Tactical EMS: an emerging opportunity in graduate medical education.
OBJECTIVE
Modification of traditional emergency medical services (EMS) principles and procedures for use in the tactical law enforcement setting is emerging as a subspecialty of emergency medicine. Few opportunities exist to train physicians in the principles of tactical medicine, and no studies demonstrate the effectiveness of physician-level training in tactical EMS.


METHODS
A standardized eight-hour CONTOMS (Counter Terrorism Operations Medical Support) Physician Awareness course was presented to a group of emergency physicians. The physicians completed an anonymous survey before and after the course, and again four months later. A five-point Likert scale (04) was utilized to measure knowledge and comfort levels among six areas specific to tactical EMS. Changes were measured from precourse scores.


RESULTS
Of 39 eligible physicans, 38 completed surveys before and 35 completed surveys after the course, while 16 returned four-month follow-up surveys. Mean scores rose in all areas specific to tactical EMS (p < 0.0005 compared with pretest scores). Mean scores for each topic were: [table: see text]


CONCLUSIONS
The COMTOMS Physician Awareness course is effective in increasing physicians' knowledge and comfort levels in areas related to tactical EMS. Knowledge retention at four months is very good.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, Jacksonville 32209, USA. william.bozeman@sjax.ufl.edu
William P
WP
Bozeman
Edward R
ER
Eastman
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003625:Data Collection; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs