This document introduces Free Open Access Medical Education (FOAM) for EMS instructors, emphasizing the evolution of the web and the benefits of social media in medical education. It encourages active, personalized learning through resources like Twitter, blogs, and podcasts while highlighting the importance of professional conduct online. Strategies for engaging with FOAM are provided, alongside examples of hashtags and accounts to follow for ongoing education and networking.

1. Tap Into the FOAM:
An Intro to Free Open Access Medical
Education for EMS Instructors
David A. Marcus, MD
EMIMDoc.org - @EMIMDoc
Asst. Prof. of Emergency Medicine, Hofstra-Northwell SOM
Director of Student Education, Emergency Medicine, LIJ Medical Center
Delivered at the FDNY EMS Academy – April 12, 2016

2. Goals
• The internet and social media
• Nuts and Bolts of FOAM
• Risks/Benefits in education
• EMS Resources

3. A Little About the World Wide Web
• Web 1.0 – Static, unidirectional, limited
access
• Web 2.0 – Dynamic, interactive, by and for
users. Social networks and file sharing sites
as a manifestation.
• Web 3.0 – The Semantic Web. AI, Intelligent
networks predicting our needs.
You are
here!

4. Sorting It All Out
• Social Networks
• Professional/Niche Networks
• Blogging/Microblogging
• Photo/Video Sharing Services
• Social Bookmarking
Doximity

5. Social Media and Learners
• GenX, Millennial learners are online anyway,
often in an educational void
• Inherently self directed and interactive
• Allows for experiential learning
• Immediate feedback/gratification
• Requires strong critical assessment skills
• Based on real, or realistic and relatable,
experiences
• Personalized and asynchronous

6. A Wise Man Once Said:
"If you want to know how we practiced medicine 5 years ago,
read a textbook.
If you want to know how we practiced medicine 2 years ago,
read a journal.
If you want to know how we practice medicine now,
go to a conference.
If you want to know how we will practice medicine in the future,
listen in the hallways and use FOAM."
- Prof. Joe Lex

7. The concept is FOAM the hashtag is #FOAMed

8. Why?
• Dr. Chris Nickson (@precordialthump)
– “We need to stop re-inventing the wheel in every
department, in every hospital, in every state, in
every country…”

9. What?
• Dr. Lauren Westafer (@Lwestafer)
– “Free Open Access Meducation is essentially
a personalized, continually expanding medical
curriculum that embraces an individual’s attention
deficits, evolves as one learns, encourages active
learning, and pushes the bounds of one ‘ought’ to
know.”

10. Where?
Get it
here.

11. Also Here

12. And Even Here

13. So You Can Stay Up To Date Anywhere, Anytime

14. • Keep up with cutting edge prehospital care
• Participate in conferences around the world
• Converse directly with thought leaders...
• Learn and retain more through Spaced Repetition
• Stay up to date on new resources and tools
• Get a quick consult, feedback on your own ideas,
network, professional opportunities, etc...
• Do it all on your own schedule
With FOAM You Can:

15. Stuff I've Learned
NODESAT
Perimortem C-Section
Delayed Sequence Intubation
Bath Salts
Tox Reviews
Advanced AW Management
ECG Reviews
Critical Procedures in EM

16. On Board Yet?

17. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

18. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

19. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

20. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

21. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

22. This is Happening Now
2016 Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference
• #CCTMC16
• >1,500 tweets by > 200 participants

23. Ready? Let’s Do It!

25. Rules of Engagement
Caveat Emptor – Verify reliability
Anonymity is dead
Nothing is deleteable
Everything is discoverable
Treat people with respect
Maintain professional standards
Do not violate local policies and laws
You and your digital persona are inseparable

26. OK, Now We’re Ready
• Step 1: Join Twitter (Details at end of slideset)
– Install the app on your devices
– Follow users, search for hashtags
– Links to articles, posts.
– #FOAMems - #FOAMed - #HEMS - #prehospital
• Step 2: Subscribe to Blogs and/or Podcasts
– Find interesting sites via Twitter
– Can be done via website/email
– Or, use an aggregator like Feedly
– Or, set up an RSS feed

27. It’s OK To Watch
• Don’t feel uncomfortable if some
conversations make no sense.
• Start by following only a small number of
accounts and deciding who you like.
• You can always unfollow.

28. EMS on Twitter
Primary EMS Hashtags
#FOAMems -- #HEMS -- #prehospital
FDNY:
@FDNY (general)
@FDNYAlerts (operations)
@FDNYEMSHAZTAC
Some accounts I like (among many great ones!)
• @FOAMems
• @EMS12lead
• @EMS_Nation
• @Paramedic_Tutor
• @NYCEMSwebsite (NOT FDNY, humor)

29. Some EMS, EM, Crit Care Blogs
Prehospitalmed.com

30. EMS Suggestions From Twitter
• In response to a question posted to the Twitter
EMS community:
@DrHowieMell
@ketaminh
@TamingtheSRU
@Wotsukrobl
@EMS1
@FlightbridgeED
@UCAirCareDoc
@EMScritcare
@Mattysfri
@jemsconnect
@FOAMstarter
To find any of
these accounts,
just enter the
username
(without @) into
the search box
on Twitter.com

31. FOAM for Lifelong Learning
• Learn on your own schedule
• Access to experts
• Networking
• Remote conference participation, and more!
• Be mindful of professionalism
• Start with Twitter or a few blogs and increase
dose as tolerated.
#FOAMed - #FOAMems - #HEMS - #prehospital

32. Just Do It
It's good for you.
@EMIMDoc / EMIMDoc.org
Technical details on joining Twitter follow….

33. The Technical Stuff
• There are a TON of FOAM primers out now,
can be a little overwhelming. Links to some of
the better ones can be found on the next
slide.
• If you’re comfortable signing up for twitter
and following blogs, no need to continue.

34. FOAM Primers
• Excellent General Overview by Tim Leeuwenburg
• Another Primer from TamingtheSRU, including an
explanation of Feedly
• Twitter Videos by Rob Rogers
– Getting Started on Twitter
– Twitter Series #2
– The Twitter App
– Tweeting and Hashtagging