Marion County Public Health (MCPHD) hosted a two-day educational conference for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), nursing, public health, EMAs, and hospitals earlier this month as part of the State of Iowa’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Hospital Preparedness Programs. MCPHD has provided an education day for EMS for several years, but this year, the conference was expanded to invite the entire preparedness and medical response community for two days. 

Approximately 100 participants took part in the educational sessions. Sessions were varied and provided by subject matter experts, including the state epidemiologist, a combat medic from the Air National Guard and Mercy One, the DCI, the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force, and experts in mental health trauma.

Kim Dorn, Marion County Public Health Director tells KNIA/KRLS News about what they can do, “It’s just that our team not only arranges for continuing education for EMS services but we can also assist with paying initial training for people who want to become EMTs. So, if there are people out there who want to become emergency medical technicians they should give us a call here at Marion County Public Health for more information.”

Dorn said they were pleased with this year’s event regards to attendance as well as those who helped train.

The training included practical information about communicable disease trends and management among other matters.