Education and Training
New National Findings on Pediatric Readiness in EMS
Results from the inaugural National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project (PPRP) Assessment—published this month in Annals of Emergency Medicine—provide the first nationwide picture of how prepared EMS and fire-rescue agencies are to care for children. Approximately 7,000 agencies participated, establishing a critical baseline to guide improvement efforts and future research.
The findings highlight both progress and opportunities, particularly the important role of pediatric emergency care coordinators (PECCs), which are the leading driver of high Pediatric Readiness across diverse EMS settings. The project is an effort of the federal Emergency Medical Services for Children Program in coordination with Montana and numerous others representing EMS, fire, and emergency care. Learn more about the results and free tools to help your agency improve its Pediatric Readiness at pediatricreadiness.org.
Time Sensitive Illness & Injury Skills Training
The Time-Sensitive Illness and Injury Trainings will be held at three locations across Montana. Most of the day will focus on hands-on patient care scenarios. The target audience includes Emergency Care Providers at all levels (EMR, EMT, AEMT, Paramedic). The training will cover critical topics such as heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests, severe trauma, and traumatic brain injuries. Additionally, there will be a pediatric component, along with opportunities to enhance documentation skills. Sponsoring this training is MT EMSTS. It’s an ideal opportunity for Service Managers, Training Officers, and all ECPs who wish to improve outcomes for STEMI, stroke, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, trauma, and isolated traumatic brain injuries.
The 2026 locations are:
- Thursday, April 2 – Fort Benton, MT
- Thursday – April 9 – Billings, MT
- Thursday – April 23 – Frenchtown, MT
All classes are from 8:30 am to 5 pm, lunch is included
Space is limited to 35 participants per site! Cost is $35. Mileage is reimbursed for those traveling more than 50 miles.
Registration Link: https://www.umt.edu/injury-qi-project/
Questions? Contact Janet Trethewey
|
Montana DPHHS Injury Prevention-CPS Tech Mini- Grants
The MT DPHHS Injury Prevention Program is offering a reimbursement-based mini-grant opportunity to support the training and certification of Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) in selected Montana counties. Funding for this initiative comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is intended to increase local capacity to provide child passenger safety education, seat check services, and car seat distribution.
This opportunity is available only to residents of the following underserved counties:
Beaverhead, Big Horn, Carter, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Garfield, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Rosebud, Sanders, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux.
Award amount
This reimbursement grant supports expenses directly related to CPST certification training, including:
Deadlines
- Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until program funds are exhausted.
- The grant period runs now through July 31, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified upon approval and must register for a CPST course within 2 weeks of receiving their award notice.
For more information, please get in touch with Rachel.fox@mt.gov or (406) 444-4126.
Click here for the CPST FY25-Mini Grant application and here for the CPST FY25 Mini-Grant Cover Letter.
|
Upcoming Meetings & Conferences
2026 MHA Health Summit
Butte, MT Copper King Convention Center
April 8-10, 2026
April 9, 2:30 PM-3:30-MT Pediatric Readiness: What’s Different About Pediatric Patients and How Do We Prepare?
Discussion of differences in the pediatric population, with a focus on assessment, anatomical, and psychosocial considerations. Review of developmental milestones. Red flags in assessment findings. Discussion surrounding the role of the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator.
Presenter: Bryana Reiter, TSN Coordinator, PI Coordinator, Intermountain Health - St. Vincent Regional Hospital
Continuing Education: CPHQ
Register Here
The 2026 Time Sensitive Care Summit aims to unite EMS providers and personnel from hospital Emergency Departments and Specialty Care to facilitate learning and discussion regarding Time Sensitive Illness and Injury care in Montana. Topics include child abuse recognition and management, trends in pediatric violence and self harm in Montana, cardiogenic shock, sepsis, and post-arrest ROSC. Sponsorships are available!
Agenda: Available on the conference website.
Target Audience: Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, EMS Providers, Pharmacists, Students, Therapists, Stroke/STEMI Coordinators, and other Health Care Professionals.
Date: May 1, 2026
Time: 8:00 am-5:30 pm
Location: DoubleTree by Hilton 27 North 27th Street, Billings, MT
Visit the conference website to register! Contact Ginger Clausen at ginger.claussen@umontana.edu if you have any questions.
In the News
Resources
|
