A partnership between several agencies across Henderson County is bolstering trauma response from paramedics.
Intubation is a high-risk, low-frequency intervention that requires paramedics to insert an airway to help patients who can't breathe for themselves. And it's only done a handful of times a year in the field, according to a Henderson County paramedic.
Because of a collaboration with UNC Health Pardee and Blue Ridge Community College, paramedics are now able to train and get feedback from anesthesiologists in the Pardee operating room.
"My history in trauma, I know that paramedics don’t often get the opportunity to intubate patients, and this was just a very natural thing that we felt like at Pardee we should be doing to help them so that they're able to get the number of intubations that they need to keep their certifications,” UNC Health Pardee Trauma Program Manager Angela Morrow said.
Paramedic James Kanupp said working on a live patient versus a mannequin also makes a difference because airways differ from person to person.
STOYR & PHOTO COURTESY OF ABC 13 WLOSHenderson County partnership elevates paramedic trauma response with hands-on training (wlos.com)
