PHEMCC

About the course

The aims of the course are quite clear. Provide accessible and up to date package of training that gives both doctors and paramedics the skills needed to operate safely and with competence in the prehospital environment.

We believe we are the only ‘one stop shop’ for external applicants to come and receive this full package of training (outside of local introductory programs). Training encompasses all components of safe and high quality pre-hospital care including; human factors / non-technical skills, clinical skills, technical (including surgical skills), aviation & retrieval medicine theory, water rescue training, aircrew smoke & fire training, aircrew ground school, flying time & navigation practice, aviation CRM and more… phew!

History

Although pre-hospital Emergency Medicine is one of the newer medical sub-specialties, (GMC sub-specialty and commencement of a formalised training program began in 2012) doctors and paramedics began working together to deliver enhanced care during the 1990s.

The role of doctors in pre-hospital care was initially unclear and not without controversy, but GNAAS recognised the improvements in care that the doctor paramedic model offered, and became one of the first providers outside of London to formalise this team model. The fact that teams were being transported in a helicopter to critically injured patients (rather than the patient being brought to them) meant there was an ongoing need to upskill new doctors and paramedics so they could deliver interventions and enhanced care effectively in this challenging environment.

GNAAS worked with London’s Air Ambulance to develop a course that provided clinicians with both the clinical and non-clinical skills that were required as HEMS (now called PHEM) clinicians. The course became known as the ‘HEMS Crew Course’ and was delivered annually in one form or other from around 2008.

2014 saw the beginning of a new direction for both the course and GNAAS as a training organisation. New directorship and the formation of partnerships with County Durham Darlington Fire Rescue Service and Northumbria University, brought a series of changes, placing the current course at the forefront of training in pre-hospital care internationally. The course was re-branded as the ‘Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine Crew Course (PHEMCC) in 2015.

“Complex course, run brilliantly. Hard work but massively rewarding, cementing together practitioners from multiple backgrounds into a well-drilled future HEMS team.” 

Course content

• pre-course reading will be sent out
• Faculty of senior PHEM / HEMS clinicians (consultants + senior air crew paramedics)
• Essential clinical & surgical skills
• Focused tutorials
• High fidelity moulage
• SWIFT Water rescue training
• Air crew smoke & fire training
• Media training
• Fire arms awareness
• Crew resource management

Is PHEMCC for me?

The course is aimed at both paramedics looking to expand their current skillset (including the ability to function as HEMS / PHEM crew) and also at doctors who are beginning their careers in pre-hospital care (recommended ST3/4+ in anaesthesia or emergency medicine).

We believe one of our unique selling points is that we are one of the only courses offering side by side training for these professions. It is quite clear that both specialities have their own strengths when it comes to managing a critically ill patient at the roadside. We deliberately emphasise this throughout the course and candidates soon find that they are learning as much from each other as they are from the faculty – double win!

Due to the high level of medical care required as part of the course, we recommend candidates have at least some experience of delivering pre-hospital anaesthesia (or to have completed the GNAAS pre-hospital anaesthesia course prior to attending PHEMCC).