As of November 1, 2008, Pennsylvania certified EMT’s are able to administer CPAP to patients provided the following requirements are met:

 

Each ambulance agency, ALS and or BLS must meet the following requirements:

 

*Identification of their medical director willing to serve in an oversight capacity in regards to CPAP.

 

*The ability to comply with Statewide BLS Protocols.

*Maintain CPAP masks/devices adequate to treat at least one patient with CPAP and keep all CPAP devices and supplies in service.

 

*Carry a CPAP device that has a manometer (or other means to provide specific CPAP pressure) and meets any other specifications required by the Department of Health.

 

*Be approved to carry a pulse oximeter and meet all training and licensure requirements.

*The service medical director must oversee the CPAP training, use of CPAP, and quality improvement audits.

 

*Must submit the regional/state BLS CPAP data form to EMSI on every BLS crew (no ALS on board) CPAP use including a copy of the patient report.

 

EMS Provider Requirements:

 

*The CPAP for BLS skill may only be used when an EMT is working with an ambulance agency that complies with the Department of Health requirements for carrying CPAP.

*Only an EMT that has completed the CPAP for BLS training module may use the CPAP for BLS skill (course # 004000).  This course number must appear on the EMT’s Pennsylvania EMSRS coned record.

*An EMT must be authorized to perform the CPAP for BLS skill by the ambulance service medical director.
 
EMT’s working with ALS providers must be trained and complete the CPAP for BLS course in order to assist and use CPAP on an ALS ambulance.  Internal QI by the medical director is needed to make sure that an ALS/BLS ambulance crew is properly trained.  There is no need to complete the regional BLS CPAP data form in this case.

BLS for CPAP Training:

Personnel approved by the EMS agencies medical director or the medical director may teach CPAP for BLS (course #00400) to BLS providers or personnel that have attended and completed the state Instructor Trainer course.  All CPAP for BLS courses must use at a minimum, the training materials provided by the state and EMSI.  Pre-hospital personnel working with the EMS agency medical director would be the most appropriate group of instructors to teach CPAP for BLS.  Here is the list of approved instructors that attended the BLS CPAP Instructor Trainer program.

EMSI reserves the right to approve or deny the CPAP for BLS course requests submitted to our office through approved state continuing education sponsors.  The course submission must adhere to all rules and regulations as stated in Title 28 section 1003 along with additional requirements needed by the EMSI Education Department.

EMSI Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for BLS QA

The purpose is to monitor compliance with the BLS protocol and overall performance of CPAP by Basic Life Support units.  Every patient care report of a patient who is treated with BLS CPAP must be reviewed by EMSI through the Total Quality Management Committee (TQM).  Findings will be reported to the agency in which the administration of CPAP was initiated.

 

APPLICABLE TO:
QI will be done on any patient who received the treatment of CPAP by BLS.

PROCEDURE          
1. BLS agency must

A. Submit a copy of the Patient Care Report
B. EMSI BLS CPAP Data Form

All documentation must be submitted to EMSI within 72 hours of the utilization of BLS CPAP.  The BLS CPAP data form is an interactive PDF form. Upon completion of the form, press “submit by email” button to email form to jhusar@emsi.org.  Documentation can be forwarded to EMSI via fax at 412-787-2340, or mailed to: EMSI, 1002 Church Hill Road, Pittsburgh, PA. 15205.

Upon receipt of the documentation, the EMSI and the TQM Committee will ensure that:

A. A copy of the Patient Report and CPAP data sheet is obtained and completed

B. The patient meets the criteria for administration of BLS CPAP

C. BLS CPAP was administered appropriately based of documentation of BLS

D. Review the patient condition based of the documentation of BLS upon arrival of the receiving facility.

 

2. Upon completion of the above, EMSI will provide the Basic Life Support Unit with feedback on the QA process.

3. All BLS crew CPAP uses will be forwarded to the Bureau of EMS to be included in a statewide evaluation of BLS CPAP.