North Lake County EMS Continuing Education Handbook Updated April 2012
Overview North Lake County has developed this handbook to assist prehospital personnel to understand and interpret the continuing education program. This handbook is not itself a regulation. It is not a document by which standards may be set. This handbook provides guidance on the continuing education program through NLC EMS. This is a guideline for prehospital personnel on the responsibilities for re-certification by CE and time requirements for specific processes. What is Continuing Education? Continuing education for prehospital personnel is defined in EMS regulation as those learning activities intended to build upon the education and experiential basis of prehospital EMS personnel for the enhancement of practice and education. CE is a method used by many healthcare professionals to maintain licensure or certification.
Number of Hours Each licensed EMT with NLC EMS is required to complete a of 30 hours of continuing education each. (January 1 to December 31) All continuing education must be completed and submitted to the EMS Office by December 31 st of each. Failure to complete the requirements may result in a suspension for an time period. The suspension period is for one month and requires a $25.00 late fee. Record Keeping Hours that are awarded for NLC EMS monthly continuing education classes are kept by the NLC EMS system. Hours that are done outside the monthly classes need to be turned into the system in order to be entered into the database. It is each provider s responsibility to make sure that the hours are turned in for any classes not done by NLC EMS. Guidelines for Hosting a CE Class All training application forms must be presented at least 2 months prior to the date of the class if a site code is being requested. The State Training Program Application Form must be filled out and submitted to the North Lake County EMS office. If a site code is not being requested, the NLC EMS Training application form must be turned in to the CE Coordinator at least 2 weeks prior to the class. Information that must be included is: o Topic of the class o Date, Time, Location of Class o Who is presenting the class (Lead Instructor license number and any credentials if applicable) o How may hours are being requested o 3 Objectives for the class When the class is complete the following must be turned in for hours to be awarded. Signed roster (Each person must sign in) An evaluation should be offered to each student but does not need to be turned in to the EMS office.
Guidelines for Individual CE Hours A certificate with site code OR Information that needs to be included is: o Date, Time, Length, Location of class. o The instructor with contact information o Class agenda o 3 Objectives for the class o A paragraph describing what you learned in the class Hour Requirements For In-Region X continuing education you will receive hour to hour. For out of Region X continuing education, a maximum of 15 hours each will be accepted. You may not acquire clinical hours for performing normal job duties in a clinical setting. All requests for clinical CE hours must be set up by the CE Coordinator. Class Documentation Hours Comments In Region X CE Seminars or Workshops Audit of EMS Class Clinical Time Flight for Life In-service or ride along Documentation with Illinois site code Certification of attendance and Program Information Proof of attendance NLC Clinical Evaluation form May not have more than 25% of 120 hours in one subject. May not have more than 25% of 120 hours in one subject. Class must be license Max 4 hours per
EMS Educator Lead Instructor must submit signed roster Max 20 your per Field Preceptor Extrication Course Defensive Driving Autopsy Observation HAZMAT Classes Disaster Drill Special Response Team Training Involving Patient Care TNS Critical Care Paramedic Firefighters Classes (EMS Portion Only) Public Relations paper work Documentation from course instructor Course certification Course certification with outline of class Max 4 hours per Max 4 hours per Max 30 hours Max 80 hours Max of 28 hours during 4 licensure period. Max 3 hours per On Line CE (websites must be approved) Certification Health Related college Courses deemed Grades or Transcripts 2 hours per each college credit by EMS system hour CPR Class Initial Copy of Card Max of 4 hours every 2 s
CPR Class - Renewal Copy of Card Max of 2.5 hours every 2 s CPR Instructor Class Copy of Card Max of 8 hours every 2 s CPR Instructor Copies of Rosters Max 6 hours per ACLS Class- Initial Copy of Card Max 12 hours every 2 s ACLS Class Renewal Copy of Card Max 6 hours every 2 s ACLS Instructor Class Copy of Card Max 4 hours PALS Class Initial Copy of Card Max of 14 hours every 2 s PALS Class Renewal Copy of Card Max of 8 hours every 2 PALS Instructor Class Copy of Card Max of 4 Hours ITLS/PHTLS Class Copy of Card Max of 16 hours every 3 s ITLS/PHTLS Instructor Copy of Card Max 8 hours Class ACLS/PALS/ITLS/PHTLS Instructor Copies of Rosters PEPP Class Advanced Copy of Card Max 14 hours every 2 s PEPP Class Basic Copy of Card Max 8 hours every 2 s List of Approved On-Line Web sites for Continuing Education Hours JEMS CE www.jems.com CECBEMS www.cecbems.org CE Solutions www.ems-ce.com School of EMT www.schoolofemt.com Wild Iris www.wildirismedical.com Rapid CE www.rapidce.com Nursing Continuing Education www.nursingceu.com Medscape www.medscape.com EMS World www.emsworld.com
EMSC www.childrensnational.org EmCert www.emcert.com Emergency Medicine Learning and Resource www.emlrc.org EMS Continuing Education www.eminet.com Bound Tree - www.boundtreeuniversity.com CE Medicus www.cemedicus.com Attendance You must attend the entire CE class in order to receive credit for the class. However, if you are on shift at the time of class and are required to respond you must attend at least 2/3 of the class in order to receive credit. If there is a call that takes more that 75% of the providers away from the class with no chance of them making it back for class the medical officer may choose to reschedule the class based on availability. If there is a mandatory CE, full attendance will be required. Facilitators Guidelines There may be one facilitator from each department or if needed one per shift. The facilitator must be approved by NLC EMS. NLC EMS is not responsible for monetary compensation o Qualifications Must be a paramedic with min. 3 s experience Prefer ACLS, PALS, ITLS or PHTLS certifications. Prefer experience with EMS Education Questions Any questions can be directed to NLC EMS Coordinator or the CE Coordinator.