Training
Continual training is not only required by the state for maintenance of EMT-P and EMT-B certifications but it is also necessary to maintain and improve skills.
Internal shift training sessions are planned and accomplished by crews or administrators to address specific areas needing improvement. This includes training on equipment that is rarely used, rare patient scenarios or methods to streamline patient contact or documentation. Shifts and crews work closely with one another to develop their own medical practices and become stronger as a whole.
Agencies working directly with us will often provide in house training as well. Saint Anthony Central Hospital pre-hospital care trainer Tom Candlin will often come to the Black Hawk Fire station and present case studies tailored to specific patients treated by GAA and those patients’ outcomes. Lutheran Hospital has come up for similar opportunities. Flight for life and Air Life Denver helicopter transport agencies also have hosted trainings to promote safety, familiarity and expediency when utilizing their services. We depend on these agencies for critical support and we can provide better service to our patients when we train together.
Interdepartmental training helps to broaden the knowledge base of GAA employees. Black Hawk Fire has given the ambulance crews several cross training opportunities including a Fire Fighter I certification training program for interested ambulance crew members. Timberline Fire has conducted wild land fire training.
In 2010 a grant allowed us to host a Medical Unit Leader Class for surrounding agencies. A Medical Unit Leader can be used at the federal level to provide medical organization and support to large scale wild land fire incidents. This training allows for more mobility from Gilpin Ambulance in the event of a large scale fire in Gilpin county. As resources are needed, some of our paramedics will be able to directly support fire suppression staff and efforts. This class was attended by multiple agencies surrounding Gilpin, including Grand County, Evergreen, Clear Creek and Central City.
The crews are also encouraged to attend training available through other agencies.
Our billing staff is given opportunities to attend billing conferences to keep up with Medicare, HIPPA, and various other ambulance billing and administrative changes.
It is critical to never stop learning in the field of medicine. At no point will anyone ever know everything. But by training, using one's skills and continually being lifelong students, we give each patient we contact the best chance by providing the best medicine possible.