Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) use is now available to all EMT-Basic
and EMT-Intermediate Technician providers in Wisconsin.
This makes CPAP an optional skill in Wisconsin at all EMT levels.
The
use of CPAP by Wisconsin EMTs for the treatment of respiratory distress
resulting from congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary edema, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and pneumonia has been
shown to be both as safe and effective.
CPAP has been shown to rapidly improve vital signs, gas exchange,
reduce the work of breathing, decrease the sense of dyspnea, and
decrease the need for endotracheal intubations in patients who suffer
from shortness of breath from asthma, COPD, pulmonary edema, CHF and
pneumonia.
An operational plan amendment, course outline, PowerPoint
instructional presentation and sample protocol have been developed for
use in developing your services’ CPAP program.
Written approval of an amended operational plan is required prior
to implementation of your CPAP program.
Wisconsin Pre-hospital CPAP Use/Approval
Requirements
1.
The ambulance service provider
must determine which CPAP
device to purchase and use (PDF, 24 kb).
2.
The ambulance service provider
and services’ medical director must identify those qualified
individuals who will teach the curriculum and test the students on CPAP.
3.
The ambulance service provider
must submit an amendment
to their service’s operational plan to use CPAP to the Division of
Public Health, Bureau of Local Health Support and EMS (BLHSEMS).
Written approval of the amendment is required.
4. The ambulance service provider
must agree to provide the approved
educational component. (The
service will maintain all training records.) This educational component
will consist of:
-
Didactic Session
-
Skill competency check-off
signed by the medical director
-
Passing grade on the supplied
multiple choice test
5.
CPAP use should be included in
the service’s CQI program. Use
of the CPAP Data Form and
completion of the outcome information for every CPAP patient (by the
service Medical Director) will be a great tool.
CPAP
Program Links:
Instructional
Materials Links:
Contact
your appropriate program coordinator at the Bureau Local
Health Support and EMS for further information.
PDF: The free Adobe Acrobat Reader software is needed to view
or print portable document format (PDF) files. Learn
more.
Last Revised: June 23, 2008 |
