In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) asked NYCMedics to deliver a prehospital care refresher training course to 200+ prehospital care providers in Gaza. The goal was to strengthen Gaza’s prehospital care system by standardizing the level of care in the prehospital environment and getting the paramedics up to speed on current best practices.
Although NYCM’s group was unable to enter Gaza in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NYCM quickly developed an online distance training program using Google Classroom and VoiceThread. Given the pandemic, the course was modified to emphasize infection prevention control (IPC) and provided the medics with the latest known information about COVID.
Designed as a 6 week instructor-led and facilitated distance learning model, the course consisted of a series of learning activities that included self-study as well as a range of individual and collaborative activities.
A total of 212 students successfully graduated from the course in December 2020.
NYCM is now hard at work developing a hybrid training program that encompasses both distance learning and hands-on practical training in Mass Casualty Incident Management. This program will train up to 60 emergency medicine physicians and nurses working in the five public hospitals in Gaza.
