Managing Chronic Care Patients

Course overview

Chronic care patients present unique challenges for EMS providers, including complex medical devices, weakened immune systems, and complications from conditions such as heart failure, COPD, and neurological disorders. With nearly half of all adults in the U.S. having at least one chronic illness, EMS responses involving these patients are becoming increasingly common. This interactive online course will teach you how to identify and manage various medical devices used in home health care settings, recognize device complications and chronic care emergencies, and assess patients with tracheostomies, ventilators, LVADs, and other life-sustaining equipment. Additionally, you will learn proper patient assessment techniques, transport considerations for chronic care patients, and how to provide appropriate support in hospice care situations while following advanced directives such as DNR orders.