Rural Nevada EMS Conference

Description

The average distance between hospitals in Nevada is approximately 100 miles, and major medical centers are four hours away for many rural Nevadans. While only 10% of Nevada's population is rural, this demographic makes up 31% of the state's traffic fatalities. These statistics show the need not only for emergency medical services in Nevada but also for EMS personnel who are well-trained and committed.

The Rural Nevada EMS Conference helps Nevada's EMS personnel better serve their rural communities. There have also been some attendees from California, Idaho, and Utah. With assistance from scholarships and a relatively low conference fee, EMTs receive quality education and instruction on best practices from a variety of EMS experts from across the country.

The conference also provides EMTs the opportunity to network with fellow rural EMTs from across the state. While participants appreciate receiving state-approved continuing education units (CEUs), some of the most valuable learning comes from the sharing of expertise among fellow EMS personnel. In addition, this networking promotes comradery for many individuals who often live in isolated communities.

Services offered

The 2024 conference will take place from September 18-21. A limited number of individual scholarships for the conference are available through the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine.

Participants can earn CEUs for attending the conference. 22.5 CEUs were offered in 2023; organizers hope to offer 24 CEUs in 2024.

Results

In 2023, 185 individuals attended the conference in-person.

After the conference, EMS personnel return to their homes not only with greater knowledge but with a renewed sense of commitment to their communities and their roles in the safety and health of Nevadans as well as visitors traveling its isolated highways.

Challenges

EMS workers often don't receive funding support from the counties they serve to attend the conference. Since the conference itself is self-funded from registration fees, vendor fees, and sponsorships, adequate funding is always a concern.

Participants who work weekends might not be able to attend the whole conference.

Replication

• Form an EMS Conference Committee from all factions of EMS
• Secure reliable and consistent funding sources

Contact Information

Alexis Kirby, Education Coordinator, Office of Statewide Initiatives
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Nevada Rural EMS Conference
775.327.5070
ruralems@med.unr.edu