Rhode Island Disaster Medical Assistance Team

RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT - THE RECIPIENT, RHODE ISLAND DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM, INC., SUPPORTS THIS TWO-YEAR PROJECT IN COLLABORATION WITH RI COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE AND STATE/LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS. THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE A COLLABORATIVE REGIONAL TRAINING CENTER ACCESSIBLE TO ALL LEARNERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH INCREASED MOBILE EDUCATION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE CAPACITIES THAT SUPPORT COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES AND ENHANCE RI’S ABILITY TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS. THE OBJECTIVES ARE: 1) PREPARE FOR FUTURE PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES BY DEVELOPING RI’S FOUR MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS; 2) ENSURE THE TIMELY NOTIFICATION OF VOLUNTEERS IN EMERGENCIES THROUGH STRATEGIC TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES; 3) DEVELOP THE UNIT’S EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PUBLIC HEALTHCARE CAPACITY THROUGH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND MOBILE ASSET MODERNIZATION; 4) INCREASE CULTURALLY COMPETENT RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION CAPACITIES; 5) DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND ACCESSIBLE TRAINING AND COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS THAT BREAKDOWN LEARNING BARRIERS; 7) ENSURE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE RI MRCS THROUGH MUTUAL ADVANTAGEOUS RELATIONSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERS. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT ARE: 1) AN INCREASED FOCUSED HEALTHY COMMUNITY INITIATIVES IN HEALTH EQUITY ZONES; 2) MRC UNITS WILL MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF READINESS TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES AND PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS; 3) AN INCREASED REGIONAL COLLABORATION ACROSS LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS AND REGION 1 MRCS; 4) INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SKILL RETENTION REGARDING HEMORRHAGE CONTROL AND OPIOID OVERDOSE PREVENTION PROCEDURES. THE PRODUCTS FROM THIS PROJECT ARE: 1) A FINAL REPORT, INCLUDING EVALUATION; 2) UPDATED TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR DISTRIBUTION; 3) ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATION AT MRC NATIONAL CONFERENCES.

ENHANCING RHODE ISLAND'S RURAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING AND SUPPORT - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: TITLE: ENHANCING RHODE ISLAND'S RURAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING AND SUPPORT INTRODUCTION: IN RESPONSE TO THE PRESSING NEED FOR IMPROVED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES IN RHODE ISLAND'S RURAL COMMUNITIES, THE RHODE ISLAND DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM/MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (RIDMAT/MRC), A DISTINGUISHED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, IS SPEARHEADING A COMPREHENSIVE GRANT INITIATIVE. WITH ITS UNIQUE STATEWIDE REACH AND THE DISTINCTION OF HOLDING AN EMS AGENCY LICENSE, RIDMAT/MRC IS POISED TO LEAD THE CHARGE IN ADDRESSING THIS CRITICAL ISSUE. BUILDING ON OVER TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN PROVIDING TOP-TIER MEDICAL EDUCATION TO CLINICAL VOLUNTEERS, COMMUNITY HEALTH PARTNERS, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, RIDMAT/MRC IS WELL-POSITIONED TO EXECUTE THIS INITIATIVE EFFECTIVELY. OBJECTIVES: 1. PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING: RIDMAT/MRC WILL DELIVER THOROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMS TAILORED SPECIFICALLY FOR RURAL EMS PERSONNEL. LEVERAGING ITS WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN MEDICAL EDUCATION, RIDMAT/MRC AIMS TO ENHANCE THE CAPACITY OF RURAL EMS RESPONDERS IN RECOGNIZING, ASSESSING, AND RESPONDING TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS (SUD) AND CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. 2. INCREASE ACCESS TO NALOXONE: AS PART OF THE INITIATIVE, RIDMAT/MRC WILL WORK TO BOLSTER ACCESS TO NALOXONE WITHIN RURAL EMS AGENCIES. BY FACILITATING THE AVAILABILITY OF NALOXONE, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO EMPOWER EMS RESPONDERS TO EFFECTIVELY COMBAT OPIOID OVERDOSE EMERGENCIES, POTENTIALLY SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES. 3. ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PEER-SUPPORT SPECIALISTS: RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS GRAPPLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, RIDMAT/MRC WILL FORGE PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PEER-SUPPORT SPECIALISTS. THESE ALLIANCES WILL SERVE TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS ASSISTANCE AND RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS IN NEED WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES. 4. IMPLEMENT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES: RIDMAT/MRC'S TRAINING, INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, BOASTING A 10,000 SQUARE-FOOT STATE-OF-THE-ART TRAINING FACILITY, WILL SERVE AS THE HUB FOR IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES. FROM IMMERSIVE TRAINING AND SIMULATION CAPABILITIES TO MOBILE TRAINING UNITS, RIDMAT/MRC WILL ENSURE THE SEAMLESS DELIVERY OF EVIDENCE-BASED AND TRAUMA-INFORMED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING TO EMS PROVIDERS ACROSS RHODE ISLAND'S RURAL LANDSCAPES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 1. ENHANCED RECOGNITION AND RESPONSE: THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, RURAL EMS PERSONNEL WILL DEMONSTRATE IMPROVED ABILITIES TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES, LEADING TO MORE EFFECTIVE PATIENT CARE. 2. INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF NALOXONE: BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO NALOXONE, RIDMAT/MRC AIMS TO SAVE LIVES BY MITIGATING THE DEVASTATING IMPACTS OF OPIOID OVERDOSE EMERGENCIES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. 3. ENHANCED SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL PEER-SUPPORT SPECIALISTS WILL ENSURE INDIVIDUALS GRAPPLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS RECEIVE ONGOING SUPPORT, FOSTERING THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS RECOVERY AND WELL-BEING. 4. IMPROVED EMS EDUCATION: THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES, RIDMAT/MRC WILL ENHANCE EMS EDUCATION, ENSURING PROVIDERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST TOOLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO DELIVER EXCEPTIONAL CARE. CONCLUSION: RIDMAT/MRC'S COMMITMENT TO ENHANCING RHODE ISLAND'S RURAL HEALTHCARE ACCESS THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING AND SUPPORT IS UNWAVERING. BY LEVERAGING ITS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE, STATEWIDE REACH, AND CUTTING-EDGE TRAINING FACILITIES, RIDMAT/MRC IS POISED TO MAKE A SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT ON RURAL HEALTHCARE DELIVERY. THROUGH THIS GRANT INITIATIVE, THE ORGANIZATION SEEKS TO EMPOWER EMS PROVIDERS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS, RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT TO DRIVE POSITIVE CHANGE AND FOSTER HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

RHODE ISLAND LAW ENFORCEMENT WELLNESS PROGRAM. A PROGRAM TO ENHANCE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND RESILIENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, DISPATCHERS, AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ACROSS RHODE ISLAND. - THE RHODE ISLAND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (RIBHMRC), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RHODE ISLAND POLICE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION, WILL IMPLEMENT A 1-YEAR STATEWIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT PEER SUPPORT AND WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR RHODE ISLAND’S APPROXIMATELY 2,500 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, DISPATCHERS, AND CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ACROSS ALL 39 MUNICIPALITIES. THE PROJECT WILL PRIORITIZE SMALLER AND RURAL DEPARTMENTS THAT LACK CO-RESPONDER OR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AND ADDRESS NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH REPEATED TRAUMA EXPOSURE, OPERATIONAL STRESS, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, DEPRESSION, BURNOUT, AND SUICIDE RISK. RIBHMRC WILL TRAIN AT LEAST 50 OFFICERS AS CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT PROVIDERS IN CRISIS INTERVENTION, PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID, DE-ESCALATION, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION; DEPLOY LICENSED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO AT LEAST 33 CRITICAL-INCIDENT OR IN-SERVICE ENGAGEMENTS ANNUALLY; AND EXTEND STANDARDIZED WELLNESS TRAINING TO AT LEAST 30 DEPARTMENTS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE CRITICAL-INCIDENT DEBRIEFINGS AND DEFUSINGS, IN-SERVICE EDUCATION, A STATEWIDE INTERDEPARTMENTAL PEER SUPPORT FRAMEWORK, AND A CENTRALIZED LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR STANDARDIZED CERTIFICATION AND CREDENTIAL TRACKING. PARTICIPATING AGENCIES WILL FULLY ADOPT THE SYSTEM BY THE END OF THE PROJECT PERIOD. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO REDUCE BURNOUT AND SUICIDE RISK, STRENGTHEN DEPARTMENT MORALE, AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES STATEWIDE.

RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRAINING: EMS RECRUITMENT & RETENTION, BUPRENORPHINE FIELD START, AND MOBILE SIMULATION FOR RHODE ISLAND'S 18 RURAL COMMUNITIES - RURAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES TRAINING: EMS RECRUITMENT & RETENTION, BUPRENORPHINE FIELD START, AND MOBILE SIMULATION FOR RHODE ISLANDS 18 RURAL COMMUNITIES. THE RI DISASTER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM, INC., OPERATING AS THE RHODE ISLAND MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS, IS REQUESTS FUNDING OVER TWO YEARS TO STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN 18 RURAL RHODE ISLAND COMMUNITIES. FIRST, IT WILL RECRUIT AND TRAIN NEW EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AT NO COST TO THEM, HELPING RURAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND AMBULANCE SERVICES THAT STRUGGLE TO FIND ENOUGH STAFF. SEVENTY-TWO PEOPLE WILL COMPLETE FREE EMT TRAINING OVER TWO YEARS. SECOND, THE PROJECT WILL TRAIN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO GIVE A MEDICATION CALLED BUPRENORPHINE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE OVERDOSED ON OPIOIDS, RIGHT AT THE SCENE, BEFORE THEY EVEN REACH A HOSPITAL. RHODE ISLAND RECENTLY CHANGED ITS RULES TO ALLOW THIS, BUT NO LOCAL AGENCY HAS THE TRAINING OR SUPPLIES TO ACTUALLY DO IT YET. ABOUT 150 EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WILL RECEIVE THIS TRAINING. THIRD, THE PROJECT WILL BRING A MOBILE TRAINING UNIT DIRECTLY TO RURAL FIRE AND AMBULANCE DEPARTMENTS SO THEIR STAFF CAN PRACTICE HANDLING MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, HEART ATTACKS, TRAUMA, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISES USING REALISTIC, HANDS-ON SIMULATIONS. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO GROW THE WORKFORCE, GIVING RESPONDERS NEW TOOLS TO TREAT OVERDOSES IMMEDIATELY, AND IMPROVING HANDS-ON SKILLS THROUGH REALISTIC PRACTICE, RIGHT IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT MOST.