Can You Hear the Banjos? Lessons Learned in Rural EMS

Your radios aren't working, the closest hospital is forty minutes away, and there are no units available to back you up...what seems like a nightmare scenario to some may be standard operating procedure for others. Many collegiate EMS agencies operate in urban environments with an abundance of resources, but what happens when that is stripped away? We will discuss some of the common problems and unique challenges that rural EMS agencies face, as well as potential solutions. Presented in a case-study based format, this lecture will serve as an opportunity to listen to (and share your own) “war stories”, as well as open your mind to what EMS is like once you leave the concrete jungle.