June Educational Webinar: Asthma for the EMS Provider
Join Us Virtually
Each month, WEMSA members will be able to access a free online webinar exclusive to members only! Accredited for 1 CEU, each month will feature a different topic that is relevant to a variety of EMS levels. This month's webinar will take place on June 23rd from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM. You must register for the course using your member profile to ensure you have access to the Zoom link.
June's topic is Prehospital Management of Asthma with Dr. Callie Krentz, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Wisconsin, & Megan Elderbrook, MPH, CHES, Research Scientist & Epidemiologist for the Wisconsin DHS Asthma Program.
Course Description: This webinar combines Wisconsin-specific asthma surveillance data with a clinical deep dive designed for EMS providers. Participants will explore the asthma burden in Wisconsin through current prevalence and emergency department data, then move into pathophysiology, common triggers, prehospital assessment, severity classification, pharmacological interventions, and management of life-threatening status asthmaticus. Special considerations for pediatric and elderly patients are also covered, along with practical tools EMS providers can use in the field.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the asthma burden in Wisconsin, including prevalence rates and emergency department visit trends across populations.
- Explain the pathophysiology of asthma, including the roles of inflammation, bronchoconstriction, and mucus production in airway obstruction.
- Identify common asthma triggers and recognize the signs and symptoms of an acute asthma attack using clinical findings including respiratory rate, SpO2, ETCO2, and level of consciousness.
- Describe the prehospital management of acute asthma exacerbations, including BLS interventions, ALS pharmacological treatments, and recognition and management of life-threatening status asthmaticus.
- Apply practical EMS assessment tools, including ETCO2 monitoring, the Pediatric Assessment Triangle, and the PASS and PRAM severity scoring systems.
Target Audience: Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), Advanced EMTs (AEMTs), and Paramedics
Dr. Callie Krentz
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow, Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Wisconsin
Dr. Callie Krentz is a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow at Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She completed her residency training at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her research centers on improving emergency department quality of care for children with asthma.
Megan Elderbrook, MPH, CHES,
Research Scientist & Epidemiologist, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Asthma Program
Megan Elderbrook is an epidemiologist for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services where she has worked since 2012. For the past 7 years she has worked in the Asthma Program. Prior to this, she worked in the Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the AIDS/HIV Program. Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
About This Webinar's CE Credit
WEMSA's monthly educational webinars are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). Each webinar is approved for 1.0 CAPCE Continuing Education credit hour, applicable toward the continuing education requirements for EMS recertification at the EMR, EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic levels.
CAPCE is the national standard-setting body for EMS continuing education. CE earned through CAPCE-accredited programs is recognized by state EMS offices across the country, including the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and is accepted for National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) recertification.
How to Earn Your CE Credit
To be awarded CE credit for this webinar, attendees must meet all three of the following requirements:
- Attend a Majority of the Live Webinar Participants must be present and actively connected for the majority of the webinar session. This is a CAPCE accreditation requirement — partial attendance that does not meet the majority threshold will not qualify for credit. Please plan to join on time and remain for the duration of the presentation.
- Complete the Post-Webinar Survey Following the session, you will receive an email from WEMSA with a link to the required post-webinar evaluation survey. Completion of this survey is mandatory to receive CE credit. The survey evaluates the quality, relevance, and learning objectives of the educational content presented. This feedback is required by CAPCE as part of the accreditation process and helps WEMSA continue to improve future programming.
- Be Marked as Attended Once WEMSA staff confirms your attendance and survey completion, your record will be updated in Member Compass. Please allow 1–2 business days following your survey submission for your certificate to appear
Can't Attend Live? No Problem.
All WEMSA monthly webinars are recorded and uploaded to the WEMSA Learning Portal following the live session, available exclusively to active WEMSA members.
On-demand recordings are also CAPCE-accredited for 1.0 CE credit hour, but the requirements differ from the live session:
- Post Test — A knowledge assessment based on the webinar content must be completed and passed
- Post Survey — The post-webinar evaluation survey must also be completed
Once both are submitted and confirmed, your certificate will be available in your Member Compass account within 1–2 business days.
Access on-demand webinars anytime at learning.wisconsinems.com
Accessing Your Certificate in Member Compass
Once all requirements have been met, your CE certificate will be available in your WEMSA Member Compass account. Here's how to find it:
- Log in to your WEMSA Member Compass account at wisconsinems.com/member-compass
- Navigate to the "Continuing Education" tab on the left side of your dashboard
- Locate the webinar and click "View Credit" to access your certificate
- Download and retain your certificate for your records
If you need to submit proof of completion for NREMT recertification or state license renewal, this certificate serves as your official documentation.
If you do not see your certificate within 1–2 business days of completing all required steps, please contact Breana Rinker, Education Coordinator, at breana@wisconsinems.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn CE by watching the recording if I miss the live session? Yes, all webinars are recorded and uploaded to the WEMSA Learning Portal after the live session. On-demand recordings are CAPCE-accredited and available exclusively to active WEMSA members. The on-demand pathway requires completion of both a post test and a post survey before CE credit is awarded. These are typically available about 1 - 2 weeks after the live webinar takes place.
What if I lose my connection briefly during the live webinar? Brief technical interruptions are understandable. However, if you are disconnected for a significant portion of the session and cannot meet the majority attendance requirement, you will not be eligible for live credit for that session. You are encouraged to complete the on-demand version through the Learning Portal to still earn your CE.
How long until my certificate appears in Member Compass? Please allow 1–2 business days after completing all required steps. If your certificate has not appeared after that window, contact WEMSA staff for assistance.
Where do I find my certificate once it's been issued? Log in to your WEMSA Member Compass, navigate to the "Continuing Education" tab on the left side of your dashboard, and click "View Credit" next to the applicable webinar to download your certificate.
Does this CE count toward my NREMT recertification? Yes. CAPCE-accredited CE is accepted by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) for recertification. Always verify your individual state's specific requirements, as Wisconsin and other states may have additional or varied requirements.
Do I need to be a WEMSA member to earn CE? Yes. At this time, live webinar registration and on-demand recording access through the Learning Portal are all exclusive to active WEMSA members. To become a member, visit wisconsinems.com/membership.
Questions about CE or accreditation? Contact Breana Rinker, WEMSA's Education Coordinator at breana@wisconsinems.com
