Investigation of the Present Situation and the Further Development of the Curriculum Framework for Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Education in Korea

PURPOSE: We investigated current dispatcher education requirements and proposed how to further improve and develop the EMD education curriculum in Korea. METHODS: The contents of EMD training programs from the US were used in the development of the questionnaire used to investigate the status of EMD education in Korea. The Delphi method was used to obtain expert consensus on which specific training objectives to include, how many hours would be required, who was qualified to receive the training, and how to confirm their successful qualification. RESULTS: A consensus of the experts was made for core educational objectives, the appropriate number of education hours, qualifications for trainers, passing marks for the exams, and the format of re-education as follows: The didactic education time requirement was 18 hours and the experiential education time requirement was 10 hours. The target qualification requirement for trainees was EMT level 1, and they were required to have an experience of firstaid as a prerequisite. The minimum annual re-education time was 8 hours (61.1%). The passing mark for examinations was 70.0 (median, IQR: 65.0 - 70.0) for the didactic test and 70.0 (median, Interguatile range [IQR]: 60.0 - 80.0) for the experiential test. The format of the required re-education included both comprehensive and individual forms. CONCLUSION: We propose the core contents of EMD education should be based on the results of the expert consensus.

Investigation of the Present Situation and the Further Development of the Curriculum Framework for Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) Education in Korea

PURPOSE: We investigated current dispatcher education requirements and proposed how to further improve and develop the EMD education curriculum in Korea. METHODS: The contents of EMD training programs from the US were used in the development of the questionnaire used to investigate the status of EMD education in Korea. The Delphi method was used to obtain expert consensus on which specific training objectives to include, how many hours would be required, who was qualified to receive the training, and how to confirm their successful qualification. RESULTS: A consensus of the experts was made for core educational objectives, the appropriate number of education hours, qualifications for trainers, passing marks for the exams, and the format of re-education as follows: The didactic education time requirement was 18 hours and the experiential education time requirement was 10 hours. The target qualification requirement for trainees was EMT level 1, and they were required to have an experience of firstaid as a prerequisite. The minimum annual re-education time was 8 hours (61.1%). The passing mark for examinations was 70.0 (median, IQR: 65.0 - 70.0) for the didactic test and 70.0 (median, Interguatile range [IQR]: 60.0 - 80.0) for the experiential test. The format of the required re-education included both comprehensive and individual forms. CONCLUSION: We propose the core contents of EMD education should be based on the results of the expert consensus.

A Case Report of Snake bites During Pregnancy

Snake bite during pregnancy is rare condition, and when it occurs there are two patients, mother and fetus. Timing is particularly important for pregnant women bitten by a snake. The earlier in the pregnancy the bite occurs, the more hazard to the fetus there is, and there are case reports of snake-bite-induced abortion and malformation of the fetus. The usefulness of antivenin during pregnancy is debatable. We report a case of snake bite during thirdtrimester pregnancy in a patient with general symptoms of envenomation and progressing edema in the bitten leg who was successfully treated with an emergency Caesarian section following the administration of antivenin.