PEPP Course Coordinators Overview

PEPP represents a complete source of prehospital medical information for the emergency care of infants and children. Developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, PEPP is an exciting curriculum designed to teach prehospital professionals how to better assess and manage ill or injured children.

PEPP is a comprehensive, innovative, and highly interactive course featuring case-based lectures, live-action video, hands-on skills stations, and small group scenarios.

The Basic Life Support (BLS) course is geared toward the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and the Advanced Life Support (ALS) course is geared toward the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) and Paramedic. The PEPP Course Coordinator should determine which course (BLS or ALS) is most appropriate for an individual. Any health professional who is responsible for the emergency care of children may find this course beneficial.

​Course Format

The PEPP Course is available as a traditional onsite course or hybrid course for both BLS and ALS:

BLS

• The traditional onsite course is a 9.25-hour course, conducted entirely in the classroom.
• The hybrid course is a combination of online learning (10.25 hours of education), followed by hands-on practice in the classroom. Instead of attending a daylong traditional onsite course, students learn a portion of the course through self-directed online modules. After completing all of the online modules, students then attend a short onsite course for completion of hands-on practice, as well as instructor interaction and the final examination.

ALS

• The traditional onsite course is a 16.00-hour course, conducted entirely in the classroom.
• The hybrid course is a combination of online learning (11.75 hours of education), followed by hands-on practice in the classroom. Instead of attending a 2-day traditional onsite course, students learn a portion of the course through self-directed online modules. After completing all of the online modules, students then attend a 1-day onsite course for completion of hands-on practice, as well as instructor interaction and the final examination.

The American Academy of Pediatric is approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Participants who successfully complete the PEPP Course are eligible to receive continuing education units (CEUs) through CAPCE. The BLS Hybrid Course provides 15 hours of CEUs, and the Onsite Course provides 8.25 hours. The ALS Hybrid Course provides 18.75 hours, and the ALS Onsite Course provides 13 hours.

Course Materials

The PEPP Course includes the following materials:

• PEPP Online Instructor's Toolkit (downloadable)
• PEPP Textbook
• Precourse Online Modules (Hybrid students only)
• Precourse Online Pretest (Onsite students only)

The PEPP Online Toolkit contains everything you will need to teach the course, including PowerPoint Presentations, Lecture Notes, Skills Stations, Scenarios, Interactivities, video segments and Administrative Guides.

Course Schedules

A variety of options are available for delivering the PEPP Course:

• One-day Traditional Onsite BLS PEPP Course
• Hybrid BLS PEPP Course
• Two-day Traditional Onsite ALS PEPP Course
• Hybrid ALS PEPP Course

The following sample schedules include minimum course content and minimum times. If desired, the course can be lengthened to allow more time for participant practice or discussion.

NOTE: The student-faculty ratio for skill stations should not exceed 6:1. The student-faculty ratio for case-based scenarios should not exceed 10:1.

Course Completion Requirements

The PEPP Course is a continuing education course that is designed to provide education; it does not certify or license participants. Participants who successfully complete either the BLS or ALS PEPP Course may qualify to receive a PEPP Course Completion Certificate. To qualify to receive this certificate, the student must:

• Participate in the complete course
• Complete the pretest (Onsite students only)
• Complete the precourse modules (Hybrid students only)
• Pass the final examination
• Complete the PEPP Course Evaluation

All students must go online to redeem their access code. Students attending an onsite course review the procedural skills videos and take an online pretest before attending the course. Students enrolled in a hybrid course will review the procedural skills videos and participate in twelve online modules; upon completion of the modules, they will print out their completion certificate, and bring it with them to the course.

How Students Get Their Certificates

How Students Get Their Certificates

1. Students locate the access code inside the front cover of the PEPP textbook. The access code card contains instructions for redeeming the unique code.

Onsite students:

• • Take the pretest and review the procedural skills videos
  • Attend onsite course

Hybrid students:

1. • Participate in 12 online modules and review the procedural skills videos
   • Print-out completion certificate and bring it to the onsite course
2. Students log-on to the PEPP site and enroll in either an onsite or hybrid course taught by an approved Course Coordinator. NOTE: Students should continue to use the account created during the PEPP Access Code redemption process.
3. Course Completion Certificates are sent via email after students have successfully met all course requirements. Each student must provide a valid email address during the PEPP Access Code redemption process  to receive a Course Completion Certificate.

Course Coordinator Responsibilities and Course Preparation

The PEPP Course Coordinator (CC) is the primary person responsible for the quality of the PEPP Course. Responsibilities include the following:

Maintain Integrity of Program

• The AAP has involved many experts in the development of a quality PEPP curriculum. However, the quality of the course relies heavily on the PEPP CC and Faculty. The CC maintains the integrity of the program and ensures that all minimum course requirements are met.

Select and Communicate with a PEPP Medical Advisor

• It is the PEPP CCs responsibility to identify a person to serve as the PEPP Medical Advisor for the course. The qualifications and responsibilities of this person are described in the section titled “Medical Advisor.” The name and address of the Medical Advisor must be indicated on the course roster. For more information, please visit here.

Select Appropriate Faculty

• A PEPP CC recruits, prepares, and supervises the Faculty for the course being coordinated. More information on the qualifications and responsibilities of Faculty can be found in the section titled Faculty. For more information, please visit here.

Ensure Course Evaluations Are Completed

• Feedback from the participants in every course is very important. PEPP CCs ensure that participants complete an evaluation form here.

Maintain Direct Communication with the AAP

• The PEPP CC is responsible for registering each PEPP Course and submitting a course roster for each PEPP Course. The CC may also choose to publicize upcoming PEPP Courses that are open to the public so that interested individuals may be referred to your course. The staff in the Academy’s Division of Life Support Programs can be reached at:

American Academy of Pediatrics
Division of Life Support Programs
800-433-9016 ext. 6167
[email protected]

Note: All activity in your PEPP CC account is associated with the username and password you selected when you set up your account. It is essential that you use the correct username (email address) when registering new courses and submitting rosters.

Coordinate Logistical Issues

• The PEPP CC manages logistical issues, including everything from equipment, room reservations, and registration to catering and signage. In some cases, these responsibilities can be delegated. More detailed information on planning the PEPP Course can be found in the section titled Course Timeline.

Manage Course Budget

• The PEPP CC manages the course budget.
• Address Educational Principles Within the Structure of the Course
• The PEPP CC is responsible for the educational quality of the PEPP Course. The CC should ensure that the course is delivered in a way that is consistent with modern adult learning theory and that the content of the course is maintained.

Be Present for Entire Course and Supervise All Aspects of the Course

• The PEPP CC needs to be present for the entire course. The CC supervises the registration process and observes lectures, scenarios, and skill stations. The CC needs to be prepared to intervene if necessary. This could involve teaching a segment of the course or redirecting a skill station or scenario.

Register Upcoming PEPP Courses

• Three to six months prior to each PEPP Course, the PEPP CC registers their upcoming PEPP Course here.

Submit Completed Course Rosters to the AAP

• After completion of a course, instructors must go online here to update the course roster. Indicate students who have successfully completed the course and submit. Once the roster is submitted, students will receive their course completion certificates by email. You must submit your roster within 30 days of the course date.

Ensure the Safety of Participants

• The PEPP CC ensures that universal precautions are followed
• Ensures that all sharp equipment is handled and disposed of appropriately (e.g., sharps box)

Faculty

• The PEPP CC is responsible for selecting the Faculty for the course.

Requirements

• There are two levels of PEPP Courses: BLS and ALS. A wide range of health care professionals could be attending these courses. Faculty members must be health care professionals. It is important that the Faculty selected is appropriately trained for the course and audience that they are teaching. Ideally, Faculty members are individuals who have successfully completed a PEPP Course.

Responsibilities

Facilitate Learning Process

• Faculty should facilitate the learning process of assigned material in a meaningful way for the students in the course. They should read the Educational Principles document before the PEPP Course.

Be Familiar with Course Structure and Material

• Faculty must familiarize himself or herself with the overall course structure and assigned material before the course and should be thoroughly familiar with the objectives and content that he or she is presenting.

Work with PEPP CC and Other Faculty

• Faculty must be willing to work with the CC and other Faculty. Typically, a PEPP Course involves a PEPP CC and several Faculty members. It is important that everyone work together to have a successful course.

Read Materials Related to PEPP Faculty

• Faculty members must have a copy of the PEPP Instructor Toolkit and the PEPP Textbook and should read the sections pertinent to their teaching assignment before teaching the PEPP Course.

Number of Faculty Needed

• The number of Faculty needed to conduct a PEPP Course varies depending on how many participants are enrolled in the course. The skill stations require a Faculty-to-student ratio of 1:6. The case-based scenarios require a Faculty-to-student ratio of 1:10.

Medical Advisor

• The PEPP CC identifies a Medical Advisor for each PEPP Course conducted.

Requirements

• Have an active physician’s license (MD or DO)
• Hold current responsibilities in the local or regional EMS system
• Know local and/or regional EMS jurisdictional protocols
• Agree to review how the PEPP Course can be integrated into the local EMS community
• Serve as resource for the CC to answer questions regarding the course content and integration of PEPP principles into the EMS system

Responsibilities

• The level of involvement needed from the PEPP Medical Advisor may vary from one course to the next. It is not mandatory for the Medical Advisor to be on site, but he or she must perform other duties including the following:
• Provide direction and advice for the CC as needed
• Review the course content and recommend potential Faculty if needed
• Identify and clarify jurisdictional and protocol issues to be addressed in the course
• Serve as a Faculty member if possible

Preparing for the PEPP Course

• Advance preparation is one of the keys to conducting an effective PEPP Course. The following provides the information that you need for advance planning.

Course Planning Checklist

The following are suggested action steps to take in planning a PEPP Course. It is recommended that planning for a PEPP Course starts approximately 3 to 6 months before the course begins.

Before the Course

• Identify Medical Advisor
• Review evaluation and comments from previous course (if applicable)
• Select a course to teach (ALS or BLS and onsite or hybrid)
• Select course dates
• Reserve the location for the course
• Contact continuing education provider or state EMS providers or determine if

CAPCE credit is needed

• Identify appropriate people to serve as Faculty for the course
• Develop course budget and set registration fee
• Mail Faculty confirmation letter
• Establish registration procedures
• Register your course here
• Develop plan for promoting the course
• Order textbooks and other needed materials from Jones and Bartlett Learning (800-832-0034)
• Send textbooks to participants in advance of the course so they may complete the required precourse work
• Order the course supplies and equipment
• Reserve audiovisual equipment
• Send the first mailing to prospective participants
• Select the menu for food functions and breaks, if needed
• Schedule a meeting with the Faculty
• Order course signage
• Process the registration
• Mail a confirmation letter with directions to the location, parking facilities, and course materials to participants

Day Before the Course

• Reconfirm meals and refreshments
• Set up registration area
• Hold a Faculty meeting
• Prepare the course signage
• Photocopy the PEPP Provider test
• During the Course
• Check the rooms to see that all audiovisual equipment and lights are in order
• Check on setup for meals and refreshment breaks
• Place course signs in appropriate locations
• Set up equipment for skill stations
• Facilitate course participant registration and Faculty check-in
• Distribute course materials to participants
• Monitor the course to maintain schedule flow
• Monitor lectures, scenarios, and skill stations to maintain the desired group size
• Score tests
• Have Faculty available to answer questions and provide directions
• The CC may serve as Faculty during the course but should limit how many lectures/scenarios they teach so they can be available to oversee the course sufficiently.

After the Course

• Submit the roster to the AAP through the online database
• Send thank you letters to Faculty, medical advisor, vendors, and support staff
• Send honorarium (optional)
• Return equipment
• Pay invoices
• Send appropriate paperwork to continuing education provider for approval