Scholarly Activity
One of the major strengths of the Seattle and King County EMS system is its commitment to scholarly activity.
Organizations have long traditions of carefully measuring and modifying each aspect of the system. Many of these modifications turn out to be insignificant. Occasionally, one of the changes appears to make a positive impact on medical care.
Some of these discoveries, such as 9-1-1 call-taker instruction in Hands-only CPR over the telephone and the impact of prehospital endotracheal intubation on survival from brain injury, have been published in reputable medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, Lancet, Circulation, Resuscitation, and Prehospital Emergency Care.
We feel that one year is likely an insufficient amount of time to develop, implement, and analyze an intervention in the prehospital environment. A second year increases the complexity of the projects available to the fellow.
Formal Educational Opportunities
Fellows who are interested can spend a second year accessing the outstanding School of Public Health at the University of Washington. A variety of Master's degree programs are available, depending on the needs and interests of the fellow.
- In addition, during the second year, fellows will continue to be involved in the operations of the Seattle Fire Department, King County EMS, and Airlift Northwest.
- The second year of EMS fellowship training also gives the fellow the opportunity to complete EMS research and establish the publication track record essential to a successful academic EMS career.
- The University of Washington holds a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Institutes of Health.
- Fellows have access to the biostatistical, epidemiological, and research methods training provided by the University of Washington’s Institute of Translational Health Sciences.
- The Seattle Fire Department’s cardiac arrest registry (the Cobb file) transitioned in 2013 to the RedCap software systems provided by the UW ITHS.
Cardiac Arrest Quality Improvement and Research
The Seattle Fire Department cardiac arrest registry maintains extensive records on all resuscitation attempts from the first case in March 1970 to the present, and this resource is available to the fellow.
- Seattle Medic One has Ph.D. biostatistical support and data management services.
- Seattle Medic One has a prospectively collected registry detailing attempts at advanced airway management with more than 3,600 patient encounters.
- Dr. Leonard Cobb, the Emeritus Medical Director for Seattle Medic One, occasionally hosts a research meeting.
Similarly, the King County Center for the Evaluation of EMS (CEEMS) program has maintained a separate cardiac arrest registry from April 1976 to the present.
- King County also maintains an airway registry with extensive records on more than 9,000 patients with endotracheal intubations.
- This registry is a rich source for research publications.
- King County CEEMS also has dedicated statistical support and data management services.
- In addition, the University of Washington School of Medicine faculty affiliated with King County CEEMS sponsor medical students each summer to work on specific EMS research projects.
- The fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to these ongoing activities.
- Both Seattle Fire Department and King County EMS participate in the SIREN research programs.
- These EMS organizations are also engaged in other research studies.
Clinical Exposure
The second-year fellow will work 6 shifts per month as an attending emergency physician in the Emergency Department at Harborview Medical Center.
This role as an academic attending working with emergency medicine residents, off-service residents, and medical students, as well as other learners including paramedic students and military trainees prepares the fellow to enter the world of academics as a teaching provider.
- Second-year fellows will be appointed as “Acting Instructor” at the UW School of Medicine.
- Fellows will have benefits commensurate with a faculty appointment at the University of Washington. This includes a tuition exemption.