The Allegheny Health Network's EMS fellowship is an immersive, one year longitudinal experience in emergency medical services. EMS Fellows will serve as an Assistant Medical Director for an affiliated agency and have the opportunity to explore various areas of subspecialty practice. The Fellowship's diverse clinical affiliations and didactic structure prepares physicians to sit for the subspecialty board examination.
The first two months are dedicated to orientation and familiarization with the regional EMS system. Upon completion, the EMS fellow will be authorized to conduct field response and paired with a partnering EMS agency. The didactic curriculum is spread out over 9 months, and the sample "block" rotation includes an EMS research month and an EMS elective.
Subspecialty focus areas:
1. Critical Care Transport: AHN adopts a regionalized approach to the delivery of specialized and definitive care. Referral resources within the AHN system include: a level III neonatal ICU, two trauma centers, a comprehensive stroke center, and a burn center. AHN also transports pediatric patients to the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Critical Care Transport crews must maintain an exceedingly high level of readiness and proficiency in order to meet the needs of the region's sickest patients. EMS Fellows are afforded the opportunity to ride along with critical care crews and provide necessary medical oversight.
2. Air Medical Transport: The LifeFlight program is one of the region's most established and successful critical care transport resources. The LifeFlight program operates aircraft out of five bases and conducts ground transports when necessary. The LifeFlight program provides both scene and interfacility responses. EMS Fellows who choose this area of practice will attend the Air Medical Physician Association's Medical Director course and participate in the clinical oversight of air medical transport operations. The LifeFlight program incorporates a vigorous QA/QI program and integrates evidence based practices into its continuously evolving clinical protocols.
3. EMS Education: The EMS Fellowship is affiliated with an established Emergency Medicine Residency. The EMS Fellow can focus on providing EMS education to affiliated services and graduate medical education programs. Ample opportunities exist for the EMS Fellow to hone their presentation skills through participation in local and regional EMS conferences including the Scientific Assembly of the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians and the annual state EMS conference in Seven Springs. AHN hosts practical skills reviews and cadaver labs for local EMS agencies.
4. Community Paramedicine: AHN has an active Community Paramedic Program. The CP program is comprised of a medical director and program manager. It provides outreach and clinical services to at risk populations. Community Paramedic programs are associated with corresponding reductions in the rates of readmission and represent a complimentary career path for paramedics seeking to expand their clinical and assessment skills.
5. Tactical EMS Medicine: AHN, through its affiliation with Ross/WestView EMS, provides support to the North Hills Special Response Team. The EMS fellow will have the opportunity to attend scheduled trainings, and provide medical oversight to team deployments. Foundational courses in tactical EMS medicine, such as the Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course, will be offered to interested EMS fellows.
