuals currently serving in a supervisory or other EMS leadership role.
There has been a lot of discussion about the importance of employee engagement and the potential benefits to an organization if successful. While in theory this sounds great, the reality is that employee engagement is “hard!” In most cases, Supervisors/Managers don’t understand the principles, don’t have the tools, and don’t have the experience to implement an effective employee engagement strategy. This session is designed to present a Top Ten list of simple, but effective methods used to  engage employees resulting in a positive change within the work environment. A workforce
made of happy employees results in better recruitment/retention, great patient/customer care, and more time for management to concentrate on day-to-day operations.

Ketamine in the Pre-hospital setting

Dr. Travis B. Goodloe III

Widely used, ketamine is a powerful analgesic and sedative with a favorable safety profile for EMS. Nevertheless, prehospital use of ketamine has become a controversial point for the media and elected officials. In this discussion, learn about the indications for ketamine use by EMS and outcomes for patients who receive this medication in the prehospital setting. Learn how to harness the power of data to monitor prehospital ketamine use as a framework for your agency to evaluate and communicate with key stakeholders about any prehospital clinical treatment.

Mass Casualty Drill ​

Let's run a mocked up mass casualty drill all together!

Alabama Field Amputation - Rewind of the call​

US Air Force Master Sergeant- Edward Crowe

Fit for Duty

Ms. Michelle Kline, RN NRP

To promote and educate on mindfulness (mental health), nutritional awareness, and
physical mobility and agility, in our chaotic work environment, in order to prevent work
related mental stress and physical fatigue, which will lessen the incidence of bodily injury,
mental health injury, and promote a culture of wellness.