The unique design of this program and the EMS system affords complete medical control of all prehospital medical components within the community, including all BLS first responders and ALS transport. The opportunity exists to nourish any special interest that a fellow may have regarding a future in prehospital medicine. Throughout the fellowship, participants support Augusta University, Richmond County, regional and state EMS with daily operations as well as training. Fellows also have the flexibility to structure research projects around specific issues of interest within emergency medical care. Additionally, while working at Augusta University EMS, fellows have the opportunity to participate in tactical and disaster rotations nationally.
Applicants can expect a full compliment of training to prepare the emergency physician for a career in EMS. It is designed to cover all aspects including field response, tactical, aeromedical, event medicine, disaster response, systems design, education and administration. Upon completion of the fellowship, the fellow may sit for the subspecialty boards through the American Board of Emergency Medicine.
The EMS fellow has a dedicated SUV adapted for emergency response with warning lights and siren. The medical directors and EMS fellows have EMS shifts and also are paged on particular calls and respond as appropriate. All medical care equipment is provided including personal protective equipment, cardiac monitor/defibrillator, and laryngoscope with assorted fiber optic blades, and prehospital medications and supplies. The EMS fellow plays an integral role in providing stand-by medical coverage for working fires, hazardous materials incidents, and any incident resulting in mass casualties. The fellow will be working with several agencies to include: Augusta Fire, Columbia County Fire Rescue, Gold Cross EMS, Richmond County Public Health and Richmond County 9-1-1.
Fellows are required to assist in all off-line duties provided by the medical and fellowship director. The fellow will aid in drafting new protocols and to re-engineer existing ones. Similarly, new equipment and medications are constantly being reviewed and implemented if selected. The medical director and EMS fellow review transports as part of the quality improvement process. Deficiencies are handled in a due process review format, with the fellow becoming involved in all clinical incident reviews. The fellow will work closely with Quality Improvement and Education Analysts to review specific data, evaluate trends in system performance, develop simulation scenario-based training, and to identify opportunities for system expansion and process improvement. The fellow EMS calls will be evaluated as well.
The fellow will participate in Event Medicine, and is responsible for medical oversight at special events coverage at multiple sites including:
The fellow always has a full access pass and credentials at all venues.
The fellow has the opportunity to serve as the associate medical director for AirCare which covers the Augusta area and is part of a larger organization of AirCare Georgia. AirCare Georgia covers the entire state with 12 bases located strategically. AirCare Georgia is part of our parent company, AirMethods. Air methods is the largest air medical provider in the world with over 600 aircraft. In addition to scene and interfacility flights utilizing AirCare Georgia's personnel, AirCare also provides air transport for the NICU and PICU teams from Augusta University. EMS fellows have the option of participating on the flight team and with in-service education and quality improvement processes.
The EMS fellow has the opportunity to participate in all components of the regional and state EMS system. As a fellow in EMS at Augusta University one will participate in the Region 6 EMS meetings. Furthermore, the fellow will have the opportunity to meet at the state level and be involved in EMS healthcare policy. The Emergency Medical Services Section of Georgia’s Department of Public Health provides services mandated by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 31, Chapter 11, the Georgia Department of Public Health Rules and Regulations Chapter 511-9-2 to license, re-license, and monitor Ambulance Services, Medical First Responders, and Neonatal Transport Services; approve training course curriculum and requirements for the licensure and re-licensure of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and (AEMT), and Paramedics and the re-license only of Emergency Medical Technicians - Intermediate (EMT-I) and Cardiac Technicians (CT).
The EMS fellow has the opportunity to participate in all components of the regional and state EMS system. As a fellow in EMS at Augusta University one will participate in the Region 6 EMS meetings. Furthermore, the fellow will have the opportunity to meet at the state level and be involved in EMS healthcare policy. The Emergency Medical Services Section of Georgia’s Department of Public Health provides services mandated by the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Title 31, Chapter 11, the Georgia Department of Public Health Rules and Regulations Chapter 511-9-2 to license, re-license, and monitor Ambulance Services, Medical First Responders, and Neonatal Transport Services; approve training course curriculum and requirements for the licensure and re-licensure of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) and (AEMT), and Paramedics and the re-license only of Emergency Medical Technicians - Intermediate (EMT-I) and Cardiac Technicians (CT).
The EMS fellow has the opportunity to participate in all components of the EMS system including operations, communications, fleet maintenance, ambulance design and purchasing, materials management, human resources, budget preparation and auditing, and systems status management. The fellow also interacts with all affiliated first responder and law enforcement agencies.
The prompt provision of emergency medical care, both in and out of the hospital, can limit the consequences of diseases and injuries and mitigate morbidity and mortality. The Department of Emergency medicine and EMS program support the Institute of Medicine's recommendations for emergency care research as outlined in the Future of Emergency Care. Research in EMS encompasses many different disciplines and cross-cutting themes, and critical research questions may cut across basic science, clinical care, and delivery systems. Research activity within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Augusta University continues to grow and flourish. We have faculty with numerous and diverse research interests such as: Ultrasound, Hemorrhage Control, Disaster Medicine, HIV, Influenza, Airway Management, and Public Health. We also collaborate on research activities with other Departments in the Medical College of Georgia and the other Schools and Discovery Institutes. Faculty from our departments have received numerous grants and frequently present at national and international meetings. The Department of Emergency Medicine has dedicated lab, cadaver and simulation space, including two operating rooms and a small animal lab.