posted October 29, 2024

RUIDOSO, N.M., Oct. 29, 2024 – Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service provider, announced today that the Ruidoso Fire Department has selected Air Methods Ascend’s Critical Care Review online program to provide continuing education to its first responders.

With three full-time fire stations and a team of 30 professionals, the Ruidoso Fire Department provide emergency services for the over 7,000 residents in the Sierra Blanca Mountain range resort town of Ruidoso, the largest community in Lincoln County.

“Ascend’s online programs will provide Ruidoso Fire Department with the necessary education to meet our goal of providing the highest level of care and quality service to our residents,” said Fire Chief Joe Kasuboski. “We are grateful to have access to cutting-edge continuing education to ensure our first responders have the knowledge they need to provide patients with the life-saving care they need and deserve.”

The fire department will benefit from Ascend’s comprehensive online EMS Review programs, which cover various topics in airway management, cardiovascular, trauma, operations, and other medical emergency topics. With 60 curriculum hours, the program far surpasses the minimum requirements for recertification with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.

“We are excited to partner with Ruidoso Fire Department and offer our online training programs to their first responders” said Dr. Stephanie Queen, Air Methods Senior Vice President of Clinical Services. “Our online programs are designed to equip first responders with the latest skills and knowledge to help provide the best patient care during emergencies.”

Ascend’s in-person and online education programs provide pre-hospital and critical care clinicians with access to world-class educators, state-of-the-art tools, and cutting-edge technologies to help build their knowledge, enabling them to operate at the top of their licensure and fulfill continuing education requirements. Education programs include advanced manikin-based simulation and virtual reality training that mirror real-world patient care scenarios, building life-saving skills and confidence. Courses meet certification requirements for the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN), Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and International Board of Specialty Certifications (IBSC). Ascend’s Critical Care Readiness in-person training and Critical Care Review online modules are accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

Additionally, Air Methods Ascend is a licensed provider of SimX’s virtual reality training platform. This platform offers over 300 clinical scenarios, enabling clinicians to immerse themselves in realistic medical emergencies. Through this immersive experience, clinicians can hone their decision-making skills and refine their ability to provide optimal patient care in high-pressure situations. Being a licensed provider also enables Ascend to offer virtual reality training remotely to its customers, significantly reducing training costs for the receiving agency.

Learn more about the Ascend education program here.