GEMS: Geriatric Education for Emergency Medical Services Online Courseselected product title

Did you know that 40 percent of all emergency medical services (EMS) calls in the United States are for geriatric patients experiencing acute medical disorders, trauma, or exacerbations of chronic disease? As the population continues to age, future EMS calls for geriatric patients will sharply increase. For EMS practitioners who are unable to attend an in-person course, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians' GEMS: Geriatric Education for Emergency Medical Services, Third Edition Online Course is an engaging and effective way to prepare for, respond to, assess, and care for this fast-growing patient population.

A Comprehensive Approach to Geriatric Care

The GEMS program teaches EMS practitioners to conduct a comprehensive assessment of geriatric patients. Because the aging process affects all body systems, NAEMT's course instructs practitioners on the changes that occur as people age and describes how those changes can impact patient presentation.

Completing a full assessment that integrates and responds to differences in geriatric pathophysiology is critical to recognizing and responding quickly and effectively to the critically ill or injured older adult. Additionally, incorporating the GEMS Diamond (Geriatric, Environmental, Medical, and Social assessments) can help practitioners formulate a holistic diagnostic and treatment approach.

This innovative GEMS online course addresses the following topics:

• Changes with age and assessment 
• Polypharmacy and toxicity
• Respiratory emergencies
• Cardiovascular emergencies
• Trauma
• Other medical disorders
• Neurological emergencies
• Elder maltreatment and psychosocial emergencies
• End-of-life and palliative care
• Disaster triage and transporting older patients
• Left ventricular assist devices
• Skin disorders
• Urinary catheter and colostomy bag care

Simulations to Prepare Practitioners for Common Emergencies in Geriatric Care

New and expanded patient simulations are interactive and engaging, featuring multiple voices to represent different patients. These modules address topics to help EMS professionals fill knowledge gaps, upskill, and build confidence in treating complex cases. Simulations address polypharmacy and toxicity, acute coronary syndrome, left femur fracture, stroke, respiratory failure on hospice, elder maltreatment, acute heart failure and acute pulmonary embolism, acetaminophen toxicity, cardiac arrest, and hypoglycemia.

Learners who successfully complete this GEMS online course will receive a certificate, a card recognizing them as a GEMS provider for 4 years, and 8 hours of CAPCE credit, all issued through NAEMT.

Note: NAEMT's GEMS Course Manual, Third Edition is recommended as an additional learning resource to accompany this online course.