2024-2025 College Catalog

Emergency Medical Science A.A.S. Degree [A45340]

Program Information

The Emergency Medical Science curriculum provides individuals with the knowledge, skills and attributes to provide advanced emergency medical care as a paramedic for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system and prepares graduates to enter the workforce.

Students will gain complex knowledge, competency, and experience while employing evidence based practice under medical oversight, and serve as a link from the scene into the healthcare system.

Graduates of this program may be eligible to take state and/or national certification examinations.

Employment opportunities include providers of emergency medical services, fire departments, rescue agencies, hospital specialty areas, industry, educational and government agencies.

Program of Study

Semester-by-Semester Plan

First Year

Fall Semester

EMS 110EMT

9

 

BIO 163Basic Anatomy & Physiology

5

Or

BIO 168Anatomy and Physiology I

4

 

ENG 111Writing and Inquiry

3

Total Credit Hours:16-17

Spring Semester

EMS 130Pharmacology

4

EMS 131Advanced Airway Management

2

BIO 169Anatomy and Physiology II

4

EMS 160Cardiology I

3

EMS 122EMS Clinical Practicum I

1

Humanities/Fine Arts

3

Total Credit Hours:13-17

Summer Semester

EMS 220Cardiology II

3

EMS 260Trauma Emergencies

2

EMS 221EMS Clinical Practicum II

2

Total Credit Hours:7

Second Year

Fall Semester

EMS 250Medical Emergencies

4

EMS 270Life Span Emergencies

4

EMS 231EMS Clinical Practicum III

3

Total Credit Hours:11

Spring Semester

BIO 275Microbiology

4

EMS 240Patients With Special Challenges

2

EMS 241EMS Clinical Practicum IV

4

EMS 285EMS Capstone

2

ENG 112Writing and Research in the Disciplines

3

Social/Behavioral Sciences

3

Total Credit Hours:18

BIO 169 is not needed if BIO 163 is taken in First Fall semester.

Program Learning Outcomes

  • The student will assess medical/trauma patients in accordance with NCOEMS protocols (80%)

  • The student will assess cardiovascular emergencies in accordance with NCOEMS protocols (80%)

  • The student will demonstrate clinical competency in patient assessment and advanced life support assessment scenarios in clinical and field settings (TSOP) (80%)

Technical Requirements

All Students in this program are expected to meet certain essential functions/technical standards which are essential for successful completion of all phases of the program and which reflect industry requirements and standards. To verify the students’ ability to perform these essential functions, students may be required to demonstrate the following technical standards: 

Criterion  Standard   Example
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving Skills 1. Sufficient cognitive skills and critical thinking abilities such that the student can formulate and implement reasonable decisions based on available information in the absence of other personnel and/or supervisors; make fast and appropriate decisions in rapidly-evolving situations, particularly pertaining to creating and implementing a patient care plan in accord with established protocols        A. Assess scene safety in uncontrolled environments 
B. Assess the patient’s medical history and condition 
C. Determine and prioritize the severity of the illness/injury
D. Determine correct treatment modalities, including exceptions to approved modalities 
F. Formulate correct decisions 
 2. Ability to calmly intervene in various tense, stressful, emergency situations; make correct initial decisions and draw reasonable conclusions that allow selection and pursuit of acceptable outcome options; synthesize information gathered from consecutive assessments G. Integrate correct treatment protocol(s)
H. Devise an accepted plan to provide patient care in typical/atypical cases 
I. Utilize standard accepted equipment for safe patient care and movement
Interpersonal Skills  1. Sufficient ability to interact with individuals, families, groups, public safety personnel, and other medical professionals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds     A. Establish and maintain supportive relationships with patients, family members, bystanders, public safety, media, political officials, and other health care providers under stressful and non-stressful situations 
Communication Skills  1. Sufficient ability to interact effectively with others via the English language using non-verbal, verbal, and written forms of communication. Communication occurs via face-to-face interaction, telephone, two-way radio, and computer-based written reports  A. Ask questions to quickly obtain information related to emergency situations
B. Receive and interpret information from patients, bystanders, and other responders 
C. Identify and communicate the need for additional resources 
D. Request and clarify orders from supervisors 
E. Provide accurate and legible handwritten or computer-entry written reports in a timely manner 
F. Read and understand treatment protocols, policies, and standard operating procedures 
G. Quickly communicate effectively with others in verbal and written forms 
Coping Skills  1. Ability to deal effectively with stress produced by work and interaction situations  A. Appropriately handle emotional situations that affect citizens, victims, families, friends, coworkers, bystanders, and other public safety personnel 
B. Recognize personal limitations and request assistance as appropriate 
Motor Skills  1. Sufficient physical abilities to drive and work in an ambulance; lift, and move immobile patients; engage in regular physical fitness training; prolonged standing, walking; jogging/running; jumping; climbing; crawling; pushing/pulling; negotiating stairs, hazardous and/or uneven terrain, all while carrying a patient in or on a carrying device                  
2. Ability to perform gross and fine motor skills required in the performance of EMS duties as indicated in the state and national standard curriculum 
A. Quickly enter/exit and drive an ambulance or other emergency vehicle without assistance
B. Perform physical EMS activities such as CPR, airway management, medication administration, and lifting and moving patients in a variety of body positions and environmental conditions 
C. Recognize and negotiate hazards in all environmental extremes including but not limited to light/dark, heat/cold, wet/dry/frozen scenes
D. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) without assistance (ex: gloves, masks, etc. 
E. Perform rescue duties 
Auditory Skills
1. Sufficient auditory ability to quickly send and receive information, engage in urgent situations, discern personal danger at emergency scenes, hear requests for aid, hear verbal orders and instructions from other people in noisy environments; safely operate patrol vehicle under emergency conditions  A. Effectively use the sense of hearing to aid in assessing the scene and patients in duress 
B. Recognize various signals from medical equipment or emergency alarms, and dangers/warnings associated with hazardous scenes 
C. Communicate via two-way radio and telephone links 
D. Receive and respond to instructors, team leaders, and others 
Visual Skills  1.  Sufficient visual acuity (corrected or not) for safe performance of EMS duties under normal and emergency conditions; observation and implementation of appropriate care for patients; assessment and determination of scene hazards potentially affecting the safety of self and others   A. Recognize signs during patient assessment
B. Recognize hazards, and interpret indicators and measurements from medical monitoring and treatment equipment 
2. Visual ability is sufficient for observation and assessment necessary in the classroom, lab, and other locations on the campus  C. Discern the settings and parameters of settings of medical equipment such as cardiac monitor/defibrillator, ventilator, syringes, size identifiers, and medical procedures such as starting an I.V., administering medication, and reading an EKG 
Tactile Skills
Environmental 
1. A sufficient sense of touch and tactile acuity are necessary for the performance of EMS duties
1. Must be able to function safely under varying environmental factors. Olfactory senses are sufficient for maintaining environmental, personal, and coworker safety, and for detecting changes that may indicate a deterioration in the current environment or the presence of a hazardous situation 
A. Palpate a pulse and detect changes or abnormalities of surface, texture, skin temperature, body segment contour, muscle tone, and/or joint movement
A. Operate emergency vehicles under extreme environmental conditions
B. Perform physical tasks requiring prolonged physical exertion (ex: walking for long periods of time while carrying equipment and/or patients, vehicle extrication, extrication of a victim from the confines of a structure) 
C. Perform tasks requiring walking, crawling, stooping, bending, kneeling, or working prone or supine 
D. Detect and identify smells, visible signs, and audible signals related to EMS duties and contributory to self-preservation and safety of others, including but not limited to smoke, burning materials, gasoline, and noxious fumes 
Emotional & Behavioral  1. Ability to demonstrate professional behaviors and a strong work ethic  A. Demonstrate flexibility, honesty, empathy, patience, and cooperative behaviors
B. Display high levels of personal responsibility, accountability, and development 
C. Demonstrate respect for citizens, patients, witnesses, suspects, and other public safety professionals 
D. Maintain strict confidentiality of federally protected healthcare information, present a professional appearance, and maintain personal hygiene