New doctor joins innovative emergency response group in the Kootenays
By Lone Sheep Publishing
KERPA is celebrating a huge moment for rural critical emergency care in the Kootenays as a new doctor achieves training to join emergency physician response team.
After 440+ hours of rigorous training — including 300+ hours of one-on-one in-car mentoring under direct physician supervision, countless high-fidelity simulations, advanced airway labs, advanced life support and trauma courses, a full four days Emergency Vehicle Operations Course and final formal assessment by Jason Lin (Clinical Educator) and Dr. Nic Sparrow (Medical Director) — Dr. Natalka Krusche has officially signed off for critical emergency care response.
She is now able to respond with KERPA as an Emergency Response Physician (ERP) on scene, with full physician supervisor backup and support always one call away.
This isn’t just another sign-off. It’s the culmination of an intensive physician-led ground critical emergency care training program, built specifically for the austere and remote environments KERPA serves. Their program incorporates the CANMEDs roles, the National Association of EMS Physician Core Competencies, and CAMTS Special Operations Medical Retrieval Accreditation standards.
“Natalka, your dedication, composure under pressure, and relentless pursuit of excellence make you a force for good. We couldn’t be prouder to have you supporting the front lines,” KER PA representatives said on a recent Facebook post.”Congratulations.”
Also on their Facebook page was an explanation of how they are dispatched and how they are funded:
“BCEHS automatically pages KERPA the moment a Red or Purple call comes in — the highest-priority 911 emergencies (cardiac arrest, major trauma, airway compromise, etc.).”
They said that when available, their on-call physician immediately calls dispatch for full details.
“If it’s an immediate threat to life, our doctor responds Code 3 in the KERPA emergency-response vehicle — lights, sirens, carrying over $150,000 of specialist equipment to the scene.
“That’s it. No middle steps. No delays.
“Saving Lives, helping critically ill and injured patients and supporting the emergency services in the Kootenay Region. An EMS Physician response vehicle coming lights-and-sirens to you or your families worst day.
“Cost to the patient? $0
“Cost to the government? $0
“Not now. Not ever.
“100 % free.
“100 % volunteer physicians.
“100 % funded by people like YOU — for people like YOU.
“No government cheque. No hidden fees. Just our community taking care of each other.
“KERPA is the 1st Canadian CAMTS accredited Special Operations Medical Retrieval Service.”
Should you wish to donate to this spectacular service, visit www.kerpa.org/donate or you can follow them on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/KERPAkoots
