New S.T.A.R.S. program helps prepare medics for special needs pediatric patients
Posted 11/7/19
By Tim Schmidt Record Managing Editor When first responders arrive at an emergency involving a child, many times they are met by a screaming mother and a distraught father. When every second matters, …
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New S.T.A.R.S. program helps prepare medics for special needs pediatric patients
Posted
By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWhen first responders arrive at an emergency involving a child, many times they are met by a screaming mother and a distraught father.When every second matters, it can be a difficult task to learn a child’s medical history or condition if a parent is panicking. If the child has a special need, it can be a more challenging time for the medic.“It’s never fun to walk inside a door and be hit with, ‘Oh boy, I’m not sure exactly what is going on,’ ” said Stephanie Wahoski, training officer for the Warren County Ambulance District.First responders now have a new program to rely upon for those unique and challenging medical conditions.The ambulance district has joined several others in the St. Louis area that have started a new program called S.T.A.R.S. — Special Need Tracking and Awareness Response System.The program is for special needs pediatric patents under the age of 18 and allows the district to be aware of any medical conditions it may encounter when responding to an emergency call.The S.T.A.R.S. program was founded last year by Shelby Cox, EMS liaison for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, and Tricia Casey, a paramedic with Rock Township Ambulance District. Once Wahoski attended a meeting and learned more about the program, the district administrators agreed it would be beneficial to local families.“It’s for the kids,” Wahoski said.Lily’s storyThree-year-old Lily Overkamp is one of four children the ambulance district has already enrolled in the program.When Lily’s mother, Candace, was 25 weeks pregnant, a team of doctors at the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute performed a fetal myelomeningocele repair, the first of its kind in the Midwest. Myelomeningocele is the most severe form of spina bifida, where the fetus’ spinal cord fails to close during development.By proceeding with the surgery, doctors were able to close the opening, helping reduce damage to the spinal cord and nerves that could result in the inability to walk, a loss of sensation in the legs and urinary problems.When Candace gave birth at 31 weeks, a repair was made to the original patch on Lily’s spine. She also was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, causing harmful pressure on the brain tissue.So when Lily was 8 months old, she underwent an endoscopic third ventriculostomy procedure to allow the fluid to drain normally. Right before her third birthday, Lily began walking unassisted. For most observers, they would never know what the young girl has encountered in her short life.Should the family ever need paramedics to respond, Lily’s medical conditions will now known immediately.“It was comforting to hear about S.T.A.R.S. program,” said Candace Overkamp. “Since she has hydrocephalus, if she would have an issue, there are certain protocols to follow. If she has an issue, she needs to get to Cardinal Glennon fast. I feel way better now.”Program OverviewWhen a family shows interest in signing up for S.T.A.R.S., Wahoski will schedule an in-home visit. During that time, the child will be evaluated to determine what type of medical care is needed, as well as time spent reviewing their medical history.All of the information that is compiled is then placed into a large binder in each of the district’s ambulances. Each child enrolled in the program is identified by a number, which 911 dispatchers will relay to the responding ambulance crew.Children who would benefit from the program may have a significant developmental delay, seizure disorders, cardiac history, cerebral shunts, tracheostomies and any atypical diseases or syndromes.“When our crews hear the number, they can pick up a book,” Wahoski said. “Anything they need to know emergency-wise will be in that book. It’s a more of a preplan on what to do.”Wahoski hopes more families take the time to learn about the S.T.A.R.S. program and to enroll their child. With it comes the peace of mind knowing better care can be met — for the parents and medics.“We have more special needs kids out there than what we know,” Wahoski said.How to sign upThe Warren County Ambulance District has implemented a new program to help it be better prepared at taking care of special needs children. The program allows the district to enter medical information into the Special Needs Tracking and Awareness Response System, also referred to as S.T.A.R.S.The ambulance district will keep detailed information about the patient, so that if an emergency arises, the responding crew will be able to review the medical history and condition.To learn more information about the S.T.A.R.S. Program, contact Stephanie Wahoski, Warren County Ambulance District training officer, at 636-456-8413 extension 6 or swahoski@warrencountyambulance.com.
Adam Desemone, left, of the Warren County Ambulance District, shows a monitor to Lily Overkamp during a recent tour of the ambulance. Overkamp is one of four children the district enrolled in its new S.T.A.R.S. program.
