LENOIR, NC (August 17, 2021) — Caldwell County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has been selected to join the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators Plus (PECC+) Program, an advanced pediatric training and education program developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in partnership with the NC Office of EMS and funded by the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center.
Twelve EMS agencies throughout the state of North Carolina were selected following an application and interview process for the highly selective program. The PECC+ Program representative for Caldwell County EMS is Tara Swanson, Paramedic and Lieutenant, who will serve as the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinator (PECC).
The PECC+ Program will provide specialized pediatric training, educational opportunities, and other resources to Caldwell County, including online educational courses for individual providers working in Caldwell County EMS. Regular program participation earns Caldwell County EMS a monthly stipend that will be used towards local pediatric care needs.
The PECC+ Program has partnered with ESO Solutions, North Carolina’s EMS data management system, to develop performance feedback tools that utilize real-time field data to promote quick turnaround on performance review and improvement. These state-of-the-art tools are currently only available to the twelve participating PECC+ Program agencies.
In late July, PECCs gathered in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a full-day educational Summit where they prepared for their PECC+ role by attending seminars on specialty topics in pediatric care and engaging in hands-on training with both live actors and simulation tools.
Swanson is eager to begin her role, stating, “Caldwell County EMS prides themselves in providing the best patient care possible to our citizens. I look forward to learning and progressing in the care and management of pediatric patients.”
The PECC+ Program officially begins on September 1st and will run for two years.