posted May 24, 2024

AFTON, WY, May 24, 2024 – Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider, announced today that Star Valley EMS has selected Air Methods Ascend’s in-person and online programs to provide critical care readiness clinical education for its first responders.

Providing 24/7 emergency services, including critical care transport, Star Valley EMS—a hospital-based EMS system—serves Wyoming’s Star Valley, which is nestled along the Wyoming-Idaho border about 70 miles south of Jackson and 105 miles east of Idaho Falls. Star Valley EMS provides interfacility transport services to western Wyoming and eastern Idaho critical access hospitals including their own hospital, Star Valley Health, which was named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital by the Chartis Center for Rural Health, the only such recognized hospital in Wyoming.

“Given Wyoming’s unique EMS challenges, this training will provide our first responders with the skills and confidence needed to provide the best possible care to our patients, regardless of the weather or terrain,” said Star Valley Health Director of EMS Bud Clark. “Having access to Ascend’s state-of-the-art facilities, amazing educators and cutting-edge educational technology is invaluable to achieving the level of care that we strive to provide.”

Through Ascend, Star Valley EMS will receive a tailor-made in-person ventilation course, taught by the same world-class instructors that train Air Methods clinicians, who boast a 94% first-time intubation success rate. The training will also provide access to Ascend’s cadaver lab, which is fully interactive and allows clinicians the opportunity to practice what they learn in a safe and controlled environment.

Star Valley EMS will also receive access to Ascend’s online Critical Care Review and EMS Review programs, which include up-to-date videos that average 15 minutes or less to allow clinicians to learn at their own pace and maintain focus on the topic. The EMS Review courses cover various topics in airway management, cardiovascular, trauma, operations and other medical emergency topics. The Critical Care Review course takes that to the next level, covering high-risk transport and going into more depth on various neurological, trauma, obstetric and neonatal, and pediatric topics.

Ascend’s in-person and online education programs provide pre-hospital and critical care clinicians with access to world-class educators, state-of-the-art tools, and cutting-edge technologies to help build their knowledge, enabling them to operate at the top of their licensure and fulfill continuing education requirements. Education programs include advanced manikin-based simulation and virtual reality training that mirror real-world patient care scenarios, building life-saving skills and confidence. Courses meet certification requirements for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC).

“We are excited to partner with Star Valley EMS to provide ventilation management training, as well as on-going Critical Care and EMS Review,” said Dr. Stephanie Queen, Air Methods Senior Vice President of Clinical Services. “Our training will provide them with the latest clinical techniques and practices to provide the best possible care for their patients.”

Learn more about the Ascend education program here.