EMS Resident Rotation

Information

 

Pitt County EMS 

The EMS Division of the Department of Emergency Medicine provides medical direction to multiple EMS systems including Pitt County EMS and to ECU Health EastCare. Residents will have the opportunity to ride along with advanced life support (ALS) transport units from Pitt County EMS, to include Greenville Fire Rescue (GFR).

Pitt County EMS is a third-service system that operates 12 ALS ambulances around the county and one 911 Dispatch Center that handles all emergency calls in the county while providing pre-arrival medical instruction. GFR is a fire-based agency that operates 7 stations and 9 ambulances at peak times. They provide both EMS and fire suppression services to the city of Greenville, NC. ALS staffed fire suppression apparatus supplement EMS responses during high acuity incidents or high-volume times.

ECU Health EastCare provides critical care air and ground transportation service for all eastern North Carolina. EastCare operates multiple ground units, dedicated children’s transport unit and five (5) helicopters which are based in Bertie, Craven, Nash, Onslow and Wayne counties.

Residents may complete a dedicated EMS block to gain additional experience with medical operations. Opportunities exist to participate in all aspects of pre-hospital medicine including quality assurance/improvement, education, emergency medical dispatch, and mass gathering such as ECU Football Games and air shows covered by our State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT).

 

  

Ride A Long Procedure

First year (PGY-1) residents will be assigned to ride alongs during their EMS block. You will need to contact Ms. Lisa Pennypacker (pennypackerl@ecu.edu) 2-3 weeks before their block starts to arrange the following:

    • Two (2) ambulance shifts with Greenville Fire and Rescue (GFR).
      • Waiver form – (must be notarized and turn in on first GFR shift)
    • Two (2) ambulance shifts with Pitt County EMS
    • Two (2) MD1 (Physician Response Vehicle) ride-along
    • One (1) EMS Journal Club every first Wednesday of the Month. (except July & June)

Second and Third year residents (PGY-2/PGY-3). Contact Hunter Venters (hunter.venters@ecuhealth.org ) at EastCare to schedule your ride along.

    • One (1) shift each year with EastCare – 12 hrs shifts

The EMS officer on duty has the authority to reassign or relocate students to an available unit. Please notify the EMS Division or the appropriate EMS agency via email or phone if  changes are necessary to the ride along schedule.

If you are called in to cover the ED, become ill or have an emergency that precludes you from arriving at the assigned shift, notify the Division of EMS office immediately.

 

Documents:
  • GFR waiver form (must be notarized and turn in on first GFR shift)
Dress Code

The dress code is both to convey professionalism but at the same time protect you from the hazards of the prehospital environment. Clothes should protect you from the elements as well as from the environment. You should be mindful that the prehospital environment is not as clean as the hospital and that you are at higher risk of exposure to patient’s bodily fluids. The clothes you pick should take that into account. Aside from BSOM dress code and ECU Health restrictions, the EMS agencies themselves have dress codes for riders.

  • Only closed-toe shoes, no “crocks”, flip-flops, sandals, or heels
  • Scrubs are acceptable EMS attire for EM residents
  • Clothing should be neat, clean, properly fitted
  • No denim of any type or color may be worn (pants, shirts, jackets, etc.)
  • Long Pants – No yoga pants, skirts, leggings, or shorts permitted
  • No white coats, no ties or T-shirts
  • The shirt/blouse must have a collar
  • ID badge must be worn at all time
General Rules
  • Be on time to shift and all other assignedEMS activities
  • Always be polite and treat everyone with respect
  • Always be safe, be mindful of your surroundings
  • Don’t wonder off, make sure the crew always knows where you are
  • Look before you leap, be careful getting off the vehicle/aircraft
  • Follow all crew instructions
  • Log in your ride alongs and EMS activities on the EMS Residency requirements online form: https://forms.gle/ABMF8WhtwEgadbm59
Food

EMS units are frequently engaged in response-oriented tasks and food is often purchased “to-go.” Residents are encouraged to bring cash to cover food associated expenses. Residents should plan on bringing food to the rotation if specific dietary restrictions exist.

Evaluation

Please obtain an evaluation from at least one of the EMS clinicians you interact with during your ride along. They can fill the evaluation following this link or with the QR code https://forms.gle/8W72HHm79WW79qgu8

 

Questions?

Contact the ECU EMS Division

Roberto Portela – Chief, ECU EMS Division

portelar@ecu.edu

Lisa Pennypacker – EMS Fellowship Program Coordinator

pennypackerl@ecu.edu

EMS Stations Locations:

The link below will take you to a Google map with the location of all EMS stations in Pitt County

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1lWFA7CYxZSBE2jIU9OrZzLFk16i5p0Mr&usp=sharing