HALO stands for High Acuity Low Occurrence incidents.

In EMS and emergency medicine, HALO events are situations that are encountered infrequently but carry significant clinical, emotional, legal, and system impact when they occur. These calls demand more than technical skill. They require preparation, situational awareness, clear communication, and sound judgment under pressure.

The HALO Talks series is designed to address these rare but consequential encounters. Sessions focus on building confidence and competence for events that fall outside routine call patterns yet have lasting implications for patient outcomes, provider well being, and system coordination across the continuum of care.

Sexual assault and interpersonal violence are among the most challenging and emotionally complex calls encountered in the field. EMS providers are often the first point of contact and their actions can influence patient safety evidence integrity and long term recovery.

This Special Edition "H.A.L.O. Talks" session introduces trauma informed approaches to care for patients affected by sexual violence with emphasis on the prehospital environment. Participants will explore practical considerations for patient interaction scene management forensic awareness and coordination with law enforcement and advocacy partners. The discussion focuses on what EMS providers need to know and do in real world situations while maintaining professionalism compassion and patient centered care across all provider levels.

We are welcoming our featured Speaker, Sonja Liston, BSN, RN, FNE, SANE A. Supervisor Forensic Nurse Examiner Program from our partner, UnityPoint Health Meriter.

Sonja is a forensic nurse examiner and program supervisor with extensive experience supporting patients affected by sexual assault interpersonal violence and abuse. Her work centers on trauma informed care forensic evidence awareness and multidisciplinary coordination with law enforcement advocacy services and healthcare teams. She is actively involved in education and outreach to improve system responses to violence and to support patient safety dignity and continuity of care across emergency and community settings.

The overall goal of the Emergency Education Night Webinar Series is to strengthen clinical judgment communication and system coordination among emergency and prehospital providers through evidence informed education that supports high risk and sensitive patient encounters.

Target Audience

• Emergency Medical Responders

• EMT Basic

• Advanced EMT

• Paramedics

• Critical Care Paramedics

• Emergency department nurses

• Advanced practice providers

• Physicians and other healthcare professionals involved in emergency response and patient advocacy

This activity is jointly provided by the University of Wisconsin Madison Interprofessional Continuing Education Partnership (ICEP). ICEP is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and the American Nurses Credentialing Center to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

This activity is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Prehospital Continuing Education (CAPCE). EMS providers will receive continuing education credit upon successful completion of the activity in accordance with CAPCE requirements.

Cost

There is no cost to attend this activity.

To register for the live session, follow the link: HALO Talks: "The Unthinkable": Sexual Assault and Violence Response in the Field.