First Day of Main Conference

To register and purchase tickets, please use:  Get Evenbrite Tickets

Paul LeSage, EMT-P, Flight Medic, BA, AS, MIS

Are You Curious or Furious? – Tips for Team Leaders in Dynamic Situations

Whether you lead an organization, a small on-scene crew, or quality improvement group, team dynamics are key to success. But first, you need to understand your own strengths, weaknesses, and biases.

 

Dre Cantwell-Frank, NRP

Turning Crisis Into Opportunity: The Evolving Role of EMS in Addiction Care 

Despite the high volume of opioid use disorder (OUD) patients encountered by emergency services, traditional healthcare models continue to leave a massive gap in care. Dre Cantwell-Franka presentation addresses how EMS can bridge this divide, empowering paramedics and EMTs to deliver evidence-based care that is rapidly becoming the national standard, anchoring their vital role within the continuum of care.

Jeff Mathia AS, NRP, FPC

Sick/Not Sick

Spend an hour with Jeff learning how to apply the skills that you worked so hard to obtain and earning respect as a BLS provider. You will learn or refresh on how to “get in there” and obtaining good sets of vital signs, recognizing a sick or not sick patient, documenting, etc.… 

Having experience in both high and low volume systems, paid or volunteer, your skill set is vital to successful outcomes of a patient no matter which system you are in. Knowing how to recognize what needs and should be done is critical to provide the best care for your patient.

This is not just a review quoted from a book but real-world experience working with many EMS partners, working more than just partner, but a team member providing OUR best patient care.

 

Paul LeSage, EMT-P, Flight Medic, BA, AS, MIS

Analysis of an Error – Was it Reckless?

Root Cause Analysis is an old-school method. In this session, Paul will present a difficult EMS case, and using newer High Reliability strategies, the audience will assist in analyzing the risk, and determining what system and human contributors might be addressed.

 

Dre Cantwell-Frank, NRP

Substance Use Disorder

While national overdose rates are dropping, rural and under-resourced communities continue to see numbers rise. EMS is uniquely positioned to close these gaps. We will explore the safety, efficacy, and practical implementation of prehospital buprenorphine initiation and clinical harm reduction protocols, like naloxone leave-behind programs. By equipping field clinicians with these straightforward tools, EMS agencies can alleviate patient suffering, close critical care gaps in underserved communities, and reduce provider burnout by transforming a cycle of frustration into an opportunity to deliver impactful, lifesaving care.

Petter Overton Harris

ISOTONIC FLUIDS..  WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS?

In this presentation Dr Overton -Harris will discuss the ways different fluids challenge or enhance our patient care.  Are you using Normal Saline but have wondered about switching to Lactated Ringers?   And what about those other fluids you learned about in intermediate and paramedic class.. ? 

 

Erin Horrax BSN, RN, CCRN

Initial Management of the Burn Patient

This focused didactic session, led by specialists from the Legacy Emanuel Burn Center, provides guidance on the initial management of burn patients in the prehospital setting. Designed for EMS providers and prehospital physicians, the session emphasizes practical, evidence-based approaches to early assessment, airway management, fluid resuscitation, and transport decision-making. Burn center perspectives will be integrated throughout to support optimal patient outcomes from first contact through definitive care.

 

Mackenzie Cook MD, FACS (He/Him)

Here’s how I screwed things up and how I fixed them or DON’T WORRY - WE’LL FIX IT!

Here is an inside look into what surgeons do to fix pre-hospital mistakes. in a humorous and very forgiving way.  It is better for patient care to provide lifesaving treatment even if a mistake is made.   Is your cricothyrotomy entrance too large.. don’t worry!  did your chest tube puncture something.. don’t worry!.   Dr; Cook will walk the provider though how they fix all the things we hesitate to do for fear of causing further injury.  Hear his perspective on critical procedures, pelvic binders, , chest Tubes and other treatments.. 

Dr. Cooks will share not only how to mess up but all the ways he’s screwed it up but also how he also fixes it… .. “Everything is fixable.. well almost”

 

Petter Overton Harris

Case Reviews and then some

As part of the team of doctors that provide EMS oversight to Clatsop, Tillamook and Lincoln Counties, along with his time in rural New Mexico Dr. Overton-Harris brings to the class a broad spectrum of case reviews.  The class will be challenged to discuss the best course of action and then to fine out what worked and ..   well what didn’t  

 

Mackenzie Cook MD, FACS (He/Him)

Management of all things TBI -Traumatic Brain Injury (Time is the only true medicine to repair TBI)    

TBI management for the pre-hospital provider is complex injury especially when you are doing critical care transport.   Hear some insight into the things to remember when transferring patients, between facilities or air transport.     Every day there are new processes for repairing the brain… its never one thing but a conglomeration of things with the core mission of not making it worse.   

Discuss the monitoring of cerebral profession, hear how 20 minutes supine and how it’s the nuances that are the watch outs for these trauma patients.    Time is the only thing that fixes the brain.

 

Erin Horrax BSN, RN, CCRN

Current Regional Trends in Burn Injuries

This session will examine emerging and ongoing burn injury trends across the Oregon Burn Center’s catchment area. Through patient case studies, participants will explore common injury mechanisms and discuss prevention strategies to reduce their occurrence.