Times-News, Hendersonville, N.C.
HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — Henderson County Emergency Medical Services has been selected to join the Pediatric Emergency Care Coordinators Plus (PECC+) Program
The PECC+ Program is an advanced pediatric training and education program developed by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in partnership with the N.C. Office of EMS and funded by the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center.
The program will provide specialized pediatric training, educational opportunities and other resources to Henderson County, including online educational courses for individual providers working in Henderson County EMS, the county said in a news release.
Twelve EMS agencies throughout the state were selected following an application and interview process for the highly selective program.
The PECC+ Program representative for Henderson County EMS is Glen Gillette, paramedic FTO and assistant supervisor, who will serve as the pediatric emergency care coordinator.
The program has partnered with ESO Solutions, North Carolina’s EMS data management system, to develop performance feedback tools that utilize real-time field data to promote quick turnaround on performance review and improvement.
These state-of-the-art tools are currently only available to the twelve participating PECC+ Program agencies.
In late July, PECCs gathered in Chapel Hill for a full-day educational Summit, where they prepared for their PECC+ role by attending seminars on specialty topics in pediatric care and engaging in hands-on training with both live actors and simulation tools.
Gillette said he is eager to begin his role. “Pediatrics has always been something that I have wanted to improve my skills on and help others do the same. I have my Pediatric and Neonate Critical Care certification through UMBC, Child Safety Seat Technician certification as well as numerous other classes in pediatric care.
“As I learn more about pediatric care I want to share what I learn with others, and I felt the PECC+ Program would be a good opportunity to do that.”
The PECC+ Program officially began Sept. 1 and will run for two years.
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