OREGON EMS CONFERENCE

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0800-1700 | Cascade Room E  GEMS CLASS IS FULL
GEMS (Geriatric Education for EMS) Core Course
Presented by the Oregon EMS Association

Core Provider Course: 8-hour classroom course for EMTs, Paramedics, emergency responders, nurses, physician assistants and physicians.  Upon successful completion of the course, students receive a certificate of completion, a wallet card recognizing them as GEMS core providers for 4 years, and 8 hours of CAPCE credit. 

GEMS provides EMS practitioners at all levels with the skills and knowledge to address the unique medical, social, environmental and communications challenges of older adults. Developed by NAEMT, in partnership with the American Geriatrics Society, GEMS empowers EMS practitioners to help improve medical outcomes and quality of life for geriatric patients.

GEMS features case-based lectures, live action video, hands-on skill stations, simulation and small group scenarios to fully engage students in the learning experience. GEMS covers the following topics:

• Changes with age
• Assessment of older adults
• Pharmacology and medication toxicity
• Psycho-social emergencies
• Elder abuse
• End-of-life care issues
• Cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies
• Trauma
• Neurological emergencies and altered mental status
• Mobile integrated healthcare
• Special considerations for older adults in disaster response
• Skin and wound care
• Medical devices frequently used by older adults

Two GEMS courses are offered - a core and advanced course.  They may be offered separately or sequentially.  Both courses are appropriate for EMTs, paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses, physician assistants and physicians. GEMS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT.

1200-1700 | Cascade Rooms C & D OB/CHILDBIRTH CLASS IS FULL

OB/Childbirth & Neonatal Resucitation
presented by St Charles Medical Center Team of OB & Neonatal Nurse Educators

How strong is your confidence level for dealing with normal & abnormal childbirth events? How about a newborn that needs resuscitation? As EMSPs, we can easily encounter high-risk births and babies in distress. Empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to minimize any fears of those situations. Join us for a focused session to gain more understanding on how to manage childbirth scenes. And to use the BLS tools you already have to resuscitate a newborn! ALS steps will also be addressed for AEMTs, EMT-Is & Paramedics. This session has a lot of hands-on skills and scenario practice. Topics include:

• Normal childbirth situations
• Abnormal childbirth situations
• Maternal care
• Newborn care, including steps for resuscitation when needed

This session is appropriate for all EMS levels!

0900-1200 | Bend Fire Dept Training Center

OFCA EMS Section Meeting

1300-1700 | Cascade Rooms G/H/I

Physician Forum

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0700-0745 Registration in the vendor hall

0800-0915 Session 1 | Location: Cascade Room A

The Art of Education
presented by Tyler Christifulli

How long will EMS education be able to survive in its current state? Does standing in front of a bunch of people and lecturing really work? Why is it that a 5 year old can sit and watch cartoons for hours, yet, an adult can hardly sit for 15 minutes without losing focus? In this talk, we will evaluate the secret recipe for engagement, longevity in EMS, and a whole new element of education that has been waiting patiently for us to embark. Join Tyler Christifulli, Director of Creative Development at FOAMfrat, as he delivers the keynote address, The Art of Education.

0915-1015 Break

1015-1115 

BLS Track: Session 2A | Air Ambulance - Ground Integration | Cascade Room C
presented by Troy Speziale

ALS Track: Session 2B | The Dumbest Kidney | Cascade Room A
presented by Tyler Christifulli 

Renal physiology is extremely complex and difficult to commit to long term memory. Instead of just going over the anatomy and physiology of the renal system, I thought it would be beneficial to discuss three specific questions that are directly related to patient care.

• Why do the kidneys need a MAP of 65 mmHg?
• Is BUN/Creatinine ratio really helpful in diagnosing types of renal failure?
• Where and how do loop diuretics work?

By answering these questions I believe we cannot only learn renal A&P, but also correlate patient application in our clinical mental model.

Objectives:

• Identify the various structures of the renal system
• Define three different types of renal failure
• Associate mechanism of action for common loop diuretics

1115-1130 Passing

1130-1230 

BLS Track: Session 3A | Basic Pharmacology | Cascade Room C
presented by Nancy Shantel

ALS Track: Session 3B | The RSI Autopsy | Cascade Room A
presented by Tyler Christifulli 

As much as this lesson appears to be about dosing induction agents in trauma, it actually has very little to do with specific drugs. The key to understanding why intubation can kill hypotensive patients is in the understanding of venous return and necessary gradients. In this talk we will analyze each step of the RSI procedure.

Objectives:

• Define the necessary gradient to maintain adequate venous return.
• Identify patients who are in a low-flow state.
• Describe the interventions and adaptations required to avoid cardiac arrest.

1230-1345 Lunch

1345-1445 

BLS/ALS: Session 4A | I Know You Are Colorblind, But We Need to See Your Blind Spot | Cascade Room C
presented by Amanda Page

Many of us grew up in a generation of “colorblind culture.”  We were taught to not see people’s color only the content of their character and actions.  But this point of view is actually harmful to the BIPOC community. This lecture challenges the audience to rethink how they look at race and racism.  Everyone has bias. They are built into our unconscious. Sometimes bias is benign, like preferring puppies over rodents. But it can also be dangerous, like when it affects how we provide patient care. This lecture focuses on how to recognize your own biases and then work to mitigate their effects.

ALS: Session 4B | Interventions for the Trauma Patient in Extremis | Cascade Room A
presented by Ronald Barbosa, MD FACS

1445-1515 Break

1515-1615 

BLS: Session 5A |: You’ve Caught Me in a Coma - Sudden Onset Coma Differential Diagnosis | Cascade Room C
presented by Alicia Bond

The patient was awake a few minutes ago … now their GCS is a solid 3. The possibilities are endless – or are they? We will work through cases illustrating the short list of things that cause a sudden-onset coma, and discuss how to approach these patients for the best possible outcomes.

ALS: Session 5B | Out of Hospital Pediatric Cardiac Arrest | Cascade Room A
presented by SunHee Chung

1615-1630 Passing

1630-1700 Session 6 | Cascade Room A

SET SIM Grant Project
presented by Shelley Dougherty

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0700-0800 Registration

0800-0915 Session 7 | Announcements | Cascade Room A

General Session: The EMS Wellness Paradox – Striking the Balance for Wellness in EMS
presented by Matt Philbrick

EMS is a career that can add great value to your life.  Often, as we progress in the field, we are greeted by responders that are ‘burned out’ or have ‘compassion fatigue’.  It can be rare to find the paramedic or EMT that has been in the field for 30 years and is happy, healthy, and has good relationships.  The truth is, a career in EMS can provide deep meaning and value to our lives and make our lives better.  In this presentation, the speaker will address the “EMS Wellness Paradox” as well as the tools available to EMS to practice Living Well.  The discussion will address the conflict between living a life in the service of others, while still being a good and healthy (both physically, mentally, and emotionally) person- and coming out of it alive.

0915-0930 Break

0930-1030

BLS: Session 8A | Trauma topic | Cascade Room A
presented by Ronald Barbosa, MD FACS

ALS: Session 8B | Pills That Kill -- Ingestions You Need to Know | Cascade Room C

presented by Alicia Bond

Patients can overdose on many things, but only a few drugs and medications need specific interventions in the field. Using real cases, we will talk about some of the deadliest ingestions and what we need to know to improve outcomes down the line.

1030-1045 Break

1045-1230

Option #1: EMS Escape Room | Cascade Room A
presented by Robert Victorino

PCC's simulation staff is offering a trauma simulation that is presented as an escape room. Each team of two will find clues and solve puzzles to treat a multi-system trauma patient while the timer is ticking. The scenario will be offered as BLS or ALS, depending on the makeup of the team and participants will receive an hour of trauma CEU and bragging rights (we'll see if some vendors will throw in some SWAG as well).

Option #2: Stop The Bleed (including train-the-trainer) | Cascade Room C
presented by Oregon EMS Association

1230 Sessions Close

1235 Close Out Conference

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The Oregon EMS Association (OEMSA) is providing this course with certified GEMS educators and adjunct faculty. 

The OEMSA is very thankful to have clinical educators from the St Charles Medical Center and OHSU presenting this fantastic class!  

JENNIFER JAMIESON

Jennifer Jamieson is a Nursing Education and Practice Specialist in the Family Birth Centers at Legacy Health System located in Oregon and Southwest Washington. She has 18 years of experience in an LDRP setting working as a staff nurse, charge nurse, and manager. She serves as the Portland Chapter leader for Oregon AWHONN. Her special interests include peri-operative obstetrics, perinatal loss,  documentation, data reporting, and patient safety. Jennifer loves to knit, garden, and cook in her free time. She lives in Portland with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

SHELBY GATIEN

Hi I'm Shelby. I've been a nurse for over 10 years. I started my career working in the ED as well as cardiac and vascular surgery and I've spent the last 8.5 years working in high acuity level 4 NICU's. I moved to Bend a year and a half ago from NY where I currently work in the NICU at St. Charles doing bedside care, attending deliveries, and NICU transport. When I'm not at work I love spending time with friends and family, finding good food, and going hiking. 

KAT RAUSCH

Kat began her nursing career as a CNA in her small hometown of Carmel, CA. She pursued nursing at the University of Portland and graduated in 2015. She began her new grad status on an ICU step down Med/Surg unit but found her true passion in the Maternal Child world. First with postpartum/high risk prenatal and ultimately completing a Pediatric ICU residency with Spokane Children's. She remained with Providence for 4 years in total before following her outdoor passions to Bend where she worked the Adult ICU- and cross trained ER. After a grueling 2 years of COVID ICU and missing her connection with the babies, Kat was lucky enough to be given the opportunity of full time NICU and is currently part of the Neonatal Transport/Resuscitation Team. 

RANDA BATES

Randa has been a NICU nurse for 19 years in various roles. These include bedside nursing, perinatal and pediatric/neonatal flight nursing,  and nursing leadership. Currently she is a Clinical Professional Practice Development Specialist working to ensure quality education and professional development for those participating in the care of women and children. Randa has always had a passion for education, especially when it has significant impact on the outcomes for women, neonatal, and pediatric patients. Randa has participated in formal and non-formal educational opportunities for EMS and rural hospitals since 2007. Randa earned her Masters of Nursing from Western Governors University and her Bachelors from Montana State University.

Tyler Christifulli is the founder and director of creative development at FOAMfrat, as well as Clinical Educator and paramedic at Life Link III. Tyler has a particular interest in mechanical ventilation and prehospital utilization of point-of-care ultrasound. 16 years of experience in EMS with 5 of those being in air medical transport. 

TOPICS: The Art of Education (Saturday) | The Dumbest Kidney (Saturday) | The RSI Autopsy (Saturday)

Amanda is a ten-year flight paramedic at Life Flight Network where she also serves as their DEI Advisor.  She also works for Klamath Tribal Health and Family Services to increase the health of fellow tribal members through traditional value, culture, and practices. Growing up on her Tribe’s homeland, she witnessed firsthand how racism affects the well-being of the BIPOC community. She speaks locally and nationally to raise the awareness of healthcare disparities in Indigenous populations.

TOPIC: I know you are Colorblind… but we Need you to see your blind spot (Saturday)

Ronald Barbosa, MD FACS has been a trauma surgeon at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center in Portland wince 2006.  Previously, he trained at St. Louis University School of Medicine, did residency at San Joaquin General Hospital and trauma fellowship at the University of California-Davis Medical Center. He is also involved with the ECMO/Critical care transport service at Legacy Emanuel.  He is the current chair of the Oregon State Trauma Advisory Board, is a member of the AAST, WTA, EAST, ACS, and ELSO, is an ATLS Course Director, and is a coauthor on 32 publications. 

TOPICS: Interventions for the Trauma Patient in Extremis (Saturday) | Trauma (Sunday)

Alicia Bond is board-certified in Emergency Medicine as well as Hospice and Palliative Care, and is the supervising physician for Mercy Flights, Inc., and the fire-based EMS agencies in Jackson County, Oregon. She likes ice cream, karaoke, and resuscitating pediatric patients on scene.

Topics:  ALS – Toxicology – High risk Ingestions (Saturday)  |  BLS – Sudden onset Coma Differential diagnosis (Sunday)

SunHee Chung has completed pediatric residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, IL, then trained in Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children hospital in Cleveland. She is currently an assistant professor of Emergency Medicine at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Also serve as associate medical director for Multnomah County EMS. Professional interest areas are pediatric care quality improvement in EMS and pediatric cardiac arrest resuscitation.

Topic:  Out of hospital pediatric cardiac arrest (Saturday)

Matt Philbrick is passionate about Emergency Medical Services. He has served the EMS industry for over 17 years, working in many roles: EMT, paramedic, flight paramedic, and Operations Manager. Additionally, Matt has worked in both rural and urban environments with a demonstrated history of success working in the EMS industry. Currently, Matt is the Manager for GMR Life providing resources, education, crisis intervention, and outreach for the nation's largest EMS Provider - Global Medical Response. Matt is in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Matt is active in Oregon healthcare. He sits as Chair of the Oregon EMS for Children Committee and a former voting member of the Oregon State Trauma Advisory Board. He is an accomplished public speaker having been featured at EMS Today and the Virginia State EMS Symposium (among others). In late 2021, Matt served as the Branch Chief for an Oregon requested FEMA deployment serving Southern and Central Oregon. In 2020, Matt was named as one of the "Top 40 under 40" EMS Leaders by the American Ambulance Association.

TOPIC: The EMS Wellness Paradox – Striking the Balance for Wellness in EMS (Sunday)