FDNY and Calvary Hospital Collaborate on Paramedic Training Program

Calvary Hospital recently hosted four groups of Emergency Medical Technicians from The Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY). During their one day visit to the Hospital’s Bronx campus, the EMTs learned about Calvary’s unique approach and international leadership in palliative care, how to best care for patients at the end of life, effective pain management tips, and made rounds with three Calvary physicians.

The EMS members are currently enrolled in a nine-month training program to become certified paramedics. EMS members have basic life support skills. Paramedics, with advanced life support skills, practically bring the emergency room to wherever it is needed.

“Since the first group of EMS members came to Calvary 14 years ago, we have found this training to be invaluable to our paramedics. Our goal is to ensure the safety of all New York residents,” said Kimberly Benson, RN, EMT-P, CLI, Paramedic Original Program Clinical Coordinator, FDNY EMS Training Academy.

“Our collaboration with Calvary allows us to provide our members with the tools and knowledge to care for all patients, even those at the end of life. Our EMS members tell us frequently how meaningful it was to be at Calvary and learn from them. Our students have voted Calvary their favorite rotation in the training program.”

Calvary and FDNY have collaborated since 2004 with this Palliative Care module. This is one of 60 modules in the curricula for their paramedic training program. More than 140 men and women are enrolled in FDNY’s 2018 paramedic training program. All will visit Calvary before they graduate later this year.

“Since 1985, we have shared our palliative care expertise with health care professionals from around the country and the world,” noted Robert A. Brescia, MD, Director of the Palliative Care Institute and Director of Psychiatric Services, Calvary Hospital. “We are delighted with our long term collaboration with FDNY.”

PCI’s annual visitors include health care professionals from coast-to-coast and over 800 medical students, residents and fellows from throughout the greater New York area. They come to Calvary for visits ranging from one day to several months.

In 2005, the NIH’s National Cancer Institute designated Calvary “an international leader in palliative care” and invited us to participate in the Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC). Comprised of the national ministries of health from Egypt, Turkey, Israel, Cyprus, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority, MECC members have visited Calvary regularly over the past decade.

Since its inception in 1865, The Fire Department of the City of New York has helped lead efforts to make New York the safest big city in the nation. FDNY is the largest Fire Department in the United States and universally is recognized as the world’s busiest and most highly skilled emergency response agency. The Department’s main goal is to provide fire protection and other critical public safety services to residents and visitors in the five boroughs. The Department also works to continually educate the public in fire, life safety and disaster preparedness, along with enforcing public safety codes.

FDNY Emergency Medical Technicians doing rounds with Dr. Andrew Zaretsky.

Pictured: Kimberly Benson, RN, EMT-P, CLI, FDNY EMS Training Academy (2nd from right in blue shirt), pictured with four EMTs, and Calvary staff, Dr. Robert Brescia (far left), Dr. Rachelle Parker (4th from left) and Kim Colon-Cavalitto, PSM/Nurse Practitioner (far right).