Continuing Medical Education
The Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) teaches accredited continuing education courses in radiation emergency medicine. Physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurses, emergency medical technicians, health physicists and first responders benefit from the lectures, discussions and hands-on exercises as they learn their roles in the medical management of a radiation incident.
Courses are scheduled throughout the year at the unique REAC/TS facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Additionally, REAC/TS prepares and teaches customized courses at hospitals, nuclear facilities and other locations across the country.
ORISE, which is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities, is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. ORISE takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this ACCME activity. Respective courses are also accredited by the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Academy of Health Physics.
These educational activities are designated for a certain number of American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award (AMA PRA) Category 1 Credits™ (see specific course descriptions linked below for number of credits).
Disclosure Statement
It is the practice of Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all its educational programs. All participating faculty, CME planners, and reviewers in these programs are required to disclose any relevant financial relationship(s) they have with a commercial interest that benefits the individual in any financial amount occurring within the past 12 months; and the opportunity to affect the content of CME about the products or services of the commercial interests.
The ORISE CME Committee also reviews activity content and the required financial disclosures to identify any relevant financial relationships potentially affecting CME activities.
If necessary, the provider will be required to make changes to activity content as a result of these reviews. ORISE and the CME Committee also reserves the option to exclude some presentations or abstracts from their accredited program of CME or present this content in a track that is outside of but in conjunction with accredited CME. As always, ORISE will ensure that any conflicts of interest are resolved before the educational activity occurs. Information concerning faculty financial interests or its absence will be conveyed to participants at the beginning of all CME activities.
The following CME courses are regularly delivered at the REAC/TS facility:
Radiation Emergency Medicine
This 3½-day course is intended for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who may be called upon to provide emergency medical care following a radiological or nuclear incident.
Advanced Radiation Medicine
This 4½-day course includes more advanced information for medical practitioners. It is primarily for physicians, clinical nurse practitioners and physician assistants desiring an advanced level of information on the diagnosis and management of ionizing radiation injuries and illnesses.
Health Physics in Radiation Emergencies
This 4½-day course is designed primarily for health physicists, medical Physicists, radiation safety oficers and others who have radiation dose assessment and/or radiological control responsibilities.
Pre-Hospital Radiation Emergency Preparedness
This 1½-day course is specifically designed for pre-hospital First Responders to include Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services personnel including Paramedics and Paramedic Instructors, and Emergency Planners who would be involved in planning, preparedness and/or response to a radiological or nuclear incident.
Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
This course provides 14 hours of information related to emergency medical response to toxic industrial chemicals, industrial materials and radioactive materials.
Customized Courses and Distance Learning
ORISE can provide customized courses that focus on specific topics related to the medical management of radiation emergencies. Courses can be delivered at a pre-defined location or can be scheduled at the REAC/TS facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
ORISE also continues to strengthen the infrastructure necessary to provide training opportunities via distance learning. For participants who cannot attend our training courses in person, opportunities are offered for viewing live demonstrations on managing and decontaminating patients who have been in a radiation incident.