Raven EMS Education Program Manual
RAV-446 Geriatric Education for EMS (GEMS) Course

The Geriatric Education for EMS course prepares prehospital practitioners to respond to, assess, and care for this fast-growing patient population (NAEMT, 2024).

Course Description

The GEMS course helps EMS practitioners learn to conduct a comprehensive assessment of geriatric patients. Because the aging process affects all body systems, NAEMT’s course provides an overview of changes that occur as people age and describes how those changes can impact patient presentation. Incorporation of the GEMS Diamond (Geriatric, Environmental, Medical, and Social assessments) can help practitioners formulate a holistic diagnostic and treatment approach. This third edition of the course strengthens and enhances practitioners’ ability to provide the best care for older adults in every community. This 8-hour classroom course is appropriate for EMTs, paramedics, emergency medical responders, nurses, physician assistants, and physicians. Students who successfully complete the course receive a certificate, a card recognizing them as a GEMS provider for 4 years, and 8 hours of CAPCE credit. GEMS is accredited by CAPCE and recognized by NREMT (Combined course library, 2024; NAEMT, 2024).

Prerequisites

Course Options

• Basic: 8-hour BLS-level course.
• Advanced: 8-hour ALS-level course to be delivered after the Basic course.

Course Topics

• Changes with age and assessment of the older patient
• Polypharmacy and Toxicity in Older Patients
• Respiratory Emergencies
• Cardiovascular Emergencies
• Trauma
• Other Medical Disorders
• Neurologic Emergencies
• Elder Maltreatment and Psychosocial Emergencies
• End-of-Life and Palliative Care
• Disaster Triage and Transporting Older Patients
• Left Ventricular Assist Devices
• Skin Disorders
• Ventilators
• Urinary Catheter and Colostomy Bag Care
• Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

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