Disability Education for the Emergency Medical Technician

Presenter

Amanda Karmelowicz Lee Na Yung Karmelowicz

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Ashley Woodman, Department of Psychology, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 5, 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A70, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 4 (A61-A80) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are required to complete multiple trainings regarding patient care to complete recertification. Trainings regarding patients with disabilities are quite rare, despite EMTs treating disabled patients every day. Previous research indicates that disabled patients have received higher quality of care from healthcare providers that are educated on disability; however, this research on the impact of disability education primarily focuses on care within hospitals, rather than emergency settings. The present study seeks to investigate and address the lack of disability education for EMTs by recruiting EMTs on a college campus in Massachusetts. EMTs will participate in a training focusing on assessing and treating patients with disabilities, specifically focusing on patient-provider communication. Participants will complete a pre- and post-training survey rating their confidence regarding the treatment of patients with disabilities. After the training is completed, a focus group will be held to discuss personal experiences as a provider working with disabled patients and give feedback on the training. This present study will likely find that participants will have a greater understanding of assessing and treating patients with disabilities after they have completed the training. We hope these findings will lead to more trainings on patients with disabilities within the EMS curriculum, overall improving the quality of patient care disabled patients receive.

Keywords

emergency medical technician, disability, patient care, education

Research Area

Psychology and Behavioral Sciences

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