Education

The Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center has a long history of developing high quality educational programs that have set regional, national and international standards.

Their impact of these programs is felt across the healthcare spectrum with participants including:

• Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel
• Nurses
• Pharmacists
• Physicians
• Toxicologists
• Others who handle hazmat incidents

AHLS

Advanced HAZMAT Life Support (AHLS) is a program of continuing education courses that train medical professionals to manage patients exposed to hazardous materials.

Participants learn to rapidly assess hazmat patients and recognize toxic syndromes. Courses were created in collaboration between the AEMRC and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology (AACT) and are offered throughout the nation and around the world.

» Visit AHLS site

CREST

The University of Arizona, the University of New Mexico (UNM), and New Mexico State University (NMSU) have created the Critical Response and Emergency Systems Training (CREST) program through a cooperative agreement with Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

CREST offers a variety of courses on emergency preparedness focusing on all-hazards training ranging from basic, introductory courses to advanced courses and hands-on drills. The courses are presented by qualified healthcare professionals and are available in face-to-face, CD and online formats.

The following courses on preparedness are offered through CREST:

• Answering the Call (FREE): 1-4 hour introductory awareness-level domestic preparedness course focusing on emergency response and preparedness needs in Arizona.
• National Disaster Life Support® (NDLS): 1-3 day basic and advanced training courses to recognize and manage threats of all hazards.
• Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS): 2-3 day (Provider/Instructor) and 4- 5 hour Chemical Burn/Toxic Terrorism courses to develop skills to rapidly assess and manage patients with chemical exposures.
• Speakers Bureau (FREE): 1 hour of internationally recognized experts in Emergency Medicine available to lecture at your region or organization.
• Online Courses (FREE): Influenza & hand hygiene, Level C Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) & decontamination and Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS).
  • NEW! The Most Difficult Healthcare Decisions: Resource Allocation in Crisis (FREE course; 1.5 hours FREE CME/CEU credits): This online course covers an important and timely topic--healthcare allocation in disasters. The course features a fascinating video by Ken Iserson, MD, and includes sections on 'Resource Allocation Ethics,' 'How to Ration Scarce Resources,' and 'Who Allocates Scarce Resources.' Click Here for more information and to register.

Participants in CREST courses have included professionals from: nursing, medicine, EMS, mental health, pediatrics, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, allied health, public health, emergency management, law enforcement, and health administration.

» Visit the CREST site