MD
Owner/Medical Director
EMS-EDU-DOC
Dallas, TX
Ronna G. Miller is an EMS Physician, TX DSHS-approved EMS CE Program Director, and freelance education consultant with five decades of healthcare experience. Her background includes board certification in General Surgery, HazMat technician certification, and more than two decades in academic EMS medicine, including online and in-person medical direction, initial and continuing education, research, and community outreach.
As an author and award-winning educator, Dr. Miller draws upon her extensive and unique experience, along with her passion for EMS and healthcare education, to deliver engaging programs on a wide range of topics at local, state, and national conferences and in classroom settings.
Frightened parents often call 911 when their infant experiences a sudden change in breathing, color, tone, or responsiveness. When EMS arrives, the infant may appear completely well. While tempting, choosing not to transport a seemingly stable infant can carry significant risk.
Why was the term “ALTE” replaced with “BRUE” (Brief Resolved Unexplained Event)? Can EMS clinicians diagnose a BRUE? This session will explore the key history, physical exam findings, and environmental clues that help guide assessment and decision-making. Participants will also discuss appropriate documentation, transport considerations, destination decisions, and what occurs during emergency department evaluation.
Come learn why a possible BRUE matters and explore current, evidence-based EMS care for these vulnerable, pint-sized patients.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) deaths and disabilities create significant costs for patients, families, and society. What can we do to improve outcomes? The traditional advice to “avoid hypotension and hypoxia” still applies, but we now understand much more about optimal early TBI care—especially when every minute matters.
This session will explore key components of prehospital TBI management, including performing the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) correctly, initial patient care best practices from the EPIC-AZ TBI Study, updated Brain Trauma Foundation Prehospital Guidelines, and other recent advancements in traumatic brain injury care.
Finally, participants will learn about emerging technologies and innovative approaches that may help protect the brain and improve outcomes for patients with moderate to severe TBI.”
Both tension pneumothorax and unstable pelvic fractures can be rapidly fatal, but for very different reasons. Drawing on lessons learned, in part, from military medicine, this presentation will challenge whether traditional “textbook” procedures for these two conditions are truly the most effective methods for saving lives.
Are there more effective, science-based tools, techniques, and treatments that can be deployed to manage these critical trauma conditions? This heavily illustrated presentation will explore best practices for the who, what, how, when, and why of treating obstructive shock caused by tension pneumothorax and managing hemorrhagic shock associated with unstable pelvic fractures.
Participants will gain practical insight into modern trauma care strategies designed to improve decision-making and patient outcomes when managing these life-threatening torso injuries.
More than 2 million eye injuries occur every year, with the potential for devastating vision loss. Yet, eye trauma receives limited attention in EMS initial and continuing education. Prompt recognition, immediate EMS assessment and treatment, appropriate triage, and rapid transport for specialist evaluation can help reduce injury progression and potentially preserve a patient’s vision.
Does visual acuity assessment matter? When and how should we irrigate? When and how should we “shield and ship”? What role do pain and nausea management play?
Come for the pictures and stay to learn about three basic steps in the prehospital assessment and management of a wide range of eye injuries. Participants will gain practical knowledge to improve recognition, treatment, and decision-making when caring for patients with ocular trauma.
