Course Description
NAEMT’s Geriatric Education for EMS course prepares prehospital practitioners to respond to, assess, and care for this fast-growing patient population. This third edition of the course strengthens and enhances practitioners’ ability to provide the best care for older adults in every community.
The GEMS course helps EMS practitioners learn to conduct a comprehensive assessment of geriatric patients. Because the aging process affects all body systems, NAEMT’s course provides an overview of changes that occur as people age and describes how those changes can impact patient presentation. Incorporation of the GEMS Diamond (Geriatric, Environmental, Medical, and Social assessments) can help practitioners formulate a holistic diagnostic and treatment approach.
The third edition of GEMS addresses the following topics:
* Changes with age and assessment of the older patient
* Polypharmacy and Toxicity in Older Patients
* Respiratory Emergencies
* Cardiovascular Emergencies
* Trauma
* Other Medical Disorders
* Neurologic Emergencies
* Elder Maltreatment and Psychosocial Emergencies
* End-of-Life and Palliative Care
* Disaster Triage and Transporting Older Patients
* Left Ventricular Assist Devices
* Skin Disorders
* Ventilators
* Urinary Catheter and Colostomy Bag Care
* Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators
Provider Cert validity
4 years
Who Should Attend
The Geriatric Education for EMS Course is designed for individuals involved in providing emergency medical care to the elderly population. This typically includes emergency medical (EMTs), paramedics, and other emergency responders who may encounter and provide care for geriatric patients in the field.
The course is particularly beneficial for those seeking to improve their understanding of the unique needs and considerations when treating older adults. Geriatric patients often present with complex medical conditions, which require specific assessment and treatment approaches that differ from those used for younger patients. Therefore, the course is tailored to equip EMS
professionals with the necessary knowledge and skills to provide effective and appreciate care for this demographic.
Course Duration
1 Day
9am-6pm
(excludes time for remediation and reassessments)
