The Hard Work
Dedicated to the hard work that needs to be done at the intersection of society and emergency medicine.
Education
Our goal is reducing the risk of death associated with the management of agitated individuals experiencing behavioral emergencies. We offer world class, evidence-based online, in-person and virtual training.
Our goal is reducing the risk of death associated with the management of agitated individuals. We offer world-class, evidence-based online training on multiple aspects of the management of agitated patients and behavioral emergencies, including understanding death-in-custody, hyperactive delirium (previously called excited delirium), implicit bias and treatment inequities, de-escalation, restraint and sedation.
In-Person & Virtual (Live) Training
We can provide high-quality in-person or live virtual training. Classes we offer:
Death in Custody:
Revamping Our Approach to the Agitated Patient
Lecture (3 hrs) + Hands-on Simulation (3 hrs)
This program covers the entire spectrum of issues related to managing the agitated patient, including de-escalation, restraint and sedation. The hands-on simulation is engaging and thought-provoking.
Prehospital Sedation Reframed
Lecture (1 hr) + Hands-on Simulation (1 hr)
Prehospital sedation is a key skill for paramedics and among the more challenging skills they perform. We’ll reframe the approach to sedation in order to significantly enhance safety and reduce risk for our patients and liability for EMS providers and law enforcement.
Physical Restraint Resequenced
Lecture (1 hr) + Hands-on Simulation (1 hr)
Physical restraint of patients is among the most challenging things we do, both for patients and for providers. We’ll discuss a new approach to physical restraint which enhances safety and reduces the risk of harm.
De-escalation for EMS: Reducing Risks for Patients & Providers
Lecture (1 hr) + Hands-on Simulation (1 hr)
Uncooperative, agitated patients struggling with mental health or substance use emergencies are among the most challenging we encounter. This program will equip providers with an understanding of the importance of de-escalation and with the basic skills needed to address these challenging situations.
Feedback Regarding Eric's Presentations:
"I cannot tell you how thankful I am that there are people as passionate about our field and important topics like this as you. Thank you for your work, willingness to teach and share."
"I truly believe that this talk will save lives over the next few years as these
concepts are rolled out in the clear and concise way that you have structured them. These messages will reach thousands of paramedics (and other EMS providers and law enforcement officers) over the next few weeks as we all bring them back to our home agencies."
"I recently attended your lectures at the Austin NAEMSP Conference. Our organization has been using Ketamine for severe agitation for 6 years now with excellent success and very low complication rates. There were several points and videos in both your lectures that I feel would be excellent additions to our training and further improve our success."
"Thank you so very much for sharing these. I really appreciate all the spotlight that was put on this topic during the latest NAEMSP conference, and for your willingness to share these videos. We'll be using them to educate our medics during CE sessions for the next 2 months..."
"Thank you for addressing this very charged issue of chemical restraint. I've recently had several medical direction calls from crews asking for sedation orders and your presentations changed the instructions I give to those crews."
In-Person or Virtual Training with Eric Jaeger
In-Person Training
The most effective way to deliver this content is in-person training, which usually consists of a 2 hour lecture followed by a 2-3 hours of hands-on simulation exercises. Hands-on simulation exercises are key to helping EMS providers internalize the lessons of the lecture.
Virtual Training
Eric has extensive experience delivering virtual training, helping ensure that students remain engaged. We recommend that the virtual training be paired with hands-on simulation exercises.
Interested in in-person or virtual training?
Contact us at: ejaeger@truenorthgroup.org
Use Our Presentations, Videos and Resources to Develop Your Own Training
Our materials, including presentations, videos and resources, are linked below and available without cost to folks who want to provide education on this topic. Our only requests are (i) that you provide Eric Jaeger with a brief credit (including name and email) and (ii) if someone else wants to use the materials, please refer them back to us rather than sharing them directly.
Presentations
Note: These presentations contain videos that include sensitive material involving tragic deaths.
EMS Training Presentation:
Death in Custody and Avoiding the Major Pitfalls of Physical and Chemical Restraint 2024 (Note: this is a Dropbox link to a PPT file.)
I recommend using this presentation for providing training to EMS providers. This presentation combines two presentations delivered at NAEMSP 2024. It has been expanded to include longer video clips & additional material that I use in the longer version I typically present to EMS providers.
Scenario-based Training:
Simulation Training: Management of the Agitated Patient
These scenarios present EMS providers with various situations involving agitated patients. They are intended to allow providers to develop a systematic, deliberate approach to physical and chemical restraint of the agitated patient. This training is intended to be used after the EMS providers have received didactic training regarding the appropriate management of agitated patients.
Death in Custody and Avoiding the Major Pitfalls of Physical & Chemical Restraint
Organizations have assigned the video to EMS providers as training, coupled with in-person discussion or hands-on simulation exercises. The scenario-based training linked above can be used for this purpose.
Prerecorded Video Training
Have Your Leadership Trained
One of the ultimate goals of The Hard Work is to educate as many folks as possible on these emerging topics. That goal is more rapidly furthered by training more leaders and educators on how to train their teams on these topics.